Soca Warriors Online Discussion Forum
Sports => Football => Topic started by: trinbago on January 24, 2006, 12:55:37 PM
-
Player to Watch: Much ado about Freddy
23 January 2006
by FIFAworldcup.com
It seems Freddy Adu is living life in fast-forward.
In 2003, aged barely 13 and just three weeks after receiving full US citizenship, the youngster was inspiring gasps of disbelief at the FIFA U-17 World Championship in Finland. In the shadow of a giant ski jump in Lahti, Adu's first contribution of the USA's opening match against Korea Republic was to round four defenders and the goalkeeper before tapping home.
Now, at the ripe old age of 16 - and still eligible for the U-17, U-20 and U-23 national teams - the young dribbling wizard from DC United finds himself pressing hard for a spot in Bruce Arena's senior national team for the FIFA World Cup™ in Germany.
Adu turns 17 one week before the USA's opening finals game against the Czech Republic in Gelsenkirchen, meaning that he could become the youngest player in FIFA World Cup finals history. And with 23 spots up for grabs, Adu – who honed his sumptuous skills playing barefoot against grown men in the streets of Tema in his native Ghana – is desperate to somehow force his way into Arena's plans.
Adu made his international debut as a substitute in the USA's goalless draw with Canada on 22 January, having been selected for the start-of-year training camp in California. Prior to handing Adu his first cap, US head coach Arena – not known for extravagant flights of fancy – tried to put the situation into perspective by suggesting Adu was a "long shot" for the squad but making him the Americans' youngest ever player (at 16 years and 234 days) will have done nothing to dampen expectations.
Of course, the expectations surrounding the youngster have always been incongruously high; he was long touted as the saviour of football in the USA, even drawing careless comparisons to Pele. Yet, perhaps not unsurprisingly give his age, Adu – who only two years ago featured in FIFA World Championships at both Junior (U-17) and Youth (U-20) level – has had his share of difficulties in making the transition to the professional game.
Coming into Major League Soccer at just 14 years old - thus becoming the youngest pro athlete in the US for over a century - Adu was expected to produce immediately. Not only was he the youngest player in the fledgling league, he was also its highest-paid – MLS having negotiated a 500,000 USD per year deal in order to stop him heading to one of the high-profile European clubs who were said to be monitoring this precocious talent.
Once installed at DC United, MLS began to use Adu's grinning image to sell tickets all over the US. Everyone had heard of this remarkable young phenom and many came out to see him play when DC United came to their town. But with a highly professional coach in former Poland captain Peter Nowak, Adu still had some lessons to learn and was used largely as a substitute in his first season.
Still, he scored five goals and was named in the league's all-star team as DC United claimed their fourth MLS championship in 2004. Adu's form improved in his second season and he looked to have found a home playing behind the strikers – although he was still used largely as a back-up.
Adu may have not matched some of the unrealistic expectations placed on his shoulders in his first two seasons as a pro but the player is keen to haul himself into Arena's squad for this summer's finals and maintain his meteoric development. "Half the team is already sorted out with the European-based guys," Adu told reporters at the start of the January camp. "Realistically, there are maybe two of three spots left on the team. It's definitely a long way to make this team, but you know what? I'm not worried. I'm not going to try to compete with other players. I'm going to focus on doing what I need to do to help the team that I'm on."
Arena has described Adu as "a player who can go around a defender by himself" – a rarity in the team according to the coach - yet a place in the USA's final 23 could still prove a stretch for the teenage sensation.
However, he is at least in with a shout. Having declined the chance to switch allegiances to Ghana, Adu's debut appearance as a late substitute against Canada confirmed him as the youngest international in US football history. Now his target is to set a similar record at the FIFA World Cup but whether or not June brings a trip to Germany, he looks set to be inspiring headlines and heavy interest for a long time to come.
-
Adu sent back to D.C. United
February 2, 2006
CARSON, Calif. (AP) -- Freddy Adu was released from the U.S. national team training camp and will join D.C. United when it starts preseason training next week.
The 16-year-old forward made his national debut as a late substitution in a scoreless tie against Canada on Jan. 22, then didn't play in Sunday's 5-0 win over Norway.
Midfielder Steve Ralston, who has a strained right quadriceps, also was dropped from the training camp roster, U.S. team spokesman Michael Kammarman said Thursday.
As players returned after three days off, forward Eddie Johnson resumed training for the first time since bruising his right calf against Canada. He is hoping to be ready for the team's next game, against Japan on Feb. 10 at San Francisco.
Twenty-six players remain in camp.
Preparing for the World Cup, the Americans play Guatemala on Feb. 19 at Frisco, Texas. European-based players will then be added to the roster for a March 1 game against Poland at Kaiserslautern, Germany. After that, the United States plays Germany on March 22 in Dortmund.
-
This is not a surprise at all... he fighting to start and make an impact on DC United and he got totally outclassed by other young players in the last Youth World Cup.
How could people possibly believe that he is good enough to make the US team right now?
-
Yeah yeah, iz bout time they end that Freddy pappy-show. This lil boy nowhere close to world class yet. Let a man who deserve to be there go..
-
alyuh men crazy or what
Freddy is the only american player capable of dribbling effectively and comfortable kicking with either foot.
He will be on the world cup squad and will play off the bench.
They sent him back to DC so that he can prepare for the MLS season and get off to a good start.
-
dey cap him, so he cant play for ghana, diz why dey do it, dey was gettin pressuh from him to play nah, ghana woulda cap him, so dey cap and send him home, de US will try dis with kirk also
-
He will be on the world cup squad and will play off the bench.
doubtful........
-
This is not a surprise at all... he fighting to start and make an impact on DC United and he got totally outclassed by other young players in the last Youth World Cup.
How could people possibly believe that he is good enough to make the US team right now?
fellas iz all about politics .......look at it this way...ghana call him to play world cup...de US up de ante and call him into camp and give him ah cobo sweat against Canada...he cyah make de US team, he cyah play for Ghana so no harm no foul...hopefully de little experience will humble him so that he can stay focused about improving his game......what will hurt is if the US don't qualify for de next 2 -3 worldcups....but good luck to him with all his endeavours because he is talented :beermug: :beermug: :beermug:
-
even though he is only 16, i feel this is freddy make or break yr. if he doh produce, he will probably end up as another santino quaranta, bobby convey, eddy gaven type. all respected players but none the Messiah of US football..i mean soccer.
-
fellas iz all about politics .......look at it this way...ghana call him to play world cup...de US up de ante and call him into camp and give him ah cobo sweat against Canada...he cyah make de US team, he cyah play for Ghana so no harm no foul...hopefully de little experience will humble him so that he can stay focused about improving his game......what will hurt is if the US don't qualify for de next 2 -3 worldcups....but good luck to him with all his endeavours because he is talented :beermug: :beermug: :beermug:
The only way the US not qualifying for the next 2 or 3 WC is if they cancel them!!!
-
good fuh yuh!
yuh shoulda stay in Ghana.
-
alyuh men crazy or what
Freddy is the only american player capable of dribbling effectively and comfortable kicking with either foot.
He will be on the world cup squad and will play off the bench.
They sent him back to DC so that he can prepare for the MLS season and get off to a good start.
KND it shock me to see you fall prey to media hype too. the man is simply not as good as advertised, nit right now at least. And what ta-ta yuh talking bout comfortable dribbling and kicking with either foot? Adu is so left-footed it isn't funny (but then most left-footers are). Also, Landon Donovan is very capable of doing that. He is world class talent-wise, he just lacks ambition.
