Rangers eye move for Davies

About Davies's level.

Are we allowed to talk about Tom Davies on this thread?

[Just asking for a friend... 🙃]

Jeff, Allowed? It's compulsory!

It would be a good move for him, he needs to play every week, he's wasting his career away on the sidelines with Everton.

Good move all round.

Tom Davies's appearance record for Everton puts him 26th on the all-time list of players who have turned out for the Blues with 169 appearances in all competitions.

Huge news if true.

Tom Davies, needs to go and play for a settled football club, and for a manager who can begin to make the kid realize that he can be a good bloody player, once again.

Davies has suffered more than anyone playing for the most dysfunctional football club in the land and he needs to get away from his boyhood club because he takes more stick than anybody.

Tom is a young player with plenty to prove especially to the dispiriting Evertonians, who have given the kid unmerciful stick for years now.

He's league one at best? I've been watching a bit of League One lately, and he's definitely light-years ahead of that standard… But just like the fans who give him so much stick, Tom Davies is lost, and needs a fresh start, although I'm not sure Everton can actually afford to let him go just yet, because of our very precarious position?

Watching League One, I like the look of a young Celtic player called Liam Shaw who is currently on loan at Morecombe but I'm told it's a massive step-up just to become a Championship player?

I must admit his name was one of those that flashed into my mind when Roy Keane alluded to, 'players who weren't even good enough for the Premier League, never mind Everton.'

Never really reached the potential many of us thought he had (another Rodwell?). If he goes, he should leave with all of our best wishes.

Best wishes? He's earned millions being crap.

Best wishes? No chance.

Rangers fans are lovely so he will be happy away from the mean old Evertonians.

I hope he goes and does well for himself away from the toxicity of our fans. He's a shadow of the player he could have been, but it's hardly surprising when he hears the groans and the abuse whenever he's on the pitch.

For the first few years of Davies's Everton career, he always looked to play a forward pass, never ducked out of a challenge, and always gave his all. More often than not, we were a better team with him in it.

When Allan was injured for a couple of months during Ancelotti, Davies was the best defensive midfielder we've had since Phil Neville. He won tackles, broke up play, and had the awareness to cover for full-backs if they bombed forward – something that Allan and Gueye don't seem to possess.

Unfortunately, mainly because he has come through the ranks, the boo boys have affected his game more than most, as well as playing under about 7 different managers – all of which seem to have looked at transfer fees over actual effort on the pitch – and had to try and prove himself to each of them.

Good luck to him if he goes. I hope he proves a lot of people wrong.

Kevin @11.

Davies never made it at Everton because of the fans?

He never made it because he wasn't very good.

Tom Davies has been a model professional at the club. He broke into the team and looked to drive us on from the centre of the park but over time he has just made up the numbers when someone gets injured.

A little like John Ebbrell who was a young England prospect but ended up a stand-in clogger for when Parkinson or Horne got injured.

An academy graduate will always be 2nd choice when a manager brings in their own players. He has probably seen off 7 managers.

Schneiderlin, Klaassen, Allan, Gana, Onana, Doucoure. Over 𧴜M spent on centre-midfielders. Tom is the first one used if any of them get injured.

There are fine margins between Football League and Premier League players. All this talk of 'Championship at best' is an insult to the lad. Over 150 Premier League appearances at 24 years of age isn't bad for someone who isn't very good.

How many top centre-midfielders have we had over the last 20 years? Barry, Gana? Graveson? Fellaini? Even Arteta took shit for playing centre-midfield rather than on the wing!

How many Premier League centre-midfielders have we produced in 20 years? Davies, Osman, Barkley, Lundstram, Forshaw. Not a sparkling advertisment for the academy.

For the sake of his own career, he should move on. If it happens, I wish him all the best. Haters will always hate.

Rob @13.

Haters will always hate?

Sorry but what a silly comment. I don't hate Davies, I don't know him. He's just not very good at football, but we've still paid him millions.

Why do some Everton fans find it hard to criticize players that ain't very good? This club is too soft, from the board, players, manager, and some fans.

We need to be more tougher on them. But that would make us haters? Can't have that.

