Tom Davies

[Durham Toffee]

We can go with the 1-4-1-1-1-1-1-1 formation. Strong up the middle.

There's a joke in there somewhere,...

 

[Billy Dean]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football...vies-goes-back-school-goodison-hero-prepares/
In an era of huge sponsorship deals, transfer rumours stalking players after one decent game and choreographed PR, there is a virtuous charm to Davies. He epitomises the innocent formative stage where it really is about wearing the shirt, scoring in front of 40,000 fans and going home to his mum and dad’s house to watch it back on Match of the Day.

“The rewards for me are playing for Everton, and scoring. There hasn’t been anything else I have thought about it,” he says. “I have always just wanted to play football and have days like Sunday.

It's about being comfortable in your own skin. Not being influenced by other people. Just be good at what you do and be the person you want to be
“It’s a privilege for me to play in front of those fans. They really want you to do well. That’s why when I slid on my knees, I was thinking I need to get into the crowd.

“It might sound strange when you’ve just been playing in front of all those people and then you come home and you’re watching the television with your mum and dad, but it was just a normal day.”

Great interview, really got his head screwed on this kid!

 

[davek]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football...vies-goes-back-school-goodison-hero-prepares/
In an era of huge sponsorship deals, transfer rumours stalking players after one decent game and choreographed PR, there is a virtuous charm to Davies. He epitomises the innocent formative stage where it really is about wearing the shirt, scoring in front of 40,000 fans and going home to his mum and dad’s house to watch it back on Match of the Day.

“The rewards for me are playing for Everton, and scoring. There hasn’t been anything else I have thought about it,” he says. “I have always just wanted to play football and have days like Sunday.

It's about being comfortable in your own skin. Not being influenced by other people. Just be good at what you do and be the person you want to be
“It’s a privilege for me to play in front of those fans. They really want you to do well. That’s why when I slid on my knees, I was thinking I need to get into the crowd.

“It might sound strange when you’ve just been playing in front of all those people and then you come home and you’re watching the television with your mum and dad, but it was just a normal day.”

Good interview that. This part stood out:

"I hope I am in the side, can put in another good performance and keep the momentum going. There are parts of my game I am good at but I don’t think I’m fantastic at any one thing – just good at most things. I feel I have to keep on improving."

I think that's spot on, tbf. I dont see a player who has an obvious weakness, but neither do I see a player with a standout quality. He's got a good engine and attitude and he's right to say he needs to continue that and work on adding to his game. He's going to be fortunate in that respect that he has a manager in Koeman who values such players. The pick of our academy though is still Dowell. By contrast he's not touched lucky with the arrival of Koeman. A touch player like him isn't going to be seen as having a crucial role in any Everton team he manages.

 

[Deulofeumygod]

In case you were not aware, Tom costs just over two million in fantasy football

 

[TomMcCann]

Good interview that. This part stood out:

"I hope I am in the side, can put in another good performance and keep the momentum going. There are parts of my game I am good at but I don’t think I’m fantastic at any one thing – just good at most things. I feel I have to keep on improving."

I think that's spot on, tbf. I dont see a player who has an obvious weakness, but neither do I see a player with a standout quality. He's got a good engine and attitude and he's right to say he needs to continue that and work on adding to his game. He's going to be fortunate in that respect that he has a manager in Koeman who values such players. The pick of our academy though is still Dowell. By contrast he's not touched lucky with the arrival of Koeman. A touch player like him isn't going to be seen as having a crucial role in any Everton team he manages.

I don't know yeno Dave, Dowell has grown closer to 6 foot and is bulking up a bit. Maybe a loan for the rest of the season and back for pre season in the first team, he's a similar player to Tadic and Koeman liked him.

 

[dublinbluenose]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football...vies-goes-back-school-goodison-hero-prepares/
In an era of huge sponsorship deals, transfer rumours stalking players after one decent game and choreographed PR, there is a virtuous charm to Davies. He epitomises the innocent formative stage where it really is about wearing the shirt, scoring in front of 40,000 fans and going home to his mum and dad’s house to watch it back on Match of the Day.

“The rewards for me are playing for Everton, and scoring. There hasn’t been anything else I have thought about it,” he says. “I have always just wanted to play football and have days like Sunday.

It's about being comfortable in your own skin. Not being influenced by other people. Just be good at what you do and be the person you want to be
“It’s a privilege for me to play in front of those fans. They really want you to do well. That’s why when I slid on my knees, I was thinking I need to get into the crowd.

“It might sound strange when you’ve just been playing in front of all those people and then you come home and you’re watching the television with your mum and dad, but it was just a normal day.”

So much maturity in that piece, fair play to him. I wonder has having Alan Whittle as his uncle influenced him with respect to the football business.

 

[davek]

I don't know yeno Dave, Dowell has grown closer to 6 foot and is bulking up a bit. Maybe a loan for the rest of the season and back for pre season in the first team, he's a similar player to Tadic and Koeman liked him.