-
jahyouth or coops when he come,
as coaches, all yuh think adu will ever develop into a premiership calibre player or better?
what all yuh think about novak approach to developing him?
-
jahyouth or coops when he come,
as coaches, all yuh think adu will ever develop into a premiership calibre player or better?
what all yuh think about novak approach to developing him?
I think that Adu needs to leave DC United -- the situation there is not really helping him develop as a player. Why? How many players are more gifted than him on the training ground? They might be better options than him for the coach right now as starters, but more gifted? None. He needs to go to a top club and train, eat, and sleep around the world's best. Only then will we really see what Freddy can do.
Novak is handling himself very well. It eh have no entitlement here. Yuh train well yuh play. If I don't think you fit for this game, yuh bench. Freddy needs that tough love. And Novak job is to win games, not nurture Freddy Adu for the US Soccer Federation.
-
Adu sent back to D.C. United
February 2, 2006
CARSON, Calif. (AP) -- Freddy Adu was released from the U.S. national team training camp and will join D.C. United when it starts preseason training next week.
The 16-year-old forward made his national debut as a late substitution in a scoreless tie against Canada on Jan. 22, then didn't play in Sunday's 5-0 win over Norway.
Midfielder Steve Ralston, who has a strained right quadriceps, also was dropped from the training camp roster, U.S. team spokesman Michael Kammarman said Thursday.
As players returned after three days off, forward Eddie Johnson resumed training for the first time since bruising his right calf against Canada. He is hoping to be ready for the team's next game, against Japan on Feb. 10 at San Francisco.
Twenty-six players remain in camp.
Preparing for the World Cup, the Americans play Guatemala on Feb. 19 at Frisco, Texas. European-based players will then be added to the roster for a March 1 game against Poland at Kaiserslautern, Germany. After that, the United States plays Germany on March 22 in Dortmund.
And rightly so, he is not ready this Freddy, he has many years ahead of him and many more World cups to come. I will say it over and over he needs to go to Europe and get proper molding and training, the American media has done this boy an injustice by making him out to be bigger than the game, so they could sell tickets. One lesson for him to learn and would not be the last.
-
Just to the comment that Adu was outclassed in youth cup.
He was not out classed and in fact held his own.
He just wasnt anything special.
Outclassed is way too harsh
-
jahyouth or coops when he come,
as coaches, all yuh think adu will ever develop into a premiership calibre player or better?
what all yuh think about novak approach to developing him?
novak is using the right approach......bring him into the frey slowly...the mls and the corporate sponsors want immediate profits from their investments, so they are going all out to sell this product 'ADU'....the real football pundits like novak know what is best for young freddy, but the johnny come lately fans are the ones insisting that he should be statring....I can't fault Freddy for wanting to stay close to his family, but I think this move may retard his development but I honestly hope that he can prove me wrong...
-
Yeah dread I feel is time we look to see if he have any TRINI blood lines........He could get a sweat wid we....Or send a badbest in D.C to marry him off fast fast
:beermug:
Yeah boy Freddy have to get out a MLS it stunting his growth and potential
-
fellas iz all about politics .......look at it this way...ghana call him to play world cup...de US up de ante and call him into camp and give him ah cobo sweat against Canada...he cyah make de US team, he cyah play for Ghana so no harm no foul...hopefully de little experience will humble him so that he can stay focused about improving his game......what will hurt is if the US don't qualify for de next 2 -3 worldcups....but good luck to him with all his endeavours because he is talented :beermug: :beermug: :beermug:
The only way the US not qualifying for the next 2 or 3 WC is if they cancel them!!!
if the playing field is 120 yds x 80yds....the ball is round and is 11 vs 11...anything can happen.......ask cameroon and nigeria....tops teams in Africa(supposedley) they will be home watching this year just like France and England in 1994... :-X :-X :-X
-
fellas iz all about politics .......look at it this way...ghana call him to play world cup...de US up de ante and call him into camp and give him ah cobo sweat against Canada...he cyah make de US team, he cyah play for Ghana so no harm no foul...hopefully de little experience will humble him so that he can stay focused about improving his game......what will hurt is if the US don't qualify for de next 2 -3 worldcups....but good luck to him with all his endeavours because he is talented :beermug: :beermug: :beermug:
The only way the US not qualifying for the next 2 or 3 WC is if they cancel them!!!
::)
-
Men forgetting Adu is 16 years...Next world cup he will be 20 and already playing pro for 7 years...If he can make it to a decent club in Europe that could develop him...He will be a very good player...I know he wouldn't have made that team..If arena had carried him it would have just been for experience...
-
The fella probably crying right now :'(
He wanted to go as ah 16 year old which would have been very special. But to go as a 20 year old is special but not significant when you think that Donovan and Beasley been there done that at 20yrs old.
He believes that he is the special one....but I think he is wasting time in MLS because he playing with big men but at the same time he not doing anything near what he did when playing playing with his peers. His dribbling has been reduced and he is settling for playing in any position he is given. I don't think the MLS is grooming him properly and they really lack the experience to do such.
Is one thing to teach 11 players to play within a system with discipline but is another thing to be able to allow them to show their individual brilliance within that system. The US focus on systems and seem to stunt individual flair.
-
dey cap him, so he cant play for ghana, diz why dey do it, dey was gettin pressuh from him to play nah, ghana woulda cap him, so dey cap and send him home, de US will try dis with kirk also
great observation dey triniifite....that is what we national team should do but yuh know what does occur the men in charge does feel dey know everything....but as meh mother say common sense come before book sense
-
fellas iz all about politics .......look at it this way...ghana call him to play world cup...de US up de ante and call him into camp and give him ah cobo sweat against Canada...he cyah make de US team, he cyah play for Ghana so no harm no foul...hopefully de little experience will humble him so that he can stay focused about improving his game......what will hurt is if the US don't qualify for de next 2 -3 worldcups....but good luck to him with all his endeavours because he is talented :beermug: :beermug: :beermug:
The only way the US not qualifying for the next 2 or 3 WC is if they cancel them!!!
::)
A-A, Smally, yuh dey?
-
KND, for the second time, come off the drugs. Adu not making no World Cup roster, and not coming off no bench. It have too many other contenders that are ready to play. Lets be real here. Arena wanted to lock in Adu for the next campaign and cool off Ghana from the overtures they were making to Adu. It was a message that he was sending to Adu: he is the future.
-
fellas iz all about politics .......look at it this way...ghana call him to play world cup...de US up de ante and call him into camp and give him ah cobo sweat against Canada...he cyah make de US team, he cyah play for Ghana so no harm no foul...hopefully de little experience will humble him so that he can stay focused about improving his game......what will hurt is if the US don't qualify for de next 2 -3 worldcups....but good luck to him with all his endeavours because he is talented :beermug: :beermug: :beermug:
The only way the US not qualifying for the next 2 or 3 WC is if they cancel them!!!
::)
A-A, Smally, yuh dey?
Ey, ah dun talk to you bout this "Smallie" ting ahready eh. Right.
-
fellas iz all about politics .......look at it this way...ghana call him to play world cup...de US up de ante and call him into camp and give him ah cobo sweat against Canada...he cyah make de US team, he cyah play for Ghana so no harm no foul...hopefully de little experience will humble him so that he can stay focused about improving his game......what will hurt is if the US don't qualify for de next 2 -3 worldcups....but good luck to him with all his endeavours because he is talented :beermug: :beermug: :beermug:
The only way the US not qualifying for the next 2 or 3 WC is if they cancel them!!!
