Making a Case for Charlie Davies’ Inclusion on the US World Cup Roster
Even if Charlie Davies (#9) is not completely match fit in time for the World Cup, might US coach Bob Bradley roster the young forward merely as an inspirational motivator?
Poster created by Prairie Rose Clayton
While some folks are already making predictions for the 23-man US World Cup roster, I’m still not quite ready to make any guesses for two reasons:
First because of the injury epidemic the US seems to have encountered this past six months or so. Because of those injuries and the recoveries of those players, the US roster is not so easy to lock down.
Second, due to my personality of not wanting to make big bold statements. The blogosphere loves those big bold statements, but to my blogging detriment, that’s not really my nature. Instead I have a tendency to reflect. This often leaves me behind some of the crowd. However, this reflection did cause me to think about a ” what if” situation which I think is worthy of sharing with you.
It’s not too hard to come up with a starting 11 and 3 subs who are your 14 best players. Add on 2 extra keepers that most teams bring with to the tournament and you are down to 7 players that are really your backups for injury. It’s these 7 that are the toughest picks for a coach, especially when you get nearer the 23rd player. My point being that every one of those 23 roster spots is vitally important. Which brings me back to the Charlie Davies question. Can Bob Bradley afford to have a Charlie Davies on his roster even if he is not 100% match fit? Most predictions I’ve seen so far say no. But I will disagree merely for the fact that Charlie Davies could be an X factor for the Americans.
I’m sure everyone knows the Charlie Davies story by now. I’ll save most of the details and simply state that the 23-year old US forward was quickly making a name for himself for the US team and in Europe. First scoring 21 goals in two years playing for Hammerby in Sweden and then moving to Sochaux of Ligue 1 in France where he had 6 appearances and 2 goals before his tragic accident in October of 2009. As Ives Galarcep has well documented, the young forward has been making miraculous progress and is now back rehabbing with his team in France. According to a recent tweet by Davies himself, he’s getting more touches on the ball everyday. He had previously said he believes he will be back playing for Sochaux by the end of the season, perhaps in April.
Back to my pondering. Imagine with me for a moment a scenario where the US is locked in a tough 1st game with England in South Africa. We are down a goal late in the game and needing not only a goal but some inspiration. With 15 minutes left to play Bob Bradley looks over to #9 on the bench and gives him the sign he’s going in. At the 80th minute and after a quick warm up, a Charlie Davies pulls off his warm ups and checks in with the 4th official. As he stands on the touchline you can see the scars on his left and right knees along with another 10″ one on the back of his arm. What you won’t see is the 12″ scar on his stomach or the one on his head where his face was reconstructed or for that matter any of the other scars from his 8 surgeries. For Davies, these are reminders of the torn posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, the broken right femur and tibia, the broken left elbow, facial fractures and a lacerated bladder he sustained in the accident. But it’s also a reminder to him and his teammates how very far he has come since his tragic accident. For most of us, just getting off the bench and walking to the touchline would be a huge accomplishment. But not for Davies who almost 8 months to the date is about to enter onto the stage of the globe’s biggest sporting event with some of the world’s most fit athletes.
A US player runs to the sideline making way for Davies and he gives him a brief hug. That first step #9 takes onto the turf is an emotional one, an inspirational one. Not only for Charlie and not only for the team, but for every US Soccer fan in the stadium and every US Soccer fan back at home. In fact I can’t imagine it wouldn’t be an inspirational one for soccer supporters world wide.
The stadium rises to their feet to applaud Davies and every single US player on the bench and on the field also applauds. Even some of the opposing players applaud out of respect for #9′s accomplishment.
Back at home, in living rooms and sports bars throughout the US, fans are watching with a lump in their throats. They also rise to give the forward a deserved applause even if the Davies will never know it. It doesn’t matter, it’s a moment that everyone one of us will lock into our memories as one of the greatest sports comebacks of all times and one of the great inspirational stories of our lifetime.
“That’s what’s been driving me this whole time,” said Charlie Davies. “I’ve been looking at Web sites the whole time and they’re always saying, ‘We need to find a replacement for Charlie. We need to find someone because he’s not going to be back. These people don’t know. They don’t know me, and if they just knew me alone, let alone the determination and will I have now, you guys don’t know.”