I'm not a great admirer of Tom in terms of football talent; and not a critic either.

But what nastiness to not wish him well. Some people just can't separate the money somebody gets paid from their personality. Yes, he's paid a lot; no, there are no personality defects.

Spitefulness is not a good look.

Paul, you don't make it to the Premier League if you're "not very good at football". You may not rate him but to say he's not very good at football is very silly.

Spot on Brent.

Paul

How many appearances do you need before you have made it at any club?

Not very good – We aren't talking Sunday league here. The Premier League is one of the more demanding leagues. 150 games played in a struggling team. Was he also our youngest captain at one point?

It's all relative I suppose, he isn't a Lampard, Scholes or Gerrard – just a local lad who is playing for his childhood club.

Maybe we should get tougher on youth players altogether and scrap the academy and just focus on buying players. That way, the local lads won't get the same level of criticism that they get now.

I don't buy the 7 managers hypothesis.

The manager keeps getting sacked cause the players are consistently poor, with Davies, Holgate and Keane among the longest-serving. Chelsea go through a lot of managers but their youngsters do okay.

'Good' is a relative term. In terms of where we want to be, he and most of the squad aren't good enough. I don't wish him ill will – just that we get better.

Also, as for toxic fans and locals… everyone gave Moise Kean – who's much younger – short thrift. Dele Alli, who people say was damaged by Mourinho, is a waster apparently, and neither Schneiderlin nor Nyarko were local.

So there's a lot of false information going around villainizing fans when simply he – like many others – is why we are where we are and not where we want to be.

I wish him all the best and a safe journey up North.

I am sick and tired of player bashing. He played hard for us. Sure, we could have fair debate about his ability but, if he goes, let's just wish him well. Is that so hard?

As I said years ago, during the John Stones era, if I was a young player, I would never sign with this club. Man Utd, Man City, Chelsea, Arsenal and every other club celebrate their young talent. Here, our fans ripped an obviously supremely talented John Stones who made young player mistakes.

Not only am I talking to the then Stones haters, I'm talking to the dozens of idiots who wanted to make him a midfielder.

Cue the queue to take him to the Airport, Bus or Train Station, keep it orderly behind me too, please!

I know I am risking a Darren diatribe attack in his defence, but I am prepared to stand firm and repel all brickbats. How long has he dined out on that goal against City? Nice work if you can get it and remain hidden for 5 or 6 years.

It will be interesting to see how he fares North of The Border; however, I do wish him well… but don't dare come back!

For a midfielder who only passes like a Rugby player (ie, can't pass the ball forward up the pitch!), Tom Davies should've been jettisoned out of the club back when Boris Johnson first found his way into No 10.

So much money wasted on his wages and so little in return since his "wonder goal" against Man City.

Said it on another thread, it's not only local talent which gets the tall poppy treatment, some will never be good enough because they don't run till they drop, they get injured, or they aren't brilliant world class footballers.

News flash: the last world class footballer we have was sold at the end of last season.

We may have great expectations but often lack common sense. And of course any world class players. According to the pundits, we don't even have many Premier League players!

Tom Davies deserves a club where he has the opportunity to play every week, in a position he can call his own. I hope Rangers is a good place for him.

Any supporter can, and will be, critical of players' performances but that's not the same as being abusive...

Christine, spot on as usual, these are allegedly Professionals yet we hear, once the Cotton Wool Wrapping has been removed, a plethora of excuses for poor performance, and no shortage in defence of them from certain sectors, abound. Of course the paying Fan has every right to criticise, but also agree in drawing the line with abuse towards them, or their defenders. (Bell-ends that they are) :-)

Michael

Arsenal fans roundly booed Aaron Ramsey for a few years when he was a teen. Don't act like only Everton fans are demanding. But Ramsey proved himself and won them over. Straq was a limited player as there has been but fans supported him as they did Bent and even Niasse while readily admitting they weren't good enough and needed to move on. The difference was they did their best. Jonjoe Kenny was another. Early promise never fulfilled but the vast majority were supportive of him based on his efforts even though when he left most felt like it was probably for the best. There are lots of good professionals like Straq who don't make it cause they lack talent. I've greater sympathy for them as it's out of their control as opposed to players we are told are great but somehow managers and fans criticizing them made them worse. Lastly the Chelsea and city comparisons are nonsense since only world class youngsters make their first team. Not since the era of Eddie Newton and Frank Sinclair have Chelsea fans seen a weak side stuffed with local lads and guess what? They weren't universally loved

