Ancelotti maintains 'Davies is important to us'

Always looks like he can't wait to get rid of the ball when it is passed to him, and his passing in general is extremely poor.

It will be interesting to see if he can sprinkle a little stardust on Tom and allow him to progress into the midfield player we had hoped for.

It's a long hard season and no doubt there will be injuries so I understand Carlo's stance.

Because of his relatively low wages (£25k pw?), we aren't pressured to sell him at all, and he does a useful job for us as a squad player, but If we got offered £15M we would probably let him go.

I think there are many other players who Brands would like to move on before he concerned himself at all with Tom Davies.

Delph, Bolaise, Sandro, Besic, Walcott, Tosun – there's £400k per week wages there to try to get off the books from players who will be at worst never even be on the bench and at best, fringe.

He will be at his best coming in to team that's doing well and full of confidence. Tom hasn’t had that opportunity!

Imagine Tom Davies playing versus West Ham this week alongside Allan and Doucoure having rested Gomes... possible scenario. I’d back him to be hard working and good on the ball.

He has over a 100 appearances for a below par Everton. Lets see what he can do in a stronger and more confident side. He deserved that opportunity!

Not lightening quick like Allan isn't, but got nearly 7-8 years to learn what Allan and Doucoure can do to be in the right place play-by-play, and not light years away from going up a level (maybe takes another year or two at most).

Injuries? Not often.

Never has a cobb on, loves the club.

Needed in cup games and Premier League? – definitely.

Keep.

Also, hope to see Sigurdsson stay one more season, still has something to offer technically if surrounded by legs. We need need plenty of players to be fresh if we want a cup and graft for some Champions League music.

I'm not sure what happens in these instances, whether Insurance covers some of the wages, or do the Club foot the whole bill?

There are not many positions or Contracts in the World as we know it, where you could pick up an injury leaving the Interview Room and be looked after both medically and financially for the duration. :-)

Look at the wages Delph is on, he played his first game in six months during the week. How many games has he played since joining us?

Tom played games last season, even though he was carrying an injury, unlike Delph, whose attitude stinks.

Tom is an attacking midfielder, who hasn't played in his proper position in the last few seasons. I would love to see him start beside Allan and Docoure, and show his true potential.

In line with what Ancelotti has said, he should be given that chance. It is that simple, regardless of folks' opinions for or against him.

Delph, Beni, Tosun, Theo, Bolasie, Sandro, Besic, and Pennington all have to go, and now. They have no future or are injury prone and can't be counted upon to contribute. Dump those players, and you have a manageable squad size.

All of the players listed above have contracts expiring at the end of 2021 or 2022. If we can't offload them, and Lord knows we've tried, what would be the cost to Everton to just buy out their contracts and be rid of them? They are leeches sucking us dry. I don't blame them – they prefer money in lieu of actually playing football. That's their prerogative and again, I don't blame them.

But from an accounting and business standpoint, wouldn't it be better to simply buy them out and write off the one-time hit to pay their wages they are contractually obligated. Just call Uncle on it and move on?

Tom Davies is not part of the wage problem at Everton. And he's miles better than any player I've listed to offload. Miles.

What would be our wage to turnover percentage if we offloaded all of the players I've listed above? Would that number finally drop to a sustainable rate? 65%? 60%?

I have no idea where to find this information. I'm curious to know, if we did get rid of the "dead weight" and bloated squad, are we actually then running a sustainable ship?

Again, Tom Davies clearly isn't part of this larger, wage picture. He's a keeper on the field and business-wise.

If anyone can figure that out or has the inclination to do so, I say thank you.

A couple of goals could give him some confidence and help him kick on, I'm dreaming on his behalf. :-)

He is what he is and you can't criticise somebody into not being that. He has a chance to become a very good player as he's still young and playing in an impossibly difficult position.

He's a homegrown player and Everton through and through. Give the lad some support. If Carlo says he is a benefit, then that is all that matters.

Paul estimates that the wages for 2020 (this was before the transfers of Allan, Doucouré and James) will be £150.2 million in revenue of £204 million, which is about 74% compared to 85% last year.

But how do you “offload “ players on contract unless there is someone willing to take them? I had commented on that thread with my own analysis based on part realism, part wishful thinking that perhaps we could end up with about £35 million savings (reduction in losses) if Moshiri is willing to take some losses on selling our surplus – but agaIn, this is assuming that there would be someone actually willing to buy the deadwood, which I doubt – especially in a post-Covid scenario.

I’m getting the Ancelotti vibe more and more now, he really understands the human element of football, the man-management side of things.

Great bloke, and as long as we can attract a couple more players of the same calibre of the recent additions, a great manager as well.

If people want to keep him just because he is industrious, likeable or a local lad, however, they need to acknowledge that they are prepared to accept a certain level of mediocrity.

I haven't given up on Tom yet but the reality is he doesn't have 7-8 years to develop and is already a seasoned pro, and personally I think he needs to perform better sooner rather than later. He has to step up every time he is on the pitch and fit in seamlessly. I see Jamie C has Beni Baningime on his ‘for the chop' list, so it's only fair to be consistent.

The way this season is developing the next three games will be proper tests for our first-team squad and we need all our players to show their mettle.

Sure, he's barely progressed in 4 years with the first team. And sure, he's slipped further down the pecking order now that we actually have a few decent midfielders at the club. And sure, if we're to progress as a decent side he probably won't start many games.

