2020/21 Carlo Ancelotti

[BlueToff]

Tom Davies is a limited footballer.

But...

Does he collect the ball off the defence? Yes.
Has he got the positional discipline which Allan and Doucoure lack? Yes.
Does he have a nack of just getting into the right place at the right time to break up opposition moves? Yes.

We have literally nobody else in the squad that does any of those three all at once like Davies does.

It's about balance. This isn't FIFA. Our team lacks balance and the only time it's looked remotely balanced has been when Davies has been in there.

We need better, but if we want to see the best out of Allan and Doucoure, we can't be playing them in a two.

 

[Thomasc]

Yet playing him in that 6 position helps get the best out of Allan and when it was Doucoure next to him, Doucoure looked a lot better.

Davies isn't the most talented player we have. He's fairly limited. But he's what our midfield needs right now of the options we have, to help get the best out of our other players.

That's all it is.

Yep, I’d play him at the moment, with Allan and Doucoure.
Gomes and Gylfi should only ever be used from the bench.

I think most in here are of the same opinion. Which is why Sundays line up was a bit of a head scratcher.

 

[Nymzee]

De Bruyne isn’t fast? All three of those players are quick enough, and that’s the difference.

Davies isn’t quick enough. He can just about get by if he’s patrolling just in front of the centrebacks and doesn’t get pulled out much. Same with Keane behind him, same with Siggurdson in front of him. They’re all ok in their one little area because if they have to go any further they are outsprinted by almost any opposition player.

They all have their individual fans who excuse them for it but when you put them all together in one team then it results in us being utterly dominated by most teams because we can’t get the ball back often.

Davies has shown, over years now, that he is not good enough for top 4 football. That’s the target we’re going for so why do we keep pretending he’s going to help us get there? He’s not. In fact his errors against United and Burnley alone just off the top of my head even before looking any deeper probably cost us a few points that could have meant Europe.

Not good enough in any capacity. Teams like Liverpool, Leicester, even West Ham, teams were competing agaisnt don’t even have players like Davies as 4th or 5th choice midfielders. They have the likes of Keita Oxlade Chamberlain Praet Mendy. Players who are miles better than Davies. That’s the level we need to get the squad at.

Alright then, since he plays the 6, how about Fernandinho, Rodri, Gareth Barry, all slow.

You can not rate him as a player but finding a video of very fast players teasing him about being slower than them (which we all know) ranks up there with the Holgate chewing gum and DCL fashion sense floppy dad gang.

 

[BlueToff]

De Bruyne isn’t fast? All three of those players are quick enough, and that’s the difference.

Davies isn’t quick enough. He can just about get by if he’s patrolling just in front of the centrebacks and doesn’t get pulled out much. Same with Keane behind him, same with Siggurdson in front of him. They’re all ok in their one little area because if they have to go any further they are outsprinted by almost any opposition player.

They all have their individual fans who excuse them for it but when you put them all together in one team then it results in us being utterly dominated by most teams because we can’t get the ball back often.

Davies has shown, over years now, that he is not good enough for top 4 football. That’s the target we’re going for so why do we keep pretending he’s going to help us get there? He’s not. In fact his errors against United and Burnley alone just off the top of my head even before looking any deeper probably cost us a few points that could have meant Europe.

Not good enough in any capacity. Teams like Liverpool, Leicester, even West Ham, teams were competing agaisnt don’t even have players like Davies as 4th or 5th choice midfielders. They have the likes of Keita Oxlade Chamberlain Praet Mendy. Players who are miles better than Davies. That’s the level we need to get the squad at.

But mate, that is exactly what we need right now.

We have two midfielders who want to do everything but that, so when they get played past (and effing David McGoldrick managed that the other day) we have nobody else sitting there. Same when we played villa at home.

You've, in that bit in bold, inadvertently highlighted exactly why Davies should be playing.

Yes, we need to improve on him and a fair few others. But our midfield has looked better with him in there this season. Not because of what he offers in pace, or power or physique or skill, but in that he does simple things that help get the better out of other players who then aren't having to worry about just sitting in one place.

 

[Goat]

Alright then, since he plays the 6, how about Fernandinho, Rodri, Gareth Barry, all slow.

You can not rate him as a player but finding a video of very fast players teasing him about being slower than them (which we all know) ranks up there with the Holgate chewing gum and DCL fashion sense floppy dad gang.

The Holgate chewing gum 1 is superb.

Proper triggers the floppys.

 

[Nymzee]

The Holgate chewing gum 1 is superb.

Proper triggers the floppys.

That match he snorted salts and chewed gum was amazing.

 

[Bkk Andy]

I'm changing it to 20 years now. For being so smart. Wanna keep going?

Test me.

Do it. I've being waiting longer than that already.

 

[Bob Elstone]

I’d play the Kit man before Gomes

 

[Efcjake]

Didn't think the season finished yet

It isn't but I have no confidence in them today or for the weekend.

 

[kenada_blue]

It isn't but I have no confidence in them today or for the weekend.

I agree but it's in our own hands. Fans being back should give them a kick in the arse for 3 points. Puts us on 59.

Arsenal have to win their last 2 (61 points max). Leeds their last game (59points max)

If we get a win and then they want to save a bit of pride for a no doubt weakened City side...61 points is a bare minimum.

62 would be good.

 

[Moonlight dribbler]

I’d play the Kit man before Gomes

Change it Joe!!!! change it!!!!

 

[Papa Shango]

Agree dangerous game in modern football to call out the dressing room unless he's confident he'll have a good 4-5 signings to come in this summer and replace the current lot.

Otherwise they could very well down tools and see him gone certainly if they feel he isn't accepting much of the criticism towards his tactics etc.

Would we notice any difference?

 

[Methuselah]

Telegraph Sport today quotes Ancelotti as saying that he was 'forced to seek some home truths from his players' after the latest setback at Goodison Park. If that was the first time this season he had felt a need to do a 'search' then he was several months too late.

 

[Saint Domingo]

But mate, that is exactly what we need right now.

We have two midfielders who want to do everything but that, so when they get played past (and effing David McGoldrick managed that the other day) we have nobody else sitting there. Same when we played villa at home.

You've, in that bit in bold, inadvertently highlighted exactly why Davies should be playing.

Yes, we need to improve on him and a fair few others. But our midfield has looked better with him in there this season. Not because of what he offers in pace, or power or physique or skill, but in that he does simple things that help get the better out of other players who then aren't having to worry about just sitting in one place.

It’s not enough though, compared with our peers in the league. Even just doing what limited job he can in there, Davies can only really do it when we are under the pump and sitting deep (like at Anfield), he needs to be able to play both ways though and when he had to do this v Burnley he gave a goal away in a game we were comfortable in until that point. He can’t just do one aspect of the game averagely and expect that to be enough to have a spot in our squad based on ‘yeah but all our other midfielders are rubbish too’

 

[Saint Domingo]

Alright then, since he plays the 6, how about Fernandinho, Rodri, Gareth Barry, all slow.

You can not rate him as a player but finding a video of very fast players teasing him about being slower than them (which we all know) ranks up there with the Holgate chewing gum and DCL fashion sense floppy dad gang.

Gareth Barry was too slow by the end, and he was part of the reason we finished bottom half twice under Martinez. It wasn’t a popular view then and it seemingly isn’t now but slow players have to be absolutely exceptional if you want to carry them. Pirlo maybe, Messi now, James, or perhaps an outstanding penalty box poacher like Inzaghi. You can carry one maybe in your team if they are brilliant. You can’t carry 5 or 6 average ones all in the same side though. You get ran over and dominated which is what happens to us too often.