Well, I haven't seen Dowell since he broke onto the scene and got a preseason run out and competitive half or two under Martinez. But the lad has vision and looks like he can play in between lines. I'll be surprised if he makes an impression on Koeman unless he's added a lot of perspiration to the inspiration.

 

[tim cahill]

Good interview that. This part stood out:

"I hope I am in the side, can put in another good performance and keep the momentum going. There are parts of my game I am good at but I don’t think I’m fantastic at any one thing – just good at most things. I feel I have to keep on improving."

I think that's spot on, tbf. I dont see a player who has an obvious weakness, but neither do I see a player with a standout quality. He's got a good engine and attitude and he's right to say he needs to continue that and work on adding to his game. He's going to be fortunate in that respect that he has a manager in Koeman who values such players. The pick of our academy though is still Dowell. By contrast he's not touched lucky with the arrival of Koeman. A touch player like him isn't going to be seen as having a crucial role in any Everton team he manages.

If Dowell is good enough then I'm sure he'll get a chance. How much of him have you seen?

 

[davek]

If Dowell is good enough then I'm sure he'll get a chance. How much of him have you seen?

Answered above.

...and yes, he is good enough. But certain skills are valued by some managers more than/less than by others.

 

[TomMcCann]

Well, I haven't seen Dowell since he broke onto the scene and got a preseason run out and competitive half or two under Martinez. But the lad has vision and looks like he can play in between lines. I'll be surprised if he makes an impression on Koeman unless he's added a lot of perspiration to the inspiration.

Yeah no match day squads as of yet but I hope he does make it, he's the closest thing we've got to play as a natural no10.

 

[Seanjd]

Good interview that. This part stood out:

"I hope I am in the side, can put in another good performance and keep the momentum going. There are parts of my game I am good at but I don’t think I’m fantastic at any one thing – just good at most things. I feel I have to keep on improving."

I think that's spot on, tbf. I dont see a player who has an obvious weakness, but neither do I see a player with a standout quality. He's got a good engine and attitude and he's right to say he needs to continue that and work on adding to his game. He's going to be fortunate in that respect that he has a manager in Koeman who values such players. The pick of our academy though is still Dowell. By contrast he's not touched lucky with the arrival of Koeman. A touch player like him isn't going to be seen as having a crucial role in any Everton team he manages.

I must say, I was well impressed with Korman's decision to start Davies against City. He clearly trusts good youth players if he thinks they are up to the job. Granted, he prefers larger, powerhouse type players, and I don't know too much about Dowell apart from that preseason, but I think if he's good enough he will play him.

 

[nsno-chris]

Answered above.

...and yes, he is good enough. But certain skills are valued by some managers more than/less than by others.

He's been bang out of form for the U23's, he even admitted in an interview the other day. That's why he and the club want him to go out on loan

 

[Billy Dean]

So much maturity in that piece, fair play to him. I wonder has having Alan Whittle as his uncle influenced him with respect to the football business.

Maybe his whole family with his brother and dad being non league players too.

 

[bluestevon]

Good interview that. This part stood out:

"I hope I am in the side, can put in another good performance and keep the momentum going. There are parts of my game I am good at but I don’t think I’m fantastic at any one thing – just good at most things. I feel I have to keep on improving."

I think that's spot on, tbf. I dont see a player who has an obvious weakness, but neither do I see a player with a standout quality. He's got a good engine and attitude and he's right to say he needs to continue that and work on adding to his game. He's going to be fortunate in that respect that he has a manager in Koeman who values such players. The pick of our academy though is still Dowell. By contrast he's not touched lucky with the arrival of Koeman. A touch player like him isn't going to be seen as having a crucial role in any Everton team he manages.

Dowell shouldn't be in the first team squad atm though Dave, those who regularly watch the under 23s and the player himself have commented on his form this season being much down on last years.

Under 23s need to excel at that level to earn the step up - at least that's the way it should/needs to be to properly motivate them to keep improving.

Really the team can carry maybe one or two max luxury players, ones who don't quite put the workdays in of a Davies or gueye, atm Barkley and lukaku fall into that catagory as at times does mirallas, obviously the managers trying to change that with those, and to a degree is showing signs all of those are working much harder of late.

Dowell anyways is behind maybe 3-4 others at a guess in his chances of breaking into the squad, Kenny and maybe Walsh would both get a chance before him I'd say. obviously holgate and Davies already have. Lad really needs a good loan spell to show he's ready now.

 

[catcherintherye]

Answered above.

...and yes, he is good enough. But certain skills are valued by some managers more than/less than by others.

Wait till you see Liam Walsh mate. A fantastic footballer but lack of size could cost us him. He's akin to Paul Scholes at the end of his career.

The point you make is a good one. The manager values certain players and it may well cost Dowell & Walsh who I think would have "made the grade" under Martinez. I still hold out hope, it's good to hear Dowell has shot up and filled out.