Charlie Davies doesn't believe in giving up.
It is that drive and determination he possesses that has helped him make amazing progress in his recovery from a myriad of major injuries following a deadly car crash last October. It is also that drive that is keeping him focused on making the U.S. World Cup team even as the time for him to make his return grows shorter.
Davies told The Associated Press that he is still very hopeful of playing during the French season, and that more will be known in the next couple of weeks. The statement came after Sochaux president Alexander Lacombe told the French media that Davies would not play again this season.
U.S. coach Bob Bradley released a statement on Davies' situation, stating that the U.S. coaching staff is "continuing to track his progress."
Here is my take on the Davies situation for Fox Soccer. I'm not ready to say times up for Davies, but fans can't take for granted that he will be back for the World Cup. It is far from a guarantee at this point.
What do you think of the latest developments? Still holding out hope that he will make it back in time? Starting to think that he won't make it back?
Share your thoughts below.
I would like to think they would
Information? Informed statements? Medical data? You are aware that this is an internet message board, right?
I am not sure I necessarily agree with your prognostication, but in the back of my mind I also do believe that either ENGLAND or the USA has the potential to NOT advance out of the 1st round (England in particular if the lose to us in the first game.)
If Davies does not make it back as a player for the US national team in time for the World Cup. Does he go along as an inspirational figure (like David Beckham for England)? Would the US offer him that?
I think it was all very “hush hush” because the girl driving was very well to do
I don’t know if anyone has seen this or posted this yet, but this could be very interesting:
Charlie on Twitter-
“Check out Gol Tv Tonight at 6:30pm Eastern time for FIFA Futbol Mundial. Thank you all for keeping the faith! We can do it!!!”
I am guessing there will be a story on CD9 on that show. Looks like Charlie is trying to publicly combat the growing feeling in the media that his dream of playing in the WC will not come true.
How about dumba*ses, are they rarely disappointed?
It’s starting to sound to me that his pursuit of a roster spot is going to be more difficult, now that Sochaux president Alexander Lacombe said he won’t play this year. The injuries outlined in the story, seem a bit more serious in that I haven’t read about his muscle deficiency, weakness and stomach pains until today. He has mad unbelievable progress so far, I just hope he doesn’t risk short term opportunity for a long term career. Nothing wrong with missing the WC and being closer to 100% for Sochaux next season.
That was pretty funny!
great post. completely agree.
Pessimists are rarely disappointed.
If he’s fit, bring him. If not, go with Gomez.
ok we get it…poor bruce. He was a hero in 2002 and a failure in 2006 and now has a top ranked undefeated club in LA. He’s a solid coach and made vast strides for US soccer. That being said, he is not the national team coach anymore. I feel it is important to have expectations for our nats and the coaches to get out of the first round. Arena did it in 2002 and now we as fans should have the expectation that we can do that from here on out. That expectation was not met in 2006 and bruce was relegated to the MLS. I have the same expectation for BB and being a coach should make you a scapegoat. Its in your job description to prepare and field the best team possible regardless of external factors beyond their control(Refs). I will be let down if we cannot get out of group stage.
Sorry it was MadTV http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxL1uXwSrdU&feature=related
uh…….ok.
I’m not so sure what’s so wrong with setting yourself up for a win win situation, but you’re completely wrong. There’s not enough honesty on these boards to come back and say: “See, I told you I was right!” People would just deny the whole thing, they nearly always do. I took a beating for defending Arena for years. Now, all of a sudden people are saying he’s good again. No mention of the constant abuse for years.
I have to provide an objective basis? What’s yours?
Beasley almost defaults his way into a starting role. I like benny or a healthy holden there instead though. And I’m hoping bedoya makes makes a claim for that spot during the friendlies.
I wasn’t nearly as impressed as most folk with beasley’s game against the dutch. He didn’t disgrace himself or anything, but are our expectations for him so low that a “not embarrassing” performance earns him motm?
And definitely edu over clark.
