Author Topic: Ben “Ben” Davies signs for Liverpool (Read 74749 times)

thekitkatshuffler · « **Reply #280 on:** March 6, 2021, 01:50:49 am »

Quote from: darragh85 on March 5, 2021, 02:34:55 pm

Is it not obvious what his role here is though? He is a back up. Option and that's it. He is below Phillips in the pecking order

His role is to be sold for a profit.

I hope for his sake it hasn't cost him the chance to play for Celtic.

Ghost Town · « **Reply #281 on:** March 6, 2021, 01:32:06 pm »

Quote from: harryc on March 6, 2021, 12:56:57 am

Funnily enough Kabak needed zero adjusting to a completely new system in a alien country.

Different players are different shocker! Quick, someone contact the Nobel Prize committee, this discovery deserves broader recognition.

Ghost Town · « **Reply #282 on:** March 6, 2021, 01:38:18 pm »

Quote from: thekitkatshuffler on March 6, 2021, 01:50:49 am

His role is to be sold for a profit.

I hope for his sake it hasn't cost him the chance to play for Celtic.

Yeh of all the players that could be brought to sell on for profit, the might of the club's brainpower and scouting settled upon a reasonable -but-nothing-spectacular-yet mid-twenties centreback from Preston, because he was clearly the standout best choice for a quick buy-markup-sell on operation. That it happened suspiciously just when we were having a centre-back injury crisis is just a coincidence. Definitely bought to sell on, absolutely nothing in the fact that we needed more CBs. Nevermind the unprecedented crisis the club is undergoing in every field of operation, we just couldn't let this opportunity to make a few hundred thousand quid go by

With that kind of business acumen we'll be running the stock exchange this time next year

farawayred · « **Reply #283 on:** March 6, 2021, 07:20:58 pm »

Quote from: harryc on March 6, 2021, 12:56:57 am

Funnily enough Kabak needed zero adjusting to a completely new system in a alien country.

I fucking knew it!

AndyMuller · « **Reply #284 on:** March 7, 2021, 10:24:55 pm »

Is he real?

Buck Pete · « **Reply #285 on:** March 7, 2021, 11:48:35 pm »

Ben "Mrs Ventress" Davies

mallin9 · « **Reply #286 on:** March 8, 2021, 02:53:10 am »

Quote from: AndyMuller on March 7, 2021, 10:24:55 pm

Is he real?

Real? Absolutely! Corporeal? ....TBD

Crouch Potato · « **Reply #287 on:** March 8, 2021, 10:52:08 am »

I reckon he went for a holiday in the Caribbean and the Bermuda Triangle got him.

[new username under construction] · « **Reply #288 on:** March 8, 2021, 12:40:44 pm »

I think Klopp needs to ditch the idea of not playing 'experienced' centre backs. Get Davies and Kabak at the back together if fit and go from there. I mean a third of the teams in the division are pretty much Championship quality, it shouldn't be a problem for Ben really

Sheer Magnetism · « **Reply #289 on:** March 8, 2021, 12:44:22 pm »

Does anyone know what happened on the weekend? Reports that morning said he was ready to make his debut but he wasn't in the squad. Another injury?

ScouserAtHeart · « **Reply #290 on:** March 8, 2021, 12:47:49 pm »

Ben Davies, a deadline day signing from Preston North End for an initial fee of £500,000, was available for Sunday’s game but didn’t even make the bench. He has yet to make his debut as he battles to prove to Klopp he’s ready.

https://theathletic.com/2428818/2021/03/08/liverpool-klopp-premier-league/

DelTrotter · « **Reply #291 on:** March 8, 2021, 12:50:33 pm »

Bit shit if we fucked his move to Celtic just to never give him a chance really. Weird situation.

Dim Glas · « **Reply #292 on:** March 8, 2021, 12:52:09 pm »

I am expecting him to be one of these mystery players we never get to see play

Not surprised he hasn’t started, but not even on the bench now is a bit odd, what on earth is he doing (or not) in training to mean he can’t get into a 20 man squad of a team who’s had a long list of injuries for most of the season.

WhereAngelsPlay · « **Reply #293 on:** March 8, 2021, 12:53:02 pm »

Starting to feel that the boss didn't want him (or Kabak) and is making a point,feel sorry for him if that's the case but it is what it is.

ScouserAtHeart · « **Reply #294 on:** March 8, 2021, 12:58:23 pm »

If you want to take the optimistic view, neither Robbo or Fabinho played soon after signing, and that was with a pre-season.