All that stuff isn't important. The really important things are that he's a local lad, and Carlo thinks he's good for the changing room (even though Carlo hasn't actually said that, and even if he did say it he might have only said it to be generous to Tom, but I just know it to be true because it fits in with what I think, so I'll just extend that out as fact).

And also, what's really important is that we support our players irrespective of whether they are playing well or not because that's just a nicer thing to do... and why can't we all just get along – and other wishy-washy platitudinal soft rubbish like that... COYB!

He's happy to be a squad player for Everton, and Carlo wants people like that around, there's nothing sappy or romantic about it, it's just good management.

Tom Davies – world record holder. Played more Premier League games than any Championship player in the history of the world... A centurion who has often been chosen to play while £20M, £30M, £40M players sat on the bench... Chosen by five different managers.

A real head-scratcher for the Tom Bashers, innit?

Holgate looked to be on his way until he played with better players around him in defence.

Calvert-Lewin looked like he was not going to make it until we got better players going forward.

Let's see if Davies can do the same with class surrounding him in midfield.

I like Tom too and it's great to see a local lad make it into the first team. However, he is for sure too slow and not physical enough to be worth his place in the team in the midfield engine room.

I lost count how many times he failed to lay a glove on opposition midfields last season and he constantly seemed to lose out in 50-50 contests. He has a good eye for a pass, however, when he gets the time... so maybe you are right: he can play a greater role further forward and it would be useful to see him come on as first sub for Gomes rather than Sigurdsson.

I think he might have more energy than our Icelandic friend and could drive into the box from an advanced position.

Isn't it possible to agree that in the past Tom certainly did merit his selection, but also accept that, if we are looking for an improved first-team squad in the near future, then Tom also needs to meet those higher expectations?

Brian@39: The above point answers your question.

I think most of us like to see local boys do well and Tom is no exception to that, but as you and Si suggest he may well have to up his performances to try and force his way into this midfield. Lets hope he can, as he definitely has quality but needs to be more consistent.

He just isn't at the level that the current starting midfielders are. Keeping him because he is local or on less wages aren't good enough reasons.

We have an ever growing list of players that I would move on before Davies though I don't see anyone wanting to take on the usual suspects high wages coupled with a lack of desire and form.

He's too much of a gentleman to publicly slate players and he's astute enough to know it only drops their market value if he does.

Whether Tom will be one of those 7 to 8 will be down to Carlo and to Marcus's ability to find a buyer. For me Tom has struggled. Maybe it has been down to a bad side but that's no reason to give the ball away so often by getting caught in possession or making a bad pass. I know it's early into the season but I've seen positive reactions from Gomes, from Siggy in their play due to playing with the new players but not so much from Tom

Personally I'd let him go, either a sales or as a loan - I just don't see him getting much playing time this season and he needs to be out on the pitch, not sat on the bench

Unless we have better lined up and a decent offer for Tom he's here till he retires when I presume he will buy a 36ft yacht and make passage to Anglesea for weekend picnics and seal spotting

Doesn't take the easy way out, always looks for a forward pass (amazing that I even have to say that about a midfielder!), doesn't sulk or cause trouble and isn't on astronomical wages!

Not to mention the complete lack of availability/ability of Gbamin and Delph!

The criticism of him is generally fair enough. He does lose the ball, he is knocked off it easily (at times).

He's basically Leon Osman in the making.

Only now, Osman type players are squad men rather than first 11. That's got to be a good thing if we actually want to compete for CL or Cup success.

We need a Squad!

He's local, he's good in the changing room, he's on a lower wage, WTF, there is no place for sentiment, as for someone saying he's Leon Osman in the making well he'll never be half the player Osman was and Leon got dogs abuse from our fans.

He shouldn't have to cover for everyone else or try to do to much. Keep it simple. Work hard, pass to Richarlison or James in space if possible, make forward runs knowing Allan and or Doucoure will cover.

I find it unusual that such a hard working player has been called by his own fans useless having watched Schnides, Delph and Siggy put in many more non-performances.

If it's because he's not world class and doesn't appear to be ever able to reach that world or top class level then fair enough.

But he would get into many Premier league midfields, certainly as a squad rotation player including the 'top 6' sides.

He's still maturing and learning. He's not a Grealish or Mount attacking player. He's a box to box midfielder and there aren't too many u23 midfielders that play on a weekly basis in the Premier league.

He's got more about him both physically and mentally than our other options from past seasons.

Siggy the 'school boy' who no longer shoots so his goals contribution is zero. Sell.

Delph is no better and injury prone. The only question is would he improve if he stays fit and if he has a run of games? Too many ifs for me, sell.

Schnides thankfully gone.

Bernard looks much better playing centrally linking play, all be it against lower league teams in the league Cup. He gives the ball away a lot but contributes many good forward balls. Keep.

Iwobi started poorly against Salford and Morecambe but isn't afraid to shoot (with power) which appeared to give him confidence and grew into the games. He gives us a more direct option but looses more balls than a youth centre pool table. Sell.

I want to see Bolasie play in the league Cup. He is much more of a threat than Walcot, Iwobi or Bernard. But I'd still sell him if possible.

Sell the rest by all means possible including Bolasie, we've seen enough of all of them by now to know they're nowhere near good enough. I'm so pleased we have a great manager, otherwise we would have Stones, Barkley and Lookman back care of the Kenwright benevolent society. Carlo just won't wear it, he's nobody's fool.