Related to this, does anyone know the outcome of the police investigation to Charlie’s accident? How did it happen? Was it a mechanical error of the car or driver error?
haters gon’ hate
Unrealistic expectations about how well our team should have done led to a lot of irrational hate.
I have the theme to SNL’s fake dating service – Lowered Expectations – in my head after reading this 9being sung by Eeyore).
First, I didn’t say that.
Second, you can do whatever you want. What a nice win-win for you. If they don’t make it out, you can come back and tell everyone, “I told you so.” If they do advance, you can revel in the victory.
Also, I still don’t believe that you have provided an objective basis for your argument that the U.S. won’t make it out. And yes, I recall your “World rankings” argument and analysis right after the draw, but very few people would concur that an analysis of the difficulty of the group based on the FIFA world rankings is probative.
What does that have to do with 2010?
I guess I can’t just hope that we make it out of the first round, but believe, objectively, that it’s unlikely?
At least my way I don’t have to be shocked and outraged,and find a scapegoat when we don’t advance, because realistically it was not completely unexpected.
You know this based on what?
Only Aristotle thinks we can’t make it out of the first round (at least in this comment section). I don’t think it is a foregone conclusion, but I believe we have a great opportunity.
You mean like in 2006? When we all had so much confidence and “faith” in our team that when we had some brutal calls by referees, and couldn’t make it out of the the toughest group, we decided it was all the fault of the best soccer coach this country has ever had, and proceeded to mock and ridicule him until just recently? No thanks.
Yea, I’ve found that wierd. Replace Beasley with Holden (hopefully fit next week) and Clark with Edu, and I would be happy with that line-up
I think we all need to have a little faith about our USMNT. This attitude that we can’t get out of the first round is exactly what is wrong with US soccer. We have the talent and skill to compete in just about any international match. Yes, 7 months ago we were all feeling fully confident about the possible squad we’d be sending to SA but injuries happen and things have changed. This doesn’t mean our confidence in our team should change. This game is about peaking performance when it matters most, i. e. mexico in WC2002 or spain last summer. I understand those were different teams but luck is when preperation meets opportunity and i have faith that BB can find us a little luck.
If he can’t make the camp in 21 days he should be out. My guess ( and that is all anyone is doing ) is there is no way. The team doesn’t think he is ready.
Has anyone noticed that the World Cup previews all seem to have the same starting team lineup for the U.S.?
Whether it’s World Soccer or ESPN magazine, they seem to believe that the starting lineup is:
Howard, Bocanegra, Demerit, Onyewu, Spector, Clark, Bradley, Donovan, Beasley, Altidore, Dempsey.
That’s as good a guess as any, I suppose, but I’m not so sure why Beasley would automatically be a starter. He doesn’t even play.
I think BB brings him to camp and sees what his form is like. At this point our starters up top are likely Altidore and Dempsey. In the May camp, Buddle, Gomez, Davies, and Ching (and possibly Casey and/or EJ) will be fighting it out for the other two spots. Even if Davies is only 75% next month, that could mean maybe 85% or 90% by mid-June. I don’t know, I like his chances — and would not be surprised to see Davies take one of those two spots.
+1 Well done, sir.
It’s a shame because we need all of the help we can get when it comes to offense on the USMNT.
I feel like we have little or no chance of even advancing out of the first round in South Africa. Our inability to score will do us in even if we play great otherwise. I don’t think Slovenia or Algeria will have too much problem holding us scoreless. I can see us finishing with two draws and a loss in group play, or worse.
Charlie has seven weeks to be equal to edson buddle. Hands down he’ll be there.
Ona side note..I bet EJ will be there to.
Betinho is right. We fans don’t — can’t — know anything of real importance. We can hope and pray and be supportive, but any comments about bringing him back even if he’s not fully fit, etc. are pure speculation. This one ain’t over until the skinny guy (Bradley) sings next month. He’s going to know more about the situation than the rest of us put together.
he can still contribute more in the last 5 minutes of a game that Casey can.
Those who think that he should be on the team because of his skill, even if he just comes on as a sub, are making a huge assumption. They assume that Charlie when he is “recovered” will be the Charlie of June 2009. That seems like a huge leap.