::)
A-A, Smally, yuh dey?
Ey, ah dun talk to you bout this "Smallie" ting ahready eh. Right.
YUH WUH MEH HIT HIM FOR YUH.
-
That good for him, he deserve that because he really believe he could ah make the USA team.
Get real Freddy Adu, yuh is just another Buffallo Soldier.
JAH BLESS RASTAFARI
-
alyuh men crazy or what
Freddy is the only american player capable of dribbling effectively and comfortable kicking with either foot.
He will be on the world cup squad and will play off the bench.
They sent him back to DC so that he can prepare for the MLS season and get off to a good start.
He is not ready yet. He was out his depth at the U20 and will not be in the senior squad. KND give him time. International football eh have no unwritten rule like MLS for man not to jam Freddie. His time will come, he just has to be patient
-
dey cap him, so he cant play for ghana, diz why dey do it, dey was gettin pressuh from him to play nah, ghana woulda cap him, so dey cap and send him home, de US will try dis with kirk also
Correct is right ;D
-
he would've made de ghana squad, but.......he look fuh dat.
-
yeah he was neva gonna make de team dey jus give he a cap to ensure his eligibility
-
The Times February 07, 2006
Much Adu about £5m as Chelsea close the net on teenage prodigy
By Oliver Kay
CHELSEA are about to send more shock waves through the football world by beating Manchester United to secure the services of Freddy Adu, the American teenager widely regarded as the most exciting young player on the planet.
United and several top clubs in Italy and Spain have been tracking Adu for four years, but Chelsea’s negotiations are at an advanced stage. Agreements are imminent with the player and Major League Soccer (MLS), which owns his registration. The 16-year-old forward is expected to move to London in the summer, by which time he hopes to have become the youngest player to feature in a World Cup tournament, a record set by Norman Whiteside when he played for Northern Ireland in 1982.
It is a deal that will underline Chelsea’s continuing bid for global domination by signing the stars of tomorrow as well as today. They are also hoping to beat United in a bitter wrangle over John Obi Mikel, the outstanding young Nigeria midfield player, and the news that they are close to securing the services of Adu, who made his debut for DC United aged 14 and won his first full cap for the US last month at 16 years 234 days, will cause consternation in Milan and Madrid but above all in Manchester, where Sir Alex Ferguson had dreams of adding the Ghanaian-born prodigy to his legacy.
Sources at Stamford Bridge say that the initial outlay will be about £5 million for a player who, if successful, could bring Chelsea enormous commercial benefits in Africa as well as the US. It is possible that José Mourinho, the Chelsea manager, would send him on loan to pick up first-team experience, but the club want him to move immediately after the World Cup and are hopeful that a work permit will be granted on appeal, even if the first application is likely to be rejected on grounds of inexperience.
Neither Chelsea nor MLS would comment last night, while one of Adu’s agents, Dan Segal, of SportsNet LLC, declined to confirm that the youngster was heading for England. “All I would like to say at this stage is that Freddy has obviously attracted a lot of interest internationally,” Segal said. “We are mindful of the fact that he will turn 17 in the summer. At this stage, nothing has truly been decided.”
Chelsea, though, believe that the deal is all but done, even if they are prepared to allow MLS to dictate the timing of any announcement. The new MLS campaign starts soon and the loss of Adu, the country’s most celebrated player, may come as an even bigger blow to the league than to DC United, although his departure to one of Europe’s biggest clubs should enhance the sport’s profile in America, particularly if he has an impact on this summer’s World Cup.
MLS has long been resigned to losing Adu. Chelsea’s management team met him for the first time during a pre-season tour of the US in July 2004 and invited him and his mother to their game against AC Milan in New York. Last summer he played against Chelsea for DC United in a friendly in Washington and said that “hopefully one day I can end up playing with those guys rather than against them. They’re my favourite team in the world.”
Should Adu get his wish, it would be another remarkable development in the life of a boy who moved to the US from Ghana at the age of 8 after his mother won a Green Card lottery. His talents came to the attention of the US Olympic Development Programme and the MLS as well as to Nike, the sportswear company, which made him its youngest blue-chip client.
Manchester United hoped that their links with Nike might give them the upper hand in negotiations, but Chelsea, not for the first time, appear to have beaten them to the punch.
-
to hell with chelsea he should more to united for sure. Question is adu better than theo walcott giovanni dos santos or kelron please give your say
-
This is not a surprise at all... he fighting to start and make an impact on DC United and he got totally outclassed by other young players in the last Youth World Cup.
How could people possibly believe that he is good enough to make the US team right now?
Who tell you Freddy struggling to start on DC United?? Lol...whatever
Unfortunatel Freddy mouth got him in trouble with his coach Peter Novak...and he never really was able to get out the doghouse. Look for Novak to end up coaching elsewhere and for Freddy to get more starts. If yuh not starting fuh yuh club team (fuh whatever reason) it tough to make the National team...Freddy just caught in a catch-22.
-
good fuh yuh!
yuh shoulda stay in Ghana.
This next cacahole...he shoulda stay in ghana by heself at age 10 or 11, while he mother come America right? Facking toteehead....
-
alyuh men crazy or what
Freddy is the only american player capable of dribbling effectively and comfortable kicking with either foot.
He will be on the world cup squad and will play off the bench.
They sent him back to DC so that he can prepare for the MLS season and get off to a good start.
KND it shock me to see you fall prey to media hype too. the man is simply not as good as advertised, nit right now at least. And what ta-ta yuh talking bout comfortable dribbling and kicking with either foot? Adu is so left-footed it isn't funny (but then most left-footers are). Also, Landon Donovan is very capable of doing that. He is world class talent-wise, he just lacks ambition.
To say that he lacks ambition (this is a 16 year old child we talking about here) is not only presumptive...it borders on irresponsible. In addition to which there's a difference between not being "as good as advertised" and being overhyped. He suffers from the latter, not the former...and even so that's no fault of his, MLS needed a marketable face, and what better story to ride than that of a photogenic immigrant prodigy?
-
I think that Adu needs to leave DC United -- the situation there is not really helping him develop as a player. Why? How many players are more gifted than him on the training ground? They might be better options than him for the coach right now as starters, but more gifted? None. He needs to go to a top club and train, eat, and sleep around the world's best. Only then will we really see what Freddy can do.
Agreed...which is why I fail to understand your "lacks ambition" comment.
Novak is handling himself very well. It eh have no entitlement here. Yuh train well yuh play. If I don't think you fit for this game, yuh bench. Freddy needs that tough love. And Novak job is to win games, not nurture Freddy Adu for the US Soccer Federation.
Disagree...what you have with Novak, Adu and the MLS brainthrust is a classic case of battle of the wills...MLS execs want Freddy on the field, Novak insists that if it happens it will happen on his time. DCU'td management want to appease the league, Freddy and the public while not contradicting it's coach. How can you appease these disparate forces without undermining the coach and thereby sabotaging the team? That's the conundrum...Novak may be right in that no one should dictate what goes on on the field but him...but he's a bullheaded guy who may not be the best thing for Freddy.
-
KND, for the second time, come off the drugs. Adu not making no World Cup roster, and not coming off no bench. It have too many other contenders that are ready to play. Lets be real here. Arena wanted to lock in Adu for the next campaign and cool off Ghana from the overtures they were making to Adu. It was a message that he was sending to Adu: he is the future.
