Alphonso Davies: The Kid is Alright
There’s a young kid from Liberia who could be the most dynamic player ever to emerge from Canadian soccer…it’s time for MLS to meet Alphonso Davies.
The Vancouver Whitecaps have discovered a star. Teenage phenom Alphonso Davies could be just the spark that sets Canadian soccer on fire over the next few years. And that’s a lot of pressure on the shoulders of a 17-year-old soccer player wearing no. 67. Some big-name European clubs Like Manchester United and Liverpool have already shown interest in the youthful Davies, so MLShttps://mlsmultiplex.com/?s=vancouver+whitecaps fans need to watch this kid play while they still can. He won’t be here forever.
Davies was born in 2000 at a refugee camp in Ghana after his family was displaced from Liberia during the Second Liberian Civil War. Later, his family moved to Canada where they ultimately settled in Edmonton when Alphonso was six years old. Fast forward to 2017, when Davies was granted his Canadian citizenship while already being an established member of the Canadian Youth National Team and Vancouver Whitecaps organization, and the stage was now set for something special.
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Mostly flying under the radar last season for the ‘Caps, Davies made a quick name for himself with his stellar play for Canada at the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup, where he was the youngest player ever to appear for the men’s senior team. After his Golden Boot performance at the Gold Cup, Davies was used sparingly over the final months of the MLS season as he was sheltered and groomed by ‘Caps Coach Carl Robinson for a breakout season in 2018.
Enter Kei Kamara. The much-travelled MLS veteran forward was an off-season pick up for the Whitecaps. Kamara struck an instant connection with Davies upon his arrival in British Columbia. Both Kamara and Davies were born in West Africa. Their soccer pathways have now crossed at BC Place, as the seasoned Kamara has taken the youthful Davies under his wing both on and off the field. Having a mentor seems to be paying immediate returns this season for Davies.
Davies began 2018 with a successful preseason campaign for Coach Robinson and recorded both an assist and his first-ever MLS goal on the opening weekend versus the Impact. He then followed that up with a solid 90 minutes of work both at outside-midfield and outside-back in the ‘Caps surprising 2-1 road win at Houston.
The next stop along the 2018 Davies’ breakout tour was this past Saturday night in Atlanta in, a St. Patrick’s Day match-up versus the Five Stripes. Davies slotted into the wide-left midfield position and looked to be set for an epic battle against reigning MLS Rookie of the Year Julian Gressel. After a few opening challenges both, players seemed to settle into the match when a VAR red card decision reduced the ‘Caps to 10 men and forced Davies deeper into the formation at left back.
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Despite the deeper starting position, Davies still made two smashing runs up the left flank in the first half, out-foxing and out-pacing Gressel and Atlanta right back Franco Escobar to whip a fierce cross into the box, as well as create a dangerous moment via his dribbling. It was just too many Five Striped jerseys and not enough white ‘Caps jerseys in the final third on either occasion to make any difference in the first half. Incidentally, Kei Kamara was not with the team on Saturday night. His hold-up play and stretching of the Atlanta backline was evidently missing on both Davies’ solo runs forwards.
After going into a more defensive shell to open the second half, Davies was under siege on his flank. Gressel pumped in ball after ball as Atlanta pinned Vancouver and Davies in deep. Two quick strikes put the game out-of-reach at 3-0 but Davies neatly picked off a pass from Gressel in the 72nd minute and then proceeded to dribble up the left flank, all the way to the Atlanta penalty box, where he slipped a nice cross that slithered across the face of the goal and a Vancouver shot rattled off the post. Davies, after seeing the shot rebound off the post, just worked all the way back to his left-back position and finished his 90 minutes of work in defense.
There were no goals or assists from Davies on this night, but the spark and energy of this young attacking talent were present, despite being limited by tactics and positioning forced by the early red card. The fans of Atlanta were cheated, or spared, depending on your allegiance, a full performance from Alphonso Davies.
So with three games played in 2018, what is ‘Caps head coach Carl Robinson doing with regard to Davies? The restrictions and cautiousness that surrounded Davies in 2017 seems to be slowly wearing away from Coach Robinson, but at what point does Vancouver simply turn this kid loose on MLS opponents?
Playing at left back might be what the team tactically needed versus both Houston and Atlanta, but it seems to be a waste of attacking prowess to have Davies playing so deep in the formation. Davies needs to stay in the wide-midfield position and use all his pace and skills to unlock MLS defenses for the ‘Caps. Davies proved versus Atlanta that he could create something from limited opportunities. He deserves to have more chances higher up the pitch to allow all his talents to shine.
Alphonso Davies will continue to make the short list of big European club’s transfer targets in the coming seasons and MLS should enjoy and celebrate this young Canadian talent while he is in the league. Coach Robinson will hopefully get the tactics right for the ‘Caps soon enough and Canada will have their young goal scorer to build a successful qualification campaign for the 2022 World Cup.
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The future looks certainly bright for Canada, the Whitecaps, and a teenager named Alphonso Davies….the kid is definitely alright.