Tottenham Player Review: Ben Davies

Had fate not intervened, there might not have been much reason to write about Ben Davies’ season at Tottenham.

Prior to January, the Welsh international made all of three Premier League starts for Tottenham along with some scattered appearances in cup games and the Champions League group stage.

Then, of course, Danny Rose went down injured in the 0-0 draw with Sunderland. Davies stepped into that game and didn’t miss another league start for the rest of the campaign.

Coming into make up for the contribution of Rose was a nearly impossible task to hand to any player. Davies covered for and rotated with Rose in previous seasons, but often only for matches where Mauricio Pochettino valued a stronger defensive presence on the left flank.

By January, though, Pochettino had Spurs and Rose playing in a very different system. The 3-4-2-1 played to Rose’s strengths, starting him higher up the pitch with full license to fold into the attack when in possession.

Put lightly, while Rose blossomed into the wing-back role, Davies at first appeared to falter. He lacks Rose’s pace and, more importantly, offensive acumen. Talented as he may be, Davies was simply too traditional of a full-back to make it all work.

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Though he was briefly considered as possible for cover for Jan Vertonghen when the Belgian also went down injured, Pochettino persisted with Davies in a wider role.

With both Rose and Vertonghen down, the Argentine — rightly — thought that also pushing forward with the 3-4-2-1 was a bit too much of a risk. He switched back to a 4-2-3-1 — a formation Davies historically is much more comfortable with — but the initial results were not encouraging.

It’s difficult to pin Spurs’ thoroughly limp performance against Liverpool in February on one man, but both of Sadio Mane’s goals in that 2-0 loss came in part from uncharacteristic mistakes by Davies. For a brief moment it appeared as if the pressure of being Spurs’ only healthy option at left-back might get to him.

After further embarrassment in the Europa League though, Spurs and Davies began to rally. The Welshman impressed in the 4-0 demolition of Stoke, then notched an assist against Everton a week later. His rhythm restored, he saw out the season with his typical steady hand.

Most notably, upon the return of Vertonghen to the lineup, Davies even made significant headway in playing with the 3-4-2-1. He still lacks Rose’s menace, but he proved that he could adapt and still provide a wide threat for Spurs’ otherwise narrow attack.

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In the midst of all this, the club saw fit to award Davies with a new contract. Though he might not be able to compete head to head with a fully healthy Rose, Davies put it beyond doubt this season that he is a talented rotation option and, when and if required, a reliable regular starter.