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Who is Tottenham’s best left back: Danny Rose or Ben Davies?

By Rucker Haringey

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 28: Danny Rose of Tottenham Hotspur is mobbed by team mates including Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur after scoring his team's second goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Swansea City at White Hart Lane on February 28, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 28: Danny Rose of Tottenham Hotspur is mobbed by team mates including Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur after scoring his team's second goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Swansea City at White Hart Lane on February 28, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images) /
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Tottenham left backs Danny Rose and Ben Davies are locked in a tight battle to be Mauricio Pochettino’s first choice at the crucial position

Danny Rose scored a crucial match-winning goal for Tottenham against Swansea that makes him the toast of White Hart Lane at the moment. Ben Davies has certainly had his moments this season for Spurs too. The debate rages on over which player is truly Mauricio Pochettino’s best option.

The case for Danny Rose

Danny Rose’s best skill might be his sheer determination to win at everything thing he does on the pitch. He can be criticized for certain things about his game, but his effort level is never in question.

Rose is one of the most athletic left backs in the game today. He’s got speed, quickness and the body to challenge even the most physically intimidating opponents. There are few players who can either out-run or out-muscle the 25-year-old.

With those impressive physical gifts, you might think that Rose is a clear choice over Ben Davies. Unfortunately, his lack of skill and propensity to switch off mentally at key moments hold him back from fulfilling his full potential.

If you’ve ever watched Rose play, you know that his crossing ability is certainly a weakness. He is willing to fire the ball into the box, but it rarely meets a teammate in a solid attacking position. All too often his adventurous runs end up with a goal kick or a ball easily cleared away by the defense.

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Defensively, he’s usually a very solid player, but he is prone to occasional mental lapses. He doesn’t have a great sense of positioning and has been known to mark the wrong man at the wrong time. His mental lapses can be maddening given his substantial physical gifts.

There’s a reason that Rose was close to leaving Tottenham upon Pochettino’s arrival. He wasn’t the most mentally tough left back in the world prior to his new manager’s arrival. He’s put in a lot of work since then, and while he still isn’t perfect, he’s a much more complete player than he was just 21 months ago.

The case for Ben Davies

In many ways, Ben Davies is the polar opposite of Danny Rose. While he isn’t the most athletic player in the Premier League, he has bags of skill on the ball. He also uses his keen mind to make up for any athletic deficiencies he may have.

Davies certainly has the advantage over Rose when Tottenham is in possession. He isn’t as likely to make a screaming run down the left flank, but when he gets on the ball in the attacking third, good things happen. He can let loose a vicious shot from distance or put a pinpoint cross into the box. He’s a centre forward’s dream with the deliveries he can play in off his talented left foot.

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Defensively, he is solid, but can be overwhelmed by the raw speed of some Premier League attackers. When he has to go up against a real speed merchant like Raheem Sterling or Mohamed Salah, you can see him become visibly flustered out on the pitch. He is always in the right spot when the play begins, but sometimes his feet just won’t allow him to keep up with elite attackers.

Pochettino brought Davies into the team because he provides a terrific alternative to Rose. He shows great skill on the ball and exudes calm on the pitch. He’s certainly an above-average Premier League left back, but his limited athleticism will never allow him to really be a world-class star.

The right choice

The right choice in this case is for Pochettino to continue to carefully rotate the talented duo. In matches against really athletic wingers, Danny Rose must be played to combat the sheer speed that Tottenham faces.

On the other hand, in matches where the opponent is likely to park the bus and sit back in defense, Davies is absolutely the correct play. He stands a much better chance of unlocking the defense with a perfectly placed pass than his English counterpart.

Related Story: Who is Tottenham's best right back?

Pochettino can continue to rotate these two men with great confidence. Alone, neither is a perfect left-back, but when operated as a platoon they make Tottenham’s left back position one of the Premier League’s best.

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