If Tom was my lad I would be extremely proud of him to have played and given his all for the club he loves. I would also be very angry at the level of criticism put his way. It's not his fault he can't hit the next level and certainly not his fault that he's earning a fortune. We can all be partly to blame for that.
Everton have splashed out hundreds of millions on players over the past few years and only around 10% of them have been up to a high standard. Maybe less than 10%.
Tom Davies is probably slightly better than Iwobi in all round ability but unfortunately Tom has very little pace. It's just a shame that coaches cannot get more out of some players and I personally believe that's where most of the problems are, down at Finch Farm. Coaches are paid extremely well but are generally relying on having top notch players to get the team going rather than implement a solid team structure. There are not a lot of top notch players around unfortunately and obviously alot less top coaches.
I want good football played by my team but next to that I want fight and pride. Cannot knock Tom for the latter two.
I have been frustrated with him myself because I want and expect more but there are a lot more pressing issues at Everton than Tom Davies. Good luck to the lad.

Pete

I don't understand the paternal thing. Every player has parents. I'm sure Schneiderlins are proud of him but how's that a mitigating factor that needs to be expressed? He's not a child he is a grown man 24 going on 25. No one said his parents shouldn't be proud, any more than any other players or for that matter any other kid whether they work at Tesco or NASA. I don't see how that is relevant. He's not orphan Annie. He has had a decent run at a big club and was well paid for it.

Kieran.
It's not Paternal. I'm just giving thoughts on the topic. I'm proud of my two boys and they are still at school.
What I was trying to express is that he's done very well for himself by playing at top level football. He offers more than most players we have brought in for stupid money so I personally find it hard to lay any shit on him. I'm proud of him for being a local lad who gave it his best shot actually and I'd rather have more locals in my team giving it their all than players brought in expensively from Man Utd reserves etc that offer little more. The hype of the PL has taken us all over when in fact most of it is crap.
My main gripe is that a lot of coaches are struggling to take their teams to the next level because the lack of top notch players but mainly because of their own limited ability to improve the players they have. We are seeing this again right now with Frank Lampard although he still has time to learn.
On the opposite side of this what we saw with Kendall and Harvey was two great coaches getting maximum from a squad that had a lot of average players.
I don't need to go into the deeper problems at Everton as that's been done to death but coaching is as much a problem as the quality of players.

I am a long time supporter of Tom Davies - in my eyes he has rarely let the club down. I had hoped that he would be as effective as Osman was for Everton. A solid, dependable player who would show to the rest of his team mates what playing for Everton meant. Whereas Leon had the advantage of mainly playing under 1 manager - Moyes, who trusted him and knew his strengths and weaknesses, Tom has been kicked around different roles by the 7-8 managers in the Moshiri-era. The Scottish league may afford him a stable environment but that is also not a given. Hope he finds his motivation and has a good career ahead.

In the meantime, the Everton midfield gets weaker and weaker (Garner, Iwobi, Davies) and no replacements in sight. And no, Dele Alli is not the answer. God help this club!

And since Tom first came into the side how many have come in for transfer fees and higher wages and not done too well? As for the City goal, it showed what he is capable of and I wonder if he was told to stop it as if he had lost the ball when he outwitted two senior City players it could have meant a goal the other way instead. It does seem that Manager after Manager, and he has played for a few, seem to have him playing as a defensive midfielder rather than the natural box to box player he seems to be. And yes, he does cop a lot of unnecessary flak including one time when being blamed for the teams poor performance when he wasn't even playing. Listening to some it seems the loss to Brighton was more his fault when there seemed at least half a dozen worse, I suppose he should have helped lift those who play far more regularly, eh?

