Ben Davies needs to up his game tonight

Second choice left-back Ben Davies is disappointed not to be playing each week in the Premier League, but then to be honest his performances don't deserve it.

Ben Davies needs to up his game tonight


Against Partizan Belgrade away he was torn to pieces and had a terrible game with error after error. That was his worse performance but the remainder have been average and a grade below what the most improved player at the club, Danny Rose, has been offering this season.

That can only be frustrating for the summer signing from Swansea, but that is life at Tottenham, there are no easy rides, you have to prove yourself in training and then take whatever chance you are given.

Thus far he has not taken any opportunity when he has played for the second XI in midweek games, he has played 6 games so far, 7 after tonight. Today he will again feature in the League Cup with them.

He seems to be a nice lad with a good head on his shoulders, the one thing he seems to lack is pace, Danny Rose has it to get up and down the left but Davies doesn't and the lack of pace in the Spurs team is a worry.

“It would be silly of me to say that it’s not sometimes hard and frustrating for me. But you put those feelings aside for the benefit of the club, you can’t let them affect your football.
“As a player you have to be patient if you want to get an opportunity. I could be one of those players who sulks and moans around the place, and takes being left out poorly. My attitude is just to work hard every day and hopefully that will get me in the team. 
“Sometimes you do have to keep things inside, and I make sure all those feelings are kept well away from the club and the rest of the squad. If you do have those feelings it is not healthy for the team to bring it out around them. 
“There are different ways I could go about it. I could go and speak to the manager and try to get in his ear every day, but that’s not the way I am and not the way I’m going to go about it. I’m going to get my head down and work hard, and try to let my football do the talking. 
“I’m a calm person, I don’t get too wound up. I’m patient and I work hard every day. Hopefully my opportunity will come.
“As a player you have to challenge yourself. Like everything in life, you can get too comfortable in a situation and you need a new challenge. I still have time on my side and I am going to do as well as I can at this club." 

That is exactly the attitude required rather than the public whines that I've not been picked or moaning around other players and creating difficulties. Would you want someone you see every day moaning in your ear every day, you'd soon resent them and start to avoid them.

The result would be the beginning of rifts within the squad which is never healthy so you have to applaud his behaviour and his character. There will be an injury or suspension at some stage and he'll get his chance, it's then up to him to show, rather than expect charity and a run of games. Rose has upped his game and took his chance is what was basically a play-off against Schalke 04 in the final pre-season game.

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Rose and Davies had half a game each and Rose stood out putting in a better performance. He got the nod and has been one of the few success stories this season so far. That is what Davies now has to do. He has to up his game and show during midweek performances that he is a better player, it's as simple as that.

He had it easy at Swansea with a guaranteed place and was prepared to challenge himself at a bigger club. As with any challenge there are ups and downs and how someone acts in adversity is more important than how they act in times of success. Davies has the right attitude but you look around the Spurs side now and how many are reacting positively in times of adversity, very few, again another worry.

“We’ve had a couple of disappointing results but we just have to bide our time a bit because the work we put in on the training pitch really does pay off. 
“We’re all confident in our ability here and we want to aspire to be as high in the Premier League as we can in the coming seasons. 
“With the new style of play we have now and the pressing game we’re trying to play, there’s no reason why we can’t be pushing in the next few seasons.”

It's this season the fans are worried about with Tottenham sitting three points above the relegation zone having lost 3 home games already with the attacking front four looking clueless under pressure. There almost seems to be the attitude of we are good and we know we are so go through the motions. Two shots on target at home isn't the level required.

Both Spurs and Davies need to up their game.