Ben Davies so far

[Snowflake]

He's looked very solid, I think its easier to assume that he's crap because a few on here say it, likewise if a player has a good game, then he's suddenly a world beater.

Often the steady players and their performances get overlooked. Ben Davies is one of those players and if we had the chance to sign him permanently then we should. He's certainly a step up from the likes of Ampadu and Robinson. He can play in a back 4 or a back 3 and works well with Egan/ Stevens/ Norrington-Davies.

He's not JOC, but i think we all realise that JOC has been a fantastic gem of a signing. His dominance in the air is something we missed last season and perhaps more so this season. If only we had a big bastard of a player to win the balls in the air!

We do ! It’s McBurnie !

 

[SwissBlade]

We do ! It’s McBurnie !

I kind of left that one open….

If he was playing every week I’d agree, but he’s not. That shouldn’t be the reason to play him - he’s a striker not a defender

 

[FTPE]

Plays the ball between the lines to break the high press exceptionally well.

There's a highlight video on YouTube of him doing just that.
I forgot all about it until this weeks exquisite ball out from the back

 

[acko17]

I think Davies has been better than Egan recently. We are crying out for a tough CB who is good in the air though and have been since JOC got injured.

Bring on lopata utb

 

[Snowflake]

I kind of left that one open….

If he was playing every week I’d agree, but he’s not. That shouldn’t be the reason to play him - he’s a striker not a defender

That’s a bold statement with which many on here would not agree !
I can remember Chris Morgan playing up front, so perhaps the reverse !!

 

[Upton_Blade]

As much as performances are now going in the right direction I still think 343 should be an option with the players we have. A lot of the top teams play it and it really means you can be solid and still lethal in attack as the 3 CB's are exactly that. As long as they're not bombing forward ala Wilderball you can afford to have the rest of your outfield players quite attack minded whilst still remaining quite solid at the back.

I agree very much with the original poster. I've been really impressed with Davies in general. I agree he lacks a bit of strength but reads the game well and is quite classy in his approach.

Would probably look something like this with everyone fully fit:

Olsen
Bash Egan Davies
Bogle Berge Fleck Stevens
MGW Sharp N'Diaye

 

[SUFC Handsworth]

seems to get a lot of stick, but I’ve been very impressed with him. He’s strong, fast and reads the game well. I played as a centre half so I tend to watch defenders more than most and I really enjoy the way he plays.

In a new defensive shape that everyone is getting used to, and after a long time without playing much, I think he’s settled in really well.

I also thought he had a very good game yesterday and didn’t put a foot wrong.

Is it just me though?

Really ?

 

[CaptainMorgans]

Be great alongside Morgs, who told everyone else to leave the headers to him. Until we get another Morgs at CB we'll struggle and more often than not have to score an extra goal to make up for that gap.

He's not too dissimilar to Kilgallon who partnered Morgs for a long time. Leftie, decent on the ball, bit fragile.

 

[Sheff de party]

Really ?

Yes.

 

[CaptainMorgans]

I'd agree with this, I think since we've lost JOC and now Bash is having a spell out of the side, Egan's role has become a little more exposed. In fairness to Egan, he's also having to readapt from being effectively a sweeper in a 3 that reads the game very well and cleans up to a centre half pairing which doesn't have the dominant ball winner in the air.

I actually think that Egan and Davies are both intelligent players, comfortable on the ball and can be a good partnership, which they will be, i just would like to see more dominance and agression from them.

We really miss JOC. His injury is a travesty. He made everyone around him look so much better. He genuinely had the ability to play for England. In reality, he was probably our POTY 3 seasons running.

 

[SwissBlade]

Worth a mention that i thought that Davies was excellent last night. First half he seemed cagey and i know Kev Gage was going all Keith Edwards and emphasising his point that he wasn't carrying the ball forward, but i think this was something of a tactical thing. Keep him back and let Bash get forward.

The back three played well, they're looking like they're settling in a bit and i know we've just player Cov and Reading, but the standards are high throughout this division so its encouraging.

The whole team defended well, especially after the break for Fleck's treatment, but the big mention should go to Davies as second half when Andy Carroll came on, i was fearful that he'd get done in the air. Carroll changed things for them, thought he were a bigger threat with him on and in the air Davies handled him well, even if he didn't win every header he made it hard for Carroll.

 

[Wards]

Said on Pommpeys report but he was the best player on the park second half. Two steps ahead of Reading whenever they came forward. Looks so much more assured in a 3 to be fair.

 

[Houston_Blade]

He defended a lot better, just needs to improve with the other aspect of the game now. We were told he was a 'Rolls Royce' of a defender, I've not seen it yet.

 

[Gimli]

Just needed big Wes behind him that’s all!

But seriously he always appeared a competent player for the most part but him and Egan struggled to make an effective partnership.

Being in a 3 looks to have helped, also Bash back in the side is always going to help as he’s pretty much our most consistently good player (when playing the Basham role!)

 

[Swannyblade]

These clean sheets should be increasing the confidence of the backline. I think we'll start to Davies stepping out of defence a bit more if we stick with the back 3 - we just needed to stop the rot. Encouraging signs

 

[Yogi]

Put his body on the line last night and took some fairly hefty whacks especially after Carroll came on. I was worried how he would stand up to that but he rolled his sleeves up and got stuck in.

 

[Badger Blade]

I agree with the sentiments regarding last night. I was fearing the worst when Carroll came on, envisaging a West Brom-style onslaught that we simply wouldn't be able to deal with, not the case on this occasion. He'd have had Jack Robinson on toast but Ben Davies is a better player than that.

 

[Edgar Allan Poo]

Two clean sheets on the bounce means the whole back line are delivering - keep up the good work chaps.

 

[Gretsch Blade]

BD actually won a header last night.... Onwards and upwards