Allyuh men not giving freddy and his people no kinda credit fuh they intelligence at all boy. Freddy wasn't going to play fuh Ghana...not after working so hard to secure his US citizenship...and certainly not when there's millions of Nike dollars at stake. Nike and the USSF isn't going to market some kid who represents some other country as the savior of US soccer. That was no cynical move by Arena's part...Freddy was done 'locked' up long time, Ghana was only fooling they self.
-
http://www.yourfilehost.com/media.php?cat=video&file=Freddy_Adu_Show.wmv
http://www.soccerfanatics.net/dlvideo/misc_6616069l.wmv
http://d.turboupload.com/d/249737/adu_the_new_star_of_america.wmv.html
-
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=374404&root=mls25&cc=5901
At only 17 years of age, Freddy Adu is establishing himself as a legitimate force in Major League Soccer. The versatile midfielder/forward is maturing into the impact player the league dreamed he would be when he was signed as a 14-year-old. Along with his team-leading six assists, another sign of Adu's advance was being named to the All-Star team by coach Peter Nowak, who also coaches Adu with D.C. United.
"Adu's getting better every year," said Chris Albright, a fellow All-Star, national team defender and L.A. Galaxy player. "He's certainly a lot stronger. He was able to be knocked off the ball his first couple of years."
Though he had dazzling moves and a creative spark, the fuss about Adu fizzled somewhat after his first year. Experienced defenders played him tough, and he was still figuring out the professional game. In his second year, Nowak used him mostly as a sub, stating Adu's poor defense was a liability for D.C. He also benched Adu after the teenager complained about his playing time.
This year, Adu has earned a regular starting position, alongside other top MLS players such as Jaime Moreno, Christian Gomez and Ben Olsen.
"He's adapted to the speed and the strength of the MLS," said U-17 coach John Hackworth, who was an assistant when Adu was in attendance at U.S. Soccer's Bradenton residency program as a 13-year-old.
"One thing that I've worked on specifically is my defense," Adu said of his development.
"I'm a little bit more aware now of where to put myself defensively. I put myself in the right positions to help the team out. My touches and working in combination with my teammates has gotten a lot better. Once you've been with the same people for three years, it makes it a little bit easier, because you know their tendencies."
Albright noted that Adu seemed to be picking up improvements from his teammates: "He's playing with a lot of good offensive players in D.C., so I'm sure he's taken away a lot of things from Christian and Jaime."
Adu certainly takes pride in what D.C. United has accomplished this year. The team leads the league in wins (13-1-6), with a chance to set the all-time record for wins in a single season (currently held by the 1998 season Galaxy and D.C. United teams with 24 wins).
"I really think that I am part of something special," Adu said. "It's been awesome, growing up with these guys. Hopefully, we'll keep it going. We're by no means satisfied. We just won a lot of regular season games. We want to keep it going and win the MLS Cup, because that's next."
Part of what pushed Adu from the start of this year was his call-up to a national team camp by then-coach Bruce Arena. He received an international cap when he came in as a sub in a friendly against Canada, but to his disappointment, the camp appearance did not lead to a spot on the World Cup roster.
"It was his first run at it," Albright said of Adu's camp stint. "I think it was a little bit of an awakening for him. It's a higher level than MLS. Things that fly in a league game don't fly there, and I think he learned that."
"If Freddy was on that [World Cup] roster, he would have gained a wealth of experience being in that atmosphere," Hackworth said. "At the same time, I think players grow when they have setbacks, when they are challenged by not making something, whether it's the starting roster, the top 18 or the selection for a national team. That's truly when a lot of personal growth occurs.
"Bruce not taking him may have done him as much good as anything. That's my hope, that maybe he got motivated and maybe he comes back and says, 'There's some things that I can do better.'"
It was hard for the talented youngster to watch other emerging stars at the World Cup, though. Especially ones like Lionel Messi, since Adu and his fellow U.S. players had beaten Argentina in group play at the last U-21 World Cup.
"It was frustrating," Adu admitted. "I played these guys. They're getting a chance with their national teams and I'm sitting at home watching the World Cup. It's tough. I didn't really enjoy that."
He did his best to take a positive lesson from the situation: "That's life. You've got to really work for what you want. It gives me the chance to work a little bit harder. I think, at the end of the day, I'll get there."
Whether he gets there with the United States, however, is another question. Adu reconsidered the possibility of playing for his birth country, Ghana.
"I just sat down and thought about it and was like, 'You know what? Although I want to play for the U.S. national team, that's not guaranteed. I want to be able to play in a World Cup.' So whoever gives me a chance to play in the World Cup, I will really think about it and then make a decision."
Older and wiser now, Adu realizes little can be counted on as far as the future goes, especially with the U.S. soccer federation looking in a new direction by dismissing Arena.
"You never know," Adu mused. "It's not a guarantee. Maybe a new [U.S] coach will come in who doesn't like my style of play. It doesn't fit in his plans, and what am I going to do? You don't want to burn bridges by shutting down Ghana, and then when you don't get a chance to play for the United States, you really have no national team. I don't want that to happen. I want to play in the World Cup, and I want to have that feeling of playing for a national team and that pride. So I hope I get that chance."
Watching both teams in World Cup play, Adu was torn between pride and disappointment.
"[Ghana] played really, really well. I, for one, was really happy to see them represent Africa in that way. They were really the only team to really do anything in the World Cup. On the other hand, I was saddened by how the U.S. got knocked out. Obviously, I expected a little bit more, and it was just unfortunate. I think the U.S. will bounce back."
Hackworth understands Adu's dilemma.
"Players in general have to weigh their opportunities and their choices," he said. "I'm sure that Freddy is going to look at it. Does he play for the U.S. or does he play for Ghana? If it truly comes down to it, I don't think there's going to be any question. I think Freddy will play for the United States. I know that's what he wants to do. That's where his heart lies. It's just a matter of when and what opportunities come first for him. That will be a decision for whoever is named the next full-team coach."
There is a possibility that the cap Adu earned with the U.S. versus Canada locks him into playing for the U.S., but he isn't sure of that.
"I've heard both ways," Adu said. "I think I'm still eligible to play for either team. We will see. I don't want to say, 'I won't play for this team, I'm going to play for that team.' I want the chance to play."
Adu confirmed that Hackworth's guess about his preference is valid: "If I'm going to make either team, I want to make the team of the United States."
Albright says Adu is well on his way. "I'm sure he'll get back in the national team pool and move forward in that regard," he said.
With the new coach of the U.S. as yet unnamed, Adu is concerned with who could help the team as a whole.
"I just hope it's somebody who can get the job done," he said. "That's what it comes down to --someone who can get the job done and get the U.S. doing well in the World Cup. Bruce did an unbelievable job, and I was sad to see Bruce go. But it's about continuing to get respect for American soccer. Hopefully, the next guy can do the same."
One candidate in particular has earned Adu's enthusiastic endorsement.
"[Nowak] has done such an amazing job transforming D.C. United," Adu said of his MLS coach. "Before he came here, before I came here, even with all the talent D.C. had, they just weren't playing well. They weren't playing up to their capabilities. He came in and just brought a whole different attitude. Now look at where D.C. is. We're getting wins. I think if he got the national job, he would have earned it for sure. ...
"Obviously that would be pretty cool, actually. I know Peter really well. I think that would give me a better shot at making the Cup."
Though his first two years weren't always easy, Adu's progress in MLS displays the ability of the league to develop players through regular game time.