My pondering does not have an ending, a miraculous comeback or a goal by Davies. What it does have is an inspired US team that plays the whole tournament with a bit more energy, a lot less fear and a willingness to work just a bit harder, much of it due to the inspiration of a Charlie Davies being included in the 23-man roster for the US.
“I plan on making a difference at the World Cup,” said Davies.
I would like to believe that could be true, but first Bob Bradley will need to have CD9 penciled into his roster when it’s announced in May. Figuring out all the players on that roster may not be easy for Bradley, but the inclusion of Charlie Davies on the 23-man World Cup roster may be the smartest tactical move the manger has ever made.
Comments are closed.
If Charlie is fit enough to come on as a late sub as in your scenerio then its a no brainer he makes the 23 man roster.
The author makes some excellent points. Even if Charlie isn’t entirely match fit and not ready for a starting role, if he can get back with Sochaux and get some time on the pitch before the season ends, I would think he would have to be on the roster. His talent and the uplift his recovery would bring to our squad and our fans would be a huge positive. Great article.
If CD9 is NOT on the roster, something is seriously wrong. Davies will most likely not be 100% match fit, but even as a sub, who else does the US have that can fill than dangerous striker slot? I can’t wait to see him take the field for the first time in the next couple of months!
Good piece, buddy. It was good speaking with you about it yesterday. We are all pulling for Charlie to come through.
Couldn’t agree more. The other reason to include him is that we have nobody else. I would rather have a one leg Charlie Davies hopping on his good foot at the edge of the 18 than another display like Findley’s during the friendly. He is our best choice even at 50%. I am less worried about him being ready than I am Bradley doing the right thing and including him on the final 23 man roster.
I think a lot of what’s been written here makes sense, but I think there’s another side to it. As a sub, Davies I’m sure, will inspire and maybe even contribute a solid 15-25 minutes. Physically, he looks set to be in good shape by the time the team ships to S.A. What’s more concerning, and should be concerning, is Davies’ mental approach to the game. Should he be selected to go, how does he manage his body, or the way he approaches/attacks defenders? Does he shy away from tackles? Don’t get me wrong, guys – it’d be great to see CD9 back up to full speed, but I’m not sure rushing him back (b/c let’s be honest, despite how miraculous his comeback has been, it will still have been only 8 months) is worth losing a roster spot to someone who might deserve a shot. Still early to tell, b/c CD9 can certainly make the greatest comeback ever, but let’s not get carried away with emotions just yet. Right now, let’s not bank on inspirational play, but smart, disciplined play that will get us through the first stage. In the end, you can be inspired, but that alone is not enough to succeed (however the US team measures WC success I’m not sure)…even the Miracle On Ice hockey team had the right pieces in place before stepping onto the rink.
I’d love to see Charlie on the roster as a sub, but Bob’s got to be thinking two things if he takes him. First is what dmoney says; Charlie’s going to have to prove that he can stand up to the fastest, most physical soccer he’ll ever play, and 2 months of training with the national team won’t prove that by itself.
The second thing is what I’d be paralyzed by if I was Bob Bradley. If this guy’s been pushing himself this hard to recover and comes into Sochaux too early, weakening some of that healing he’s done, then a Nigel de Jong could be the thing that decisively ends the kid’s career. That’s a straightforward question for the orthos, I guess, but it’s one that I think about all the time.
The World Cup is not the place to experiment with players who are unknown at this time.
His biggest skill as a forward on this US WC Team is his speed with the ball. Speed is the combination of many things that all interact to create the faster player. Injuries can completely change a players speed and agility at the mental and physical levels.
I hope he recovers at the correct pace and dose not try to rush it because the US will be in many more WC tournaments and we will need his skill then.
I my opinion he has already missed the 2010 WC Team because of injury. He should concentrate on his full future as a player and not just focus on one summer when he’s not at 100%.
Good stuff BQ. It will be a tough decision. I can’t see including him as inspiration only though, after all it is the world cup. If he is fit to be a sub, then by all means. If he’s fit and confident, he could be a 2nd half sub game changer. I think the chance of him being a started playing in such a demanding event is an extreme long shot.
While recovery from his injury is a feel good story, it’s not like recovering from an incurable disease or an extreme on the pitch tragedy. If I recall his crash was speed/goofing off related, was it not? He can still be an inspiration as a non-rostered player.
