The enigma that is Tom Davies

[Balham]

I can see why posters are highlighting Wilder's comments about Brooks and Seriki, but personally I am prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt here. Yes there were other players who performed far worse today and yes, we looked better with both of the above on the pitch. But Wilder knows the players better than most of us ever will and what makes them tick.

Maybe his expectations of them both has been raised, or maybe (as he suggests) they were given very specific instructions that they didn't carry out. Who knows, but I think he is smart enough to know whether a public ragging will fire them up or destroy their confidence. No doubt someone will bring up the infamous Leicester post match interview, and maybe he did go a bit far on that occasion, but once the standards have been set, it's fair for a manager to expect players to deliver. And he did call a few names out today, when saying that he put a team out to win.

I've just read Wilder's comments. His specific gripe with Brooks was that "he played wherever he wanted" and that Seriki "didn't do what he needed to do". On Brooks, he did seem to have a free role but I'd suggest that he was trying to make things happen against a packed, low block 6-3-1 defence. Seriki was poor but Mansfield limited the space really well, Seriki was having to make his runs at the full back 15 yards from the byline rather than 30.

Caveating this with the fact that I've not heard the post match interview I would hope that at the very least he's ripped into Chong for giving the ball away pretty much every time he got it, Ings and Campbell for being at best peripheral and the whole defensive unit for failing to defend.

EDIT
Back on topic - Davies for Soumaré was, IMHO, the wrong call. Davies and Arblaster are essentially the same player and we lost a midfield runner taking off Soumaré. Davies for Arblaster would have made a lot more sense if we were desperate to bring him on.

 

[Berkshire Blade]

I've just read Wilder's comments. His specific gripe with Brooks was that "he played wherever he wanted" and that Seriki "didn't do what he needed to do". On Brooks, he did seem to have a free role but I'd suggest that he was trying to make things happen against a packed, low block 6-3-1 defence. Seriki was poor but Mansfield limited the space really well, Seriki was having to make his runs at the full back 15 yards from the byline rather than 30.

Caveating this with the fact that I've not heard the post match interview I would hope that at the very least he's ripped into Chong for giving the ball away pretty much every time he got it, Ings and Campbell for being at best peripheral and the whole defensive unit for failing to defend.

He didn't individually call everyone starting out but mentioned some of those had a chance to impress and didn't take it

 

[Aganarama]

He didn't individually call everyone starting out but mentioned some of those had a chance to impress and didn't take it

Yes - I'd be worried if I hadn't been called out by name because his more general criticism suggested some who "played" yesterday could be gone quite quickly. He also talked about some players' medium term prospects changing for the worse too.

 

[Stretch]

I've just read Wilder's comments. His specific gripe with Brooks was that "he played wherever he wanted" and that Seriki "didn't do what he needed to do". On Brooks, he did seem to have a free role but I'd suggest that he was trying to make things happen against a packed, low block 6-3-1 defence. Seriki was poor but Mansfield limited the space really well, Seriki was having to make his runs at the full back 15 yards from the byline rather than 30.

Caveating this with the fact that I've not heard the post match interview I would hope that at the very least he's ripped into Chong for giving the ball away pretty much every time he got it, Ings and Campbell for being at best peripheral and the whole defensive unit for failing to defend.

EDIT
Back on topic - Davies for Soumaré was, IMHO, the wrong call. Davies and Arblaster are essentially the same player and we lost a midfield runner taking off Soumaré. Davies for Arblaster would have made a lot more sense if we were desperate to bring him on.

He named a lot of players early in the interview, but more in the context of being a team that was good enough to win the match.

 

[SE1Blade]

I've just read Wilder's comments. His specific gripe with Brooks was that "he played wherever he wanted" and that Seriki "didn't do what he needed to do". On Brooks, he did seem to have a free role but I'd suggest that he was trying to make things happen against a packed, low block 6-3-1 defence. Seriki was poor but Mansfield limited the space really well, Seriki was having to make his runs at the full back 15 yards from the byline rather than 30.

Caveating this with the fact that I've not heard the post match interview I would hope that at the very least he's ripped into Chong for giving the ball away pretty much every time he got it, Ings and Campbell for being at best peripheral and the whole defensive unit for failing to defend.

EDIT
Back on topic - Davies for Soumaré was, IMHO, the wrong call. Davies and Arblaster are essentially the same player and we lost a midfield runner taking off Soumaré. Davies for Arblaster would have made a lot more sense if we were desperate to bring him on.

I suspect Sounare will start on Saturday and having had a lot of minutes lately is keeping him fresh for then. Whilst I understand the disappointment of going out of the cup (and the picked team should have been good enough) I don’t blame Wilder for prioritising the league and keeping players fresh, especially with such a hectic schedule before new year.
He was right to leave out tanganga and COH and bench Brooks and Seriki.
I think they will all start on Saturday.

 

[3Cheers4Ramirez]

An impressive thing about Davies is that, whenever he comes back from his various injuries, he still looks just as sharp, agile and fit as he did before

It probably points to excellent natural fitness, which did appear to be the main feature of his game when he first came through at Everton

If only......

