ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

The Mail Bag

Sean Davis

I see the Rumour Mill is linking us with Sean Davis again. Having seen him described on the web as "A strong tackling, solid midfielder who can pass and keep the ball ..." might he not fit the bill as a prospective long-term replacement for Cars?

There's no doubt Moyes was keen on him for a long-time ? witness the almost season-long saga of us trying to sign him from Fulham prior to his knee injury. And, to be fair, Davey's not done too bad with midfield signings: Arteta, Cahill, Pienaar, Fernandes, and Kilbane & McFadden (looking at the balance sheet), although AVdM and Simon Davies were/have been disappointments.

Anyway, perhaps the lad can fit the bill? It's obvious Moyes has seen something in him. Maybe this time?
Chris Jones, Wakefield Posted 21/01/2008 at 13:54:44

back Return to the Mail Bag

Comments

Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer

Richard Parker
1 Posted 21/01/2008 at 15:31:43

At the very least it should mean the end of Neville or Jagielka in centre mid. That can’t be a bad thing.

Depends if he’s ready to warm the bench and play when injuries and bans kick in. Don’t see him as a player to trouble our current 1st XI.

James Elworthy
2 Posted 21/01/2008 at 15:37:13

Moyes has been after Davies for years, he is a useful player better than Vogel and cheaper than Sidwell. I would prefer to see him in midfield to Neville or Jagielka.

I read Sidwell is on 80k a week which is unbelievable for a non international English player.

Tony Part
3 Posted 21/01/2008 at 15:37:52

I actual thought before Davis left Fulham he looked a quality midfielder and even though I think our need to sign Davis back in 2004 was greater than our need now as I think we have moved on since he could still do a good job as a back up or eventually replacing the super consistent Cars..If the price is right perhaps its worth a move..

Stephen Jacobsen
4 Posted 21/01/2008 at 16:00:26

I was quite surprised when i saw this bit of speculation. As we are all well aware, Moyes has shown interest in Davis before - so obvioulsy see’s attributes that he can offer to our team. However, in saying that, we were linked with him going back a couple of seasons ago now and i’m wondering if Everton have now moved....?

Regardless, Davis would be a good player to add to a thinning squad. One thing I can say is that you very rarely see him have a bad game and is quite consistant........quite comparible to Osman. OK, Osman isn’t the best midfielder on our books but what Moyes has got from him is him playing to the best of his capabilities. If he can exploit the best out of someone like Davis, then i say it is worth the £2 million which is being mentioned to get his services.

I would also agree with the majority in that at least one player reinforcement is needed before the close of the transfer window.

Brian Williams
5 Posted 21/01/2008 at 16:17:49

I’d like to think that we’ve moved on and that the speculation is just that and no more.

We should be setting our sights somewhat higher IMHO!

Mike Allison
6 Posted 21/01/2008 at 16:48:24

Davis has always had the quality and would be a good signing to share the Carsley role IF he can get and stay fit. He’s a gamble, but if it pays off its a bargain. I think we definitely need someone for that role right now. Carsley is tired and picked up very few loose balls in midfield and in front of the back four against Wigan, something he’s been doing brilliantly all season.

Colin Jones
7 Posted 21/01/2008 at 16:52:49

As far as I know he is a crock, and buying him would not improve the squad in the way in which the manager has said he is trying to do. He’s not as good as Arteta, Fernandes or Carsley, possibly as good as Osman. What would be the point? We are aiming higher now.

Chris Dawson
8 Posted 21/01/2008 at 16:56:57

If I remember rightly Moysey was willing to pay about £4.5m for him when he last looked at him (a knee injury at the time meant that he failed a medical). He looked decent enough then and spurs paid the money for him (where he subsequently languished on the bench) and then moved to Portsmouth who have spent big on their midfield.

If he does come and for the speculated price (£2m) then that surely represents a saving of £2.5m.... and if he can get back to the form that he had at fulham then that would be money well spent (or saved depending on where you look at)

Remember good things come to those who wait.....

Andrew Clare
9 Posted 21/01/2008 at 17:00:39

I agree with Colin.What is the point of buying a player who is not as good as any of our existing players.
If we are going to take the next step up we need a different class of player altogether.
In fact I wouldn’t put Sean Davis and ’class; in the same sentence.
We need people who are comfortable on the ball and with the ability to pass it, players with vision.
Hopefully it is just a rumour-if he was that good why would Pompey let him go for £2 million.

Dominic Duerden
10 Posted 21/01/2008 at 17:33:08

Whenever I have watched Davis play for Portsmouth he has looked poor.
Hope we miss out on him to be honest.
I don’t understand why Moyes doesn’t give Anderson a game , Barnsley’s record when he is in the team and when he is out is really telling. Just give him a chance , see what he is like.....if he is no good then fair enough

Terry Smith
11 Posted 21/01/2008 at 17:38:05

I was suprised to see him linked with us again as I had bigger names in mind. But still I think he could fit into Everton's workman like squad and could be one of them players like Carsley who can do the running around and winning tackles.

Jason Broome
12 Posted 21/01/2008 at 17:47:24

This has to be the most uninspiring news I have heard all week.

Sean Davis was crap at Spurs & now is crap at Portsmouth. However he is our future CDM enforcer!! Players like Davis are the reason why mid-table teams remain mid-table. Moyes is not stupid. There are players in the lower leagues who would cost less & do more. Not to mention our youth need a chance at some point.

If we have £2.5M the priority should be to secure Pienaar.

Crappy rumour, started by his desperate agent.