Tom has suffered as have all the younger players from the rotation of managers here. There has been no consistency in the development plan for him, he has been moved around the team as he is versatile and he has never once complained.

I mainly admire him because he has never hidden in games, always showing for a pass while the cowardly senior pros like Schneiderlin, Gomes etc went missing. He is evidently an intelligent guy and that show in his positional discipline.

I don't want him to leave, but best of luck to him if he does.

Tony and a few others sum it up. Tom has struggled to find consistency due to inconsistency at the club. He's not the only one, especially the younger ones.

He's a good footballer - I've consistently suggested he's decent to have in the squad for where we are now.

We all criticise individual players, Tom included, for performances. We praise them when they play well.

Whatever happens, I hope Tom gets to go somewhere that provides him with the opportunity to play more regularly.

Pathetic suggesting Davies never made it because of fans.

Spurs fans are a demanding bunch but it didn't stop Harry Kane making it.

Davies didn't make it because he's not very good at any particular thing.

He's not a creative goalscoring midfielder, he isn't quick and he isn't a domineering type either.

Fans accept that kind of player then it's no wonder they club think we are happy with mediocrity and we never move on.

Some very good posts re Tom Davies.

As usual, some very poor ill-thought out comments. To quote Chris Sutton. 'You're better than that'

For me, he needs to be in a settled club environment, playing regularly, free of injuries. If he's happy to move away from the Liverpool area, he'll come good.

Shame our club is just so crazy.

My additional comment to the one I made above is that Tom Davies, as far as I know, is still an Everton player and should be treated as such, with respect.

Some on here are commenting as if he's already left.

There's a few people trying to point it out Jim that it's not that people are happy with mediocrity but we have brought in so many players that are no better than him but have cost us fortunes. We want better but we never seem to get it which is down to other people of course.
Tom has always applied himself well but his shortcomings are clear.
Peter Reid had no pace at all but his tenacity, intelligence plus Bracewells endless running and tackling allowed the team to flourish. Neither of these players scored many goals but excellent coaching brought a great balance to that team.
I like what I am seeing with Brentford who have very few if any top class players at all in their team. At the moment they are playing with confidence of course but that's down to the coach who is working hard with the players and obviously has a decent head on his shoulders. We do see this every year with one club or another though.
Too many modern coaches just want top players at their disposal. I don't think Pep could do a good job with most of the Prem teams. He's actually only won the Champions league with Messi on his side. Klopp has done a great job with the dark side but hopefully we will start to see that fail. Ancelotti failed to get a proper tune out of us a few years ago but did manage to make us difficult to beat. Exactly what we need right now actually.
For me there aren't too many great coaches out their who are capable of improving players or teams in general.
This got me thinking about our signing of Maupay. Was Frank Lampard not told of his signing ? If not why not and if so why would he have thought he could improve him ?? Same with Dele Ali.

It's amazing he's still here to be honest, which is more the manager turmoil over that period than him playing a part of contributing strongly on the pitch.

This is his 8th season in the first team, and you can count on two hands his better games. Every summer we've gone out and bought more midfielders as no one at the club has thought he's good enough to play a bigger part.

Wikipedia claim he's 5ft 11, which if true suggests he does under power what he's got.

A fresh start elsewhere seems the right call - see Kenny. He's made it as a Premier league professional footballer, it just goes to show that to excel out of an academy is a hell of a job these days.

You've either got to be technically very good, incredibly fast or massive - with probably two of those characteristics.

It seems like there is a lot of wishful thinking going on here. Surely it is obvious that his City goal was an aberration? He hasn't come even remotely close to replicating it since.

Some players are simply un-coachable. I for one would be delighted for Davies to take his dunderheadedness and abject ball control and unleash them on another team's despairing fans.

Hi Pete, just a quick comment on Dele Alli. Not sure if I am misreading your last para re Frank Lampard knowing about the signings of Maupay and Alli.

I think he definitely knew about Alli coming in. They both arrived on Deadline Day as far as I remember. Who knows how transfers work - who knows how much input Frank had and also how much of a say about Van de Beek.

