Steven Davis

[for_heaven's_Saint]

I'm really struggling to work out whether I think he's any good or not. He has played a few decent games and a few naff games IMO, and I can't quite decide whether what he brings to the team warrants a place in it.

 

Thoughts?

[niceandfriendly]

Everytime I've seen him he's done well. He's got good close control and a decent passer. Not going to set the world alight, but another good signing from Adkins.

[Crowds]

Everytime I've seen him he's done well. He's got good close control and a decent passer. Not going to set the world alight, but another good signing from Adkins.

 

Agreed he does a job and looks worthy of this league

[Give it to Ron]

Good squad player was excellent against Arsenal but lacks consistency.

[Lallana's Left Peg]

I don't think he is a bad player, I am just not sure where he fits in right now. Works very hard and respected by all the players but we're a young team with some verve and he operates at a slower pace.

 

It wasn't always a given that Cork and Schneiderlin would step up so brilliantly therefore it will be interesting to see what happens in the summer if we stay up as Davis is at an age where he needs to be playing regularly - not least in part due to his experience and national team standing.

[Saint Garrett]

Think he's done a good job when he's played. Gives us something a bit different and has been impressive as a 3rd CM. but when he's played as a 2 in CM he's struggled. He doesn't really offer a lot defensively but he is neat an tidy I the pass and can create. Low on confidence I think and chose to go back a few times last night when he could have driven towards goal or tried the defense splitting pass.

[Tokyo-Saint]

Is he better than Noble?

[Ashley Grute]

crap last night- i will get slated for this, but as a back up to Morgan and Cork i prefer Deano! Fitter, stronger, better in the air, stronger in the tackle and a better leader on the pitch- only thing that lets him down is his touch but for last 20 mins when your defence needs protecting he will throw his body on the line.

[Spudders]

He should have stuck with snooker

[CFSFC]

crap last night- i will get slated for this, but as a back up to Morgan and Cork i prefer Deano! Fitter, stronger, better in the air, stronger in the tackle and a better leader on the pitch- only thing that lets him down is his touch but for last 20 mins when your defence needs protecting he will throw his body on the line.

 

That's why your not a football manager

[jimbojones10]

After the last few games i know think that JWP is a beeter option imo

[Brizzie Saints]

crap last night- i will get slated for this, but as a back up to Morgan and Cork i prefer Deano! Fitter, stronger, better in the air, stronger in the tackle and a better leader on the pitch- only thing that lets him down is his touch but for last 20 mins when your defence needs protecting he will throw his body on the line.

This. was really poor last night, constantly putting the team under pressure, just an average squad player IMO.

[St Lej]

Anyone who would prefer Hammond over Davis is absolutely clueless IMO. Just compare the level both players have spent most of their careers playing at for a start

[Ashley Grute]

I am not a manager, but i am a qualified football coach!

[Colinjb]

Last night Davis was utterly outshone by Chaplow's cameo. He seems to blow a little hot and cold, he isn't on the same level as Cork and Morgan but his experience will hopefully help and support Ward-Prowse's development.

[scotty]

He's a good player imho. He struggled a bit last night, but we were up against a massively expensive side. That strike from SRL's layoff against citeh was terrific, and he held his own in that game. I've wondered why he hasn't started more regularly, what with his prem experience tbh.

[St Lej]

Last night Davis was utterly outshone by Chaplow's cameo. He seems to blow a little hot and cold, he isn't on the same level as Cork and Morgan but his experience will hopefully help and support Ward-Prowse's development.

 

Careful with using the word "utterly"....Delldays has copyright over that word. He must have being that he squeezes it into pretty much every post he makes. Utter legend

[Olallana]

Is he better than Noble?

 

Would Noble leave his club where he grow up for us?

No.

 

Therefore, stupid question.

[Ashley Grute]

Would you say the same about Lambert who has spent all of his career in the lower league and Heskey St. Leg? know who i would prefer in the saints team!

[Smirking_Saint]

Hammond ? Please, for all of his huff and puff technically he struggled in the championship, he would get murdered in the prem.

 

Davis gets a lot of stick, thought he did ok last night all in all, offered a little more protection, unfortunately further up the pitch it didnt really work for him further up the pitch though but from what I could see we played a 433 and his job was to attempt to outwork the chelsea midfield which all in all we managed. The problem with chelsea is they are so good when they get a little possession near the box thet are good enough to punish.

 

Easily good enough for a third option behind cork and morgan, I dont really inow what people expect to sit on the bench behind two midfielders they will likely ever surpass due to age and ability.

[Smirking_Saint]

Last night Davis was utterly outshone by Chaplow's cameo. He seems to blow a little hot and cold, he isn't on the same level as Cork and Morgan but his experience will hopefully help and support Ward-Prowse's development.

He really wasnt.

 

Thats no slight on Chaplow btw

[Tokyo-Saint]

Would Noble leave his club where he grow up for us?

No.

 

Therefore, stupid question.

 

I agree. This place is full of idiots asking stupid questions.

