AMERICA LANDS! – The Tommy gun is dead - Charlie Davies lets his boots do the shooting, and Kenny Cops goal for 1860
By Tom G Smith
A new young soldier has arrived in France and he goes by the name of Charlie Davies. French football has lacked that killer edge for quite sometime but all seems set to change.
French soil is no stranger to American saviour and history looks set to repeat itself! Davies gave a striking performance on his home debut, Saturday August 15, against Ligue 1 defending champions Bordeaux, scoring both goals for Sochaux in their 3-2 defeat.
Davies arrived at Sochaux this summer from Swedish side Hammarby boasting 21 goals from 56 appearances. Having lately broke into the American National squad there have been many a mixed view, though his goal scoring tally of 4 in 14 I don’t believe to be a bad return in any way shape or form.
There is no doubting that the boy has talent, it just needs to be developed and Ligue 1 is as good a place to start as any. Regular football in a decent European league that has bore the likes of Drogba, Ronaldhinho, Benzema and Henry should do the trick.
Much has been made of Bordeaux’s Marion Chamakh of late, turning many a Premier League head this summer. He too bagged a brace during the game and no doubt immediately updated his Curriculum Vitae as soon as he got on the bus home.
The French League has always suffered from such a problem, as it has never maintained a competitive level in wage structure as its European counterparts. As soon as a star is born it seeks to shine somewhere else.
The French public need not lose too much sleep over this thought however! Chamakh may have his bags waiting at Calais ready to board the euro-tunnel with the other hundred thousand immigrants who gaze starry eyed at the cliffs of Dover, but he looks set to be replaced almost immediately by another class act in the form of the young American.
Davies displays all the attributes in order for a star too develop. Pace, control, awareness, composure, it’s all there in abundance.
In the words of General George S Patton in his final pep talk to the last American heroes that entered France:
“America loves a winner. America will not tolerate a loser. Americans despise a coward; Americans play to win”.Have faith, Charlie Davies is a true American.
The other stand-out story from Europe came in the Bundesliga second tier, where Kenny Cooper opened the scoring for 1860 Munich in a 3-1 loss to Karlsruhe on Monday night.
It was the second goal in three games for the US striker, who is adjusting nicely to life in Germany since moving from FC Dallas. Despite playing below the top flight, the Baltimore born big man will be tugging at the sleeve of national coach Bob Bradley for a starting role.
It was the second goal in three games for the US striker, who is adjusting nicely to life in Germany since moving from FC Dallas. Despite playing below the top flight, the Baltimore born big man will be tugging at the sleeve of national coach Bob Bradley for a starting role.
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