Ben Davies' season in numbers
This is the guy who's supposedly no good.
The man in question is
Ben Davies, who signed for Tottenham from Swansea City back in 2014. The Wales international has
completed 329 appearances for the club, a few months shy of a decade later, though has only found a starting spot in Postecoglou's team when options have been limited.
Indeed, Davies, a natural left-back,
started nine successive Premier League matches in central defence throughout the maudlin period of November and December, with Postecoglou's threadbare squad missing its starring defensive axis.
The 30-year-old
ranks among the top 16% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions, the top 15% for progressive passes, the top 11% for progressive carries, the top 18% for tackles and the top 17% for aerial battles won per 90.
In the Premier League,
as per Sofascore, Davies has completed 92% of his passes and come out on top in 71% of his ground duels. Not bad.
Aside from Cristian Romero, who starts anyway, Davies is probably the closest emulation to Van de Ven and if the Netherlands international is to miss the forthcoming top-flight clash against Luton Town -
this is uncertain right now - Davies must start.
Why Ben Davies deserves more opportunities
Wales were on the cusp of the 2024 European Championships, Robert Page's side had limited Poland to half-chances, zero shots on target, during the all-or-nothing clash for qualification on Tuesday night.
Poland won on penalties, as it were, and the Dragons have been grounded ahead of the summer's furore, but Davies can certainly hold his head high after a stellar performance against Robert Lewandowski and Co,
earning a 9/10 match rating by Wales Online's Glen Williams.
Of the left-sided defender, the journalist said: 'Won more than his fair share of duels and beat Lewandowski in the air a few times. Was unlucky to see a headed goal of his ruled out for offside. Was just everywhere. Netted his penalty, too.'
| Ben Davies: Stats vs Poland | |
|---|
| Stat | # |
|---|
| Stats via Sofascore | |
|---|
| Minutes played | 120' |
| Touches | 74 |
| Accurate passes | 41/59 (69%) |
| Long balls | 5/10 |
| Duels won | 6/14 |
| Tackles | 2 |
| Clearances | 3 |
| Interceptions | 1 |
Such a display makes it hard for Postecoglou to ignore the Spurs stalwart, surely, and though there has been a fresh face in Dragusin joining the fold in 2024, he flattered to deceive last night and Davies may well deserve another shot.
The
£80k-per-week ace has a nice spread of qualities, with his precise ball-playing skills, natural confidence in progression - both with and without the ball - stemming from a career of marauding down the left flank, and though he's not the same as Van de Ven, he replicates some of the stylistic strengths and this could be key heading into the business end.