There's a great video on Youtube (not sure exactly which day this was taken) showing the new faces arriving at Finch Farm. You may have seen it before. Always makes me laugh, especially Alli being shown around. Although it can't be fun having your initial views and thoughts being filmed, Alli seems to have a few 'what have I done' moments.

Scroll through to about 9.20 mins in for Alli

Anyway, there's a bit which shows him meeting Frank Lampard and if I hear it right or perhaps it could be my imagination, Frank seems to say ' We did it'

Hope the link works.

Link

If only 26 players have played more times for Everton, then saying he never made it, does sound quite ridiculous?

He's shite, he hasn't done nothing, but neither have Everton, and this ‘24 year old' has already played for ‘six, Everton managers, plus a couple of caretakers', and all whilst the club, has been going progressively backwards.

Is it because of players like Davies, that we have gone backwards? I don't think so.

Another young player will soon leave for nothing - but our neighbours would have made sure they got at least 㾻 million for such a player, imo.

TOM DAVIES, WILL WALK AWAY FOR NOTHING BECAUSE EVERTON ARE THE MOST DYSFUNCTIONAL CLUB IN THE COUNTRY.

A lot of fans will be happy to see the back of him, but it just sadly highlights, to me, the absolute disgrace that Everton have become, with our continuous mismanagement. Where is it all going to end?

Some players are just un-coachable, but most footballers just need a bit of stability, and I think I know which one describes Tom Davies, better. We will see?

I would sell him if we got a decent offer. Sure he is a nice lad and tries his best but is bang average as a player for me. He's had plenty of time to prove himself in the Premier League and just doesn't seem up to it. Part of the reason we are in the mess we are now is signing/playing average players like him.

I hope to fuck he does go. At least it will make people realise we have dozens of other players too.

This thread has restored my faith in the knowledgeable Evertonian. I'm delighted to see so many respected posters defending TD. It seems to be made up of people praising The lad and wishing him well and those who keep coming back to it, after hammering him for the past 6 years - He's 24.

It probably wont make a blind bit of difference to EFC if this rumor proves to be on the money. We've signed hundreds of millions of pounds worth of midfield players. All of whom have failed. All of whom have earned 2-3-4 times more than TD...And all of whom have escaped without anything like the vitriol leveled at him.

During what has probably been the darkest period in this clubs history. Tom Davies has played 145 times. He is unbeaten in 99 of them. Thats a really, really embarrassing record for those who claim he has cost all those managers their jobs, HIs record is better than any of theirs...That makes me smile.

Rangers would be a fantastic club for Tom Davies. At least their supporters direct their hatred at the enemy on Derby day. They don't focus on their own. And from what I can gather. it isnt a crime not to be Pirlo up their either.

I would urge Tom Davies to snatch Glasgow Rangers hands off. Run a mile from this club and never look back.

Leave the haters to go and find something and somebody else to do.

I know it's irrelevant as to opinions on his ability as a footballer, but for those who haven't seen it, watch the Tunnel Access video of the Palace match. At the end, there is a really nice clip of Tom sat on the roof of the Main Stand Executive Boxes engaging with supporters in the Enclosure with a smile on his face and signing shirts.

Now I'm not for one minute comparing the ability of both players.

But look at the conditions of the clubs that both developed in.

One get's "one of our own" chanted at him in the best stadium in world football.

The other get's blamed and called shit in a stadium that has barely changed since the 70s.

Good luck Tom if you do go. He has been at times a very good player, not the very best for sure but that isn't his fault. Very much a victim of the boo boys who are a problem but to be fair a football problem not just an Everton problem.

He needs to leave to play football at whatever level is best for him. Maybe the Scottish PL is the level, but no I don't think he's good enough for the English PL.

Good luck to Tom if this deal happens, could restart his career. Which central/defensive midfielder has shone in this time? Occasionally Gueye, Allan and even less frequently Delph. Over £80 million spent in transfers alone for Gomes, Schneiderlin, Doucoure, and Gbamin. They are far more indicative of how poorly run we are. Onana is now struggling in a poor team, I don't think we even know what his best position is. And so the cycle continues.

