Player Watch Player Watch: Ben Davies

[E17yid]

In 2011, Wales were so crap that the nearest UEFA team behind them in the FIFA rankings was Liechtenstein.

In 2023, Gibraltar are so crap that the nearest UEFA team behind them in the FIFA rankings is Liechtenstein.

Now this may speak to a decline of the beautiful game in the streets of Vaduz as much as anything, but it also demonstrates that 'lesser' teams will only improve if they get the opportunity to play against better teams.

No-one looked at Wales in the summer of 2011 and thought 'fuck it, let's not play them, it's an easy win, and not really a test at all', even though they'd have been within their rights to, because Wales at that time were, frankly, shit. No, they gave Wales a go, the Welsh got their act together and four years later were in the top ten teams in the world.

Now I'm not saying every nation can do this, but every team should have the opportunity to do this.

Take the team playing tonight. It's a godforsaken piece of rock stuck out on the fringes of Europe with no history of, or sensibility for, football whatsoever. The chances of them, say, making the Euros in 2024 are minuscule. Yet it's only fair they get a crack at it and get the opportunity to play better teams along the way.


And you can say the same for Gibraltar too.

Prick.

 

[C1w8]

In 2011, Wales were so crap that the nearest UEFA team behind them in the FIFA rankings was Liechtenstein.

In 2023, Gibraltar are so crap that the nearest UEFA team behind them in the FIFA rankings is Liechtenstein.

Now this may speak to a decline of the beautiful game in the streets of Vaduz as much as anything, but it also demonstrates that 'lesser' teams will only improve if they get the opportunity to play against better teams.

No-one looked at Wales in the summer of 2011 and thought 'fuck it, let's not play them, it's an easy win, and not really a test at all', even though they'd have been within their rights to, because Wales at that time were, frankly, shit. No, they gave Wales a go, the Welsh got their act together and four years later were in the top ten teams in the world.

Now I'm not saying every nation can do this, but every team should have the opportunity to do this.

Take the team playing tonight. It's a godforsaken piece of rock stuck out on the fringes of Europe with no history of, or sensibility for, football whatsoever. The chances of them, say, making the Euros in 2024 are minuscule. Yet it's only fair they get a crack at it and get the opportunity to play better teams along the way.


And you can say the same for Gibraltar too.

Slightly confused by the reactions to the post (presumably im missing the joke?!), but for me these friendlies are not much at all.

Wales turned it around because they had a lot of promising players playing at high levels domestically. The development of these players at their clubs transferred into a massive improvement in their national team.

The impact of that far, far outweighs any experience gained in these one-sided friendlies.

 

[branchie]

Good on him. Though you have to wonder what the value is for Wales to play a team like Gibraltar in a friendly. It’s an easy win, and not really a test at all. Truth is, their under 18s could probably have beaten Gibraltar.

This is why people hate friendlies and international breaks. Pointless games just being played for the sake of it.

Slightly off topic reply, but at least the FAW saw and took an opportunity to bring international football back to North Wales.

Games like these are important to inspire and it certainly felt like most of North Wales stuffed itself into the racecourse last night.

And made a nice bloody change from having to traverse the A470 (as usual)!

 

[Tucker]

Slightly off topic reply, but at least the FAW saw and took an opportunity to bring international football back to North Wales.

Games like these are important to inspire and it certainly felt like most of North Wales stuffed itself into the racecourse last night.

And made a nice bloody change from having to traverse the A470 (as usual)!

Yeah that’s one positive from it. Nothing stopping them from doing this for less meaningless matches though.

 

[easley91]

Anyone know why he wasn't involved tonight?

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

Anyone know why he wasn't involved tonight?

Good Q, injured or not making the squad, if not making the squad that’s interesting if Emerson covering at LB is preference over Ben.

I reckon he likely had a knock.

 

[robotsonic]

Sounds like there's been an illness around the squad, so wouldn't be surprised it he was taken out by that given we've heard nothing of an actual injury.

 

[bubble07]

Yea would be odd if he was dropped. You would expect him to be ahead of Phillips to give more balance

 

[djhotspur]

Sadly think he’s done here. No pace, can’t play the inverted role. I get he’s not played much but he just isn’t right for the system.
He’s been a great servant but this is part of the rebuild moving on the old guard Lloris, dier and Davies.

 

[Joely]

Not a fit in this team and like the way Ange didn't hang around in terms of getting him off the pitch. Don't think Ange is one for trying to fit square pegs in round holes so suspect won't be too long before Davies heads out imo.

