So if he's playing the anchor role, that's instead of PEH? I really wouldn't want to see them in the same team on a regular basis.
And I don't think his long passing is anywhere good enough to play that role. Yet, anyway.
As to the stats, I don't know what they assess, but he wouldn't be anywhere near my top 10 midfielders in the country.
When it comes to Winks, I don't see any stand out qualities. Most footballers have some discernible strengths/qualities that identify them. With Winks I just don't see it.
No, it's not just instead, but no doubt they will be competing for a team space - which is exactly what he needed.
You'll see Jose set up with both side by side in some games, and not in other - and you'll more likely see more game management in that area depending on how we're performing and how Jose has us tactically set up.
So far we've barely seen N'Dombele and LoCo build a partnership, as it looks to me as Jose sees that as too bold to immeadiatly start a game on the front foot and with the midfield pressing higher up the pitch, of course that may change with Docherty and Reggie starting more often, but because we tend to start by playing deep and with not much intensity, it's why we are so at risk in midfield - as we did against Chelsea where our deep line handed them the midfield area and allowed them to press us so hard and so easily push onto us.
Winks long pass stats (over 15 yards) are the fifth best in the PL (as of end of last season) it's 6th over short passing, what he has had to curtail is his attempt to get forward and run beyong the oppositions midfield - Jose's concentration and coaching of huim has all concentrated on the defensive side of his game (his words), Jose prefers holders to hold their space and punt the ball long either to flanks or over the top, or the long ball into space for the runners.
Winks qualities have it's fair to say struggled to shine ever since the bad ankle injury that has reocuured since (twice) and he now only players with pain killers in ankle - and until that recovery phase passes, my guess is we won't see the best of him - he is another who has been over-played and played when he shouldn't have been - but my hope remains that as he's used more judiciously, that we're see him come back to his best form.
We need combinations of CMer's depending on the context and who we are playing.
Winks ability to the retain teh ball and his successful passes and his interceptions mark him out as being an exceptional player, but no doubt he has to add more, perhaps now, he'll get that chance to - finally we will have some squad depth and the ability to rotate.
