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Tom Davies

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he doesn't have Barry's nouse
Liability
What top 10 side relies on a 18 year old teenager as their creative midfielder

He's all heart and hard running. But having seen him a few times now I dont see a great player in the making. He gave us a big boost when Gueye had to leave for the AFCON, but I think maybe his limitations are becoming apparent now.


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He is a young lad with a bright future. He had an off day against Spurs but most did. These are the games he will take a great deal of experience from to help him become more consistent and established. Expect a few more off days from him but don't write him off just yet.
 
His limitations are that he doesn't excel at any of them.

The lad himself was refreshingly honest about that in an interview a few weeks back. He even stated that what he has to do is to bring up the level of all those things you mention to stay in the team.
Some questions Dave.

What is your interpretation of a very good player? Who are you comparing him to when you say this?

What exactly do you mean when you say that he doesn't excel in any one attribute?. How would you describe excel?. Give me an example, using a player of Tom's age, who excels at a particular attribute.

You said in a previous post. You have watched him a few times now and have decided, with your obvious experience in these matters, that you don't see a great player in the making. By great do you mean the likes of Messi, Ronaldo, Cruyff, Maradona, Pele? If so, I don't think anyone would disagree with you.

In another post, you also compare him to the likes of Livermoore and Davis. Really??. Name me a player who is 18 years of age who is playing to the same standard as Davies in the premier league at the moment. Spread that Europe wide if you like.
 

Not sure about the England shout (although maybe, as there's been some tosh who've had the odd game for that lot). But the examples you give above: Livermore and Davis are apt...that sort deserve a place in a starting line up at middle ranking clubs for sure. Henderson is different as he has a dig on him and can get a few goals, so that elevates him above the decent but unspectacular midfielders.

I'm not running Davies down. He can do exactly what he says he must do (improve all the core skills you mention above) and be a starter for Everton for years. But he must progress and develop his game from this point because, IMO, it wont be enough as is to command a starting place in a team that makes a tilt for a top four spot.

I think that's fair. We are looking at an 18 year old as well so it goes without saying he has to do better.

Look at all of our other midfielders, McCarthy, Schneiderlin, Gueye- however well they have done they are far from the complete players.

I think Davies will do fine. I've watched him from when he was a young player and never felt he'd be at Barkleys levels and has pleasantly surprised me. At Everton we have a tendency to want every player to be as good as Rooney. Bringing through local lads, even if they end up as squad men has an awful lot of merit. Be honest would you prefer to see squad positions filled by local lads like Davies, or players like Cleverley or to an extent your Nevilles of this world.

Alex Fergusan did many things very well, but understood having local lads brought through as squad players had an enormous value. Nicky Butt and Phil Neville got over 80 caps and many league medals from doing this.
 

I didn't even think he was that bad at the weekend

Not his best performance but he's still learning and Spurs are a top side

We need to manage our expectations and let him develop, mistakes and all
He's 18 ffs.
His performances shouldn't even be a consideration imo. He's already brought quality moments to the side this season. If he does nothing else all year he will have shown progression.
As you say - we need to manage our expectations not criticise him for such elevated / ridiculous views which we have after he retired the City team by himself.
 
I don't think that Davies had a really bad game on Sunday, think we just had too many midfielders trying to do the same job and either getting in each other's way or leaving it to one another. Don't think Koeman will make the same mistake again.
Fully expect Davies to start again next game with either mirallas or lookman coming in for Barry and balance to be restored.
 
A year down the line further with Koeman and Walsh and I wouldn't expect Davies to be in that starting XI.

The lad is still very young but clearly a talent and will benefit from being part of the first team squad. I've no doubt he'll learn and develop into a player that will get 300+ appearances for us.

Sometimes I despair at our supporters. Lookman was getting grief off some near to me at Boro.
 
He's 18 ffs.
His performances shouldn't even be a consideration imo. He's already brought quality moments to the side this season. If he does nothing else all year he will have shown progression.
As you say - we need to manage our expectations not criticise him for such elevated / ridiculous views which we have after he retired the City team by himself.

If he plays awful, then fine he's played awful, but that hasn't happened at the weekend

You're right, he's 18 and isn't going to be amazing every week, nor can we expect him to be

He's progressing and learning, and is showing good potential

Maybe he does need to go to the bench for a couple of games? It's not the end of the world so long as he keeps getting chances and minutes

He's not the finished article, but he's clearly talented and hopefully he'll get sharper with every first team minute he plays
 

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