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Davies not ready to give up World Cup chase

Charlie Davies 6(ISIphotos.com)

Photo by ISIphotos.com

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.

Comments

  1. It’s obivous you hate Casey but he has nothing to do with this debate.

    You are confusing this game with the NFL or the NBA where you can have “specialists” who come on for a few minutes and can do things like kick field goals or hit 3 pointers. It doesn’t work that way in soccer, particularly when you have as thin and weak a team as the USMNT. If you had ever played you’d know that.

    The USMNT doesn’t need “inspiration” from some guy who should be in the stands watching the game, they need production.

    Davies wasn’t some incredibly lethal goal scorer like Ole Gunnar Skolsjaer for Man. U. who had a long history of coming in at the last 5 minutes and scoring important goals. Charlie was huge for the US because he wore people down and beat them up. He made people chase him the whole game. It’s pretty hard to do that in 5-10 minutes.

    Unless Davies proves he can contribute like he did before, Casey deserves a spot before he does. Otherwise, what you will have is a player up front doing what you accuse Casey of, a lot of standing around.

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  2. Arena is a club coach because he coaches a club.

    Bradley is a national team coach because he coaches a national team.

    The two jobs have different characteristics. They say that older, more accomplished guys should coach national teams because the pace is less than at a club and since there is not a lot of time spent with the players there is less actual coaching to be done.

    But at the end of the day the distinctions are somewhat artificial. It’s a case by case basis.

    “It takessomeone special to manage a national team ” No it doesn’t. Look at France. There a lot of crappy national team coaches out there.

    Hiddink and Capello are great coaches regardless of where they coach. You know why?

    Research their careers and you will find they make a point of only taking jobs where there is sufficent player talent and organizational support to do the job.

    The US had a “natural” ( to use your term) international coach, his name was Bora Milutinovic. He got about as much as he could from any team with a guy named Lalas on it.

    It always comes down to having enough good players and don’t let anyone tell you differently. The US has a very limited player pool, and only play menaingful games once every 4 years so you won’t see Hiddink or Capello here anytime soon unless they want one last big time payday and get bought off.

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  3. He doesn’t deserve to be on the roster if he can’t contribute. England made that mistake by taking a unfit Wayne Rooney in 2006 and watching him play like crap.

    What are you going to tell the guy who is dropped to make way for Charlie?

    ” Well, you’ve worked really hard, did everything we asked but we need a cheerleader to brighten our day so even though this is your last chance to ever be anywhere near the World Cup the hell with you. You’re just not as popular a character as Charlie Davies, even though he won’t see the field for any meaningful minutes.”

    Yeah, I sure would love to play for a coach like you.

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  4. DC J,

    I’m a little tired of this “X % of Charlie is better than player Y”.

    You act as if Davies is a Terminator or Iron Man and you talking about his power levels. Well, this ain’t no movie or comic book, this is real life.

    People and athletes in particular don’t work like that. You are assuming some sort of linear recovery where he can play at 100% for 80% of the time ( or how ever long)and that is not how this sort of thing works. While I haven’t had his injuries, I’ve had severe injuries before and I can tell you the likelihood of a straight linear recovery like that is unlikely. It’s more likely that he comes back at 60% for 40% of the time or something like that. And that will come and go. Anyway, there is no way for us to know.

    To play the game your way then take Charlie at his very best, say the Egypt and Spain games in the Confederations Cup. Charlie’s biggest contribution was his speed, stretching out the Egyptian and Spanish defenses and keeping them from developing any width in their attack. In particular Sergio Ramos was not able to support the Spanish attack which kept them narrow and thereby funnelled them towards our twin tower centerbacks, who played out of their minds.

    This wasn’t easy for Charlie and it required 100% of his effort. Take that 20% away from Charlie and the US loses both games.

    So please lose this percentage horse manure.

    Davies can either play or he can’t. He can either contribute of he can’t. While I would love to see him there I think he is taking an insanely foolish chance with his long term health and career but hey, it’s his life.

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  5. I never said anything about being right.

    I also never said Arena should still be the USMNT coach because he is doing well with LA either.

    We are not the rest of the world and don’t have sufficient access to great coaches to: “cycle through national team coaches regularly”.

    You sure are an a*s, aren’t you?

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  6. It’s stupid to think that BB is going to wait for Davies to save the game in the last 15 minutes. If you can’t play 90+ minutes, then you should not go. Some here make this guy like the the next Pele. Please, not even close. In fact his main attribute was his speed. If he can’t run at full pace, then best to stay home. Donovan, Jozy, Dempsey, Adu, and Gomez can handle the load.

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  7. I said it before and I’ll say it again, he will be on the roster & will play every game coming in as a sub for the last 15 minutes.

    Mark my words.

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  8. Well, I don’t think Gomez or Buddle could handle an M4 in a do or die gunfight, so I’ll take Davies in his little bat and take my chances!.. ok, that didn’t sound right..