"A lot of people felt he should have gone overseas with his talent, and now he's proven himself to be a better player," Albright said. "I think it speaks a lot for MLS."
With his MLS experience as a guide, Adu has certain priorities in mind as he considers his overseas options. When Adu turns 18, a transfer is highly likely, but only if the circumstances are right.
"The most important thing is that I want to be in a situation whereby I will play," Adu said. "I think you learn and you adapt quicker by playing. I don't want to [go to] a place where I have to be on the bench for two, three years. No way. I want to go to a place where I can play right away and learn and contribute right away. That's my ideal situation. I would like for it to be a very respectable club in Europe, but right now, my agent's dealing with that stuff."
Adu, meanwhile, is focusing on the All-Star game. He's not intimidated by English Premier League champion Chelsea FC, the All-Star team's opponent, especially since D.C. United played the team close in a friendly last year.
Adu's youthful enthusiasm is evident as he contemplates what the MLS All-Stars must do to win: "We really need to just dive in and take it to them. We can't sit back and wait. Because then they'll have an easy time. We need to get in their faces and give them no room -- and really just be buzzing around all over. We need to try and frustrate them, I guess. Then I think we'll have a good shot."
Adu was on the All-Star team once before, during his rookie season.
"It's definitely different than the first one, because this one I feel like I deserved it," Adu said. "The first time around, it was more for marketing and just getting buzz around the All-Star game and whatnot. This time, it was real, and it makes it a little bit more special.
"When I came in the league, it definitely wasn't an easy transition, but this says a lot. It says a lot about how hard I've worked and how far I've come. I just want to keep it going. I'm definitely not where I want to be at."
Hackworth said that the best of Adu is probably yet to come: "I still think there's a lot more that Freddy can give. In the next couple of years, I think everyone will see some of the special qualities in Freddy's game."
-
He is coming along but still needs to be in Europe to really develop. The comment below was funny to me.
It was hard for the talented youngster to watch other emerging stars at the World Cup, though. Especially ones like Lionel Messi, since Adu and his fellow U.S. players had beaten Argentina in group play at the last U-21 World Cup.
"It was frustrating," Adu admitted. "I played these guys. They're getting a chance with their national teams and I'm sitting at home watching the World Cup. It's tough. I didn't really enjoy that."
Can't really compare what Adu does in DC United to Messi in Barcelona, the latter playing along side Ronaldinho, Eto, Larsson
-
Who ever told him to stay with MLS is giving him bad advise! He would have been much more advance playing in Europe if he had taking the offers at that time. When you play around average talent you stay average. I would have pack my bags and rolled out to Europe with out without my parents. ;D
-
May be wrong but i thought he had some rule or complication where he had to wait until 18?
-
He is coming along but still needs to be in Europe to really develop. The comment below was funny to me.
It was hard for the talented youngster to watch other emerging stars at the World Cup, though. Especially ones like Lionel Messi, since Adu and his fellow U.S. players had beaten Argentina in group play at the last U-21 World Cup.
"It was frustrating," Adu admitted. "I played these guys. They're getting a chance with their national teams and I'm sitting at home watching the World Cup. It's tough. I didn't really enjoy that."
Can't really compare what Adu does in DC United to Messi in Barcelona, the latter playing along side Ronaldinho, Eto, Larsson
Yuh think that funny...well this even funnier
Albright noted that Adu seemed to be picking up improvements from his teammates: "He's playing with a lot of good offensive players in D.C., so I'm sure he's taken away a lot of things from Christian and Jaime."
What lot of things could he be taking away from Christian and Jaime Moreno...that statement is rediculous. Adu already on they level and whatever he learning from them is minute compared to being in an environment where he playing with the best in the World. He need to go...and fast.
I not an MLS basher but to be that talented and surrounding yuhself with average players is not really helpful.
-
May be wrong but i thought he had some rule or complication where he had to wait until 18?
Yeah he hadda to wait till 18 to play for a league 1st team but he would have been playing in reserve just like Messi did.
-
well i hope quavis kirk reads this
-
May be wrong but i thought he had some rule or complication where he had to wait until 18?
Yeah he hadda to wait till 18 to play for a league 1st team but he would have been playing in reserve just like Messi did.
Playing on the reserve for Man-U or one of the other tops...would have been much better than MLS first team. Yorke left at age 16 to play for Villa.
-
Question-would he have made the same amount of money with a man U reserves?
fella still young at 18 he could still make that jump.
-
I think was his mom who didnt want him to go europe he was pretty young and roar so she wanted him to be around her anyways i think now is the righteous time for him to head europe and develop his game cause he is natural talent and far more He should play for GHANA not usa. The usa plays a kind of a robot game lol them learn to play football them in have no natural talent whe wouldnt be able to show his skills
-
Since he says his dream is to play in the world cup then he is better off with the usa than ghana simply because usa is almost assured of their concacaf spot every four years, is real war in africa to qualify, almost all the teams are on the same level.
-
I will never forgive him for not being true to his roots... the man born in Ghana was inspired to play football from his Ghanain heritage and is the only reason hes a start today...
Thats treason by to me.
-
I will never forgive him for not being true to his roots... the man born in Ghana was inspired to play football from his Ghanain heritage and is the only reason hes a start today...
Thats treason by to me.
I used play with this dude named Hazard and he played on the same team with freddy and would just keep telling us about how great this dude was at the age 11 to 13...so I guess he was telling the truth! Soon as US National team and immigration find out that man could play... they show up at he door and he and his whole family geh they citizenship yes with no problems diplomat status yes! Why would he want to go back and play for Ghana when he and he family run over here from they country. :rotfl:
-
I will never forgive him for not being true to his roots... the man born in Ghana was inspired to play football from his Ghanain heritage and is the only reason hes a start today...
Thats treason by to me.
Wildly inaccurate post. He was born in Ghana but left when he was 8. Yuh know better than that Jefferz...accusing a teenager whose football and life in general has been nurtured and developed in the US moreso than in Ghana, is really a bit callous. Where are his friends, who are his mentors? Which national teams did he play for as a youth and who has shown most interest in his football development all his life? Is Birchall is a traitor? What about Deco? Owen Hargreaves? All traitors right?
-
He is coming along but still needs to be in Europe to really develop. The comment below was funny to me.
It was hard for the talented youngster to watch other emerging stars at the World Cup, though. Especially ones like Lionel Messi, since Adu and his fellow U.S. players had beaten Argentina in group play at the last U-21 World Cup.
"It was frustrating," Adu admitted. "I played these guys. They're getting a chance with their national teams and I'm sitting at home watching the World Cup. It's tough. I didn't really enjoy that."
Can't really compare what Adu does in DC United to Messi in Barcelona, the latter playing along side Ronaldinho, Eto, Larsson
Yuh think that funny...well this even funnier
Albright noted that Adu seemed to be picking up improvements from his teammates: "He's playing with a lot of good offensive players in D.C., so I'm sure he's taken away a lot of things from Christian and Jaime."
What lot of things could he be taking away from Christian and Jaime Moreno...that statement is rediculous. Adu already on they level and whatever he learning from them is minute compared to being in an environment where he playing with the best in the World. He need to go...and fast.
