Winning and retaining the ball is a very low bar we're setting for a number 8, besides we have Lemina & Romeu who will win us the ball and play it to more creative players. He's no better at what he's supposed to be so good at than JWP or Hojbjerg from what I've seen. Being a 'cog' just isn't enough to warrant his fandom for me. http://www.squawka.com/comparison-m...n/goals_scored/shot_accuracy/interceptions#90 A comparison metric based on last season. Now, I know stats aren't everything, but that confirms my suspicions.
I've been a big fan of Davis for a long time but I have to agree with you. With 2 CDM's one should be able to push forward in attack, ala double pivot. That man is lemina.
Whoever plays in attacking central midfield has to be able to shoot. That rules out most of the usual suspects. I would put boufal there for the next few games and see what happens. Currently nothing happens so it can be little worse. The rest of the team are in pretty good shape.
https://southamptonfc.com/news/2017-09-06/stat-pack-southampton-watford-premier-league A stat pack about this game...most 'interesting' fact is that this is the 5th consecutive game between Saints and Watford at St Marys with different managers in both dug outs.
I disagree. That's how games are won and lost. The more obviously creative players can't play without the ball.
Because Davis is our only midfielder capable of winning/keeping the ball.... the stats show he isn't even our best midfielder at doing this, by any metric.
First question is how many games are you watching live? Now, not everyone there is going to agree how essential Davo is to the working of the team, but I'm sure a lot of those not there will say what you are saying. Fandom is not the word as he isn't doing anything worthy of blind fandom. He is a water-carrier and I've seen games where the team have been looking thirsty without him there. If the stats are to be believed then Pierre should be starting and Davo on the bench and that isn't happening because where Davo can be seen to be fetching and carrying Pierre disappears. JWP is another matter as, when he plays well he offers something different and more attacking, but v West Ham he was pretty bad and Zabaletta made him look like a baby with candy a few times. Now, believe me when I say I wnt us to be playing so well that Davo IS on the bench and will have to create or score to get a start, but I haven't seen it yet. As I say and in another reply, Mario is here to do that and maybe he will. Plus I really really want JWP to get more consistent and Pierre to fulfil his potential. And what's great about Davo is he will work his socks off to get back into the starting line-up when that happens He is currently the captain of the most succesful NI team in my knowledge and yet rarely figures in any highlights, is he just tagging along with a great team there as well?
The stats can say what they like, I know what I see Why do you think he evokes such admiration if he's not any good? Is it his super-model good looks? His ready wit in interviews?
Missed nearly all of last season due to working abroad, but was able to watch streams out there. I've been to both home games this season and have a ticket for the Watford game. We don't need another water carrier in our midfield, Romeu and Lemina are capable of doing the dirty work. Hojbjerg for whatever reason isn't getting games, I'm not sure why, as you said his stats are much better than Davis based on last season. Yeah Hojbjerg & JWP can go missing, but lets not pretend that Davis doesn't either - he just has the benefit of being one of our longest serving players and the club are obviously loyal to him. I can only imagine we prefer Davis' experience and him being the club captain probably helps. I don't recall Zaba coming up against JWP much - I remember him absolutely shutting down Redmond though. The only decent game Zabaleta has managed this season. How are JWP going to get more consistent, and Hojbjerg fill his huge potential if we insist on playing a water carrier that offers less than the other two? Again, I'm not disputing Davis' attitude or work rate, I just don't believe we need him in our team and he's holding us back in attack, where we're weakest. Saying he's the best NI midfielder isn't saying a lot at all. It's interesting how there has literally been 0 reported interest in him, despite nearly every other player of ours being linked elsewhere over the years.
If he was foreign and a newish signing he wouldn't get anywhere near the admiration or chances he does. He's a solid pro and for British football fans that seems to be enough a lot of the time, unfortunately.
Is anyone else really intrigued to see the team Watford put out? Could be a very different back line.
I don't care where he comes from and I'm not sure I yearn for medioctrity as I think you imply Our new signings are intended to offer more than we have now. If we signed him in the window for £18m I would be concerned, but that's not the point, until the talent gives more he will continue to play The manager can only pick players by what he sees and when he sees JWP and Pierre giving us more they will play and if he plays them on the basis that they may ultimately give us more but we start losing then we'll have a whole new problem on our hands. Given that I'd have JWP start on the right instead of Tadic anyway I'm not there at training every day so I have to believe he knows what he's doing until I see someone playing well and not getting game time I take it you don't believe that MoPe suffers from the same prejudices as the British football fan
Hojberg talks a good game off the pitch but needs to be more consistent on it. There was an away game last season where he received sarcastic cheering from the fans for actually completing a pass. It seemed to get to him and after that he became MOTM. So I suspect it is a motivation thing. As with Romeu under Puel last season, an extended run in the team inspired by someone who believes in his ability will reap rewards. That said, I like JWP. He has (only in my view I know) improved consistently over the last 3 seasons (but small steps) and his delivery can be of top quality. So my team would be Forster Cedric, Stephens, Yosh, Bertrand Romeu Lemina JWP Boufal Gabbi Redmond Subs: McCarthy, Davis, VVD, Hojberg, Tadic, Austin, Long Hard on our other fringer players though - Hoedt, Sims, McQueen, Targett, Pied who all deserve to be involved.
English/British fans are very quick to accept mediocrity, as long as there's 'passion', 'determination' and 'loyalty' to go with it. The club is loyal to Davis, for a new manager to come in and drop the team captain is a ballsy move so I don't expect it to happen just yet. Re JWP and Hojbjerg's playing time in the middle - I am concerned neither of them are getting enough game time. Same with Boufal, we don't seem to be willing to change things up with personnel, when we're clearly lacking something going forward. Something has to give, and for me it's Davis. We need a midfielder who can make something happen. I am a fan, or I'd at least like to see him get a good run of games. He obviously has enormous potential, but he can be a bit....tactically naive I guess which is possibly why Davis is getting the nod. He's not going to improve by sitting on our bench though. Davis is 32, soon to be 33 - IMO, he doesn't offer enough to keep his place.
Under the 5 Managers we have had since returning to the PL, Davis has been an ever present every season. Think that shows how much he is rated behind the scenes too.