Brett Bradshaw
13 Posted 21/01/2008 at 18:01:14

How old is Davis? If he is below the 26 mark I would say it would be a decent purchase

Jason Broome
14 Posted 21/01/2008 at 18:09:32

Why can’t we target Gilberto Silva who is only 3 years older but has bags of quality, experience, leadership ability, winners medals and one year left on his contract... for the same price!

Brian Waring
15 Posted 21/01/2008 at 18:21:56

I can’t believe that some fans think Davis would be a good signing. He is pure shite! I do hope this is just paper talk, because it would be a BIG waste of £2.5m. At the end of the day, if he was any good, why isn’t he in the Portsmouth side?

Paul Ramsey
16 Posted 21/01/2008 at 18:25:39

I really think we are at the stage now whereby every player we try to buy should have the potential to or is currently playing regular international football. Only by that measure can we improve on what we have. davis, while a decent player will probably amount to nothing more than that, will never be in the england team. As a result i would consider it a bad buy, an unambitious buy, not a force multiplyer!

Steve Jones
17 Posted 21/01/2008 at 18:58:09

Surely we should be looking at better quality - he is no more than an average premiership player. We should be setting our sights higher and going for top class, even it means spending more.

Neil McKinney
18 Posted 21/01/2008 at 19:14:46

They can pay us £2.5m to take him! Not good enough and too old to take the risk on.

If he came for free, we paid him £6 an hour and he cleaned Arteta’s boots then I’d be happy. He was once a prospect, unfortunately he is now just lame.

We can do better surely?

Danny Mullally
19 Posted 21/01/2008 at 19:25:45

I am firmly in the "no" camp on this one. Just cannot see what he could add to the team. The lad shown promise 3-4 years ago, but that was then and this is now. Although i do trust Moyes, I think that this is just the usual trashy journalism (daily mail?) putting two and two together and geting six.

Smokescreen for someone else I hope....

Neil McKinney
20 Posted 21/01/2008 at 19:27:01

I have just done a bit of digging and I can’t seem to come up with a transfer fee for his move from Fulham to Tottenham. Anyone know?

He was part of a package deal with Pamarot and Mendez when he went to Pompey, but it is reported as a £2m deal for Davis. So how has increased in price when he’s been shit at Pompey and may even be passed his best?!

Charlie Percival
21 Posted 21/01/2008 at 19:56:27

Look at Moyes?s other signings in the £2 million bracket!!!!!

Not bad hey!!!!

Pienaar, Arteta, Cahill, McFadden

Mark Griffiths
22 Posted 21/01/2008 at 20:03:47

Sean Davis???

What a waste of money, he is an average player at best.

What a leap, from Arshavin to Davis!!!

I really hope this is bullshit.

Paul Whitehouse
23 Posted 21/01/2008 at 21:03:45

No way should we consider this crock and cant see how he will add any value

What's happened to the talk about Arshavin? Only a few days ago he was quoted as saying he wanted to join us, dont tell me Moyes has blown another one!

Tony Part
24 Posted 21/01/2008 at 21:12:30

Theres no way Everton will sign Arshavin though really..Say for instance we did sign him, where would he play? Is he a forward or a midfielder? He couldnt play up front as we have the options there already and in midfield he wont fit in with Arteta and Fernandes already there.And then there is Cahill who is not going to sit on the bench and nor would you put him on the bench.The positions we should be looking at are a younger version of Lee Carsley and some wide player who can regularly get down to the by-line. We dont really need anymore playmakers just yet although Arshavin may be a top class player and I would like him here but he would command no doubt a very big fee and I just cannot see Moyes going after someone in that mould again just now.

Richard Porter
25 Posted 21/01/2008 at 21:17:38

Re: Paul Whitehouse:

Arshavin is linked with Everton in the press, the club don’t comment.

Days later, Sean Davis is linked with Everton in the press, the club don’t comment.

It’s January. The press use it as an excuse to reprint all their old stories.

How does this constitute Moyes blowing something? The News of the World and the Echo think we’ll sign Arshavin, the Mail think we’ll sign Davis. Why do you believe that either or both of them are automatically true? If every news story linking Everton with a player was true, we’d have Alan Smith, Keiron Richardson, Wes Brown, Matt Taylor, Daniel Braaten, Lasana Diarra and Joey Barton in our team. Until we hear something from the club, why does everyone get so wound up about rumours in the gutter press.

To find a way to criticise Moyes for the tabloid media’s obsession with trying to uncover transfer rumours seems odd. Unless he’s bought News International, of course. And I don;t think we pay him that much.

Tim Kaye
26 Posted 21/01/2008 at 21:53:39

I agree with Richard. Just because we are linked with players? .
I think Arshavin would be good , that is if he is prepared to play wide left of course, Davis is English and Moyesie hasn?t done too badly with young English players? I don?t remember anyone being too excited when we signed Lee Carsley, the most quoted statistic was that he had relegated 2 clubs, but he has certainly come very good for us. So which ever way the wind blows, in Moyes we trust. Good result for the red side by the way, they managed to hold the team battling with them for 6th place, just?.

Paul Whitehouse
27 Posted 21/01/2008 at 22:05:11

Why would the club comment? Which club would ever reveal their targets apart from the arrogance of Newcastle?

The player is available and stated he wants to come to us, we?ve just done the best bit of daylight robbery since Ronny Biggs and still have money left over from the summer.

As to where he would play, you can't say we exactly overflowing with creative talent, what would happen if Arteta or Peanuts got injured. Manny is a central midfielder. I guess we should be happy with Neville!