I not an MLS basher but to be that talented and surrounding yuhself with average players is not really helpful.
those players aren't average and the statement is not ridiculous. plus, even if you feel his skill level and technique is superior to these guys there is still the issue of experience. he will learn a lot about the game from players who may not have his ability but have seen more than him. it is ridiculous to think young skilled players have nothing to learn from their older more experienced counterparts just because the younger player's skill level is superior
-
He is coming along but still needs to be in Europe to really develop. The comment below was funny to me.
It was hard for the talented youngster to watch other emerging stars at the World Cup, though. Especially ones like Lionel Messi, since Adu and his fellow U.S. players had beaten Argentina in group play at the last U-21 World Cup.
"It was frustrating," Adu admitted. "I played these guys. They're getting a chance with their national teams and I'm sitting at home watching the World Cup. It's tough. I didn't really enjoy that."
Can't really compare what Adu does in DC United to Messi in Barcelona, the latter playing along side Ronaldinho, Eto, Larsson
Yuh think that funny...well this even funnier
Albright noted that Adu seemed to be picking up improvements from his teammates: "He's playing with a lot of good offensive players in D.C., so I'm sure he's taken away a lot of things from Christian and Jaime."
What lot of things could he be taking away from Christian and Jaime Moreno...that statement is rediculous. Adu already on they level and whatever he learning from them is minute compared to being in an environment where he playing with the best in the World. He need to go...and fast.
I not an MLS basher but to be that talented and surrounding yuhself with average players is not really helpful.
those players aren't average and the statement is not ridiculous. plus, even if you feel his skill level and technique is superior to these guys there is still the issue of experience. he will learn a lot about the game from players who may not have his ability but have seen more than him. it is ridiculous to think young skilled players have nothing to learn from their older more experienced counterparts just because the younger player's skill level is superior
WOW
You Misquoted, Misinterpreted, and Misunderstood MY ENTIRE POST. Yuh come up wrong on all accounts.
Never said anything you claim I said or insinuated. Yuh Overstated and Inflated what I said to further yuh argument. Yuh move like ah politician dey and ah ketch yuh, yuh wretch yuh :devil:
Read the post again or matter of fact Wheel and come again :chilling:
-
I will never forgive him for not being true to his roots... the man born in Ghana was inspired to play football from his Ghanain heritage and is the only reason hes a start today...
Thats treason by to me.
Wildly inaccurate post. He was born in Ghana but left when he was 8. Yuh know better than that Jefferz...accusing a teenager whose football and life in general has been nurtured and developed in the US moreso than in Ghana, is really a bit callous. Where are his friends, who are his mentors? Which national teams did he play for as a youth and who has shown most interest in his football development all his life? Is Birchall is a traitor? What about Deco? Owen Hargreaves? All traitors right?
ahhh your right... you know you are... im just sour cuz Ghana is meh second team to T&T.
-
He is coming along but still needs to be in Europe to really develop. The comment below was funny to me.
It was hard for the talented youngster to watch other emerging stars at the World Cup, though. Especially ones like Lionel Messi, since Adu and his fellow U.S. players had beaten Argentina in group play at the last U-21 World Cup.
"It was frustrating," Adu admitted. "I played these guys. They're getting a chance with their national teams and I'm sitting at home watching the World Cup. It's tough. I didn't really enjoy that."
Can't really compare what Adu does in DC United to Messi in Barcelona, the latter playing along side Ronaldinho, Eto, Larsson
Yuh think that funny...well this even funnier
Albright noted that Adu seemed to be picking up improvements from his teammates: "He's playing with a lot of good offensive players in D.C., so I'm sure he's taken away a lot of things from Christian and Jaime."
What lot of things could he be taking away from Christian and Jaime Moreno...that statement is rediculous. Adu already on they level and whatever he learning from them is minute compared to being in an environment where he playing with the best in the World. He need to go...and fast.
I not an MLS basher but to be that talented and surrounding yuhself with average players is not really helpful.
those players aren't average and the statement is not ridiculous. plus, even if you feel his skill level and technique is superior to these guys there is still the issue of experience. he will learn a lot about the game from players who may not have his ability but have seen more than him. it is ridiculous to think young skilled players have nothing to learn from their older more experienced counterparts just because the younger player's skill level is superior
WOW
You Misquoted, Misinterpreted, and Misunderstood MY ENTIRE POST. Yuh come up wrong on all accounts.
Never said anything you claim I said or insinuated. Yuh Overstated and Inflated what I said to further yuh argument. Yuh move like ah politician dey and ah ketch yuh, yuh wretch yuh :devil:
Read the post again or matter of fact Wheel and come again :chilling:
Calling me a politician? Listen to yourself Mr. 'Insinuated, Overstated and Inflated'. Boss, dat is real Jones :beermug: :beermug: I apologize if you think I twisted what you said. Really not my intention. But I think you focusing on minutae to deflect that I made a reasonable point that does address the topic directly. I made a point based on what you implied by saying Adu was already on their level. Inform me as to what you meant then if you did not mean skill level and technique? I did exaggerate two points when making my argument but I did not misunderstand your ENTIRE post at all. How so? Explain how I did not address the essence of your argument. You said he was already on their level and what he would learn would be minute. I said..even if you felt he was superior, he could still learn alot and it was ridiculous to think he would learn nothing..take away 'superior' and replace with 'on the same level' and take away 'nothing' and replace with 'minute' and you will see I am making the exact same point. Please explain how I inflated and misunderstood your entire post? That is a joke...Sure you made a comparison to how much he would learn comapred to a top foreign league...but your first sentence was absolute...and was a direct response to Albright's assertion. He said clearly you didn't think he could learn a whole lot from Moreno and Gonzales..i address that pretty directly I believe. I guess you are going to say that you did not imply they were average when you said he was surrounded by average players..come nah man
-
He is coming along but still needs to be in Europe to really develop. The comment below was funny to me.
It was hard for the talented youngster to watch other emerging stars at the World Cup, though. Especially ones like Lionel Messi, since Adu and his fellow U.S. players had beaten Argentina in group play at the last U-21 World Cup.
"It was frustrating," Adu admitted. "I played these guys. They're getting a chance with their national teams and I'm sitting at home watching the World Cup. It's tough. I didn't really enjoy that."
Can't really compare what Adu does in DC United to Messi in Barcelona, the latter playing along side Ronaldinho, Eto, Larsson
Yuh think that funny...well this even funnier
Albright noted that Adu seemed to be picking up improvements from his teammates: "He's playing with a lot of good offensive players in D.C., so I'm sure he's taken away a lot of things from Christian and Jaime."
What lot of things could he be taking away from Christian and Jaime Moreno...that statement is rediculous. Adu already on they level and whatever he learning from them is minute compared to being in an environment where he playing with the best in the World. He need to go...and fast.
I not an MLS basher but to be that talented and surrounding yuhself with average players is not really helpful.
those players aren't average and the statement is not ridiculous. plus, even if you feel his skill level and technique is superior to these guys there is still the issue of experience. he will learn a lot about the game from players who may not have his ability but have seen more than him. it is ridiculous to think young skilled players have nothing to learn from their older more experienced counterparts just because the younger player's skill level is superior
WOW
You Misquoted, Misinterpreted, and Misunderstood MY ENTIRE POST. Yuh come up wrong on all accounts.