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  9. Thanks Doc I feel better – or maybe worse – already.

    As a doctor weren’t you going to give us your prognosis? Charlie yay or nay to South Africa?

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  10. I’m guessing Charlie gets invited to the camp, and if he can’t keep up he can’t keep up.
    ===

    Yep. BB will bring him in to check him out, and if, in his current form*, he’s one of the four or five best US strikers, then he’s in. Otherwise he’s not.

    *”Form” in this context shall be read to include both physical condition, mental condition, and skill set.

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  11. Question Ives, was it revealed what happened that night. Who were those girls and were they under the influense? Details were lost some how.

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  12. Are you a psychologist or do you play one on Soccer By Ives?

    I happen to be a neuropsychologist. I can tell you that Mr. Davies has undoubtedly received a severe brain injury as a result of an acceleration-deceleration injury, otherwise known as a coup-contre coup head injury. The axonal shearing or neuronal death that took place is difficult if not impossible to determine from my vantage, given that I do not have access to his MRI or neuroimaging scans. He could have resulted in damage to any particular area of the brain, including the fronal-motor cortex. If that was the case, Mr. Davies is

    When I hear people make statements about percentages they are often times inaccurate for several reasons. Undoubtedly, self-perception, determination, and the drive to improve oneself are all incredibly important variables when receovering from any injury. Your statement of 90% of an athlete’s performance is innervated by mental operation is both erroneous and misleading. The brain is 100% responsible for carrying out all of our biological functions, including walking, talking, breathing, you name it. When there is focal or diffuse damage to the brain, the damage is irreparable. I hope that Mr. Davies’ damage is minor; however, considering the velocity of the accident, my fear is that he will be adversely impacted both cognitively as well as motorically. I wish him the best and hope to see him on the field. I just thought I would take the time out of my day to correct an obvious misnomer.

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  13. If any player in the USNT needs Davies there for “Inspiration” then they should NOT go to SA. We are talking about professional players representing their country in the most important tournament in the world.
    If you need extra motivation just don’t go.

    BTW: who the heck wants to be like England? I thought we wanted to win the World Cup, not just pretend we can do it. Why don’t we try to be like Germany?

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  14. Heck, I’ll be honest and say that I’ve got lots of strongly held opinions that have zero factual support, some of which I have posted on this very site! Yes, as a matter of fact, some of these opinions do relate to Freddie Adu, who will be a starter in South Africa and score 37 goals. BooYa!

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  15. Bradley is gone, let’s hope, needless to say if we bomb out or get out of the group. By that time Chivas will need another coach and Bradley will be back.

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  16. What inspiration does he bring? People keep talking about all this international experience, lest we forget he’s only played 17 national games, half off the bench.

    We need our guys focused on the tournament.

    He’ll get an honorary invite surely, but that’s more PR than tactical genius on the USSF’s part.

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  17. Arena is a club coach, much like Bradley – neither are national coaches. Same with Sven and McClaren, both are club coaches, both blew as national coaches.

    It takes someone special to manage a national team and equally special to do both – I do not think we have EVER had a natural international coach. (Gus, the Spanish coach, Coppelo are naturals)

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  18. Take a Davies in this condition as a 65 minute sub and expect to throw Casey Conor in the 70th minute when Davies pulls up injured.

    Over 8 months out of the game, barely a month of real physical training, no play with the ball, and no grueling practice situations and you want to take him?

    Suicide for the team and for the player’s health and/or career.

    He made a very poor decision last year and we all have to realize the consequence is that he won’t play in this World Cup.

    Might as well be talking about Jones having a Wolverine-recovery. Train has left the station so let’s get cracking on getting Dempsey 100% to take his place.

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  19. I never understood why people post comments like this. I mean, this is sports we’re talking about. Sports were specifically designed to create talking points than can be discussed with friends, family, and strangers. Speculation is what makes sports fun, otherwise why would Ives have a site or even allow comments?

    If we waited until we had 100% facts until we were allowed to discuss, sports would suck.

    So please, move out of our way and let us speculate in the ways of our forefathers

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  20. Bradley will catch a lot of heat if he takes injured players and the team flames (0 goals) out in 3 games. “Why did you take injured players when you had healthy ones. I think it is time to make a switch Bob.”

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  21. This comparison isn’t quite accurate, because the valid comparison isn’t your limping horse to the other thoroughbreds. The comparison is your limping horse to the non-limping horses available in your stable that you would consider taking to the race instead.

    The point is, and DC Josh makes it right above this post, that this limping thoroughbred might be faster than the other non-limping ones in the US stable. That’s for the Princeton camp to decide.

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  22. Impossible to know where he’s really at. The president’s remarks dont tell too much really. It makes no sense for them to bring him back right now. In fact he still puts hope on a WC birth for CD.

