FOLLOWING considerable speculation and a drawn-out transfer typical of Everton, Welsh international midfielder Simon Davies finally completely his move to Fulham this week for an undisclosed fee rumoured to be in the region of £3 million.
Only a few days earlier, Everton manager David Moyes had insisted that Davies still had a role to play, and told supporters that a bid from the London club had been rejected as he was reluctant to allow him to leave without a replacement lined up to fill his position. His comments were less than convincing, however, and his admission that he was unsure whether the situation was likely to change, along with the disclosure that following discussions with Davies he was trying to ensure the best for everyone involved, indicated that plans were already in motion to allow the player to move on.
Davies was in fact included in the starting line-up against Wigan and was unquestionably one of the better performers on the day. It is testament to his character that despite the uncertainty surrounding his future, he remained dedicated to the Everton cause and was instrumental in helping the team grind out a victory- a viewpoint echoed by Mikel Arteta who praised Davies’ attitude and contribution after the game.
Since signing for Everton 18 months ago, Davies made 53 appearances for the club, scoring one goal- the vital winner against Birmingham City in 2005. He would almost certainly admit himself that during this spell, he has failed to live up to the fans’ expectations following his £3.5 million switch from Tottenham Hotspur, although there are undoubtedly mitigating circumstances in his favour.
A first season blighted by injury made it almost impossible for him to establish himself as a first-team regular, and for a player who seemingly loves to be playing football, a subsequent dip in form and confidence was somewhat inevitable. Davies has previously admitted he believes confidence is key in football and it is only when players are confident enough to express themselves that you see the best of them. Sadly, despite many assured performances for Everton, particularly in recent months, he never really got the chance to demonstrate his full potential.
Davies’ footballing ability cannot be called into question. Once dubbed the Peterborough ‘wonder kid’ and reportedly the subject of a £10 million bid from Manchester United during his time at Tottenham, Davies has continued to demonstrate his talent in a string of impressive performances for Wales. The fact he has been unable to reproduce this form consistently at club level, despite an excellent pre-season, is largely down to Everton’s style of play not suiting his game, rather than a reflection on the player himself, who was highly regarded amongst the management, coaching staff and players.
Whenever called upon, Davies’ commitment was evident and while he may not have materialised as the out-and-out winger the fans thought Moyes had signed, he always worked hard for the team. In recent months, his versatility proved invaluable as injuries took their toll on the squad and he was asked to play in a number of different positions, arguably producing some of his most accomplished displays when filling in at right-back in place of Tony Hibbert and Phil Neville.
Unfortunately for Davies, he appeared to struggle to settle in the Northwest and has admitted since signing for Fulham that he has wanted a move back to London for some time. He is confident that the Cottagers’ style of play will suit his game and has a good relationship with Fulham manager Chris Coleman, who he knows well through his time with Wales.
Having shaken off his former injury problems, this move could prove to be exactly what Davies needs to rejuvenate his career and, after a fairly miserable spell on Merseyside, a slice of good fortune is no more than he deserves.
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