Jeff Carlisle is one of the ESPNsoccernet U.S. soccer beat guys, and when I come across his articles and columns he really seems to know his stuff.
Today he had a column on the site about Davies, which really hit home at the same essential point that I made two days ago, Davies was not ready to compete at the highest level after his devastating car accident last summer.
Carlisle makes the point that as with all high-profile professional athletes they are always willing to say they are healthy to play when often they are not. In Davies case as I pointed out Wednesday, the guy sustained some of the most serious injuries you can possibly imagine - broke femur, tibia, fibula, elbow, along with a ruptured bladder and bleeding on the brain. You can't overlook how serious these injuries were, you're dealing with a guys life here and livelihood.
Sochaux have a vest interest in Davies, he a financial commodity and one of their best rising prospects. They don't want him to get hurt when he is not ready to come back and miss out on more action next season.
And although Sochaux sent U.S. coach Bob Bradley a letter stating Davies was not ready to play and would not release him for national team duty, ultimately the decision still lay with Bradley - he could have chosen to go to FIFA and appeal the letter. However, Bradley and his training staff have kept a close eye on Davies' progress and they too clearly felt Davies was not ready to make a significant contribution to the U.S. this summer in South Africa.
Read in between the lines, unfortunately as much as everyone wanted to see the dramatic comeback, there was only one person who thought Davies was ready, Davies himself.
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