2020/21 Tom Davies

[Toast]

Tom Davies is a Toyota Yaris.

Only on GOT.

 

[Martin Alvito]

Yeah the very best in the world are still the ball playing midfielders like Xavi Iniesta Modric Pirlo etc. but if you don’t have a player at that level then it’s very difficult for the flair players. Even then Iniesta and Modric had pace to go past players. Davies can slip his man and then his man can get back goalside easily. Osman was similar, a very very good technical player (far better than Davies in my book) but if Kevin Davies and Mark Noble are getting to the ball before him then it doesn’t count for anything.

Lack of/declining pace seems to retire players, or end their world-class status, more than any other single factor. Injuries often play a part in that.

You can compensate for lack of pace with football IQ more easily at some positions than others. Center back is probably the most demanding on football IQ, because you don't have the space/time to recover from mistakes with pace. At the other end of the spectrum, you're going to have a bad time in a wide forward position without pace unless you bring some truly unique skill, such as Mueller's spatial magic or Robben's cut in to his left-footed cannon.

My concern with Davies has always been that I don't see where the pace, or the particular skill that gets his name onto the team sheet, is going to come from. That said, he ticks the homegrown player box and provides midfield cover at a reasonable wage, so he's probably not going anywhere in January.

 

[Mikey O]

He's going to have a cracker tonight (fingers crossed)

 

[Lloydystark]

Where was his brain on Saturday, with the penalty. On his heels in his own box, not knowing what’s around him.

Look at Leicester last season, he cost us the game. Trying fancy flicks in his own half and trying to dribble past players in injury time and losing the ball, Leicester break and score the winner.

I remember being at the Leicester game where he scored in the carabao cup to start a good comeback I’m guessing were on about different games

 

[catcherintherye]

It’s not even strength, it’s pace, it’s the difference between fouling an opposition player with your second touch or being fouled. The benchmark in this league unfortunately at the moment are Fabinho Henderson Wijnaldum. None of these three are particularly classy on the ball but all of them are absolute machines who sprint quickly and have physical power. In the past we’ve been going up against them with a midfield two of Davies and Siggurdson. Even if they won the ball back they couldn’t get to their own second touch before being swamped again. Allan and Doucoure are a step in the right direction and hopefully Gbamin will add to that also but the days of a Fabregas type of midfielder strolling around and spraying balls about are over. Mourinho Guardiola and Klopp have changed the game now. Pace and power are king to give the team a platform to then play football. We can’t carry the likes of Kenny Sigurdsson Davies against these sort of teams and expect to win consistently. we need players like Godfrey who will match Mane step for step and stay in a physical tussle with him for 95 minutes until he eventually got fed up which is what happened in the Goodison derby. Imagine Kenny having to deal with Son one on one? Davies v Kante? Sigurdsson trying to run past Fabinho. It’s men v boys stuff and is the reason our record in away games was terrible.

DCL Richarlison Doucoure Allan Godfrey Holgate - yes

Kenny Davies Tosun Sigurdsson Coleman - no.

Well it's both really. If you're not strong and not quick it's difficult.

I suppose the frustration is, that Davies was relative strong as an 18 year old. He has fallen behind others in the same age, which is understandable (people grow at different rates) but it shouldn't have been so pronounced. He could certainly be stronger, hard to get quicker but could have been stronger.

As you say, he's a bit one paced really (though he has a good engine) but he's also weak on and off the ball. He should have got bigger and stronger in the last 4 years.

His decision making is getting better as is his positional discipline. This season he's been much more disciplined, but not not kicked on in general as he might have done.

 

[Lloydystark]

He's going to have a cracker tonight (fingers crossed)

So many “fans” will hope he doesn’t then can come straight to this thread and type SELL, GET RID, CONFERENCE LEVEL and vent there hate at him lol

 

[twoblue]

He’s played over a 100 games, do you really think Ancelotti is going to give him 40 games over the next 12months just to see if he can reach that level.