We'd be a very different entity if he could always play

 

[Bladeloyal]

An impressive thing about Davies is that, whenever he comes back from his various injuries, he still looks just as sharp, agile and fit as he did before

It probably points to excellent natural fitness, which did appear to be the main feature of his game when he first came through at Everton

If only......

So frustrating as he's a good fit skilful unit . unfortunately made of glass.

 

[S64 Blade]

If he wasn’t always injured he wouldn’t be playing for us.

 

[Kozzy_is_my_Dad]

Tom Davies the footballer is a very good player, his first instinct is to look up, drive forward and break between the lines. Technically very good.

Tom Davies the athlete is heartbreaking, for him. I'm willing him to have all the luck in the world.

 

[Bladey_blade]

When he's fit he's unplayable at this level, maybe now blaster is a straight swap and they can share the minutes can benefit them both

 

[Bladeloyal]

If he wasn’t always injured he wouldn’t be playing for us.

Well he certainly doesn't play for us when he's injured 99% of the time

 

[ISZA ⚔️]

I suspect Sounare will start on Saturday

Can’t see the FA allowing that

 

[North Riding Blade]

Well he certainly doesn't play for us when he's injured 99% of the time

But when he does, like today, he was a joy to watch. Lets enjoy these moments instead of searching for criticism. Just a thought.

 

[Dkc]

Will be a much-needed positive if he can start Millwall

 

[FTPE]

Reyt player

 

[jt64]

Was pretty solid today

 

[Champagneblade]

It’s so challenging having him in the squad.

He’s the player that could get you promoted or relegated based purely on his wages and availability.

He’s probably not cheap week to week and you could probably afford two players for his wages with better availability.

But if he can be fit for the rest of the season the he can help us end on a high, whatever that looks like!

 

[Wards]

Says more about his ability when he can come straight into the side and play like that despite playing 1 every 15 games.

Such a sad waste of talent. Not his fault obviously, but so, so frustrating.

 

[ATL Recs]

Best midfielder in the club and arguably in the division but made of eggshells.
if he wasn’t made of eggshells we couldn’t have got him in the first place
If he can stay fit until the end of the season I’d hope we can at least keep him another season
Don’t let someone else benefit on our successful rehabilitation

 

[Bladeloyal]

But when he does, like today, he was a joy to watch. Lets enjoy these moments instead of searching for criticism. Just a thought.

It wasn't a criticism of his ability far from it , unfortunately for us but most for the lad himself his body won't allow him to play most of the time .here's hoping the treatment and advice he got in Germany will benefit him and us .utb

 

[dexter101]

End of the season is going to be a really interesting discussion around him.

His quality shouldn't be questioned, he is a great player and I really hope this new treatment works for him. He seems a switched on lad as well.

Should we offer him a new contract? It could be worth it, but its a huge gamble on fitness

 

[BrayfordsBushyBeard]

If he can stay fit between now and end of season id offer a new contract weighted in a pay as you play type way if possible. As he is a game changer at this level.
As ever UTB !

 

[Blade83]

End of the season is going to be a really interesting discussion around him.

His quality shouldn't be questioned, he is a great player and I really hope this new treatment works for him. He seems a switched on lad as well.

Should we offer him a new contract? It could be worth it, but its a huge gamble on fitness

If we give a new contract to a player who’s made 10 league starts in 3 years then we’re mad.

 

[Dkc]

What's actually up with him?

 

[shorehamview]

What's actually up with him?

His legs are made of barley sugar.

 

[FTPE]

"If he stays ffff....."
Don't say it, just dont even put it in your mouth.

 

[dexter101]

If we give a new contract to a player who’s made 10 league starts in 3 years then we’re mad.

I know, but just imagine him going somewhere else and then being fit and a regular starter

 

[Russ]

What's actually up with him?

I think he’s had a number of problems, some of which must still linger.

Imagine a car with an intermittent fault. You take it to the garage and they can’t find a problem with it. You know there’s a problem and it’s likely to happen again very soon. Problem is you love that car, it can actually be a brilliant car, and quite often is. Sooner or later you know it will probably have to go. But for now you really want to keep it and you just want it to keep going. You decide to just use it at weekends. Especially when it’s not raining…!

 

[shorehamview]

I think he’s had a number of problems, some of which must still linger.

Imagine a car with an intermittent fault. You take it to the garage and they can’t find a problem with it. You know there’s a problem and it’s likely to happen again very soon. Problem is you love that car, it can actually be a brilliant car, and quite often is. Sooner or later you know it will probably have to go. But for now you really want to keep it and you just want it to keep going. You decide to just use it at weekends. Especially when it’s not raining…!

So an Alfa Romeo then?

 

[madeinsheffield]

Really hoping the docs in Germany finally got to the root of the problems. He’s half a second quicker than most as he receives the ball, proper quality.

My Alfa Romeo is reliable btw, as were the previous two