**missed out the Harry Kane reference

This is too good to be true

@39 "the natural box to box player he seems to be". Tom Davies has never been, is not, and will never be this. He doesn't have the skill set for this as he lacks pace and skill plus can't finish.

I would wish him well as he deserves an opportunity to be a regular somewhere at his level, which is championship / scottish prem probably.

I wonder why he gets the derision/bile that he does.
He's and Evertonian for childhood, playing for the he's loved since a kid and gets dog's abuse for a section of the supporters.
His dream was probably realised when he was called into the team and scored
"that goal" against City, and also had a good match too.
If he goes, I say "good luck Tom, an Evertonian who played for your club" At Rangers, if there's anything in this rumour, I wish you well and you have a good career there.
If you stay, then just do your best, that is all anyone can be asked to do.

Tony A, it really is criminal isn't it that Tom and Jonjo Kenny will both have left on a free? £15-20 million down the drain because we are a basket case.

At least Thelwell is tying younger players into contract extensions so we can get a transfer fee. I see we have recalled Nathan Broadhead from Wigan so we can sell him to Ipswich - and for a seven figure deal.

The local boys just seem to be easy targets Jim. And from my experience of mixing with supporters of other clubs, although not exclusive, it does seem to be an Everton thing more than at most clubs.

I spent years supporting and almost being laughed at for suggesting that the "too lightweight and useless" Leon Osman was one of the best technical players I'd seen play for Everton in a long time. It got to the point I wished he'd have gone to the continent as he would have excelled in somewhere like the Bundesliga.

Likewise, sticking up for poor Tony Hibbert who was a solid defender yet "wasn't great going forward". That may have been a valid case, but then we had the best Everton left back I've seen in Baines (yes as an 80s kid, who rates him over Van Den Hauwe). I seem to remember Leighton being called out for not being good defensively in his early time at Everton. Cake and eat it?

I see parallels in Mykolenko with Hibbert, who I also thought might have been useful in a more central defensive role. People will cite height no doubt.

Similar with Barkley, although ultimately I don't think he done himself any favours, which seems to have been the case since he left Everton.

I've criticised all of those players at times as well as Tom Davies. I've praised them too. For me it's about the performances as with any player, regardless of where they came from or how they arrived at Everton.

The local boys tend to get it in the neck far more readily for some reason.

For the sake of balance and moving away from the locals, I was always surprised at the stick Lukaku got from some quarters. Poor touch, lazy, didn't track back. But he scored goals. What I'd give for a striker who scored goals right now.

Good points Danny. We now tend to go for goalscorers...who don't score goals!

Does anyone believe that Onana is a better player than
Tom Davies ?
For a tall man (Onana) he struggles heading a ball.

Good luck to Tom if he moves on, he could do well at another club.

John (55) I think Onana demonstrated on Friday he has the physical attributes to be a better player. He is not the finished article, any more than Tom was when he broke into the team. The question is whether or not he can develop within a struggling team in a fiercely competitive league.

His concentration and focus is woeful at times but he is able to make an impact in key moments with his tackling and passing. I agree his heading is poor, nowhere near as good as Fellaini's. With practice that is something which might improve, over time. Onana is probably a player who will go one of two ways; he might become a mainstay in the team or like so many before him become an anonymous journeyman.

Incredible Steve, we are going to be getting more money, for a kid who never made the grade at Everton, than we got for two kids, who where in and around the first team since they were teenagers and have both played a lot of games for Everton fc.

What would Liverpool have done, Bill?

I'd agree with that John Raftery.

He's 21 and in line with the thread, although we having pressing concerns, I'd rather not slaughter another young before he's had a chance to settle, establish and develop in a good player for Everton or a sellable asset.

A few things seem very clear to me.

1. Onana will be a better player than Tom Davies. Or certainly should be. His raw tools are superior.
2. Tom Davies has not developed quite as much as we might like.
3. In no way is Tom Davies deserving of the flak he receives on here, he is one of the lowest paid members in the squad who always tries his best.
4. Every squad benefits from having low paid fringe players who act professionally and will give their all when called upon.
5. Tom Davies will probably do well at a club where he starts every week and go on to have a career akin to Lundstram or Forshaw.

