Tottenham’s back-line has been an unwelcome cause of concern for some time, and we covered in this week’s KeepItTottenham podcast, there are several reasons for that. One is that Toby Alderwiereld is 32 in a week’s time which is no small matter, another is Eric Dier’s inability to take ownership of his own failings, as we’ve witnessed on several occasions including most recently his behaviour at West Ham. Matt Doherty is an underachieving riddle and Ben Davies is, well, he’s Ben Davies.
Considering the dull pain caused during Sergio Reguilon’s absence, it has been a blessing to see the boy back in business and the game against Burnley was another 96-minutes under his belt as he heads to finding full-match fitness.
Here’s a couple of the lad’s best actions against Burnley.
100% success in with dribbling
Great long pass
The fact is different players.. We always try to stop opponents from scoring, and we always try to attack.. Sometimes if players don’t pull their weight then you’re forced into defending for long periods. The plan is never to defend for 80 minutes when this happens…. Fact is this was Burnley, not Barcelona, and we had reg back and Bale finally back, Kane, Toby, Hojberg and Son out there, we had a strong team. Lucas played well too he was unlucky not to score more.
Davies goes backwards.. Often. I swear he gives it back to the centre backs more often than driving forward.. Sometimes he makes runs forward but he’s usually ignored, which then means a midfielder runs back to cover.. He’s a serious weak link. I have no right or say what happens, but I would like the lad to move on.
Reggy back is a blessing indeed. Reg and Bale can both cross.. Kane must be licking his lips after the crosses he’s been feeding off in recent years. After Trips left there was noone.
Milner has always been able to play football.. Davies cannot pass or cross or shoot. He’s a full back with no pace who’s not particularly skilled at tackling or defending….. Reguillion is twice the player. With him back instead of Davies, and Toby in there we are much more solid. Expect results to improve now.
Reggy – Cambridge English – Forward momentum is a continuous variable that is naturally divided into three distinct segments by the destinations of trajectories.
Davies – Cambridge English – Sideways in a direction to the left or right, not forwards or backwards.
Will Levy flip him back to Madrid for a quick buck?? Let’s find out….
I hope none of you have been out enjoying the sunshine either you f$\%#g murderers.
….said the press
Maybe it’s down to the fact that we played an attacking game instead trying to stop the opponents from scoring.
Compared to his impressive form at Wolves looking morose like R Sessegnon with Doherty’s confidence shot to bits as he looks out of his depth at Spurs it’s best that he is off loaded in the summer!!
Modern day fullbacks or wingbacks are so important to the top teams in creating width and generating toward momentum. That is why we look so ponderous and negative when Davies and Docherty play in comparison to Requilion and Aurier.
Whilst nice lad Ben Davies may be a perfect pro, if only he is a James Milne type player, no grumbles!! That said he is a decent squad solid utility defender!!
Ben Davies strikes me as a James Milner type character; team player, no drama, just gets on with it, good pro. That’s why I’d keep him but Reggie is definitely an upgrade and has a touch of the Joao Cancelo about him.