I've decided to create a new series dedicated to current & perhaps former A League players in which the question has to be asked as to how for the love of all that's holy that somehow they are professional footballers. 

Today's episode is Daniel De Silva.  

Daniel has been one of the most mysteriously hyped footballers in the A League without showing one shred of reason as to why this is so. Last night once again demonstrated & highlighted even more so due to the fact that they were playing against semi professional footballers. 

From his beginnings on a professional level with Perth Glory commentators & pundits threw themselves into a lather everytime he touched the ball however those of us who have been in the game a while sat quietly at home baffled as to what the fuss was all about when all what was on display was the standard touch, passing, shooting, body positioning of any footballer who has been in the game a while. Perhaps, we all thought, there was something in this lad that was missed. 

Then the mystery deepened with the transfer to Italian top division club Roma.  Roma? Roma? What?  Surely a top division European club wouldn't pay much attention to a standard football player from a standard league & the unhinged hype machine of commentators & pundits but somehow they did. 

Maybe I've wrong all this time, but then....

Roma also cleared the mystery & unmuddied the brown water somewhat. Seems as though he rocked up to Roma, they had a look at him & somehow forgot to pay the first instalment of a transfer fee for him. Why those dodgy Italians!! Whatever are they playing at!!  We are the hype machine who know out footballers so obviously those ignorant Italian's don't see a world class footballer when they see it, I mean who wouldn't pay 2.5 million for such a player?  Oops.

So on the hype machine went to Roda, fairly decent Eredivisie club where a massive 16 appearances in 2 years also continue to unmuddy the brown water where he joined quite possibly Australia's worst professional football club by a long way. 

The Central Coast Mariners.  21 appearances later in 2017 & not much is happening there so for some reason the A League champions Sydney FC under a pragmatic & demanding Graham Arnold sign him.  Pushed to the outer of a very competitive squad he is limited to bench appearances but does manage 19 appearances but is one of the players who neither excels nor disappoints so no one is surprised or particularly bothered when he once again leaves back to the Central Coast Mariners.

Last night against semi professionals Hume City besides fluffing an absolute sitter which as an advanced attacking player is possibly the worst thing you can do & I didn't see any indication of any improvement or anything special besides normal passing but zero creation & link up play or anything to justify a professional gig. 

So today's unsolved mystery is Daniel De Silva.   Can YOU solve it? 

That is a harsh, but not unreasonable summary.

As to why. I got nothin.

Great stuff, you've just encapsulated what I reckon everyone has been thinking and most never said anything, probably because of the incredible hype over someone so ordinary.
I see GA hasn't called him to the socceroos , but really no surprise there,

Remember when Aurelio Vidmar finally called out Kristen Sarkies, the truth was out there, career over. Wondering when a coach will call out De Silva?

Quick reminder about what he said for those of us who’ve forgotten?
 

He was asked why he benched Sarkies, and responded candidly , he returned serve and asked the reporter ,"what's he ever done?, I keep reading how good he is but he's not done anything, tell me what he's done?" or words to that affect.

i reckon it's a bit harsh he showed promise when he was at perth 

Did he though? 

The only time I ever remember anything genuinely notable was a U20 WC game against Colombia. 

I think the hype had more to do with his debut at 16 than anything he has ever achieved at senior level. 

I mean yeah, the only mystery is how he managed to stay hyped for so long. I never saw anything in him.

By that I mean anything that meant he would turn into a fantastic player. Had he stuck it out at one club here and played 2-3 full seasons straight he may well have developed into an above average A-League Australian player but as of now he has a ways to go to even be that.

I think that's a good point. Somehow at such a young age he's already a journeyman. 

Pretty much have to agree with this.

If I was a Mariners fan, I'd be looking forward to seeing Silvera develop this season. He looks far more dangerous than DDS.

Bit of a harsh assessment. He burst onto the scene at a very young age and played a good amount of games at Perth, but has not really developed. It happens all the time to hyped young players. 

It is interesting DDS is now playing with Tommy Oar. Is Tommy going to be featured in one the future episodes?

Daniel would flourish with good players just like McGree sorta has done and Antonis.