“……the US will be in many more WC tournaments and we will need his skill then.”
True, the US will, but charlie doesn’t have MANY more WC tournaments. In fact, likely
only one and he knows that. Charlie will turn 28 during the next WC, his prime, the tail end of it…but his prime none the less. Then at 32, a player, especially one who’s strength is speed and agility, will either be done or be a much lesser version of who they were. So he and us, will just have 2014Brazil, out of his whole career, to see Davies make a USMNT impact realistically.
I don’t disagree with what you’re saying really, just had to point that out in regards to what
may be going through his mind and that of us supporters. A guy like Charlie, you’d like to see him play a central role in more than just one WC, but that’s not likely. Shame.
I wasn’t able to respond earlier but I thought the same thing Cody. Case in point is a Michael Owen.
I guess the question for me is what was Charlie doing when he got injuired–there seem to be too many unanswered questions. To me he let his teammates down (and the US) for being out late on the night of his injury, which was before a big match. Yes, everyone has a right to their private life, however, it seemed a little too irresponsible for me.
PS: Correct me if I am wrong, but it is my understanding that Charlie has never given a public account of the events leading up to the accident. I know that Washington Parkway where the accident occurred can be a dangerous road, however, I think he was going a little faster than the posted speed limit to have his car ripped in half.
Are you kidding me? Forget the USMT. Based on his recovery, he should be thinking about joining the X-Men roster.
Soccer Boy
Right on. Somebody has to be accountable for the issue to begin with. What I asked before, does the team have management, a curfew, less than 48 hours before a match in the capital? Many questions form me say: is that the best we can do and we are this desperate for his return? Bad luck, bad decisions, bad scenario. Lucky to be alive, but did not another die? Nothing good happens after midnight in the sports world. Don’t need angels, but who is accountable?
Too sad the largest, richest nation is still so soccer desperate to try and make a hero out of what otherwise would be stupid decision and part or a senseless crime. Did he not get in a car with a drunk driver? That aside, he will deserve a chance if he recovers and earns it, I just wish we weren’t so desperate to “need him”. Maybe the Vikings can sign Micheal Vick.
I like Cody’s comments. I truly agree with Zlatan, a WC team coach will not select a player just for inspirational purposes (and perhaps shouldn’t). There has been some of that in the past but those players carry the names of Hagi, Stoichkov, Charlton…I don’t think CD9 – though I think he’s awesome – is quite of that caliber. having said that I also feel that CD9 can definitely be a fantastic super sub (20 min) sniper. He definitely has the potential to be devastating in that role, even if not quite 100% match fit.
“Maybe the Vikings can sign Micheal Vick.”
Okay. I gotta jump on that one. I get that some people might think Charlie’s overhyped for being in a car accident, but comparing him to a repeat offending drug smuggler, animal abuser and racketeer is kind of unfair.
He’s an emerging talent who’d been incredibly exciting to watch and effective for his club and national teams. He caught an ugly piece of bad luck doing something perfectly normal and reasonable (if not exactly smart), but his recovery has been a pretty inspiring story. If the best you can do to demonize the kid is say “he was out past curfew,” then compare him to an actual career shitheel I think you should just join us on the bandwagon.
I don’t see how manslaughter and or being in on decisions that cause such (drunk driving) are ever excusable. Bad luck? No, life is the sum of all the choice’s one makes. He is young and could use mentoring, guidance and leadership. That was void if all for one sad, sad night. Thats on him as a man and the staff of the MNT for what they lack. It is inexcusable! Forgivable? Yet everything can be forgiven and earned back. Hey, seriously drunk driving and being in the chain of command that results in it (death / manslaughter), IS as BAD or WORSE than drugs, animal abusing and racketeering. Drunk driving is not a victimless crime, even if the “lucky enough” are not to be caught. How selfish. Ask any victums of such a crime. He may not have been driving, but he was part of the reason the car was there to begin with. If he was anything close to “inspirational” he would not have been in the situation, would have taken the keys, not gotten in the car, paid for a cab OR here is a shock – simply would have been in bed preparing for a chance to be “Inspirational”. Sorry, great player yes, great man – has a long way to go. Let’s hear an apology and or at least the whole story. In most cultures, that’s the path to forgiveness. Until then, I hope the team can rely on real men who can play at the highest level. I would hope we could produce that.
