Whitecaps prodigy Davies evokes contrasting comments from coaches

Paul Dalgleish was full of praise, but Carl Robinson was not.
The subject was 15-year-old midfielder Alphonso Davies, who made his first-team professional debut for the Vancouver Whitecaps in the Amway Canadian Championship semifinal series against the Ottawa Fury.
Davies stood out in the second leg last Wednesday (June 8) as the Whitecaps posted a 3-0 win to take the series 3-2 on aggregate. The Edmonton product put a shot off the post, made some nice runs and served up a couple of nifty passes as the Caps atoned for a humiliating 2-0 loss in Ottawa in the first leg. 
Not bad for someone who usually plays in the developmental USL circuit.
"He’s a real exciting talent," said Dalglesih. "He’s brilliant, for 15 years of age to do that. At 15, I couldn’t even look people in the eye. And he’s going out and taking men on, and looking absolutely magnificent. Listen, the Vancouver Whitecaps is a great organization. They produce top young players, as you can see with the results of their academy and the Whitecaps FC 2 team this year."
Dalgleish had no trouble singing such praises even though he was bitterly disappointed with the loss. And, then he kept going.
"He’s the shining light," added Dalgleish. "He’s the cherry on top of the cake. I think everybody in Canada  must be excited at the prospect of him playing for the national team for years and years, because with the ability he’s got he should go on to do big things, not only for Vancouver but for the national team as well.”Based on the reaction of approximately 18,000 fans at B.C. Place Stadium, Whitecaps and Canadian men's national team fans will will be excited to see more of Davies in the future. But Robinson, the Whitecaps coach, is not in a hurry to suit him up with his Major League Soccer squad on a regular basis. 
First, of all, the MLS collective bargaining agreement will prevent him from doing so, because Davies can only play a limited number of games at the top level. (Although one never truly knows with the murky and convoluted MLS contract legalities and roster rules.)
Also, it is debatable whether Davies, who looks similar to Kekuta Manneh at times, but runs less fluidly, likely because he is still growing, could handle regular play in MLS. The circuit is highly physical and Davies was knocked around by Fury players who toil in the second-tier North American Soccer League.
But, ultimately, Robinson is proceeding cautiously with his young talent.
“He did okay (against Ottawa)," Robinson understated. "Listen, I’m a big advocate of young players as you all know, and I don’t like it sometimes when players get built up. And, I say to you media guys that I know very well: The reason that I don’t like it is because when you build them up, you knock them down. I don’t want that."
In other words, Robinson does not want Davies to let early success go to his head, because young players will often make mistakes, which can effect their confidence over the long term if not managed correctly. Accordingly, the Whitecaps did not make Davies available to the media after clinching a chance to defend their 2015 Canadian title, against Toronto FC.
"It’s important that he keeps his feet on the ground," said Robinson. "He’s a young kid, he’s got natural ability, we know that. He’s one of a number of younger kids we’ve got (in the organization) that we think have got incredible potential. But it’s potential. There’s so many players that have potential that don’t fulfill it. I wanted to give (Davies) a chance because I thought that he was ready, and he didn’t look out of place."
But with Robinson calling the shots, Davies faces a long battle before he can gain a regular place with the Whitecaps in MLS.