Charlie Davies To DC United: An Innovative Approach To MLS Allocation
by Martin Shatzer on Feb 2, 2025 9:00 AM EST
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PrintCharlie Davies will be joining DC United in Florida today to begin his evaluation. In Chest Rockwell's story yesterday reacting to the announcement, he called the move a master stroke. Once I quit giggling and realized that "master stroke" isn't a sex act, I decided that I totally agree.
You see, Davies isn't like any of the other U.S. National Team players who have returned to MLS via the Allocation System. Kasey Keller, Brian McBride, Bobby Convey, Troy Perkins, Jay DeMerit, Kenny Cooper - they all came to MLS because that was the next step they wanted to take in their careers. And the clubs that received their rights received them due to their place in the Allocation rankings. Not through much of any work of their own doing.
Davies is different. Because D.C. United is different. United found itself in a unique place this month. Top of the MLS Allocation order while still in preseason, and around the time that European clubs are considering moving players who aren't getting much field time. It was the perfect storm.
Davies coming to D.C. isn't luck or good fortune. If any other team were at the top of the Allocation list instead of D.C., Davies would probably be staying in France. United sought him out. The innovative approach was that they used Allocation as a tool for acquisition - not just something to keep in their pocket in hopes that some Yank Abroad would decide to return home later this summer.
One item that was largely overlooked in Goff's initial report about Davies yesterday was that United had also tried to procure Eddie Johnson. This wasn't Davies or bust. This was a specific strategy aimed at improving the forward position. Olsen hinted that they wouldn't necessarily only be looking at international players to fill that need. This has been in the works for quite a while.
Now about that week-long "evaluation". I might be one of the few who would be shocked if the team sent Davies back to France. Yeah, they're hedging with the press release. But a 60% healthy Charlie Davies will still sell tickets. Maybe that's just the cynic in me talking.
The rest of me is far more enthusiastic. I can't wait for around 7:45 PM on March 19th when every person in a packed RFK Stadium holds up a printed number "9" sign in the 9th minute of the home opener. I get goosebumps just thinking about it.
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Olsen's Army, indeed
It seems like Benny might be taking more of a lead in personnel matters than the past few coaches have. He was apparently the first one to mention making a trade to go after Dax without giving anything of value to the MLS Cup runners up; the new players coming in tend to be more in his particular mold; as you described, there’s this more aggressive use of the allocation slot… I like it.
by The AMT on Feb 2, 2025 9:51 AM EST reply actions
Can we automatically credit Olsen for this move?
The McCarty move came with public quotes from Payne saying that Olsen engineered that move himself. This one, we know nothing about. We may never know who had the light bulb moment, or who did the delicate work that this really unique deal required.
As much as United fans love to pile on Kasper and Payne, and as much as we love to lionize (intentional word choice) Olsen, there’s a very strong chance that this move was the handiwork of DCU fandom’s Public Enemies #1 and #2.
That said, I think there is a clear change in the mindset of DC United since Olsen came aboard. There are lofty standards to be met and goals to reach. There’s no sense of “well, this is good enough,” which has been more or less our mantra since the “all in” moves of 2008 blew up in our faces. If nothing else, I think Olsen’s energy and his sense of demanding more from himself and from others is infectious and has spurred other front office types to recommit themselves to doing a better job.
by ChestRockwell on Feb 2, 2025 12:33 PM EST up reply actions
Agree - its not just Olsen
This organization has never been one to assign specific credit or blame to any particular front office members. But I think the shift in culture and this new “innovative approach” to finding players might have more to do with Kevin Payne than a lot of folks want to believe.
Don’t forget, Payne has done a lot of things right in his tenure with United. The league has changed and Payne is adapting.
Managing Editor for BlackAndRedUnited.com. Weekend Writer for SBNation DC.
by Martin Shatzer on Feb 2, 2025 1:07 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
As it relates to allocation’s potential importance in the future, absolutely. Whether they had Davies on their sights all along who knows (if so that’s a brilliance I didn’t think Kasper or Payne had) DCU got allocation money in both the McCarty & Perkins trades which has got to be helping now in mitigating the cap hit.
If Deazy actually DOES sign, I'll do the stanky leg, and I'm the whitest guy I know.
by Bald Pollack on Feb 2, 2025 1:47 PM EST up reply actions
Why just Charlie?
I get the sentiment, and we’ve all got break memories of the Costa Rica game, but let’s remember - we’ve got a lot of new players. I wouldn’t mind seeing a broader tifo welcoming all our new guys - Josh, Joe, Dax, Charlie, Perry, Ethan, Rodrigo, Steve, Daniel, and whoever else. Although, come to think of it, that’s a lot of signs.
by VercengetorixII on Feb 2, 2025 10:03 AM EST reply actions
Tifo
I see an Olsen’s Army theme brewing… and now there are actually soldiers to fill it.
