Tom Davies joins Sheffield United

As David at #4 said, he never hid and certainly didn't deserve the level of abuse that he got from some posters on this site. Hope he's able to establish himself at Bramall Lane.

As an aside, would those individuals who come out with the really nasty, personal comments online feel able to say the same if they were actually at the game? Just a thought…

Didn't sound like there was a massive line of clubs after him when he left.

I thought he was playing well under Lampard at the start of last season, but then got dropped as soon as Gana came back.

Like so many in recent years, it just didn't happen for him in an Blue shirt. I was sorry to see him go but hopefully he enjoys himself at Sheffield Utd.

If he simply isn't good enough to be a regular in the team it isn't his fault.
Tom always looked to be trying hard to do his job.

Success is a simple formula. Ability x Effort x Luck = result.

Some better players, who can't be arsed, get beaten by those who put in a shift. It has always been the case. This is why players like Tom Davies will always have a future in the game.

"He definitely suffered from the constant change in managers."

How definite can that really be, though? And are those parroting this mantra really convinced that therein lies still a latent star who is destined to be picked up one day by the Saudi League, if only he could play consistently under one manager?

I suspect it's not something that definitive proof can be provided for, although at least one poster used the multiple manager argument and Tom's resilience in the squad as some form of testament to his unbowed footballing prowess.

However, this cause has been cited for the abysmal decline in pretty much all the players Everton have had over the last 7 years of Moshiri mis-rule, so there may indeed be some truth in it.

But perhaps him starting afresh and playing under a single (albeit, yet again 'new') manager for the coming season (manager merry-go-round notwithstanding) will prove this once and for all as he blows away all before him?

Hmmm... I'm still not convinced. But I will watch with interest to see how much better he performs for The Blades.

Good luck, Tom.

He had no pace and was devoid of lateral quickness. With a man marking him, he could not create that bit of space to make a pass and was routinely bullied off the ball.

Defending, virtually any opponent running with the ball could and would run right past him.

He had the determination and brains of a top player but not the body to match. No manager on earth was going to magically make Tom a better athlete.

Good luck to him, but he wasn't any good.

That question of how culpable was the manager merry-go-round is key. Typically a player that stays in the Premier League develops some guile or positional maturity that maximizes what they have in their physical portfolio.

While Tom was limited physically he had enough time at this level to advance somehow even with partner instability taken into account. His role was regular in its responsibilities and he never really filled the boots.

I put it all down to his going with the Amish look.

He suffered abuse from some match going fans and here on TW (and strangely, he still does!), but I think he is capable of having a decent footballing career. Evertonians would also do well to remember the stellar work he has done with EiTC - by all accounts a decent and well-grounded human being. Good luck, Tom.

Always ready when called upon, no moaning or sulking when he didn't play.

“Looked very promising when he arrived on the scene 5/6 years ago, but has never commanded a place since, despite playing plenty of games.
Not very fast, doesn't tackle very well, can't shoot!
He seems a very decent lad, tries hard, versatile, never a problem with his attitude, just his ability at top level”.

My son was a bit more concise, and less charitable.

Good luck to the lad, except against us.

Under Koeman you can argue we saw the best of Davies in glimpses and whilst some may say he's always been rubbish i'd argue that we had a player that was a lot more progressive and box to box when he burst on the scene. He was looking forwards when passing and actually made quite a few dynamic runs forward in his first season or two. The decision was then made to play him as a solely defensive midfielder simply because he tried to get stuck in. Tom Davies for me has never been and never will be a six. He was at his best as a box to box midfielder. Will he ever be a top premier league player? No. Has he been mismanaged? Absolutely.

Best of luck to him hopefully he starts to enjoy the game again.

Tom may or may not have suffered from the changes in managers (personally I think that's an overstated issue), but that wasn't his problem. He most definitely suffered from the lack of pace, strength, composure on the ball and shooting ability.