I think it depends on the style the coach wants to play a bit too. At Perth he could turn and run into space cos we played counter attack that year and it worked.

Slow build up he looks like he's got nothing to offer 

I think DDS will end up in the NPL next season if he doesn't pick it up. Its like he thinks he is to good for CCM and is playing like crap to justify his feelings.

All paths are different. Have more pathways to fix the problem 

mo salah was at a few clubs before he became the player he is today there is still time hopefully

That is very hopeful indeed!

Mo’s club moves were all a step up. And when he left Chelsea it was basically one step back two steps forward.

His problem was being hyped when he was so young . When you get a 16 year old with some talent everyone want to hype them up as it is what people love to see and hear about .
The trouble is so many believe the hype and stop working and progressing.
Other more average unhyped players come through at a more sensible age 18+ and take their  place.
Without all the hype those guys kept learning and progressing.
I have watched this happen for 50 years . It is not a new phenomenon.

If you look carefully there have been many just in the A-League over the last 14 years...but it happens in state comps etc too.
You see a kid who is outstanding in State under age Comps for years ..and everyone starts talking them up as the next "pick a stars name"...then they get to seniors and may even have a game or two at NPL or something but then they simply disappear and people start asking "whatever happened to that kid ? ".
it is generally a "desire" thing ...if they don't want it badly enough no amount of talent will get them there.

We can all name kids even from our local clubs who we think  "wow that kid is gonna be at the top in a few years " ...then.... nothing.
Years later he is standing beside you at the Roar a with a beer gut and maybe playing park football somewhere for fun....that's football.

I honestly think his biggest problem has been his management team,yes they got him the big money moves overseas but I am hearing they failed to support him after, also hearing he has parted ways with them.

It's a tough business and no hiding places.  Kaz Pataft and Kristian Sarkes, Rizzo.  So many players look like they could become world beaters in their late teens and then for some reason their bodies just don't carry through on that early promise.  

Then they become "discussed" like here with DDS.  I always hope that they never, ever feel tempted to look at social media.  You wouldn't wish a set of footballer dream parents on anyone.  You have to make the call so early to prioritise football over everything and you have no idea how it will pan out.  No idea what a 10 year old's body is going to do.  Yep they've got the skills, but will they be fast enough, strong enough.

I hope it's just a matter of lost minutes. He's lost a lot of time...still young though.

Maybe im bias but i rated him. Although it wasnt seniors that game against Columbia got me pretty excited.

He showed signs of being a baller at SFC but ultimately he loves going out with his missus way and going out around Sydney CBD/Double Bay than training hard the next day.

Ben Kantarovski should be on this special. Albeit everyone stopped hyping him years ago but at the time i remember thinking amwhat an average footballer he was. Djite too, was just stovkily buiot and reasonably nimble for his size, people calling him next viduka 

yes 100% would love to hear the story around his potential move to Bayern years ago.

I look forward to this series. Make it a monthly?

It's available on transfermarkt. I wonder how his injury and fitness history were in Europe? I hope he can settle and have a solid period.

Never doubted he has the talent, in fact his a rare No.10 we often don’t develop enough in Australia but it seems he hasn’t kicked on for whatever reason.

Just shows how hard work beats talent every time, the very best combine both! He fits into the former sadly.

It also doesn’t help how poorly advised his career has been, sign for Roma and then get loaned to a bottom placed Eredivisie side in Roda JC where it didn’t his style?

However he still has time but I feel he doesn’t have many chances left.

TBF there were signs that he was playing a cut above the rest of the CCM squad in that first season. Some good runs and, particularly, some great balls into the space where decent players would have been. Particularly in the first half of the season.
Being the creative playmaker who has the job of trying to do anything with Simon as the striker is an incredibly frustrating job. Then at SFC your position is held by a couple of the league's best and even the sub role you would covet is held by the club legend.
If CCM play a decent striker I can see DDS stepping up this year.

I saw him play plenty of games in that season he had at CCM  and I agree with you, Angus.

I thought he was on the cusp of Socceroo selection in that stage of his career.