Never said anything you claim I said or insinuated. Yuh Overstated and Inflated what I said to further yuh argument. Yuh move like ah politician dey and ah ketch yuh, yuh wretch yuh :devil:
Read the post again or matter of fact Wheel and come again :chilling:
Calling me a politician? Listen to yourself Mr. 'Insinuated, Overstated and Inflated'. Boss, dat is real Jones :beermug: :beermug: I apologize if you think I twisted what you said. Really not my intention. But I think you focusing on minutae to deflect that I made a reasonable point that does address the topic directly. I made a point based on what you implied by saying Adu was already on their level. Inform me as to what you meant then if you did not mean skill level and technique? I did exaggerate two points when making my argument but I did not misunderstand your ENTIRE post at all. How so? Explain how I did not address the essence of your argument. You said he was already on their level and what he would learn would be minute. I said..even if you felt he was superior, he could still learn alot and it was ridiculous to think he would learn nothing..take away 'superior' and replace with 'on the same level' and take away 'nothing' and replace with 'minute' and you will see I am making the exact same point. Please explain how I inflated and misunderstood your entire post? That is a joke...Sure you made a comparison to how much he would learn comapred to a top foreign league...but your first sentence was absolute...and was a direct response to Albright's assertion. He said clearly you didn't think he could learn a whole lot from Moreno and Gonzales..i address that pretty directly I believe. I guess you are going to say that you did not imply they were average when you said he was surrounded by average players..come nah man
I think I made myself clear.
I have to laugh because I look at my post and it is to the point and short. Then I look at your explaination of my post and what you wrote and thought to myself you wouldn't have to write as much....had you not conveniently changed up my words :devil:
I said politician because you took words I said and replaced them with words I never said then tell me that is what I was essentially saying. NOPE
If that is what i wanted to say....I would have said that. That is politricks.
Like ah say....yuh pull as fast one and get ketch...Now had I said what you "thought" I said or meant then I would think it required further explaination but I didn't.
I do think a lot of your posts are good and many times it is hard to dispute or disagree but this time...not so
I think what I said needs no further explaination though..it clear and binding :chilling:
-
He is coming along but still needs to be in Europe to really develop. The comment below was funny to me.
It was hard for the talented youngster to watch other emerging stars at the World Cup, though. Especially ones like Lionel Messi, since Adu and his fellow U.S. players had beaten Argentina in group play at the last U-21 World Cup.
"It was frustrating," Adu admitted. "I played these guys. They're getting a chance with their national teams and I'm sitting at home watching the World Cup. It's tough. I didn't really enjoy that."
Can't really compare what Adu does in DC United to Messi in Barcelona, the latter playing along side Ronaldinho, Eto, Larsson
Yuh think that funny...well this even funnier
Albright noted that Adu seemed to be picking up improvements from his teammates: "He's playing with a lot of good offensive players in D.C., so I'm sure he's taken away a lot of things from Christian and Jaime."
What lot of things could he be taking away from Christian and Jaime Moreno...that statement is rediculous. Adu already on they level and whatever he learning from them is minute compared to being in an environment where he playing with the best in the World. He need to go...and fast.
I not an MLS basher but to be that talented and surrounding yuhself with average players is not really helpful.
those players aren't average and the statement is not ridiculous. plus, even if you feel his skill level and technique is superior to these guys there is still the issue of experience. he will learn a lot about the game from players who may not have his ability but have seen more than him. it is ridiculous to think young skilled players have nothing to learn from their older more experienced counterparts just because the younger player's skill level is superior
WOW
You Misquoted, Misinterpreted, and Misunderstood MY ENTIRE POST. Yuh come up wrong on all accounts.
Never said anything you claim I said or insinuated. Yuh Overstated and Inflated what I said to further yuh argument. Yuh move like ah politician dey and ah ketch yuh, yuh wretch yuh :devil:
Read the post again or matter of fact Wheel and come again :chilling:
Calling me a politician? Listen to yourself Mr. 'Insinuated, Overstated and Inflated'. Boss, dat is real Jones :beermug: :beermug: I apologize if you think I twisted what you said. Really not my intention. But I think you focusing on minutae to deflect that I made a reasonable point that does address the topic directly. I made a point based on what you implied by saying Adu was already on their level. Inform me as to what you meant then if you did not mean skill level and technique? I did exaggerate two points when making my argument but I did not misunderstand your ENTIRE post at all. How so? Explain how I did not address the essence of your argument. You said he was already on their level and what he would learn would be minute. I said..even if you felt he was superior, he could still learn alot and it was ridiculous to think he would learn nothing..take away 'superior' and replace with 'on the same level' and take away 'nothing' and replace with 'minute' and you will see I am making the exact same point. Please explain how I inflated and misunderstood your entire post? That is a joke...Sure you made a comparison to how much he would learn comapred to a top foreign league...but your first sentence was absolute...and was a direct response to Albright's assertion. He said clearly you didn't think he could learn a whole lot from Moreno and Gonzales..i address that pretty directly I believe. I guess you are going to say that you did not imply they were average when you said he was surrounded by average players..come nah man
I think I made myself clear.
I have to laugh because I look at my post and it is to the point and short. Then I look at your explaination of my post and what you wrote and thought to myself you wouldn't have to write as much....had you not conveniently changed up my words :devil:
I said politician because you took words I said and replaced them with words I never said then tell me that is what I was essentially saying. NOPE
If that is what i wanted to say....I would have said that. That is politricks.
Like ah say....yuh pull as fast one and get ketch...Now had I said what you "thought" I said or meant then I would think it required further explaination but I didn't.
I do think a lot of your posts are good and many times it is hard to dispute or disagree but this time...not so
I think what I said needs no further explaination though..it clear and binding :chilling:
first, i did not pull a fast one. I simply responded to your posts. If yuh beleive I exaggerated..fine. But don't insult my character like that. That is kinda low..is not like i talking behind your back..I inlcuded your post with mine. That alone should make it clear I wasn't trying nutten...so don't insult me.
second..yuh write two long winded posts and refused to address how I misinterpreted your entire post. you could have spent that time educating me how I was off the mark, I would have been cool with that, give yuh some respek and talk done. instead..is insult time. You just sound upset that I disagreed with you and instead of correcting me and showing me how I erred..you try to make it look like I'm a low post trying to pulla a fast one..and llike I said..I attached your post for all to see. So yuh talking real garbage. I read your posts and responded without going back and nitpicking on every word. So now..stop being immature and lewwe just post like adults..I interpret your point as Albright's statement was ridiculous and because Fredi was already on Moreno and Gonzale's level and therefore could learn very little from these average MLS players...and he should move abroad soon. Tell me where I went wrong there. The gist of my response....he might superior to their skill level but he could still learn a lot from their experience and that in my opinion they weren't average players anyway, and thereby implying Albright has made a good point....Where have I twisted the essence of the post?
i was never being sarcastic..i thought this is an excellent discussion point. just be cool and lemme know where I misinterpreted you and doh play yuh know me to be questioning my character and call me names. I never move like that. hold it dong and stick to the football debates :beermug: :beermug: When I wrong I wrong..IF you not mature enough to directly answer someone when they want to have a discussion with you..then perhaps someone else could explain how I was so off the mark as to be deceitful and desreving a politrickster ranks
-
He is coming along but still needs to be in Europe to really develop. The comment below was funny to me.
It was hard for the talented youngster to watch other emerging stars at the World Cup, though. Especially ones like Lionel Messi, since Adu and his fellow U.S. players had beaten Argentina in group play at the last U-21 World Cup.
"It was frustrating," Adu admitted. "I played these guys. They're getting a chance with their national teams and I'm sitting at home watching the World Cup. It's tough. I didn't really enjoy that."
