On a recent episode of the Last Word On Spurs podcast, Ricky Sacks, Lee McQueen, Jamie Brown and Chris Cowlin discussed the latest goings-on at Tottenham, including a discussion of left-back Ben Davies.
The quartet enjoy a discussion of the influence of full-backs in the modern game and recall the times of having Danny Rose and Kyle Walker as marauding full-backs under Mauricio Pochettino. This, unsurprisingly, leads to a discussion of the current left-back and right-back options at the North London club, including Ben Davies, with Chris Cowlin saying:
“I think when you go back to the 16/17 season and you had Danny Rose and Kyle Walker running the place, it was absolutely fantastic. And I think that we’ve really missed both of them. Obviously, Kyle Walker went off to Manchester City and Danny Rose, he’s declined in form.
“I think that Mourinho is a huge admirer of Ben Davies, and it was unfortunate that he got injured in the West Ham game, which was, of course, his first game in charge of Spurs.
“Serge Aurier has his moments; you never know what you’re going to get. But I think for the Man United game, I think those two full-backs will play and have to play because I think that they are the best that we have. Whether we go out as a football club and spend any money or get any free transfers or loan players for next season in the right or left-back position will be very interesting to see.”
TIF Thoughts…
So far this season, Davies has made just nine appearances in the top-flight, averaging a 6.67 rating for his performances (per WhoScored). However, as Cowlin alludes to, the Welsh international did suffer a nasty ankle injury in Mourinho’s opening game in the 3-2 win away at West Ham, so could have made more appearances if it were not for that.
Would you start Davies against Manchester United?
Yes
No
The Portuguese manager also spoke about the importance of the former Swansea man in implicating his tactics, saying: “My first game against West Ham. That is the way I was going to develop this team. Defend with a back 4, attack with a back 3. That was the first day of goodbye Ben Davies”(per Evening Standard). Therefore, it would perhaps not be a surprise to see the £15.75 million-rated man restored to the Spurs starting eleven for their Premier League re-opener against Manchester United this Friday.