 

http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/showthread.php?41171-West-Ham-whats-the-difference/page4

[pingwing]

He's a really good player though missed most of the summer with a double hernia and has been working hard to come back from it (was out before Rangers imploded for a scale of the injury).

 

It'll take time for him to come good and he has put in some good shifts but he really is more like Morgan than Cork which is what I think has held back some of his performances (having to do a role he's not quite as good at). Can't forget he scored away at city too!

 

Really glad to have him about either way, our midfield four of Cork, Morgan, Davis and JWP is a very strong set of players to pick from for the middle of the park, not many prem teams have 4 players for two spots that are all so good.

[SaintSteve]

Squad player at best, but will not be part of the Southampton plans for future.

Gives the ball away needlessly (as per last nights 1st goal). powder puff in the tackle, and has little pace.

Chaplow is a far better squad option.

[studentsaint]

Dont think he fits our formation. He's box to box not a holder or off the frontman. Perhaps this is why he has rarely impressed. Also think he gets caught in possession. Maybe because at rangers he was given the freedom of the ground against poor spl teams.

[woodsaint]

Might be a bit biased as a Northern Ireland supporter but he is much better than Chaplow, Hammond and JWP. I would have Morgan and Cork ahead of him based on performances this season. He is no doubt a prem quality CM but just needs to improve his consistency and ball retention which in previous seasons has been no problem for him. Just needs to adapt to the prem league again after playing below his level in the SPL for a few years. Will be a key player at this club for a number of years

[CanadaSaint]

Sorry but I think he's a plodding journeyman who marks space rather than his man, lacks pace at this level, telegraphs passes and is slow to recover from the resultant giveaway. He may have been fairly solid and perhaps even more in the SPL but IMO he's struggling here. It's just as well he has Cork and Schneiderlin to cover for his inadequacies so that they are far less costly than they could have been. Good team guy though.

[Saint86]

Anyone who would prefer Hammond over Davis is absolutely clueless IMO. Just compare the level both players have spent most of their careers playing at for a start

 

Compare the level that Heskey and Lambert spent their careers at, does that make saints fans clueless because we would all take Lambert....

 

I think Deano would have fitted into a relegation battle squad, and is a detirmed leader who works hard and does the simple stuff well. Nothing beyond that and with the exception of leads at home last year... nothing flash.

 

Davis is a different type of player in all honesty, and quite frankly, when we are playing 4-2-3-1 he is behind cork and morgan, and in all likelyhood behind/Fighting for Gaston for the forward CM. I still think Davis is a good player and useful to have, but he is the 3rd choice simply becasue Morgan and Cork are a top defensive Premiership CM pairing in the making.

[saints_is_the_south]

Davis is exactly what I thought he would be when we signed him, an upgrade on Hammond. He'll have very good games (see Arsenal) and poorer games (see Chelsea). You can't really describe what type of a midfielder he is (again like Hammond) but he's better than what he has replaced, has plenty of PL experience. Very good player to have in the squad in terms of rotation certainly.

[Sour Mash]

Davis is exactly what I thought he would be when we signed him, an upgrade on Hammond. He'll have very good games (see Arsenal) and poorer games (see Chelsea). You can't really describe what type of a midfielder he is (again like Hammond) but he's better than what he has replaced, has plenty of PL experience. Very good player to have in the squad in terms of rotation certainly.

Don't think he's been quite the player I had hoped we'd bought, but agree, excelent player to have in the squad as back-up to Cork and Schneiderlin, full of top level and international experience and a great player for someone like JWP to learn from. Don't think he was particularly bad on Weds night - he was trying to follow Adkins' instructions of keeping possession of the ball at pretty much any cost and that included passing it back often.

[Matthew Le Tissier]

Davis is poor and a below average premiership player IMO.

 

I do t think he would get into any other premiership team.

[Monk]

So a shiney certificate that anyone can qualify for summarises your knowledge in th wod of PL?

[Smirking_Saint]

So a shiney certificate that anyone can qualify for summarises your knowledge in th wod of PL?

 

Who is this aimed at ?

[Monk]

Ashley Grute

[OLDER BUT WISER]

When he joined us a Jock friend said he was the best player in Scottish football..enough said

[derry]

Sorry but I think he's a plodding journeyman who marks space rather than his man, lacks pace at this level, telegraphs passes and is slow to recover from the resultant giveaway. He may have been fairly solid and perhaps even more in the SPL but IMO he's struggling here. It's just as well he has Cork and Schneiderlin to cover for his inadequacies so that they are far less costly than they could have been. Good team guy though.

 

Hasn't won a tackle all season, wandering around 5 yds in front of opponents isn't closing down, as for being an international captain he shows little in the way of leadership. As far as I'm concerned he is a peripheral player and needs replacement with a more dynamic midfielder.

[Brussels Saint]

He's good as the more attacking type CM, but not when trying to do the job Morgan & Cork do. For me, he is an excellent PL squad player and a useful alternative to bring off the bench in a Ramirez role when we play 4-2-3-1. I understand he is a different type of player to Ramirez, but can also be effective in that role.