LiamG · « **Reply #295 on:** March 8, 2021, 12:59:49 pm »

Quote from: WhereAngelsPlay on March 8, 2021, 12:53:02 pm

Starting to feel that the boss didn't want him (or Kabak) and is making a point,feel sorry for him if that's the case but it is what it is.

“For Ben it’s not easy in our situation; we brought him in and he has to adapt and all of these kind of things. He is a really good player.”

WhereAngelsPlay · « **Reply #296 on:** March 8, 2021, 01:11:08 pm »

Quote from: LiamG on March 8, 2021, 12:59:49 pm

“For Ben it’s not easy in our situation; we brought him in and he has to adapt and all of these kind of things. He is a really good player.”

You expect him to say anything else ?

tubby · « **Reply #297 on:** March 8, 2021, 01:12:12 pm »

Bizarre transfer if he's actually fit now. Just put him in.

Dim Glas · « **Reply #298 on:** March 8, 2021, 01:18:32 pm »

Quote from: WhereAngelsPlay on March 8, 2021, 01:11:08 pm

You expect him to say anything else ?

I very much doubt he’s making a point, that’d be vindictive, and he is anything but.

If he simply isn’t showing it yet in training, then that’s enough reasons. There’s been little chance for intensive training this season, it was as bad a time to join as could be.

We’ll know next season what the deal is, chances are that so long as he shows enough development and ability in pre-season matches, he’ll have a part to play.

The whole situation was just mad, injury crisis beyond reason, last day of the transfer window, scrabbling around to buy a player from a lower league, who’d never in his life played at this level, like somehow that would ‘fix’ a huge problem - we where already using one player who had zero experience at this level in that role, in Nat Phillips. Which was why I guess, they ended up signing 2 players. At least Ozan had experience at a higher level and has played internationally, but still...

Dazzer23 · « **Reply #299 on:** March 8, 2021, 01:21:38 pm »

Quote from: ScouserAtHeart on March 8, 2021, 12:58:23 pm

If you want to take the optimistic view, neither Robbo or Fabinho played soon after signing, and that was with a pre-season.

Very true, but it doesn’t make the signing any less strange. The last thing we needed on transfer deadline day was somebody that was going to take half a season to acclimatise

killer-heels · « **Reply #300 on:** March 8, 2021, 01:22:40 pm »

If he doesnt play against Wolves then it will be April the next time he gets to play.

[new username under construction] · « **Reply #301 on:** March 8, 2021, 01:23:21 pm »

Quote from: Dim Glas on March 8, 2021, 01:18:32 pm

The whole situation was just mad, injury crisis beyond reason, last day of the transfer window, scrabbling around to buy a player from a lower league, who’d never in his life played at this level, like somehow that would ‘fix’ a huge problem - we where already using one player who had zero experience at this level in that role, in Nat Phillips. Which was why I guess, they ended up signing 2 players. At least Ozan had experience at a higher level and has played internationally, but still...

I'd trust a Championship centre back over an U23 all day long though, I know he's had knocks but it might be getting a bit daft now.

WhereAngelsPlay · « **Reply #302 on:** March 8, 2021, 01:33:52 pm »

Quote from: Dim Glas on March 8, 2021, 01:18:32 pm

I very much doubt he’s making a point, that’d be vindictive, and he is anything but.

If he simply isn’t showing it yet in training, then that’s enough reasons. There’s been little chance for intensive training this season, it was as bad a time to join as could be.

We’ll know next season what the deal is, chances are that so long as he shows enough development and ability in pre-season matches, he’ll have a part to play.

The whole situation was just mad, injury crisis beyond reason, last day of the transfer window, scrabbling around to buy a player from a lower league, who’d never in his life played at this level, like somehow that would ‘fix’ a huge problem - we where already using one player who had zero experience at this level in that role, in Nat Phillips. Which was why I guess, they ended up signing 2 players. At least Ozan had experience at a higher level and has played internationally, but still...

I don't think not playing a player he didn't want can be classed as being vindictive.

Dim Glas · « **Reply #303 on:** March 8, 2021, 01:44:15 pm »

Quote from: WhereAngelsPlay on March 8, 2021, 01:33:52 pm

I don't think not playing a player he didn't want can be classed as being vindictive.

Him not playing isn’t even a thing imo - cos if he isn’t seeing it in training, why play him, sure Williams isn’t great, but he’s seen far more of him - there’s a trust element there.