Vamos United!
by Irrlicht on Feb 2, 2025 10:07 AM EST up reply actions
Danny boy
“You see, Davies isn’t like any of the other U.S. National Team players who have returned to MLS via the Allocation System. Kasey Keller, Brian McBride, Bobby Convey, Troy Perkins, Jay DeMerit, Kenny Cooper - they all came to MLS because that was the next step they wanted to take in their careers.”
You forgot DC’s own Danny Szetela!
by Irrlicht on Feb 2, 2025 10:06 AM EST reply actions
I have his last ever game worn jersey
He threw it into the Barra after the last game against the Crew, and I managed to snag it. There were only four Szetela DC United game-worn shirts, and I control 25% of this burgeoning market.
Of course, the market has been hurt by the fact that “the next step in his career” was “out.”
by The AMT on Feb 2, 2025 10:19 AM EST up reply actions
such a fall
it is amazing how far he fell considering that he did have some skills… Is he out of soccer all the way? Not even second division? Wikipedia doesn’t say.
by Irrlicht on Feb 2, 2025 10:57 AM EST up reply actions
Szetela
He trialed with Philly last preseason after United cut him. Couldn’t even make the roster of an expansion club.
Anybody still facebook friends with him? I nixed him at the same time DCU did.
Managing Editor for BlackAndRedUnited.com. Weekend Writer for SBNation DC.
by Martin Shatzer on Feb 2, 2025 11:23 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
One of those names is unlike the others
Keller/McBride/DeMerit/Perkins/Cooper - MLS was the logical next step in their careers.
Convey - was in his prime and having a very successful career with Reading until he was struck down by a major injury that led to a long term dip in his form, a dip which prevented him from getting any playing time at Reading (like Davies at Sochaux), and a dip that continued for his entire first year back in MLS. Hopefully Davies’ dip in form does not continue into his first season in MLS (except for DC’s game against San Jose that is).
Win or lose, we will always be here for you.
by johnjahafanclub on Feb 2, 2025 4:53 PM EST up reply actions
They play two games against San Jose, y'know
Here’s hoping Davies gets his hat trick in the second.
by Brendanukkah on Feb 2, 2025 8:25 PM EST up reply actions
ya typo
meant game"s"
Win or lose, we will always be here for you.
by johnjahafanclub on Feb 2, 2025 10:13 PM EST up reply actions
Convey
The point is that all the other returning USMNT players (including Convey) made their own decision to come to MLS. Davies is different in that United specifically targeted him and worked with Davies and his club to make the move happen. San Jose didn’t recruit Convey. He kind of fell in their laps.
Managing Editor for BlackAndRedUnited.com. Weekend Writer for SBNation DC.
by Martin Shatzer on Feb 3, 2025 8:17 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
true
Win or lose, we will always be here for you.
by johnjahafanclub on Feb 3, 2025 2:54 PM EST up reply actions
A Sense of Direction
That’s what I like about Benny at the helm. He gets the United Way (wow, bad pun). Let’s try that again - he understands what made the United great for so many years, because he was part of it. I was miffed by those who thought the United had no sense of direction simply because we passed on a supplemental draft pick, or because we drafted defenders in the Super Draft. To me, those moves, especially the pass, conveyed the opposite. This leveraging of the top allocation spot further proves the point. I’ve also noticed a certain confidence in Benny the Great (too soon?) since he’s taken over. He’s not shy about putting together the team he wants, rather than being afraid to make a mistake.
Ya know, it really sucks that March 19th is 43 days away. Yeah, I’m counting.
by madavis on Feb 2, 2025 11:34 AM EST reply actions
Davies has a massive chip on his shoulder. He showed that he was by far the best striker the USA has got to offer. Then it all comes crumbling down and no matter how hard he tired to make it for the World Cup, he was left off the roster. So now he’s playing for a never say never coach and theres three years till the next World Cup.
This is like getting a #1 overall draft pick with the Tom Brady edge to him.
by MrBaker on Feb 2, 2025 8:25 PM EST reply actions
+1
I hope Charlie is physically able to and completely dedicates himself to this season. A view of his career going forward depends on a very strong season wih DCU. He has everything to prove and less than a good showing will likely preclude him from joining the USMNT in Brazil and breaking into the show in European soccer. This is a Perfect Storm in the sense that both sides need each other. Charlie should be motivated like no other and given his potential upside, Buddle/Findley production should not be out of the question (as long as the supporting cast can oblige). The bar is high and so are the stakes. Can Bennie get the team and Charlie in the right place to cover the bet? We shall see but it will certainly be fun to watch.
by tcbannon on Feb 3, 2025 10:47 AM EST up reply actions
“The rest of me is far more enthusiastic. I can’t wait for around 7:45 PM on March 19th when every person in a packed RFK Stadium holds up a printed number “9” sign in the 9th minute of the home opener. I get goosebumps just thinking about it."
Legitimately got chills when I read that. That will be a really special moment.
by kdiff813 on Feb 3, 2025 9:54 AM EST reply actions
Maybe it's inappropriate
But I’m a fan of the head scars.
by Brendanukkah on Feb 3, 2025 7:46 PM EST reply actions
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