His ball winning and workrate off the ball  had improved a lot. On the ball, even though he was quite one foot dominant, he showed a lot of  technical class in tight spaces,  a notch above most Aussies.

He’s a rare No.10 we often don’t develop enough in Australia, very technical and clever in tight spaces but he’s also got fantastic vision for a final pass too.

But sadly he hasn’t kicked on.

I posted this in another thread, but here's another of the What are we paying him for players?

Just watched the first half of the FFA cup match between MC and WSW. The player Najjarene missed three, that's THREE fairly simple shots because he is one footed and he remained on the park. Why wasn't he removed? That sort of ineptitude shouldn't be rewarded by being part of a professional football team. And he's supposed to be one of the young stars! SERIOUSLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You want to play these players more?

Was thinking the same thing , no way should he be starting ahead of Lachlan Wales .
Wales would have had at least 2 the other night .

I personally think Ramy has a bigger upside than Lachlan Wales, but I think Rami needs more development on his game.

seen sterling miss a couple sitters last season at man city. they should have dropped him.

https://soccer.nbcsports.com/2019/09/11/is-raheem-sterling-the-best-winger-on-the-planet/

Danny was arguably the best 16 year old in the world. 

Bit like Jack Greilish.....could be a late sprouted. 

Danny needs to get back the cockiness and composure he showed as the youngest player in that junior World Cup. 

Was he better than Mbappe?

No he wasn’t 

.........

arguably :)

I'm just wondering where/how anybody comes to that conclusion.

And I swear to god, if someone else mentions that one game vs Colombia again...

How do you figure? 

I still hold out hope for DDS though i think he does require a system that suits him rather than him actually being able to suit a system if that makes sense. I've seen enough of what he is capable of on the ball with his passing and dribbling to make me think he can still make a decent impression in both Aus and Europe

the difference for dds between excellence and average will now be club and coach

but he has to make the move

The truth is that the A-league has allowed our players to earn a good living without the necessary hard work needed to jump across to a new level. I am not saying they dont train hard, but relative to other leagues they dont. In Europe it would be so cut throat and no where near as relaxed. You are trying to take my spot and I will damned if some fucking Aussie wanna be is going rip food off my table so I can't feed my kids. I am not helping this - oops, I just ate my own poop... until he proves himself and wants to be here. This is the mentality of the player overseas in Europe. They are not going to go out of their way to help you because it is literally dog eat dog over there. It can be mentally exhausting fighting for your spot week in week out and in that regards its much easier to take the easy route and head back home with your tail between your legs and play in the A-league. Making it in Europe the rewards are huge but you have to be relentless in your pursuit and obsessed with making it, just like in any profession where you want to be the best. I just can't see that in our kids in the A-league and players like Daniel De Silva. Our players lack that edge, hunger and ambition.

Prettt sure Daniel just had a good U20 WC I think it was at the time? he was only 16 or 17 then and looked a class above everyone.. just made the wrong choices like many young aussie do a big club comes along and they never really see them as a project just a what if?

He was the third youngest scorer in the u20 wc tournament history and had the football world talking

Here's an example

https://talksport.com/football/world-cup-2018/world-cup/28610/transfer-news-everything-you-need-know-about-man-united-target-daniel-de-200443/

He may well have been the only 16 year old playing in that u20 wc - so my call has some merit!

I also blame the Perth Glory coach for 'managing' such a precocious talent the wrong way. Danny was on fire and should have played more often and given the respect he deserved. Instead he was held back, put on the slow track, made to prove himself against older players and generally his fire was slowly extinguished by old blokes who think they have all the answers. Arzani has had similar treatment by Sydney FC and Melbourne -  but got away just in time - lets hope celtic don't screw him up. 

"What we see is probably De silva showing symptoms of burnout in soccer. He has been in a proffessional environment, training and competing virtualy non-stop from a very young age. 
 Would it be wise for him to take a mental break and come back stronger or would this just hinder his career?

He has had a few breaks. 

Yes burnout is a thing but like being skilful or fast - being able to handle to constant pressure of elite sport is also a 'thing'. Something that can be worked on too. I reckon Danny could still explode given the right set of circumstances - whatever that may be...