But I have no doubt that his outsized heart, relentless effort and obvious commitment will carry him to a solid career.

Can't remember which manager, club or player it all referred to but I saw an interview of a retired player who said the best thing for his progress as a younger player was to be told that he'd be in the team however he was playing. Gave him condidence to know the manager had faith in him. His team mates and the fans were all on board with the manager's decision.

He played well over 100 times for the mighty blues, something that thousands of us can only dream of.

Reminded me a little bit of John Ebrell. England youth through all the levels. Broke into the first team early as an all action centre mid only to turn into a bit of a stopper/ clogger towards the end of his career with us.

But, I certainly wish him well in his career and will be cheering him on whenever I watch the Blades on telly, apart from against us obviously.

Good luck to a nice lad.

Who would have thought after that, that it would have been such disappointing Everton career?

Good luck to Tom anyway, hope he can make a place for himself in the team and reach his potential, if he is yet to do so.

He made a somewhat brave decision to end his time with us – if only others had the integrity to do the same. He merits some good wishes for that alone rather than the now very dull repetitive monochrome knocking that some still feel a need to give, even though Tom is gone.

Sad to see Evertonians still criticising him. Unlike others at the club, he wasn't interested in picking up wages and sitting on the bench.

Seemed a nice lad though.

He always gave of his best but not quite good enough to hold a place down in the team. Great human being given his charity work in our city.

When we look back, he wasn't helped with the uncertainty around the club and roulette wheel of managers he was subject to in his developmental years. That has arguably affected a lot of players at Everton these past years, young and experienced. They don't know if they are coming are going.

Step away from football, if you get a new boss every year, they come in with their own ideas and there is uncertainty as to whether you are part of them. It impacts people.

He seemed well liked around the club but also got battered by certain sections of the crowd. I was sometimes critical, but only in the same way I would criticise any player for a poor performance. Just as much as I will praise for a good one.

What I like is that Tom has made a football decision. He's gone to play football more regularly. Quite refreshing in the modern game. He doesn't want to sit on a bench, even at his boyhood club. He wants to play.

I'm sure he will get a good reception on his return to Goodison. And as one of us, he should always be made welcome.

He gave his all and was often the unjustified target of the boo boys. Good luck, Tom.

Whether a player is good enough or not is one thing, whether they are committed and try their best is another. No one could accuse him of not doing the latter. He stayed too long, but maybe Covid played a part in some players sticking where they are.

Good luck, lad, apart from when you play us.

As opposed to Anthony Gordon's reaction after the Newcastle match last season.

I get the passion of the game and the moment, but there was no need for that. He only played about 5 minutes at which point the result was done and dusted. Okay, he's with his new squad and celebrating, I can understand that too. But come on. Surely as a boyhood Evertonian, you have some sort of empathy. If I had ever been privileged enough to be in that position, of course I'm going to do my job against Everton. But I'd be equally gutted that we'd lost 4 - 1 and couldn't celebrate. Maybe that's just me.

I've never understood Steve McMahon or Jamie Carragher. I suppose the other way around, we could mention Peter Reid?

Anyway, given Gordon's outburst at Eddie Howe and rumours I heard, he seems to have a bit of an attitude problem. Hopefully he'll grow out of it.

We all understand that players move on and are sometimes moved on by the club. Alan Ball and more recently Wayne Rooney's interview spring to mind. I'm not saying Rooney was never going to leave. He was destined to greater things for what Everton could offer. But he stated that he wasn't looking to move at the time, but when the club tried to sell him to Chelsea, which he didn't want, he decided on his own destiny.

We are often quick to criticise the player. We often ignore that behind the scenes, the clubs are treating them as commodities and business assets. Everton are not alone in that, but we are pretty good at selling off prize "assets", stepping back and letting the player take the flak.

I digress. At least Tom Davies has made a footballing career decision. No one can deny him that and I am sure most of us wish him the best.