The making of Tom Davies - the Everton teenager with a style all his own
It is often said that the problem with modern academy players is that they lack the street wisdom and rough edges of schoolboy footballers.
Everton’s latest graduate, Tom Davies, endearingly blends the progressive and retro – his old-school, low-worn socks prompting nostalgic references to his uncle, Alan Whittle. This is a teenager who outplayed one of the most expensive, lauded midfields in world football and celebrated by heading out for a curry with family and friends a few hours later.
Those describing the 18-year-old as a ‘throwback’ need not reserve their reminiscing for the 1970s, however. Davies emerged from the fields of the Liverpool suburb of West Derby during a period when some academies were discouraging their emerging talent from participating in schoolboy football. A Merseyside schools system that produced Wayne Rooney, Robbie Fowler, Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher often felt sidelined and alienated. Some academies in England still warn youngsters about playing for school teams.
Faced with the choice of turning his back on representing Liverpool Schoolboys and focusing entirely on academy training, the 12-year-old Davies insisted on doing both. To their credit, Everton did not stand in his way, despite the talent being so prodigious that the Merseyside club had paid a nominal fee to Tranmere Rovers to secure his services when he was just 10.
A young Tom Davies in a friendly against River Plate
“I coached Tom during the 2008-09 season and he always stood out. He was someone who you always felt could make it. He has always been so dedicated to the game,” says Carl Giles, a Liverpool Schools FA manager who coached Davies at under-13 level.
“At that time there were a lot of clubs who did not want their players to play for the schoolboy side. That situation has improved over the last few years, but during that period it came down to Tom and his parents as to whether he’d stay involved. There was a lot of discouragement from the academies for a while.
“But Tom wanted to play for us. It helps the progress of these young players to stay in school football. There is so much you need to make it as a professional footballer, tactical, technical but also your identity – how you develop as a person.
“The academies have been focused on development – it’s not really about creating winning teams but producing players – but you learn about what it means to be a winner by competing in these national schools competitions and being proud to represent the region you’re from. That has a positive impact on the player’s development, too.
Davies played both academy and schoolboy football as he grew up
“There’s also a social aspect to it. Young lads wants to play with their mates and feel that sense of working together to achieve something, and Tom was always a player who could stand out and be a leader on the pitch. I think you can see the influence schoolboy football has had on Tom with his approach to the game, and you see it with others who have also come through in the same way. There is that extra edge to their game, which supporters can identify with.”
At a time when emerging English players are often described as being over-pampered, lacking the charisma of those at the past, it is easy to see why so many have taken to Davies. As well as his clever passing, goal-line clearances and clever chip over Claudio Bravo, many will also have nodded in approval (not least his manager) at his willingness to put in a tackle when needed.
Those close to Davies say all he has heard in recent years are instructions to get his hair cut and pull his socks up – but his idiosyncratic style has made him as eye-catching as the skills that led to such a brilliant individual goal on Sunday.
“It’s just me. It’s just how I have always played,” says Davies. “I don’t know how to describe it, but it is just the way I feel comfortable playing. I think that is the best way to be. If you feel comfortable and relaxed, then your game is going to be as good as it can be.”
Giles watched Davies’s accomplished performance against Manchester City with pride and familiarity.
Davies dinks the ball over Bravo to score
“He played a similar position for us – central midfield,” says Giles. “Watching on Sunday, one of the biggest things that stood out for me is how disciplined Tom is with the positional side of his game. He can boss a game in midfield, but tactically he is very intelligent in that way and you could see that against City. I can’t praise him highly enough. He has always been level headed and humble. All the coaches liked Tom.”
Those who have been working with the youngster always felt a day like Sunday was coming. Davies has captained England Under-16s and Under-17s, and is currently the captain of the Under-19s. He was once asked by Roy Hodgson to train with the England senior squad.
Everton’s under-23 coach, David Unsworth, was championing his promotion to the first team for most of last season, selecting him during his one-game stint as caretaker boss alongside Joe Royle.
“He’s ready,” was the weekly message dispatched to Ronald Koeman.
Davies has captained England at Under-16s, Under-17s and Under-19s CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES
If Koeman’s faith in Davies was initially seen as a symbolic message to his board about the need for more experience, his decision to retain the teenager and keep £24 million signing Morgan Schneiderlin on the bench was a more emphatic statement on the impression the youngster has made.
“You see the substitutes getting ready to come on and you think it could be you,” said Davies. “But he left me on and I am thankful for that. It’s good to have the new players in and the lads back around because it is great competition for the squad and that is what you need. Hopefully I can keep performing as I have done and keep my place.
“Coming into the game, it was a test for me to see where I was as a player, coming up against Yaya Touré. What it has shown me is that if I keep working hard I can reach the level they are at.”
Everton have been talking about spending big in the past few weeks. Their latest youngster has probably saved them a fortune.
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