While none of Tottenham Hotspur’s stars managed to find the back of the net during the international break (baring Gedson Fernandes who scored a penalty for Portugal’s Under-21s), several of them set up some important goals for their countries.
The likes of Harry Kane, Harry Winks, Gareth Bale, Son Heung-min, Giovani Lo Celso and Sergio Reguilon all assisted goals for their teammates over the last week and a half.
In fact, barring Davinson Sanchez, whose Colombian side were beaten comprehensively both by Uruguay and Ecuador, most of the Tottenham stars, including the likes of Hugo Lloris, Eric Dier, Ben Davies and Joe Rodon, put in decent displays for their nations.
Some Spurs fans have been left rather pleased to see the Tottenham stars rack up assists and are hopeful that the players can carry the form into the crucial clash against Manchester City on Saturday.
Winks, who got two assists in three matches for England, equalling his entire assist tally in the Premier League, got some love from the fans after being on the receiving end of some harsh criticism of late.
We've been holding Winks back apparently.
— Aaron Pitters (@aaronpitters) November 18, 2020
A team of assists. What has José done to the team bruh ?? https://t.co/ds6MXGtiFl
— Ady :) (@adybonai) November 19, 2020
lamela will be scoring all 10 goals assisted by these dons on saturday https://t.co/QiH9C6Y4W3
— taeseo ?? (@taeseothfc) November 19, 2020
Assist FC https://t.co/PIuzgMULnr
— Aakash THFC (@LlorisFC) November 19, 2020
How the hell we become such an asist merchant team https://t.co/tvpdH66Ei5
— jipo (@JlPP0) November 19, 2020
Two assists for winks so all you haters can do one #COYS #THFC https://t.co/ysjTaAehsX
— Rosspur (@RossFerguson19) November 18, 2020
Can we convert these into goals on Saturday please lads. https://t.co/O30aRYd8fg
— ENIC OUT (@nad_THFC) November 18, 2020
So much disrespect
— spurs1 (@spurs117) November 18, 2020
Winks with an assist ??
— Ankit (@Ankit_THFC) November 18, 2020
Winks more international assists than Grealish this break ?
— TAS⚽️ (@coys100) November 18, 2020
Spurs Web Opinion
Winks is a player who divides opinion and there is certainly a case to be made that he has not managed to kick on and develop as expected over the last couple of years. However, a lot of the criticism levelled at him for keeping his passing simple and not taking risks is not particularly fair because that is the role he is often asked to perform.
What Winks does provide over the likes of Lo Celso and Sissoko is that he keeps moving the ball quickly and always makes himself available for the pass while some of our other midfielders tend to hang on to the ball for a fraction too long. However, it is hard to see him getting into the Tottenham team as a double pivot of Sissoko and Hojbjerg seems to offer more balance.