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Ben Davies

Muttley said:
I know I'm in the minority about Davies, but will give him credit for the last couple of performances.

Where I worry is when he is left in foot races and has to compete in the air against these massive, physical forwards (or centre halves from set pieces). I'm so glad we took the game away from Villa when we did. If they had loaded all their big men forward and we were on the back foot for the last 20 mins with a multitude of set pieces, I would have been more worried about Ben. Same as if Haaland had been on the pitch on Wednesday and playing off the shoulder of Davies.

I'm hoping we keep Davies out of the league team starting line-up. I don't think it will always look as favourable as it has in the last couple.

One man's opinion.
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Those are his obvious weaknesses. And yet as we see we can play a significant amount of football without those weaknesses being exposed.

However one classifies him, 4th choice CB, second backup. I would expect that player to have one or two obvious weaknesses that will get exposed at times.

With the possible exception of City who use centre backs as full backs and have a massive budget and had time to build a squad over years with consistent planning there aren't a lot of teams where that 4th choice CB doesn't have obvious weaknesses. There will be a real step down from the starting CBs to the second backup.

He mostly fits the system. He's an experienced head and a real professional. He knows his weaknesses and imo does really well to counter act those.
 
braineclipse said:
Those are his obvious weaknesses. And yet as we see we can play a significant amount of football without those weaknesses being exposed.

However one classifies him, 4th choice CB, second backup. I would expect that player to have one or two obvious weaknesses that will get exposed at times.

With the possible exception of City who use centre backs as full backs and have a massive budget and had time to build a squad over years with consistent planning there aren't a lot of teams where that 4th choice CB doesn't have obvious weaknesses. There will be a real step down from the starting CBs to the second backup.

He mostly fits the system. He's an experienced head and a real professional. He knows his weaknesses and imo does really well to counter act those.
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As you say, we're on a journey that started with this squad being very underwhelming not so long ago.

City - Stones, Dias, Ake, Akanji, Gvardiol
Arsenal - Saliba, Gabriel, White, Timber, Tomiyasu, Calafiori
Pool - Van Dijk, Konate, Gomez, Quansah
Chelsea - Badiashale, Colwill, Tosin, Fofana, Disasi
Utd - De Ligt, Maguire, Lindelof, Martinez, Evans
Saudi Sportswashing Machine - Botman, Schar, Lascelles, Kelly, Burn

When you look at the comparative defenders at the top of the PL, I see better 4th choices in most cases. Most are operating with 5 options as well. I also think I'm right in saying that the youngest options above are 21/22 years old. Our best kids in this position are still only 19 years old. Vuskovic will be 18 years old in February.

It's definitely going to be interesting to see whether we buy another player, promote a youngster or even give Davies another year on his contract to buy us more time. Ange must also be having nagging concerns about the number of soft tissue injuries that VDV is picking up as well.

I still think we'll buy another centre half.
 
Muttley said:
As you say, we're on a journey that started with this squad being very underwhelming not so long ago.

City - Stones, Dias, Ake, Akanji, Gvardiol
Arsenal - Saliba, Gabriel, White, Timber, Tomiyasu, Calafiori
Pool - Van Dijk, Konate, Gomez, Quansah
Chelsea - Badiashale, Colwill, Tosin, Fofana, Disasi
Utd - De Ligt, Maguire, Lindelof, Martinez, Evans
Saudi Sportswashing Machine - Botman, Schar, Lascelles, Kelly, Burn

When you look at the comparative defenders at the top of the PL, I see better 4th choices in most cases. Most are operating with 5 options as well. I also think I'm right in saying that the youngest options above are 21/22 years old. Our best kids in this position are still only 19 years old. Vuskovic will be 18 years old in February.

It's definitely going to be interesting to see whether we buy another player, promote a youngster or even give Davies another year on his contract to buy us more time. Ange must also be having nagging concerns about the number of soft tissue injuries that VDV is picking up as well.

I still think we'll buy another centre half.
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I think quite a few of the one's that would be considered 4th choice in that list also have significant weaknesses. We probably disagree, but I think Davies matches up with quite a few of them.

One difference being teams that play centre backs at full back making it easier to have more centre backs and keep them happy.

I think the most viable "solution" is promoting young player, I think Davies is an adequate solution for now. Unless it's someone that can play full back (primarily left back) and CB for us in our system I'm not sure another CB signing is the best solution. Particularly with regards to cost and what that money could do for us with signings in other positions.
 
I have to admit when he has had to come on as a sub these last two games, my heartbeat quadrupled, but has done very well. Has also allowed Dragusin to play on his preferred right hand side as well and ultimately we perhaps have become more balanced in our play from the back by default.

Crucial in the move that led to that great Solanke goal; i think that high-press block he did on the Villa attacker was a real sliding-doors moment in the match
 
Lemonade Money said:
Not good enough apparently.
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i am not his greatest fan but it was a great game for him. he is very disciplined and is technically a very good defender in an organised defence. not his fault when the manager picks him in a more open defence where his pace might be lacking. but today his calmness was good for dragusin and vicario. maybe davies will be the one to help ange be more courageous in "attacking from the back".
 
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