I don’t doubt his drive or determination. But I think it is problematic to assume that after (1) an 8-month layoff from playing the highest level of soccer and (2) the traumatic injuries that he suffered, he will jump back on the field after 2-3 weeks of training and compete at the same level. I realize anything can happen, but, as always, commenters underestimate what it takes to play in Ligue 1 or in the World Cup.
As the Sochaux team doctor stated, Charlie is an explosive, dynamic player. Just because he has healed enough to have a normal life does not mean that he will be prepared to compete as he did 8 months ago. And not to be a party pooper, but some of these arguments apply to Onyewu.
For those that jump to conclusions, I am not saying the Davies’ (or Onyewu’s) return is impossible. I am just pointing out the massive (and problematic) assumption that people are making.
Brian,
Please define what you mean by “physically able to play”. Seems to me that encompasses a very broad spectrum of things.
You said earlier, “Even if he hasn’t played in a few months, the skill is there, and we need the skill.”
Okay, well, Claudio Reyna, JOB and Brian McBride still have the skill but their bodies are no longer at the level necessary to permit participation in the World Cup. Why not bring one of them along?
This is the World Cup you know, it’s not a bunch of exhibition games. Everyone there will be out for blood.
The French doctor said the big thing with Charlie was he missing a lot of strength. Charlie’s big contribution besides his sheer never say die attitude, was his strength and speed. Without that he doesn’t have much to contribute. I’m continually amazed at people’s willingness to send the USMNT into gunfights armed with baseball bats.
If it comes down to him or Herc Gomez, and Davies still hasn’t played a second for Sochaux, I would take Gomez.
It’s a great story, and I’m pulling for Davies, but we need guys who can contribute, I’m not to certain a guy who hasn’t even played in over 7 months can contribute at the level needed to excel at the World Cup.
And certainly you could use him in the second round onward. We can get through the first round without him, but we will need him if we are to beat Germany or Ghana.
He’ll be there on the roster. I still believe!
We’re also simplifying what’s a long and difficult process for Charlie. Keeping up that level of intensity and focus for a long stretch of time is difficult. Maybe Charlie let up a bit once he returned with the team. It’s natural. Maybe this statement was intended (or unintentionally) to be just the kick in his rear to accelerate his recovery. Sports psychology, at this level, plays into 90 percent of an athlete’s performance. If Charlie wasn’t 100 percent focused lately, he is now.
(and Bob Bradley would be stupid not to think seriously, whether he plays at Sochaux or not this season, about putting Davies on the roster. It’s rare to see someone whose passion and commitment is this amazing. His presence on the bench would make sure that no one else has any excuses to not be 100 percent sharp come game time.)
+1
I don’t have enough medical data to make any kind of informed statement.
What are you basing this on? It’s absolutely not true. We know ZERO about his condition. It’s great that he’s running again, and it’s been a near-miraculous recovery so far, but his major assets are speed and strength, the last two things to return, if they return at all.
If he hasn’t made a club appearance by May, I’m not sure I want him taking up a roster slot. I’d rather have someone who’s fit, playing, and scoring goals RIGHT NOW.
I wish him nothing but the best and hope he recovers in time…but it’s more likely that we’ll see Herculez Gomez or Edson Buddle in South Africa. Fortunately for CD9, he’s still young enough to have another shot in 2014.
Betinho made a good point too. If Davies is physically able to play, he should definitely be on the roster. Bradley shouldn’t ignore him just because he hasn’t played since October.
I agree with TGA. Even if he hasn’t played in a few months, the skill is there, and we need the skill. I think he would be more determined than ever to make an impact too.
+1 to what TGA said…
The best we can do as fans (who have zero information that truly matters i.e. true fitness, if he has pain, where the pain is, motor impairment if any, etc..) is to continue supporting him. Any idea we have about what to do with him are based on complete ignorance.
put him on the roster. even as a late 65 minute sub..he is better at less than full fitness than the alternatives