Why Charlie Davies Is So Important To the US MNT

He’s just one guy, right?

I mean, there are 10 other guys on the field, so what’s so important about this short guy from…New Hampshire?

ESPN’s commentary during the recent World Cup made mention of the striker several times, but didn’t go too far in depth as to just why he is so critical for the Yanks.

The answer is actually in multiple parts.

Let’s begin by looking at the play that has made Davies so critical to the American attack.  The adage that has been uttered for so many years is “speed kills.”  Just about every professional player is faster than the average guy or girl off the street, but Davies is one of the few guys in world soccer that has deadly speed.

How can we tell?  Well, let’s look at his meteoric rise in the US soccer ranks.  His breakout game came against Egypt in the 2009 Confederations Cup.  His speed and tenacity combined constantly harassed the Egyptian backline.  And Davies’ game-changing goal?  A big part of it was that he was fast enough to shake his defender and beat the goalie to a short cross.

Davies’ speed continued to be the bane of Egypt’s defense, and the Americans suddenly had the perfect partner for Jozy Altidore.  The Yanks had found an excellent combination of speed in the pair, with one being a great finisher (Davies) and the other bringing physicality to the table (Altidore).

Davies’ next big goal came against Mexico in the madhouse that is Estadio Azteca.  His goal was a thing of beauty, burning his marker and outpacing another two defenders before calmly arcing the ball just out of reach of Guillermo Ochoa.

His deft finishing became something that the US relied upon.  His ability to control the long ball, simply outrun his defender, and then keep his wits about him inside the box made him an instant hit with US fans and a staple in the starting XI moving forward.

The US clearly missed his presence in South Africa.  If the US had had Davies’ speed, it would have been much easier to pry open stingy defenses of squads like Slovenia, Algeria, and Ghana.  The speed that Davies possesses stretches defenses and gives them no time to think on the ball.  It forces mistakes, and he is often the one there to turn a defensive mistake into an American tally.

American coach Bob Bradley was able to find replacements for Davies, but not in one person.  Robbie Findley was brought in to help make up for Davies’ speed, while Herculez Gomez came into the squad to provide the finishing.

The second trait that has made Davies so critical to the American setup is his obvious chemistry with the rest of the squad.  Fast friends with Altidore, he appeared to have fit like a glove in the overall Yank atmosphere.

Davies even created a fad among American goal scorers—the stanky leg became almost a team trademark goal celebration.  Just look at Clint Dempsey’s imitation when he scored against Turkey in the pre-World Cup friendly series.

Immediately after Davies’ well-publicized crash, the team had to cope with the emotional blow while going up against a difficult Costa Rican side in Washington DC’s RFK Stadium.  A fairly large portion of the team was wearing some sort of homage to Davies under their jerseys that night…the team was mourning a fallen comrade and honoring him with their play.

Again, it was Altidore that became the poster child for the above sentiment.  His ab-slapping celebration of the US’ advancement to the World Cup final after Jonathan Bornstein’s late goal against the Costa Ricans was a fitting tribute to one of the guys that got the US to South Africa.

Turns out, it wasn’t just the players that had latched onto Davies.  In the 9^th minute of the match against Costa Rica, the majority of the stadium raised up papers with “9” on it.  The fans had envisioned their own tribute to “Chuck Deezy”.  Not only that, there were banners printed just days after the crash with Davies’ effigy on them.  Signs proclaiming “For Charlie” were hung around the stadium, as well.  Davies became a cult icon to the American supporters.

And then an interview came out with Davies, talking about his recovery.  He said he’d be ready for the World Cup.

WHAT?

Now not only was Davies a fallen icon on the pitch, but he became the living embodiment of the national team’s spirit. 

His efforts to return to the pitch represented the kind of underdog, hero’s story that resonates to clearly with Americans in general.  Here was a guy who had been dealt a cruel hand, having risen to the starting XI only to have that snatched away on the DC Beltway, who was still putting everything he had into achieving his dream.

What is more American than that?  His absolutely tenacious fight to get match fit in time for the World Cup inspired American fans to a degree not seen before.

In April 2010, a movement on the Web created “Charlie Davies Day,” with well-produced video tributes.  Davies almost made it back for the World Cup, and was likely just a week or two away from full fitness.  However, he was not called into the squad…he just wasn’t 100 percent.

So the hero didn’t make it to the finish line.  The dream was dead, right?

Nope.

News came out just a few weeks after the American run in South Africa had ended…Davies was back in preseason matches with his club side, France’s Sochaux.  He’s back.  A guy who should be dead, or at the very least not be able to walk again without a considerable limp, is back where he was at before the accident.

Certainly it remains to be seen how his form will recover from his horrendous injuries, but one thing is certain; if Davies is even half as dedicated to recovering his form as he was to his physical recovery, the Yank faithful will be enjoying seeing Davies rip defenses to shreds before long.

There are even rumors that Davies could be ready to go by the time the Americans take on world power Brazil in the New Meadowlands Stadium in an August friendly.  Whenever he does make his return, one thing is guaranteed—the roar that the American fans will let out for their cult icon will be absolutely immense. 

Davies’ return to the team will represent the unshackling of the squad as a whole.  Players will no longer have to play out of position to try to cobble together an attack. 

Clint Dempsey, more comfortable on the left side of midfield than in attack, can return to his preferred spot.  Landon Donovan can continue to hold down his position on the right, sending in crosses.  The central mids can press just a little bit more, knowing that Davies won’t give up the ball easily.

Critically, the US becomes a true counterattacking side again.  Davies’ speed is enough to worry defenders in normal circumstances, but the thought of him blazing up the pitch on a breakout after an opponent’s corner kick is enough to unsettle a defender from the get-go.  It’s these little things that make Davies such an integral part of the US MNT.