My respose was to the suggestion that he isn't playing ‘to make a point’ cos he didn’t want him signed. He isn’t playing cos he isn’t good enough (at the moment), and he has more trust in players he’s seen more of at this point.

Jookie · « **Reply #304 on:** March 8, 2021, 02:57:04 pm »

Quote from: Dazzer23 on March 8, 2021, 01:21:38 pm

Very true, but it doesn’t make the signing any less strange. The last thing we needed on transfer deadline day was somebody that was going to take half a season to acclimatise

Wasn't that almost going to be applicable to any centre back being signed?

I agree it might be more pronounced for someone making the step up from the Championship. But any centre back would have been getting parachuted into a very difficult situation. We've seen how much Kabak has struggled at times and he has a better pedigree at the top level than Davies.

I think it was almost an impossible task for anyone we could have realistically bought in January. That doesn't make signing someone wrong. It's just the realisation that there's an adaption period for any player in a new squad system. That's going to be tougher if you are less experienced and/or the team is struggling. As an example look at how a talented and experienced player like Thiago has been in this situation. He's struggled to put his mark on this team and he's arguably a world class midfielder.

It's why I don't believe the notion that us getting a centre back 4 weeks earlier on January 1st would have changed the season that much. I think anyone would have struggled in the circumstances. Even more so when the pool of available centre backs is shrunk to those who are actually available.

smutchin · « **Reply #305 on:** March 8, 2021, 03:09:05 pm »

Quote from: Jookie on March 8, 2021, 02:57:04 pm

Wasn't that almost going to be applicable to any centre back being signed?

Of course it was. And yet all through December and January, there was so much shit being talked about how we should just sign any old player to make up the numbers...

Even if we'd got Caleta-Car, he would have needed time to settle in. Kabak is only playing regularly because we're that desperate.

Short of another player of VVD's calibre, no one is walking into this team and instantly looking like they belong there.

Sat1 · « **Reply #306 on:** March 8, 2021, 03:49:23 pm »

Must be really shit if Phillips and Williams get in ahead of him

KissThisGuy · « **Reply #307 on:** March 8, 2021, 04:02:09 pm »

There is the possibility that when he turned up to training they realised that he isn't any good. Or he's just waiting for him.to adapt.

Tonyh8su · « **Reply #308 on:** March 8, 2021, 04:10:45 pm »

Quote from: Sat1 on March 8, 2021, 03:49:23 pm

Must be really shit if Phillips and Williams get in ahead of him

Phillips, no. Williams, absolutely.

hide5seek · « **Reply #309 on:** March 8, 2021, 04:13:00 pm »

We're losing every game as our lot can't be arsed. May as well play him, he might shock and put some effort in.

Fromola · « **Reply #310 on:** March 8, 2021, 05:09:25 pm »

Quote from: LiamG on March 8, 2021, 12:59:49 pm

“For Ben it’s not easy in our situation; we brought him in and he has to adapt and all of these kind of things. He is a really good player.”

In ordinary circumstances it wouldn't be an issue. Klopp kept Robertson out for pretty much half a season while he adjusted despite Moreno stinking out the place and costing us goals.

It's the fact we didn't need a player who we could give a few months to bed in, it was a matter of urgency.

Klopp has gone well out of his way to avoid playing Nat Phillips alongside Rhys Williams. He's tried everything to not do that, including throwing Kabak straight in and giving him a run, rushing Matip back and moving Henderson to centre back as well as Fabinho. Even against Villa's kindergarten XI we started Fabinho with Rhys Williams IIRC.

That's not to write Davies off (i.e. the Robbo example) but I always made the point that it's not just any centre back we need, it's a centre back which Klopp would trust to play there . The ominous thing was Rhys Williams being picked ahead of him. Rhys hadn't played a minute in the league since that sub appearance against West Brom. That does smack of Klopp making a point. Whether that point is just that he doesn't rate Davies.

Sharado · « **Reply #311 on:** March 8, 2021, 05:29:27 pm »

Quote from: Jookie on March 8, 2021, 02:57:04 pm

It's why I don't believe the notion that us getting a centre back 4 weeks earlier on January 1st would have changed the season that much. I think anyone would have struggled in the circumstances. Even more so when the pool of available centre backs is shrunk to those who are actually available.

