FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Charlie Davies found a home. Now he’s finding his form.
With goals in three straight games – all Revolution wins – Davies has shot to the top of New England’s scoring charts, inspiring talks of a potential return to the U.S. National Team picture.
It’s all very flattering for Davies, who’s made no secret of his desire to once again represent the U.S., but in a fashion typical of this selfless squad, he credits his teammates for much of his recent success.
“This team has been unbelievable,” said Davies. “It’s great to be a lone striker on this team; I’m getting great service and we have great players. It’s been talked about a lot – how deep we are as a team and how talented we are. They make my job easy.”
Davies has been making his job look easy, but head coach Jay Heaps respectfully disagrees that playing as the target striker in New England’s hybrid attacking system is a simple task.
“The position’s a very difficult position,” Heaps said. “There’s a lot that we’re asking from a pressure standpoint as a first line of defense. For me, that’s the most important thing that Charlie does.
“But then when he’s scoring goals, he becomes even more dangerous, which creates more space for the players underneath.”
Davies doesn’t need to be scoring goals to play a vital role in New England’s attack; his boundless energy is a boon both offensively and defensively, while his rare combination of strength and speed allow him to operate as both a holdup option and a threat in behind defenses.
He’s even added an aerial threat to his game – scoring his last two goals on headers – something he admits had been lacking prior to his arrival in New England.
It’s all combined to form a well-rounded player – one who, at the moment, can’t stop scoring goals.
“It’s always great when you’re in form as a striker,” Davies said. “You just keep continuing to build on each performance and that confidence starts flowing.”
Building upon each performance is exactly what Heaps has seen Davies do for the past two years, since arriving in New England late in the 2013 season. And that progression shows no signs of stopping.
“Charlie is a player who just continues to get better every week, and I love seeing that,” said Heaps, who called Davies “an emotional leader” in New England’s tight-knit locker room. “Even from last year to this year, and the beginning of this year to now; it’s great seeing a player continue to buy into what we’re doing and continue to get better every week.”
For all the accolades and praise Davies is receiving, he only sees room for improvement.
While the highlight packages focused on his ninth-minute goal in last weekend’s 2-1 win over the previously unbeaten New York Red Bulls – a superb diving header following clever movement – Davies was more concerned with a 70th-minute chance which he sent just wide after racing clear at midfield.
In fact, while the pundits wonder if Charlie Davies is “back” and if he’s headed for a return to the U.S. National Team, the player himself is convinced that the best is yet to come.
“I still feel I haven’t really scratched the surface yet of playing at my very best,” Davies said. “That’s always a positive, especially early in the season. It’s all about improvement and hard work.
“The chances are there, but I haven’t done my best with them. I think over a matter of time I’ll finally get into the swing of things and I’ll be able to bury more chances when I get them.”
Those aren’t the words of a struggling striker, but rather one who currently holds the longest active goal-scoring streak in the league. But it’s likely that attitude which has Davies in the position he’s in now.