Cam, you are basically charging Charlie of a crime? Remember, he wasn’t driving the car and as far as I know the driver of the car still has not been charged. Did he use really poor judgement? Absolutely he did and if he was the one to say NO, we are going to take a cab or choose not to sneak out at all, perhaps this wouldn’t have happened. Then again it still may have. We don’t know exactly how life plays out. We are given choices and even though I was not a party guy at that age, I have done my share of stupid things that perhaps could have gotten me or someone else into trouble. I’ve got three adult children and they’ve all done some pretty dumb stuff at times as well. (I’m not saying drinking and driving, just stupid stuff like young adults often do) Charlie’s horrible decision making caught up with him. For thousands of others they get away with it. We are human, we make mistakes.
Listen, I understand where you may be coming from to say he doesn’t deserve a spot on the team because of his actions and that may be fair, but lets be careful here about being judge and jury. Because I promise that sort of thinking will turn around and bite you in the ass every time. No one is perfect no matter how good you try to live your life.
BTW I thought he had apologized the incident and he has often talked about the lessons he’s learned from this. 8 painful surgeries later and agonizing rehab has to make him think about the accident many, many times a day. I’m guessing he’s not glad he made the decision he did.
I would love to see Charlie working with teenagers in his coming years talking about the dangers of making a decision as he did. I think you just may very well see that. So even then will it erase what happened. Nope! Thats what grace is all about, right?
To me his recovery story is still miraculous and inspirational. We will have to agree to disagree on this one.
Thank you, bq, for clairfying what I recall. CD9 was NOT driving the vehicle. As for the rest of the arguments, I can understand them all … from inclusion in the SA2010 squad for inspiration, to exclusion for the curfew violation, which (if not for the horrific accident), would not have permanently excluded him from subsequent team sheets.
For me, personally, I agree with bq’s suggestion that (if fit enough) that he be included in the squad.
However, if he’s only fit enough for substitution role, then I waver … for should there be another injury during the tournament, a substitute can instantly turn into a starting XI.
BQ, I know a while back you were looking for a ESPN link on an interview with Charlie. I am assuming that this issue was addressed in that interview. Did you ever find it? If so, can you please post the link. I would like to inform myself more on this issue.
PS: I do believe in forgivness!
I do believe in forgiveness as well, that is my point, but in due time and not just expedited in the case of that we need a star. I could be wrong, but it seems he was out with some jersey chasers or at least innocent fans. This was avoidable and with some training or maturity and relative professionalism, would have been avoided. I will stick my preemies. Drunk driving has contributors and consequences, the crime is so preventable and that is the shame. He was a contributor. Stupid mistakes to such a outcome are completely unacceptable. We all are humans and have the ability and need to learn.
Brian I respect your points.
I guess I am also disappointed that there seems to be no accountability or control from Bob Bradley’s leadership or the GM of MNT. I don’t feel we are getting the best leadership from post Bruce Arena, qualification and now. Better leadership could have steered away from this; accountability would ensure a stronger future.
Not to drag this conversation out too much, but has anybody besides Internet conclusion jumpers ever reported that alcohol had anything to do with the accident?
All I can find is some injury lawyer’s blog that said she “had consumed alcohol” and was futzing with her GPS.
Forgivness also requires one to confess that their actions were wrong. Has Charlie fessed up? I think he has the same publicists as Tiger Woods.
Jim, regardless if he/driver was drunk, or they were coming home from midnight Mass at the National Cathedral, common sense dictates that you put your team above yourself and not mess around late at night before a big match.
Cam, I agree with your points.
Regardless if Charile is on the team or not, I really see our young lads coming home after three matches. Sorry folks, but I am not impressed with this group at all!
By the way. I follow Charlie Davies on Twitter. This was his last tweet:
@CharlieDavies9
AGAIN THANK YOU ALL FOR THE PRAYERS AND BEST WISHES!!!!! YOU ARE ALL HELPING ME IN MY RECOVERY. BLESS YOU ALL
If you’d like to see more of this tweets and how his recovery is going and his thankfulness for prayers and well wishes you can go here:
http://twitter.com/CharlieDavies9