OPINION
Arguably Tottenham Hotspur’s biggest weakness this season has been their full back positions, with a mixture of injuries and poor form resulting in some dodgy displays on the flanks.
Ben Davies has been more guilty of this than most. The Welsh international, on a reported £60,000-per-week at the club [Source: Spotrac], has, for whatever reason, been unable to rediscover the form he regularly displayed earlier on in his Tottenham career.
The left back has endured the toughest start to a season of his Spurs career and it has seen some fans call for his head at times. Danny Rose’s injury problems of late have left Davies as the undisputed starter at left back, and it appears that the former Swansea City man has gotten a little too comfortable with his status.
Davies’ lastest performance, against PSV Eindhoven in Tottenham’s 2-1 Champions League win on Tuesday, was another indication of why manager Mauricio Pochettino needs to find an upgrade for the 25-year-old.
The Welshman’s regression has been sudden and emphatic. He was extremely poor in the first half against PSV, getting forward laboriously despite the fact that Spurs were chasing the game from an early stage.
He did eventually assist Harry Kane for the winner, but that wasn’t enough to erase another performance filled with holes from the left back.
We saw the difference that quality full backs can make to a team with Manchester City last year. Pep Guardiola upgraded an ageing unit with Kyle Walker, Danilo and Benjamin Mendy, and what was a weakness for City turned into one of their greatest strengths.
Pochettino should be looking to do something different in the coming transfer windows. Kieran Tripper’s form has mirrored Davies’ almost exactly, and there’s no denying that there are more in form full backs out there that Spurs could sign.
Davies has shown himself to be a limited player this term. He works hard but he doesn’t have the quality that separates the good from the great.
He doesn’t necessarily need to be sold, he’s fine as a back up, but Pochettino should really be looking for a superior option as his starting left back.
Rose’s future at the club is uncertain, meaning the Argentine has to act quickly in order to address a flailing position group, because clearly Davies isn’t the answer.