Tottenham tactics: Winks may overtake Dembele in starting XI this summer
Harry Winks may start for Tottenham next season
The idea that Tottenham may elect to bench Mousa Dembele in favour of young Harry Winks might come as a shock to many fans. However, Spurs fans who’ve been watching the two midfielders closely as of late can certainly see the momentum heading in Winks’ direction.
In a vacuum, Dembele is clearly the superior player. The 29-year-old Belgian is a physically imposing midfielder who can hold on to the ball in tight spaces. On his day, he’s one of the most impressive dribblers in the Premier League.
In sharp contrast, Winks doesn’t look intimidating in the slightest when he strides onto the pitch. In truth, he looks more like a ball boy than a standout midfielder. When the match begins, his quality on the ball is impossible to ignore.
It’s his ability to keep the ball moving for his club that may allow him to overtake Dembele in Mauricio Pochettino’s starting XI. He is the only Spurs midfielder who really has the ability to spray the ball all over the pitch. Both Dembele and Victor Wanyama are much stronger, but they can’t distribute the ball with the same quality.
More from Tottenham Hotspur
- Bayern Munich reach agreement for Harry Kane
- Antonio Conte goes scorched earth on Tottenham
- Clement Lenglet set to join Tottenham on loan
- Tottenham set to sign Brazilian Richarlison
- Tottenham Hotspur hold off Arsenal for Champions League spot
Ultimately, the choice between Winks and Dembele may come down to the formation that Pochettino chooses to employ. If he sticks with a conventional 4-2-3-1 then Wanyama and Dembele can coexist in the same starting XI. If, however, he goes with three at the back next season as his usual formation, then Spurs will need to make sure they start a ball playing midfielder every week.
That means that Pochettino will choose between Wanyama and Dembele for one spot, leaving Winks unopposed in the other position. Again, Winks isn’t better than Dembele, but he is a better fit for the needs of the squad overall.
The one thing that could throw a wrench into this idea is if Tottenham elect to purchase another midfield option this summer. Bringing in a player like Adrien Rabiot or Youri Tielemans could push Winks further down the pecking order. That might seem unfair for the precocious young Englishman, but that’s the sort of decision that will be required to take the Spurs squad from good to great.
Mousa Dembele may need to either improve his game or expand it if he wants to remain a mainstay in Pochettino’s starting XI. Harry Winks is coming strong for the Belgian’s spot in the lineup.