Tottenham encouragingly sign Harry Winks and Ben Davies to five-year deals
By Gary Pearson
Harry Winks and Ben Davies signed new five-year deals with Tottenham today, the club announced.
This is a great bit of news for the club.
Winks has endured a few miserable years in terms of injuries but is an essential cog in Tottenham’s fine-tuned wheel.
His poise on the ball creates a pervading calmness for teammates and supporters alike. Hopefully we can keep Winks healthy, as he’s no good to us perpetually splayed out on the training table. The crafty midfielder has never offered a goal threat, but his passing ability is one of the best on the side.
Winks, who made his debut with Spurs in a 2014 Europa League tie against FK Partizan, when he scored a brace, is still only 23 years old. His prime is still years away, so it’s crucial he continually develops in the heart of Spurs’ midfield while avoiding the injury bug. His career can either ascend to eminent heights or sputter out like so many before him, the result of which is all predicated on whether he can stay healthy.
Reliable, unassuming Ben
Reliable, unassuming Ben is also going to be around for the long term, another piece of great news for the club.
Many supporters don’t believe Davies is good enough technically to play at Spurs. They assert he’s too slow and not quite flashy enough. I disagree wholeheartedly with that sentiment. Davies’ defensive prowess alone is enough to earn him a place on the side.
He’s sturdy and defensively sound, and can also create chances going forward. Davies enjoyed his best season at the club in 2017-18, when he put up six assists and lost only five matches in 29 Premier League appearances.
If Tottenham can elicit a repeat of that season, they’ll be in good stead heading into the next few seasons. The Welshman, in contrast to Danny Rose, is predictable, reliable, sometimes even a bit boring.
While most might condemn those characteristics, having a left back who provides calmness and poise is of great benefit to a club like Tottenham. Plus, he’s still only 26 years old and hasn’t yet played his best football. This might be the season we see Davies return to Spurs’ first choice left back pedestal. If so, hopefully he returns to the vintage form he consistently displayed in 2017-18.