Tottenham 2017-18 Player Preview: Victor Wanyama
By Ryan Wrenn
What more is there to say about Victor Wanyama — the clear starter at the base of Mauricio Pochettino’s midfield when healthy — in HotspurHQ’s Tottenham player preview?
The big Kenyan arrived at Tottenham last season as the presumptive backup for Eric Dier and, barely over a month after his debut, claimed the defensive midfield spot as his own.
Part of that was down to an injury Dier suffered, but Wanyama’s ascent up the depth chart is much more a matter of his unique suitability for Pochettino’s system.
Dier, of course, also thrived in that role, but Wanyama’s mobility and ability to chase down threats through the middle represented an upgrade. It wasn’t dramatic, but it in a game of slim margins it was enough to drop Dier to the bench upon his return to fitness.
Depending on your perspective, Wanyama’s arrival into the starting XI either benefited from or necessitated Pochettino’s shift in tactics mid-way through the campaign.
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As we discussed in our previous player preview, Dier’s primary talent is fulling as many as three roles over the course of 90 minutes. He is qualified at centre-back, right-back and defensive midfield — a versatility that made a lot possible in Pochettino’s once-preferred 4-2-3-1.
Wanyama’s talent is more limited, specifically to the center of the park. He is less capable than Dier of pulling wide to cover the run of the full-back beside him, or dropping deep to supplement the center of defense.
Which is why it makes perfect sense that Wanyama really found his rhythm in the revamped 3-4-2-1 formation Pochettino favored almost as much as the 4-2-3-1 from December on. The presence of an additional centre-back — in this case Dier himself — helped cover the runs of Kyle Walker or Kieran Trippier as well as adding an extra body to the space in front of Hugo Lloris’ goal.
Unburdened by threats behind and to the side, Wanyama could reach his peak game by countering threats right in front of him through the center of the park. Expect him to continue to thrive in the coming season, especially if Pochettino finds a way to press on with the 3-4-2-1 formation.
A lingering back issue complicates matters for Wanyama at the start of the season however. His minimal minutes in Tottenham’s pre-season friendlies suggest he won’t be fit for Newcastle on Sunday, which means that either Dier or Harry Winks will perch up at the center of the park instead.
With Dier most likely needed either as part of a back-three or in a more convenient right-back role in place of the also-injured Kieran Trippier, the role will most likely fall to Winks.
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As promising as the Spurs youngster might be, he doesn’t realistically challenge Wanyama in the same way that Dier might. He’s simply closer to Mousa Dembélé in terms of preferred position.
Expect Wanyama to reclaim his spot in the starting XI as soon as he is fully fit.