Davies Gone

I see Jon Davies has signed for Frome. Thought he was really disappointing after a promising start. The summer signings have proved to be a bit of a disaster. Still i suppose he managed a few more games than McLennan !

Got there two minutes before me!

Lets hope there are some decent uni students who have just joined our under 23 squad to come and fill the bench for this Sat!

A loss, but better to let him move on if not able to totally commit.

Mark Tanner wrote:Got there two minutes before me!

Lets hope there are some decent uni students who have just joined our under 23 squad to come and fill the bench for this Sat!

I assume there isn't or we would have had some on the bench last night instead of two empty spaces and no attacking options what so ever.

A loss. I thought he was a good player but seems to have suffered the same fate as every wide player who comes to Twerton. I am getting seriously concerned about what is, or rather, is not happening at Twerton.
Unless there are some changes quickly, and the only possibilities I imagine are loan signings, Saturday could be emabarrassing.

Bristol Mike wrote:

Mark Tanner wrote:Got there two minutes before me!

Lets hope there are some decent uni students who have just joined our under 23 squad to come and fill the bench for this Sat!

I assume there isn't or we would have had some on the bench last night instead of two empty spaces and no attacking options what so ever.

I think this has come up before - last season for example when I don't think we ever had more than five subs in the FA Cup - that you have to pay to register players in the cup competitions so it would seem a waste to do that for two players who wouldn't have come on ahead of Barrow (attacking option?), Williams or Allen.

This is a loss in my view.
He has talent and ability which needed channeling.
Probably made the right decision as I can't recall (m)any examples of us bringing players on.

I thought pre-season we had discovered a gem but he hasn't shown that form in the real games.

I still think it's a shame but - like Nicholson and McLennan - there's no point in standing in a player's way if he has decided he wants to leave.

Roman Mike wrote:This is a loss in my view.
He has talent and ability which needed channeling.
Probably made the right decision as I can't recall (m)any examples of us bringing players on.

Sandell
Jombati
Mohamed (to a lesser extent as he'd been FL before but re-found his form with us)

I don't think he's really shown his pre-season form in league games. If he had he wouldn't be moving on to a club struggling in the league below. Hope he does well because he has shown glimpses of being an excellent player, just right now I don't think he's better than what we have.

The main impression of many about Davies is that he is good at getting forward but lazy in tracking back and closing down defences. At first, it looked like we weren't going to regret letting Stearn going at all with Davies but, I am afraid, Stearn's return on Saturday may be worryingly timely.

i heard this could be on the cards about a month ago
one of his best mates plays for them i was told
from the games i have seen him play i have not seen him play very well
not sure that we will miss him imo

I'm sorry to see Davies go. I have seen him play for Paulton over the last couple of seasons. He struck me as a strong attacking player, pacey, not easily muscled off the ball and with a goal-scoring ability. Not the finished article but lots of promise. If I had been a scout I would have recommended him so I was encouraged when City signed him.

However....... he always seemed to me to be best suited to a wide role which allowed him to cut in and go for goal with effect. Indeed, I see that Nick Bunyard (for whom he played at Paulton), said as much on the Frome website when welcoming his new signing. And therein lies the rub.

Under the present regime it seems to me that there has never been much enthusiasm for wide players. Preference has always been for a narrow approach, taking teams on through the middle (and the traffic) accompanied by a hopeful hoof down the middle. I think this was amply demonstrated against Harlow - no width, just congested play down the centre. Davies is a wide player but was forced into a narrow role. With Nicholson gone, Simmo injured, Watkins not present and Frankie on midfield duties we didn't use the width apart from an occasional foray from Dan. Too predictable and not very entertaining to watch. Shame we didn't play to Davies' strengths. I think he would have come good given time.

Incidentally, and for what it's worth, I thought that Kington as MotM was a big, big surprise; Chas shouldn't start at the mo; Pratt is a true soldier and Barrow should be given a run out to show his worth before he too is off elsewhere - it was noticeable how things pepped up when he came on.

Oh hum, what will we do against Sutton on Saturday? I hope they haven't got any decent wide players.

Agree with all of that, DS - great post!

Seconded.

Thirded.

I seem to recall that Mohamed played like that. He was initially told to play differently, but Mohamed was so headstrong that he largely ignored instruction, and played to his strengths - and so good at them he was that management conceded to his wishes, and we all saw him at his best; and to the teams advantage.

Seems to have found his level. Scored 2 yesterday

Midsomer-steve wrote:Thirded.

I seem to recall that Mohamed played like that. He was initially told to play differently, but Mohamed was so headstrong that he largely ignored instruction, and played to his strengths - and so good at them he was that management conceded to his wishes, and we all saw him at his best; and to the teams advantage.

With Frome having to travel almost as much as we do I don't see how "work commitments" or anything other than player suitability / contentment comes into the decision to leave;  I assume Frome train as hard and often as we do...

I never thought Jon looked happy in the three league games I saw him play; he showed nothing to warrant a starting place ahead of say Andy Watkins in a similar wide position.

Whatever the reason for leaving...good luck.

Definitely ran like a body builder....