Nice to see Tom Davies getting some praise. Have always liked him. He's brave, one of the few central midfielders we've had who actually look to play a forward pass, and is probably on a fraction of the wages of the various much-touted midfielders who have come and gone over the years. A likeable and decent enough squad player - who we'll inevitably end up overpaying massively to replace. Good luck to him.

@50, you don't seem to use names...watch the first few minutes v.Brighton and his early 1stX1 games and then repeat he never has. Somewhere along the line it stopped and for me it is probably at the insistence of the manager. If I remember, Koeman was critical of the way the defence and midfield seemed not to work together defensively or it may just have been a matter of coincidence and timing.

Brilliant move for Tom and for the club.

Some odd comments on this thread. People saying that he's not very good, which he isn't, and then others leaping up and saying 'Can't you just wish the lad well, how many games have you played for Everton? Good luck for the future Tom!' If you want to wish the lad well, reply to one of his instagram stories or send him an email. He ain't gonna be reading this, it's a comments section of a fan site article.

It's entirely fair to offer up opinion of a player here. And although Tom Davies is a better footballer than 99.99% of the population, we're talking about a premier league player, and in that context... he's not very good.

I feel like he needs to look at himself though. He could have identified WHAT he wanted to be a few years ago, and driven himself psychotically toward that. I.E Made himself quicker and sharper to be a defensive mid... Or worked tirelessly on his range of passing to become a Gareth Barry... Or on his strength and finishing to become a late-arriving goal scoring midfielder.

Yet he just seemed to float along in stasis, not improving in any facet and so effectively going backwards year on year until he is now this ghostly presence, constantly falling over, passing backwards and being eased off the ball like a kid in a mens match.

Not too late for him though if he buckles down elsewhere. Not that you are reading, but good luck Tom. Time to grasp control of your career.

Tom Davies has been at the club for a long time. I don't think any of his coaches were keen to get rid of him because he has been a fairly decent midfielder. Not blessed with any outstanding qualities but obviously capable of quite a bit.

You don't make over 150 appearance in the PL by being shit.

I'm sure we had all hoped he would have developed into a stronger player with goals in him or a great tackler.

For those who say he is championship level, wake up, he is a PL player.

At the moment he is fairly important to us with Garner out. The midfield isn't exactly brimming with fit and able deputees.

He hasn't crashed his car when drunk, hasn't been caught doing something dodgy and has never dissed the club.

He is guilty of being average.

If he does go, then I wish him all the best.

Phil @ 62.
Do you have any evidence that Tom Davies and other players don't read ToffeeWeb? It's a popular fans site.

Tom Davis, £25000 a week for being crap, best wishes, really, I don't think he needs our best wishes as mush as a rat leaves a sinking. ship doesn't.

i've commented a few times Ian about some players probably have a look at the opinions on the site. Its not advisable for them to do so and they have probably been warned against it, but its only human nature to have a quick look now and then.

Its the reason I don't like players being called 'shite' and the like.

Phil

I understand the people who say he is an OK squad player, but with regard to the argument he was a starlet but somehow "ruined" by Everton changing managers, and fans groaning. I don't get that argument at all. And if it were true then why does he have no accountability himself? Other players (Lookman for example or Geri) get criticized when signed for us and failing to deliver consistently on early promise. Everyone blames them for being big time charlies or what not but nobody says "well maybe the fans groaned once too often." Therefore, I don't understand how there's a belief that at almost 25 years of age, Tom through no fault of his own somehow went from being a star in the making to a journeyman.

Paul - "I don't think he needs our best wishes as mush as a rat leaves a sinking. ship doesn't."

So you see Everton as a sinking ship and Tom as a rat.

And you value him and want him to stay?

Or you don't value him and want him to leave?

What's the issue?

Best wishes, Tom.

Changed my mind about this post...tara.

When he first broke through, I thought he could be a very good/good player for us. As time progressed, especially around Dec '20 when he filled in for Allan, I thought he could be a good squad player for us. Filling in when required and saving us millions in the transfer market, as well as showing the young players that Everton will give their own a chance.