For me it was the psychological factor as much as anything that meant it would have been a positive contribution to bring a player in on 1 Jan [assuming said player was half decent]. It was a message, to players and fans [and indeed manager] alike, of 'we see the problem, we are going to sort it, the cavalry is coming". Instead we overplayed Fabinho and Matip until we had to press the emergency button on Kabak and Davies [as well as the strange decision to loan Minamino - quite possibly to afford it]. It all felt like we were saying to a players who had been to the wall for us for 3 years - keep going, it'll be fine, and we were storing up a problem that was just itching to come to the surface. It was never going to be fine. Even bringing in Kabak on day 1, and I am not sure he's going to be the next Baresi or whatever, it means more time to settle and get used to the systems. We're trying to - as it were - fix a plane whilst it's still in the air at the minute. Whilst a CB on Jan 1 may not have changed things much, I certainly don't think it would have done us any damage.

mrantarctica · « **Reply #312 on:** March 8, 2021, 05:29:42 pm »

Quote from: Fromola on March 8, 2021, 05:09:25 pm

In ordinary circumstances it wouldn't be an issue. Klopp kept Robertson out for pretty much half a season while he adjusted despite Moreno stinking out the place and costing us goals.

It's the fact we didn't need a player who we could give a few months to bed in, it was a matter of urgency.

Klopp has gone well out of his way to avoid playing Nat Phillips alongside Rhys Williams. He's tried everything to not do that, including throwing Kabak straight in and giving him a run, rushing Matip back and moving Henderson to centre back as well as Fabinho. Even against Villa's kindergarten XI we started Fabinho with Rhys Williams IIRC.

That's not to write Davies off (i.e. the Robbo example) but I always made the point that it's not just any centre back we need, it's a centre back which Klopp would trust to play there . The ominous thing was Rhys Williams being picked ahead of him. Rhys hadn't played a minute in the league since that sub appearance against West Brom. That does smack of Klopp making a point. Whether that point is just that he doesn't rate Davies.

Although I think the point still stands that Moreno on the whole probably wasn't good enough, Moreno (to his credit) did play quite well in that short sequence before he picked up an injury and Robbo came into the team. Once Robbo came in, we never really looked back and Moreno couldn't force his way back into the side.

Little bit different in this case as we don't really have an incumbent who is fit and playing well. I thought it was a bit odd to say he's fit enough to be included and then he's not even in the squad and instead we're seeing Rhys Williams who, by far, has been our weakest CB this season and looks completely out of his depth.

My guess is that perhaps he thought it was too short a turnaround to the Leipzig game and that he plans to field Fab and Davies at CB against Leipzig?

PaulF · « **Reply #313 on:** March 8, 2021, 05:41:32 pm »

Is Davies best suited to a system? Maybe a system Klopp wants to play and is working on in training, but the other players for the system aren't available?

amir87 · « **Reply #314 on:** March 8, 2021, 05:55:07 pm »

Poor guy will be ready to start when we don't need him anymore.

AmSeeker · « **Reply #315 on:** March 8, 2021, 05:55:26 pm »

Ridiculous. The remit was we needed a centre back to come in and get playing straight away. At best Klopp wants to work with him and take his time, and worst he isn't that great.

Makes no sense either way.

Bend It Like Aurelio · « **Reply #316 on:** March 8, 2021, 05:58:11 pm »

Eight pages of us declaring Davies’ worth to our squad before he has kicked a ball for us.

Not dissing anyone here, I just find it mildly amusing.

amir87 · « **Reply #317 on:** March 8, 2021, 05:59:55 pm »

Quote from: Bend It Like Aurelio on March 8, 2021, 05:58:11 pm

Eight pages of us declaring Davies’ worth to our squad before he has kicked a ball for us.

Not dissing anyone here, I just find it mildly amusing.

Any songs for when he makes his debut against Tranmere in July?

decosabute · « **Reply #318 on:** March 8, 2021, 06:09:13 pm »

Quote from: [new username under construction] on March 8, 2021, 01:23:21 pm

I'd trust a Championship centre back over an U23 all day long though, I know he's had knocks but it might be getting a bit daft now.

This. I can understand Phillips keeping his place ahead of him, but Rhys Williams - whose confidence is shot to pieces since January and who the manager talked about needing to play at his age level to develop more - getting picked ahead of him is ludicrous. Absolutely no chance Davies is less able to play our system than a kid who's been badly exposed and has no pace at all.

OOS · « **Reply #319 on:** March 8, 2021, 06:50:00 pm »

Quote from: amir87 on March 8, 2021, 05:59:55 pm

Any songs for when he makes his debut against Tranmere in July?

Celtic announced their preseason fixtures this early ye?