Player Watch Player Watch: Ben Davies
- Thread starter thinktank
- Start date
I don’t think he was that bad going forward but he does not have that dribbling to carry and turn.
In defence I thought he was woeful. He could not deal with Ayew and got caught out countless times. VDV kept getting pulled out of position to cover for him.
coy-spurs1882
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- Aug 31, 2012
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we need better squad players than Davies/Dier/Skipp to push forward
Exactly this. This formation requires players who suit it. We can’t keep carrying Square pegs in round holes any more.
We need to build a squad that can challenge.
There was a huge reason we looked 10x more defensively sound when Emerson came on, it’s because he could deal with ayews pace so vdv wasn’t constantly drawn out of position
Joshua
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- Jan 31, 2015
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Poor fit for the current system. People talking about pace are missing the main point of it. The fullbacks rotate with the 8’s, so there’s a lot of times where they find themselves in the no.10 positions and have to play in between the lines. Porro and Udogie have the talent to do this, Emerson has the confidence and quick enough feet to keep the ball high up the pitch but he’s limited by his ability to then actually make the plays. Ben is just a very traditional, quite limited but diligent fullback. Just doesn’t have the skillset. The lack of pace is an issue when it comes to if he has to cover VdV in our high line. Imagine he’ll move in the next window or two.
Totally a fish out of water when moving into the midfield or more advanced in that inverted FB roll, then not at his best defensively. Poor half and no great surprise he was subbed, Emerson shored up the defence down that side and did well enough moving into midfield areas.
The fullback roles in this system are key and just don't think we can look to shoehorn players in who quite obviously don't have the skillset to do the job Ange wants them to. For me, quite telling Davies was hooked off at LB for a right footed player and Ange had some praise for Royal after the game.
Davies did by no means have a absolute stinker which results in a player being hooked off at half time but clear to me he wasn't/isn't able to contribute to get the team/system ticking the way the manager wants and I don't think Ange is going to carry passengers in this side regardless of them being good professionals or not. Now he has seen what Udogie offers us, he'll want another option in the squad that is as close to him as possible in terms of skillet and Davies is nowhere near Udogie in terms of what he can offer.
Don't really see a future for Davies at the club and don't buy the argument of keeping him in the squad because he is a good pro/supposed leader (don't see the later personally). New leaders are emerging for us and leading by example on the pitch. Not even convinced about keeping him as an option off then bench to to see out games longer term as imo we should be looking to bring someone in who can do that and more. Obviously until that happens, Davies is fine on the bench.
Davies did by no means have a absolute stinker which results in a player being hooked off at half time but clear to me he wasn't/isn't able to contribute to get the team/system ticking the way the manager wants and I don't think Ange is going to carry passengers in this side regardless of them being good professionals or not. Now he has seen what Udogie offers us, he'll want another option in the squad that is as close to him as possible in terms of skillet and Davies is nowhere near Udogie in terms of what he can offer.
Don't really see a future for Davies at the club and don't buy the argument of keeping him in the squad because he is a good pro/supposed leader (don't see the later personally). New leaders are emerging for us and leading by example on the pitch. Not even convinced about keeping him as an option off then bench to to see out games longer term as imo we should be looking to bring someone in who can do that and more. Obviously until that happens, Davies is fine on the bench.
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Bluto Blutarsky
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- Mar 4, 2021
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Probably the most similar player to Udogie - in terms of size, strength, pace, tactical awareness, and technical skills was Mousa Dombele...
gavspur
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- Jun 24, 2004
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Well that’s not very helpful. Ha!
Tucker
Shitehawk
- Jul 15, 2013
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Don’t think he did anything wrong, and it’s the same old faces on his back again in the match thread and in here. Some people want him to play poorly just to confirm their own opinions of him.
I don’t think he was fit, he wasn’t in the squad against Fulham having been on the bench every game this season, as well as coming on in some games and having a much better impact than he did tonight in the first half.
Nebby
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- Dec 27, 2013
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Was thinking the exact same thing. I swear some on here cannot wait for us to lose, especially if they can slag off Davies, Dier, PEH or Skipp at the same time.
poc
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- Aug 6, 2004
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He has always been awful against any pace or trickery whatsoever exposes anyone who plays alongside him.
Disagree. A lot of just want to move on from the old guard and places who aren’t good enough. He doesn’t suit the system doesn’t have the pace and we are building a young exciting side and we just want players who fit that.
We have put up with mediocrity for too and and players like Davies are players who will never allow us to challenge.
Montalbano
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- Jan 29, 2018
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One year left on his contact this summer.
Experienced, versatile player capable of playing LB and CB but doesn’t fit Ange’s system. Think we’ll get him a good bottom half Premier League move (maybe to Welsh club if they get promoted?) or an international move this summer.
Hopefully Sess returns and can take Davies’ spot in the squad. Udogie looks like he could be our LB for the next decade, so ideally not a position we need to spend big on yet at this point in Ange’s project.
Experienced, versatile player capable of playing LB and CB but doesn’t fit Ange’s system. Think we’ll get him a good bottom half Premier League move (maybe to Welsh club if they get promoted?) or an international move this summer.
Hopefully Sess returns and can take Davies’ spot in the squad. Udogie looks like he could be our LB for the next decade, so ideally not a position we need to spend big on yet at this point in Ange’s project.
Tucker
Shitehawk
- Jul 15, 2013
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I expect he’ll be moved on in the summer. But I think talk of him not being suited/good enough is wrong. Is he as well suited as Udogie? No. But he’s a good player.
It’s highly unlikely he’d move to Cardiff as well. He’s a Swansea City youth product from Neath. He’d never be allowed home again if he did that. Swansea are nowhere near getting promoted either.
E17yid
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- Jan 21, 2013
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The way some people are going on you would’ve thought he made 3 massive mistakes that all led to goals, he didn’t really put a foot wrong. He wasn’t stand out but then was Porro and Kulu stand out down the right in that first half? The whole team were off it that first half, even Maddison. To be honest, it wasn’t our best game overall but got the job done at the end of the day.
