Simon Davies - heading for Goodison?
Spurs have announced that they have agreed a potential £4 million deal with Everton for Simon Davies to transfer to the Goodison Park side, subject to the player agreeing terms.
Simon Davies will be 26 in October this year. He was signed by Spurs on 31st December, 1999, in a double swoop upon Barry Fry's Peterborough for Davies and Matthew Etherington in a deal that was seen as a "steal" of £1.2 million for the two. Barry Fry was such a fan of his two proteges, both of whom had been trainees at London Road, that I met him at a Reserve game at White Hart Lane, when Fry came to see them in an afternoon Reserve game against Charlton.
Davies had scored 6 goals in 65 league games for "Posh", and has scored 13 Premiership goals in 121 appearances for Spurs. Davies has also scored just 5 Cup goals for Spurs in his stay. Davies and Etherington made their full League Debuts for Spurs on 6th May 2000 at Old Trafford,where the home side predictably won 3-1, before being presented with the Premiership Trophy after the game.
Simon Davies was given little opportunity under George Graham, restricted largely to occasional substitute appearances, but he did make his mark, and scoring debut on 17th February, 2001, when scoring two of Spurs' four goals against Stockport in the Fifth Round of the FA Cup.
David Pleat gave Simon his first start of the 2000-1 season when taking care of the side at Highbury before Glenn Hoddle took over from sacked Graham. Hoddle allowed Davies to flourish for much of his stay at the helm, but after missing four months of the 2003-4 season, Davies rarely found his old form. He also missed a good number of games this season, but failed to hit the net for Spurs in any match, which was definitely a pitfall in his game. Davies' last goal was on 11th February, 2004 in a 4-2 win at The Valley.
Simon Davies is an established Wales Full International, and both his Club and National managers have recognised Simon's versatility, as he can play anywhere in the midfield, and has played at right and even left back on occasions. This season, Simon has been required to play a narrow role by Martin Jol, but he has never been a wing-man that flies past full backs. Davies' best game of the season was without a doubt on May 1st, when inspiring Spurs to a magnificent 5-1 victory over a poor Aston Villa side.
Spurs fans will have mixed feelings about Simon's departure, but assuming the deal goes through, it is a good one financially for the club. Davies is assured a good reception wheneverour paths cross in future.
· Check out the Spurs Odyssey Archives to follow Davies' career at Spurs
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