No youngster is getting that opportunity at a club that wants champions league football. Look at Foden, miles a head of Davies, yet is still only a bit part at city. Jones at Liverpool again, class above Davies and has played a bit recently because of injuries. Next season at 21 he will probably still be a squad player, when all their players are back.

Davies isn’t getting an opportunity. He is playing because the first choice is out and he is perceived as back up.
tbh thought he played alright against Arsenal. 6/10 - not enough to turn heads but solid

 

[Stephenlloyd]

I remember being at the Leicester game where he scored in the carabao cup to start a good comeback I’m guessing were on about different games

The league game at their place. We led 1-0 and lost 2-1. To a late goal

 

[JMT]

We should have sent him out on loan a long time ago but maybe the City goal changed it and everyone thought we had a special talent on our hands that we had to nurture and develop ourselves, He's still only 22 but I don't think he's kicked on at all and he'll probably end up as an "okay" player, Like a Tom Cleverly type.

 

[TimHowardsBeardJuice]

Tom Davies is a Toyota Yaris.

... which although ugly and small, starts, runs well, and gets good mileage

he'll probably end up as an "okay" player, Like a Tom Cleverly type.

... would Tom Cleverly or James McCarthy or the like* have started occasionally for us in 2020, and would we have been grateful to have at least a competent player to plug in?

Yes.

*They're both on the downslope, age-wise. I'm discussing as if in their prime, such as it was.

 

[chippy1722]

Well it's both really. If you're not strong and not quick it's difficult.

I suppose the frustration is, that Davies was relative strong as an 18 year old. He has fallen behind others in the same age, which is understandable (people grow at different rates) but it shouldn't have been so pronounced. He could certainly be stronger, hard to get quicker but could have been stronger.

As you say, he's a bit one paced really (though he has a good engine) but he's also weak on and off the ball. He should have got bigger and stronger in the last 4 years.

His decision making is getting better as is his positional discipline. This season he's been much more disciplined, but not not kicked on in general as he might have done.

Davies’ biggest downfall is that no one has give him a set position and coached him in it. He’s been used in a few different positions when needed. He may not actually be good enough but he’d have more of a chance being settled and coached.

Rewind back a season or two and if he was coached properly he may have been able to do what Allan is doing. I also think it’s something Holgate could do, especially after watching him in midfield last year.

 

[Charles Hawtrey]

Tom Davies is a Toyota Yaris.

Only on GOT.

Tom Davies is a bit above the Yaris I think. Not much, but he is more of a Kia Soul - the bright yellow one with the tartan seats. Utilitarian but still not much pace and not great handling. Also uncomfortable if used for any length of time.

 

[Tigger]

... which although ugly and small, starts, runs well, and gets good mileage



... would Tom Cleverly or James McCarthy or the like* have started occasionally for us in 2020, and would we have been grateful to have at least a competent player to plug in?

Yes.

*They're both on the downslope, age-wise. I'm discussing as if in their prime, such as it was.

I'd say a fit McCarthy would walk into our strongest 11 instead of Gomes and sit behind Allan and Doucs.

 

[Tony1966]

Who is Tom Davies being played ahead of that he shouldn't be?

You see, if someone went out and bought a Mercedes and a Range Range rover but couldn't use either because they are unreliable or off the road then wouldn't it be a bit daft of them to criticise the run around that was given to them to get from a to b.

I'd be spending more time looking at why the range rover won't drive through a muddy puddle or why the BMW conks out on the motorway rather than asking why the toyata Yaris only has 70 horse power and no air conditioning.

It's footballing snobbery. The lad could go to another club like Burnley, earn a signing on fee and play every week rather than be 6th choice for us.

He wouldn’t get in the Burnley team though. All their midfielders are more useful than him.

 

[marcus]

He wouldn’t get in the Burnley team though. All their midfielders are more useful than him.

Beg to differ there lad...

Toyota Yaris only a few years old has plenty of mileage left & petrol in the tank & does not keep conking out on the road...