Charlie Davies is sort of upset. With the work he has put in to recover from multiple injuries (for more info visit this site http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/13/charlie-davies-us-soccer-_n_319272.html) from a car accident that saw an SUV cut in half and almost took his life to make the world cup team who could blame him. Davies who somehow returned to full training in April was excluded from the world cup camp due to not being physically ready.
With what Davies endured the fact that he was not physically ready seven months later is completely understandable. But to Davies the way he was evaluated and treated by his club team has caused some issues. Davies struck out at his club president last week after receiving word from Bob Bradley that he was not medically cleared and that contributed to his exclusion from the roster.
Davies sent some ill intentioned comments at his club team and specifically the president implying that while he was cleared to practice with the club they were self serving in trying to protect their investment and took steps to make sure he was left off the world cup team. Bradley who took some heat from fans and media for seeming to accept the word of the club team stated a few days later that the national team had made a similar assessment of Davies and they collaborated with the club to determine he was not healthy enough.
The truth probably lies somewhere in the middle. Club teams are leery of sending their high dollar investments off to play a match with their country that could result in injury (see AC Milan’s response to Oguchi Onyewu’s injury). While I believe Bradley that they conducted their own assessment, I think it is not out of the question that he deferred to the wishes of the club in this situation.
Davies on the other hand showed in his interview that he was not happy with how the club and seemingly Bradley handled the situation. He believes the club blackballed him and Bradley simply folded.
While Davies has shown his youth and some immaturity in his comments he is still a part of the future of the U.S. national team at the age of 23. Bradley has since provided further insight into the situation and seems sincere that he wanted Davies to come to camp but did not think he was ready. Whatever happens, Bradley needs to handle the situation well.
He is dealing with a player who many fans of the USMNT have seen make tremendous strides to represent his country. The court of public opinion will judge him on how he handles the situation. For a coach who’s current job and future job prospects ride on the performance of his team in June and July, he will need manage this situation well.
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