Back to work for boy in blue who took City apart
IT was late on Sunday evening in a restaurant close to Liverpool’s waterfront. One table of diners was aglow with contentment. The impromptu meal had been organised to mark a thrilling day in the embryonic career of Tom Davies, the young Everton midfielder.
His performance against Manchester City was outstanding and the celebrations were richly deserved.
But as the group — which included his mother Diane, father Tony and elder brother Liam — reflected on his goal in that thumping 4-0 win over a final coffee, the 18-year- old made it clear this would not represent the summit of his achievements.
‘It’s back to work and Crystal Palace next Saturday,’ Davies told his circle.
In a city as fervent as Liverpool, it would be easy for one so young to get caught up in the euphoria but Davies does not intend to be distracted. This was one small step on a long and winding road.
He is the nephew of Alan Whittle, a forward who won the league title with the fabled Everton team of 1970, so Davies has the pedigree to make it at Goodison Park. Crucially, he also has the right attitude.
Everton defender Leighton Baines said: ‘His temperament is unbelievable. He trains well but he finds another gear when he is out on the pitch in a game. It’s the sign of a proper player.’
Two stories illustrate the point. The first was at St George’s Park in October 2015. Davies was with England’s Under 18s preparing for the World Cup in Chile. He was supposed to captain his side in a warm-up game with DR Congo.
The senior team, however, needed a midfielder to help in a session and Neil Dewsnip, the Under 18 head coach, received a call from Gary Neville asking which player he could spare. Having worked with Davies at Everton’s academy, Dewsnip made the recommendation.
By the end of the session, Roy Hodgson and Neville were effusive about the way Davies had conducted himself. He is in a group of young players for whom the Football Association has high hopes.
You will see why after the second story. A couple of weeks later in Chile, England played the host nation just outside Santiago. A partisan 15,000 crowd had seen the two nations draw 0-0 after extra-time and a penalty shootout was required to separate them.
Captain Davies stepped up first and was subjected to ear-piercing whistles as he walked from the halfway line to the penalty spot. With one swish of his foot, he induced silence.
‘The noise was like an aeroplane about to take off ,’ ff’ recalled lld Dewsnip. ‘But Tom just strode up, smashed his penalty into the top corner and turned around as if to say, “What’s the fuss about?” He is such a level-headed young lad and a joy to work with.’
That will be key. His senior experience is limited to 453 minutes since he made his debut as a substitute against Southampton last April; in total, he has played only four full games. Last month, manager Ronald Koeman questioned if he was ready for the top flight.
Yet football’s narrative is shaped by those who grasp their chance and Davies, who signed a longterm contract last September but still lives with his parents at their home in West Derby, will not let this one slip through his grasp.
He stands out on the pitch for that shock of blond hair and the way he rolls his socks around his shin pads. But he stands out more for what he does with the ball and the measured way he spoke about going head-to-head with Yaya Toure was just as impressive.
‘ If you feel comfortable and relaxed, then your game is going to be as good as it can be,’ he said. ‘It was a test to see where I was, coming up against Toure. What it’s shown to me is that if I keep working hard, I can reach their level. I have to keep listening. I’d never have dreamed I would be in a game where Manchester City were beaten 4-0. The manager congratulated us and he congratulated me. He wanted us to celebrate.’
Davies did so — but without excess. There is, after all, still much to be done.