    At worst put him on the 30 man and replace him last minute and still bring him to travel with the team as a “coach”.

    We have got to try Gomez and possibly Buddle as soon as possible. Think about it.. the co- goal scoring leader in Mexican soccer is an American. He’s tied with a kid who just signed with Man U. Name another time in USMNT history we wouldnt be jumping for joy that this guy is an option.

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  23. We sure do love our “surprise elements” and “x-factors” around here, don’t we?

    Surprise!! We’re playing somebody who can’t run full speed!! (I’ll let you decide if I’m talking about davies or casey…)

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  24. Sad to say but 100% true….Dempsey, Josy and Landon are the only ones I feel comfortable with upfront. Give Gomez/Buddle a look in the next warm-up matches but lets not get our hopes up… Davies should take a player spot as long as he is able to practice.

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  25. based on Casey is worthless. I don’t think that question needs to be asked. Davies can be our suprise element. No one will have been watching him, so he’s our trump card that no one would be prepared to stop, unlike Casey who would stop himself for a break.

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  26. I won’t give up on him making the squad until the final 23 man roster is entered. He will be on the 30 man preliminary roster in Princeton. It will then depend on how he performs in camp.

    It essentially comes down to if an 80% Charlie Davies is better than a 100% Buddle or Gomez or Casey, etc.

    Come on Davies!

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  27. Just because Arena is doing well with LA, doesn’t mean he should have stuck with the USMNT.

    Good coach, should have got a new job after 2002.

    The rest of the world cycles through national team coaches regularly, 1 and done is more the rule than the exception.

    But yeah ok you were right all along that Arena is a good coach, happy now?

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  28. Yeah blame the refs, that usually works.

    Arena’s time with the USMNT should have ended on the 2002 high; he was past his expiration/innovation date by 2006.

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  29. I get what you’re saying. I am of the belief that our nation is almost better off in an underdog-type role when it comes to FIFA tournaments. The last thing we need is to go in there like as if it was basketball in the Olympics.

    I think that there will be at least 1 HUGE surprise result in our group. I mean like ENG OR USA getting dominated by Algeria or USA beating ENG 3-1…who knows. What i’m saying is that you’re not alone in guarding any optimism you may have.

    I’m surrounded by so many people at work, school, etc who don’t care about the beautiful game, but who will certainly tune in for the WC and see what it’s all about. I am definitely not talking up the USA like we’re going to get 7-9 points in this group. On a different note though, a lot of big European NATS (like ENG and GER) have traditionally pessimistic and naysaying fanbases. Very critical. I think we all have some serious pre WC anxiety that is not getting any better, plus all the injury speculation…

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  30. He’s not exactly hating, just stating the obvious, imo. According to the various reports out there, Charlie hasn’t actually started contact drills. Last time I checked, soccer is sort of a contact sport. That doesn’t mean he has no chance at SA, but after a long layoff like this, players need months to get back into the full swing of things. First, they come on as late game substitutes, then early second half substitutes, then eventually as starters. Even getting starter minutes doesn’t necessarily mean they have their sharpness, timing, and full fitness/explosiveness back. This is true for all players, whether they are scrubs or superstars.

    So yeah, people who are questioning Charlie’s ability to be ready for SA aren’t “hating”, their just being practical. And we’re less than 50 days out. It’s time to start seriously thinking about who can contribute.

    That being said, Bradley will still probably call him in to camp. Best of luck CD9.

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  31. People may disagree but I think you’re just being realistic about this.

    I’m guessing Charlie gets invited to the camp, and if he can’t keep up he can’t keep up

    Maybe he gets special dispensation as junior assistant striker coach or something, since even though he’s young too he has more experience at international level than Herc and Buddle – and because we all want him to get to South Africa. He’s our David Beckham, who while injured will be hanging with the England team.

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  32. Al,

    Well to be fair, every single team at the World Cup has the potential to NOT advance out of the first round.

    The key is what are the odds?

    With Brazil or Spain for example, the odds are pretty low. With New Zealand they are pretty high.

    For England and the US, with all the players potentially getting injured and/or coming back from injury,I think you will have to wait and see who finally winds up going to SA before you can get a real good idea on what their odds are.

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  33. I saw a pretty extensive Davies interview on FIFA futbol mundial yeaterday on Sky Sports over here in the UK. They had a lot of footage of him doing drills with the physio. He said he still has hopes of making the World Cup squad. Not sure when the interview was done but it is a weekly show.

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  34. I’ve thought about that as well.

    I’m a bit more realistic about CD9’s chances of making the roster, it still seems like a giant step to expect him to make to be a contributor this fast after the accident.

    But the inspiration that he brings is huge, and would be a huge boost to the team, I wonder if even having him there with the players would be worth it, even if he doesn’t make the roster ala Beckham with England.

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