 

[spurs mental]

Personally didn't think he was THAT bad tonight, but it does show how good Udogie has been. Nobody was really great first half though.

 

[Finchyid]

Personally didn't think he was THAT bad tonight, but it does show how good Udogie has been. Nobody was really great first half though.

I agree but Emerson was better being right footed. Davies just doesn’t work in this system

 

[carpediem991]

Personally i think Davies can play in this system. He always had a knack of making decent runs in the box. Tonight it was not working for him even though he was not too bad. Back on the bench and be ready when called up.

 

[amathews3416]

Do I want Davies starting any matches at LB after tonight? No. But I still believe he is a good leader and professional to have in the locker room and still has a role to play as a defensive substitution when we are killing off games late.

 

[rossdapep]

There was a moment where Emerson had the ball and players close to him, he quickly touched the ball into his left foot, back onto his right and pushed past the player to draw a foul.

Ange needs players who have a level of ability in 1v1s .

Emerson isnt the greatest but still has a degree of skill.

Davies is extremely limited. He has little agility and isnt a player who can touch the ball in tight spaces.

I also felt he was a little slow to take up underlaps and get back.

Those 2 aspects render him practically useless in an Ange system.

Sessegnon hasnt been great for us but I do think even he could do the role better as he can do these two factors to a decent level.

Davies, Skipp, Dier are the obvious 3 who really lack the abilities Ange needs and there wont be a surprise if all 2 are gone

 

[Frozen_Waffles]

There was a moment where Emerson had the ball and players close to him, he quickly touched the ball into his left foot, back onto his right and pushed past the player to draw a foul.

Ange needs players who have a level of ability in 1v1s .

Emerson isnt the greatest but still has a degree of skill.

Davies is extremely limited. He has little agility and isnt a player who can touch the ball in tight spaces.

I also felt he was a little slow to take up underlaps and get back.

Those 2 aspects render him practically useless in an Ange system.

Sessegnon hasnt been great for us but I do think even he could do the role better as he can do these two factors to a decent level.

Davies, Skipp, Dier are the obvious 3 who really lack the abilities Ange needs and there wont be a surprise if all 2 are gone

Like Dier, he hasn't got the pace to play the way we play now.

Still a solid player, but could be exposed in this system.

Royal was very good today, he also has the pace to play in this system, well more so than Davies at any rate.

 

[BorjeSpurs]

Dan Kilpatrick said journalist colleagues to him had seen Davies limping after the match so while he didn’t have a good half he was probably subbed early due to injury.

When fit and healthy he’ll be fine. After Emerson’s good second half he is probably 3rd choice for now at LB and maybe 4th/5th choice at LCB.

Let’s just say I’d rather have a great professional, with almost 10(!) years at the club filling that hole in the squad than Chelsea’s situation where that person is a newly-rich 21 year old who is thinking about his next loan move.

Same applies to Skipp being 6th choice at DM/CM.

 

[Neon_Knight_]

Dan Kilpatrick said journalist colleagues to him had seen Davies limping after the match so while he didn’t have a good half he was probably subbed early due to injury.

When fit and healthy he’ll be fine. After Emerson’s good second half he is probably 3rd choice for now at LB and maybe 4th/5th choice at LCB.

Let’s just say I’d rather have a great professional, with almost 10(!) years at the club filling that hole in the squad than Chelsea’s situation where that person is a newly-rich 21 year old who is thinking about his next loan move.

Same applies to Skipp being 6th choice at DM/CM.

Everyone also seems to be overlooking that he was rushed back from an injury due to Udogie getting a knock on Monday. Davies wasn't fit enough for the bench 4 days ago and was apparently 50/50 for today during the week.

 

[E17yid]

Do I want Davies starting any matches at LB after tonight? No. But I still believe he is a good leader and professional to have in the locker room and still has a role to play as a defensive substitution when we are killing off games late.

I agree but I don’t even think it was after tonight it’s just cuz we’ve signed an absolute rockstar in Udogie who fits perfectly. I’m all up for signing a more suitable back up in the summer but Udogie is so good (and is only going to get better) that any replacement we have on the bench there will be a significant drop off.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

Not a fit in this team and like the way Ange didn't hang around in terms of getting him off the pitch. Don't think Ange is one for trying to fit square pegs in round holes so suspect won't be too long before Davies heads out imo.

Much like Dier and Skipp. Both too slow and technically not good enough to play in this team. No coincidence that these type of players aren’t getting many minutes whereas under Conte & Jose they loved them.