Breaking my self-imposed silence to pass on the truly horrific news that we are apparently close to signing Harry Winks. Deal close accordingly to the oracle that is John Percy.
I cannot begin to tell you how utterly depressing this news is. Harry Winks is one of those footballers that I just don't 'get'. I have watched him dozens of times and I literally could not tell you what he actually *does*. He's not solid enough to be a CDM. He's not creative enough to be a No. 8. He's not quick or agile enough to be a box-to-box midfielder. He just sits somewhere in the middle of the pitch and passes the ball 5 yards to someone better than him. Every. Single. Time.
He's the footballing equivalent of eating a ham sandwich and drinking a glass of water, whilst sitting in a beige living room and listening to Maroon 5. Maybe Championship is his level and Enzo will morph him into something akin to a second tier Ilkay Gundogan (lol) but I just cannot see it. I just don't know what he would bring us that we don't already have with KDH, and KDH is so much better IMO.
The thought of rocking up in a few weeks with a midfield three of KDH, Winks and Choudhury and trying to win games of football would just sum us up. Sigh.
Off to go and join 99 and Nuneaton on suicide watch.
Harry F*****g Winks
posted on 27/6/23
I honestly don’t know enough about him. He clearly wasn’t rated by Spurs fans and isn’t good enough for the top half of the PL but may be fine for the championship.
If this is related to the Maddison deal (which has been in negotiation for some time) then it likely isn’t a Maresca signing - but obviously he will have a say on whether it’s the kind of player he wants.
This does smack of a club that hasn’t quite accepted its newfound level yet and is looking at the profile of player in terms of clubs they play for rather than the profile of player needed to compete in this division. As such you risk ending up with a bunch of lightweight youngsters who the club think are amazing and are actually god awful
Time will tell - I have no idea which way it’s going to go
posted on 27/6/23
To be fair to the club I think the names that we are hearing are achievable targets that have a mix of experience and are ‘ good enough to succeed at Championship level’ therefore will give us the best shot at getting out of this league first time.
If we started the season having Winks, Coady & Steffen in the starting 11 then I would think that we have bought well and has completely accepted where it’s at and has bought players that they think can rectify the errors of last season.
Only time will tell…..
UTF
posted on 27/6/23
comment by Don'tUpsetTheAppletonCart (U13248)
posted 1 hour, 28 minutes ago
To be fair to the club I think the names that we are hearing are achievable targets that have a mix of experience and are ‘ good enough to succeed at Championship level’ therefore will give us the best shot at getting out of this league first time.
If we started the season having Winks, Coady & Steffen in the starting 11 then I would think that we have bought well and has completely accepted where it’s at and has bought players that they think can rectify the errors of last season.
Only time will tell…..
UTF
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Rectification of the errors of last season would start with moving Rudkin on and getting a competent DoF; no sign of that happening any time soon.
posted on 28/6/23
While I completely agree that the removal of Rudkin would be long overdue and the best move long term for our club, it’s quite apparent that this is not going to happen.
He is for some reason TEFLON while all about his burns ……. So I have just parked that frustration. He is staying and that’s that (unfortunately), but with these potential incomings wanted by Martin George/Enzo etc then it does give me hope for the season ahead, and I will not let 1 useless individual take the first bit of hope away that I have had in months.
UTF
posted on 28/6/23
I agree that actually getting rid of the deadwood and building the squad would be a step forward. As such we have made some progress (Tilly, Amartey etc) and good rumours about Coady, Madders etc, but there is so much to do and little time to achieve it - the players report back for pre-season soon, with a squad that will bear little resemblance to that which might be around in September.
One of the reasons I'm still depressed from last season's wholly unnecessary debacle. We're stuck with it now of course, but they need to get on with it, rather than playing hardball to extract more money for the assets we inevitably now have to lose. That's why I find every day's delay incredibly frustrating - more evidence mounting of the sheer incompetence in the management - which has not been addressed.
posted on 28/6/23
Incidentally how's the Appleton household going on this summer given the relative success of Grimsby compared with Leicester last season? Presumably much mirth over the cornflakes as you suffer each new daily reminder of our fall from grace?
posted on 28/6/23
Soooooooo, I’ve seen a fair bit of Harry Winks for some unknown reason and I share all of Foxello’s concerns.
I think he’s a solid enough midfielder for the championship but he’s literally a carbon copy of KDH. So I don’t understand the signing unless KDH is off which he still could be.
My concern is that we really lack creativity in the midfield currently when Maddison leaves. No wingers (assuming Barnes is off) and no 10. Just a load of hard working steady away players that are ok on the ball.
Meh.
posted on 28/6/23
comment by Nuneaton_fox (U7936)
posted 1 hour, 17 minutes ago
Incidentally how's the Appleton household going on this summer given the relative success of Grimsby compared with Leicester last season? Presumably much mirth over the cornflakes as you suffer each new daily reminder of our fall from grace?
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Thanks for opening the wounds of living with Mrs A after this last season, not only does she constantly go on about her "amazing first season in the prediction league" or alternatively " it won't be long before we play each other twice a season" comments!!! I have tried several ways to take her mind off of this ( holidays, good food, gifts etc) but if this carries on then I maybe digging a new patio!!!!!!
UTF
PS Only joking darling ( for when you read this)
posted on 28/6/23
comment by Don'tUpsetTheAppletonCart (U13248)
posted 1 hour, 2 minutes ago
comment by Nuneaton_fox (U7936)
posted 1 hour, 17 minutes ago
Incidentally how's the Appleton household going on this summer given the relative success of Grimsby compared with Leicester last season? Presumably much mirth over the cornflakes as you suffer each new daily reminder of our fall from grace?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks for opening the wounds of living with Mrs A after this last season, not only does she constantly go on about her "amazing first season in the prediction league" or alternatively " it won't be long before we play each other twice a season" comments!!! I have tried several ways to take her mind off of this ( holidays, good food, gifts etc) but if this carries on then I maybe digging a new patio!!!!!!
UTF
PS Only joking darling ( for when you read this)
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😂😂😂
posted on 28/6/23
comment by Don'tUpsetTheAppletonCart (U13248)
posted 1 hour, 17 minutes ago
comment by Nuneaton_fox (U7936)
posted 1 hour, 17 minutes ago
Incidentally how's the Appleton household going on this summer given the relative success of Grimsby compared with Leicester last season? Presumably much mirth over the cornflakes as you suffer each new daily reminder of our fall from grace?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks for opening the wounds of living with Mrs A after this last season, not only does she constantly go on about her "amazing first season in the prediction league" or alternatively " it won't be long before we play each other twice a season" comments!!! I have tried several ways to take her mind off of this ( holidays, good food, gifts etc) but if this carries on then I maybe digging a new patio!!!!!!
UTF
PS Only joking darling ( for when you read this)
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You're welcome.
A couple of years ago someone espousing the possibility of us facing Grimsby in the League would have had a call made for the men in white coats to attend with a straitjacket!
Now not so much, with Rudders at the helm for us and a good season for the Mariners we could indeed be facing the prospect of a trip to Blundell Park for a league match next year! That absolutely is not an impossibility and I'm genuinely not joking when I say that.