But, to be perfectly honest, his absolutely dire performance and miss away at Bournemouth in Nov convinced me that he isn't worth persevering with. He's lightweight, lacks pace and is a truly awful finisher.

So, after years of defending him and hoping he comes good, now I'm quite happy to see him go. I do wish him well though as he is a trier and seems like a nice lad.

Rangers are still a big club who will play European football very often, this could be a great move for him.

We definitely should not sell him at this point in time.
Tom is an attacking midfielder and that is where he should be played to get the best out of him.

No great loss, if we replace him with better quality.

Iliman Ndiaye of Sheffield United would be a decent signing, in my opinion.

The only thing wrong with Tom Davies is his distinct lack of Premier League-level athleticism. That's it. He has everything else.

Remember, when asked which of his Everton players most reminded him of himself as a player, Ancelotti immediately replied, "Tom Davies". He then added that he, himself, was a better player technically.

And I think that's a reasonable description of Tom. Let's also remember that, at 20-21 years old, Tom came out of the tunnel wearing the captain's armband a couple of times and carried himself well.

He's just not athletic enough.

Good luck to him wherever he lands next season or the second half of this one.

Brent 68, I don't value Davis at all. He's a Uncle Bill fave that's why he's been at Everton this long, the fan connection you see.
Sane reason Sharp is on the board.I didn't say he's a rat, I said like a rat. So long as the likes of Davis and Gordon are at Everton because they are Everton supporters, we won't get anywhere.
Tom doesn't need our best wishes, and let's face it, the last time he contributed anything to justify his £25000 a week wage was about five years ago against Man City.

It certainly isn't Davies fault he played football to the best of his ability. Ultimately, it's the clubs job to make sure the squad is good enough to be where we want to be. You can tell Davies' level by the clubs that will be in for him and it was clear to the majority of fans many years ago where that was but due to the merry-go-round of managers no one made the decision that was best for Davies and for Everton at the time.
In my opinion, in his early twenties, he needed to be playing week in week out at a lower level to reach his full potential.

Nothing against the lad and I wish him well but he's not PL standard.
Mind you, neither are we.

Arnaut Danjuma being linked. Loan with option to buy.

Would be a smart bit of business if it happens Alan but unfortunately we don't do smart business anymore so he'll end up at villa with his old manager Emery.

No doubt someone will be signed before Friday to shut the fans up.

Won't work!

We don't sell players like Davies, we just loan them out like Osman and Barklay and then they come back without much improvement in them and suffer them for years.

I've read a lot of negative comments on Tom Davies over the last few weeks and I fail to see the point people are making about him and Evertons current predicament.

It's impossible to blame any single player, let alone our own Everton youth product for the almighty mess we are in. Relevently speaking he cost us zero, is on cheap wages, has been unlucky with injuries but gives his all every single game.

Is he the greatest, is he world class or even one of the Premier leagues best players, no. But I'd rather Tom over the many other impostors we have spent a fortune on over the last decade.

We need better players in every position to compete at the top. That's not going to happen anytime soon. In the meantime we need everyone to improve and be the best they can be week in, week out.

My comment's on Tom are the same for Iwobi only he cost a lot of money and is on a hefty wage. But at least he gives his all. Iwobi hasn't improved as a player, but his attitude, fitness and work rate have which make him a big loss as he's more athletic, stronger, pacey and technically better than most of our other midfielders.

I'm not blaming Iwobi but his recruitment points to the problems of the past. Only time will tell if our recruitment has improved.

Sounds like some Rangers fans aren't too keen on young Tom.

Colin

I'm astounded

Me too, Kieran. One set of local fans said they will only accept him if he dresses up like a Bay City Roller.

Whatever game you go to, home or away, one thing is for certain - you'll always be within earshot of some knobhead giving Tom Davies a gobfull of abuse. Whilst he might not be the player to transform our dreadful midfield, no one deserves that. If he leaves, I wish him all the very best and I'm sure he'll get less stick literally anywhere else.

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