Ben Davies

[parklane1]

I've always thought of him as our Denis Irwin.

Good shout.

 

[Raziel]

A couple of thoughts here.

First, I would ask everyone to think about how many games in a career spanning a decade and over 300 games has Ben played as a LCB in a back four? The answer is probably those 10-12 games he filled in last season, the handful this season and just some fill in sub appearances on the odd occasion in his career. So probably 20 or less. It is a specialist role and very different from LCB in a back 3 with wing backs that he's played for Conte and Wales. It's very different from sitting tight alongside someone like Vertonghen as a defensive minded LB as well. So kudos to Ben and Ange for the hard work that has been put in to allow Ben to excel in this position. He wasn't great at it last season and it feels like he's grown into the new position quite quickly. I mention Ange because it sounds like he isn't expecting Ben to be like-for-like with VDV.

Secondly, I don't think Ben is the answer but is buying us some time. When I looked recently, most top PL clubs operate with 5 centre halved in their squads. Only us and Liverpool have 4 which leaves us vulnerable. Someone said it above, but if Ben does stay on and share 4th place duties with one of the young guns then only he can decide whether that is right for his career. He's mostly now Wales captain and needs to be playing through WC qualification and hopefully the finals themselves in the summer of 2026. I wouldn't stay at Spurs if I were him.

Also, forget MOTD. Finish your playing career away and come back to Spurs. Ben can be anything from a coach, 1st team manager right up to Scott Munn's job in the future.

He is a short term solution, as @Gutter Boy mentioned, clear expectation is Vuskovich will be part of the team next season. I do think cover/competition to Udogie will be high on list of incoming for summer.

Ironically I don't think we'd be in a much different spot with Rodon in the squad compared to and instead of Dragu. Probably even slightly better given the often very good performance the Rodon/Davies combo have put in for Wales

Disagree, Dragusin is a better player today and had a higher ceiling, partnerships aside. Issue with Dragusin is the majority of games he plays is cover for VDV when positionally he's really the cover for Romero.

 

[braineclipse]

I feel Vuscovic is going to be an instant success (and we can't loan him out unless its back abroad again). But I'd be tempted to give Davies a one year extension, especially if we make CL.

If the plan is for Vuskovic to come in come the summer I think keeping Davies as an additional option would make a lot of sense. Would make us less reliant on an 18 year old kid to hit the ground running if we have a couple of injuries at CB. But not sure how viable that would be for home grown and club trained numbers.

I also think there are a good handful of squad roles that would give us more value for money than trying to upgrade on Davies as a backup LCB.

 

[Muttley]

He is a short term solution, as @Gutter Boy mentioned, clear expectation is Vuskovich will be part of the team next season. I do think cover/competition to Udogie will be high on list of incoming for summer.

As much as I'd love to believe this about Vuskovic, I think we'll need to be patient with a kid who is still 17. More likely, Ashley Phillips will become 4th choice if Davies leaves.

As for LB, I think it could be as early as January to get that player in.

 

[Raziel]

As much as I'd love to believe this about Vuskovic, I think we'll need to be patient with a kid who is still 17. More likely, Ashley Phillips will become 4th choice if Davies leaves.

As for LB, I think it could be as early as January to get that player in.

At that age, it can all change pretty quickly but he's seen as a generation talent, he's played 32 pro level games already (at 17 as a CB), 10 this season already.

Do I see him starting for us often? no, but he's in same bracket as Gray, Bergvall, Moore, clear expectation that they will contribute and work themselves into side over a couple of seasons.

 

[Gutter Boy]

As much as I'd love to believe this about Vuskovic, I think we'll need to be patient with a kid who is still 17. More likely, Ashley Phillips will become 4th choice if Davies leaves.

As for LB, I think it could be as early as January to get that player in.

Vuskovic is a standout player in the Belgian top flight. Philips is middling in the championship. I think Vuskovic is probably already ahead.

I really think we have to go for Cirkin in January because of the club trained thing. And because he's perfect for the role

 

[billyiddo]

As much as I'd love to believe this about Vuskovic, I think we'll need to be patient with a kid who is still 17. More likely, Ashley Phillips will become 4th choice if Davies leaves.

As for LB, I think it could be as early as January to get that player in.

A 17/18 year old as CB cover worries me as a proposed solution tbh - forgetting the demands of the PL kids that age need regular football, would much prefer to see him getting increasingly more demanding loans as a starter for another couple of seasons before hopefully bringing him in when he looks like he's gonna push for a starting place around 21-22

 

[Bedfordspurs]

Vuskovic is a standout player in the Belgian top flight. Philips is middling in the championship. I think Vuskovic is probably already ahead.

I really think we have to go for Cirkin in January because of the club trained thing. And because he's perfect for the role

Your over rating the Belgium league by a long way
The championship is a better standard

 

[Muttley]

Vuskovic is a standout player in the Belgian top flight. Philips is middling in the championship. I think Vuskovic is probably already ahead.

I really think we have to go for Cirkin in January because of the club trained thing. And because he's perfect for the role

A 17/18 year old as CB cover worries me as a proposed solution tbh - forgetting the demands of the PL kids that age need regular football, would much prefer to see him getting increasingly more demanding loans as a starter for another couple of seasons before hopefully bringing him in when he looks like he's gonna push for a starting place around 21-22

I think we sometimes forget what changes happens to a male body happen from 17-21. I don't know who is ahead between Vuskovic and Phillips and definitely don't know who ends up the best out of those 2 plus Dorrington, Hardy and any other prospective U21.

What I do know is that I never want to see any of these kids bodies put through what Fulham put through Sess's body in that critical phase of his maturation. You don't put 50 game seasons on 18 year olds.

Spurs generally do well by our kids especially if we start to see some injuries at that tender age. That hasn't happened to Vuskovic yet, but has definitely happened to Phillips and Dorrington.

As for Vuskovic being a generational talent, he's not even in the Croatia squad yet. They play a 3-5-2 and their superstar is Gvardiol who got in the seniors at 18/19. Let's hope he is.

 

[Gutter Boy]

A 17/18 year old as CB cover worries me as a proposed solution tbh - forgetting the demands of the PL kids that age need regular football, would much prefer to see him getting increasingly more demanding loans as a starter for another couple of seasons before hopefully bringing him in when he looks like he's gonna push for a starting place around 21-22

Vuskovic is already physically stronger than anyone in our squad maybe bar Solanke. He's as powerful as a 28 year old.

 

[billyiddo]

Been monitoring his performance in the gym have you?

 

[Gutter Boy]

Been monitoring his performance in the gym have you?

Just watch some clips - he's a physical beast

 

[Bullet]

Vuskovic is already physically stronger than anyone in our squad maybe bar Solanke. He's as powerful as a 28 year old.

Utter tripe. Even for you, this is a stretch.