Can't really compare what Adu does in DC United to Messi in Barcelona, the latter playing along side Ronaldinho, Eto, Larsson
Yuh think that funny...well this even funnier
Albright noted that Adu seemed to be picking up improvements from his teammates: "He's playing with a lot of good offensive players in D.C., so I'm sure he's taken away a lot of things from Christian and Jaime."
What lot of things could he be taking away from Christian and Jaime Moreno...that statement is rediculous. Adu already on they level and whatever he learning from them is minute compared to being in an environment where he playing with the best in the World. He need to go...and fast.
I not an MLS basher but to be that talented and surrounding yuhself with average players is not really helpful.
those players aren't average and the statement is not ridiculous. plus, even if you feel his skill level and technique is superior to these guys there is still the issue of experience. he will learn a lot about the game from players who may not have his ability but have seen more than him. it is ridiculous to think young skilled players have nothing to learn from their older more experienced counterparts just because the younger player's skill level is superior
WOW
You Misquoted, Misinterpreted, and Misunderstood MY ENTIRE POST. Yuh come up wrong on all accounts.
Never said anything you claim I said or insinuated. Yuh Overstated and Inflated what I said to further yuh argument. Yuh move like ah politician dey and ah ketch yuh, yuh wretch yuh :devil:
Read the post again or matter of fact Wheel and come again :chilling:
Calling me a politician? Listen to yourself Mr. 'Insinuated, Overstated and Inflated'. Boss, dat is real Jones :beermug: :beermug: I apologize if you think I twisted what you said. Really not my intention. But I think you focusing on minutae to deflect that I made a reasonable point that does address the topic directly. I made a point based on what you implied by saying Adu was already on their level. Inform me as to what you meant then if you did not mean skill level and technique? I did exaggerate two points when making my argument but I did not misunderstand your ENTIRE post at all. How so? Explain how I did not address the essence of your argument. You said he was already on their level and what he would learn would be minute. I said..even if you felt he was superior, he could still learn alot and it was ridiculous to think he would learn nothing..take away 'superior' and replace with 'on the same level' and take away 'nothing' and replace with 'minute' and you will see I am making the exact same point. Please explain how I inflated and misunderstood your entire post? That is a joke...Sure you made a comparison to how much he would learn comapred to a top foreign league...but your first sentence was absolute...and was a direct response to Albright's assertion. He said clearly you didn't think he could learn a whole lot from Moreno and Gonzales..i address that pretty directly I believe. I guess you are going to say that you did not imply they were average when you said he was surrounded by average players..come nah man
I think I made myself clear.
I have to laugh because I look at my post and it is to the point and short. Then I look at your explaination of my post and what you wrote and thought to myself you wouldn't have to write as much....had you not conveniently changed up my words :devil:
I said politician because you took words I said and replaced them with words I never said then tell me that is what I was essentially saying. NOPE
If that is what i wanted to say....I would have said that. That is politricks.
Like ah say....yuh pull as fast one and get ketch...Now had I said what you "thought" I said or meant then I would think it required further explaination but I didn't.
I do think a lot of your posts are good and many times it is hard to dispute or disagree but this time...not so
I think what I said needs no further explaination though..it clear and binding :chilling:
first, i did not pull a fast one. I simply responded to your posts. If yuh beleive I exaggerated..fine. But don't insult my character like that. That is kinda low..is not like i talking behind your back..I inlcuded your post with mine. That alone should make it clear I wasn't trying nutten...so don't insult me.
second..yuh write two long winded posts and refused to address how I misinterpreted your entire post. you could have spent that time educating me how I was off the mark, I would have been cool with that, give yuh some respek and talk done. instead..is insult time. You just sound upset that I disagreed with you and instead of correcting me and showing me how I erred..you try to make it look like I'm a low post trying to pulla a fast one..and llike I said..I attached your post for all to see. So yuh talking real garbage. I read your posts and responded without going back and nitpicking on every word. So now..stop being immature and lewwe just post like adults..I interpret your point as Albright's statement was ridiculous and because Fredi was already on Moreno and Gonzale's level and therefore could learn very little from these average MLS players...and he should move abroad soon. Tell me where I went wrong there. The gist of my response....he might superior to their skill level but he could still learn a lot from their experience and that in my opinion they weren't average players anyway, and thereby implying Albright has made a good point....Where have I twisted the essence of the post?
i was never being sarcastic..i thought this is an excellent discussion point. just be cool and lemme know where I misinterpreted you and doh play yuh know me to be questioning my character and call me names. I never move like that. hold it dong and stick to the football debates :beermug: :beermug: When I wrong I wrong..IF you not mature enough to directly answer someone when they want to have a discussion with you..then perhaps someone else could explain how I was so off the mark as to be deceitful and desreving a politrickster ranks
Breds if yuh read meh post yuh would see I never tried to insult you. Matter of fact I even told you I find most of your posts are good and it is hard to dispute it.
Look at my posts and yours and tell me if "I" was being long winded.
The fact remains that you DID change words from what I said and replaced it with words I NEVER used....which changed everything. That is indisputable
The politricks remark was a joke because you changed my words and then asked me to explain what I meant by them when I never said what u wrote.
Had you responded to what I said without changing anything then I felt like I could respond but I did't use those words and if you look in the dictionary your replacement does not mean the same thing. How is this so difficult to comprehend....I just shaking my head in amusement...and just for the record I doh mean that in an insultive way :chilling:
-
Breds if yuh read meh post yuh would see I never tried to insult you. Matter of fact I even told you I find most of your posts are good and it is hard to dispute it.
Look at my posts and yours and tell me if "I" was being long winded.
The fact remains that you DID change words from what I said and replaced it with words I NEVER used....which changed everything. That is indisputable
The politricks remark was a joke because you changed my words and then asked me to explain what I meant by them when I never said what u wrote.
Had you responded to what I said without changing anything then I felt like I could respond but I did't use those words and if you look in the dictionary your replacement does not mean the same thing. How is this so difficult to comprehend....I just shaking my head in amusement...and just for the record I doh mean that in an insultive way :chilling:
This is silly. And I am shaking my head at how you cannot answer a simple question. I admitted from the beginning I used the wrong words. But I stand by the assertion that if I changed those two words back to the words you used..it does NOT change the gist of the topic. Noone in their right mind can prove otherwise. You cannot even do it..hence 3 waste of time posts where you ahve said absolutely nothing. ANd you are calling me long-winded. Go ahead..I beg you to change the words I used..replace them with your words..guess what...it's the same point. I did not misunderstand what you posted. I simply responded with overly strong replacements by accident..that ahppens every day when people are dicussing a topic. You can correct me for exaggerating, but you are joking when you say I changed everything. And regardless of whatever you think of my past posts, you did insult me. Telling someone they tried to pull a fast one and they got caught, and they are a politician implies deceit..but you doh even have the decency to admit that. Anybody reading this string of posts will find your evasion of the topic really jokey. Especially since you claim you made a simple statement..should have been simple to show how my comments are totally off the mark..but guess what..you can't. Boss..I really eh have a problem with you..Take win. Cuz I know if yuh even bother to reply is the same ole song and dance and no substance. If you do decide to actually show me how I have gone astray...bless and respect :beermug:
-
Breds if yuh read meh post yuh would see I never tried to insult you. Matter of fact I even told you I find most of your posts are good and it is hard to dispute it.
Look at my posts and yours and tell me if "I" was being long winded.
The fact remains that you DID change words from what I said and replaced it with words I NEVER used....which changed everything. That is indisputable
The politricks remark was a joke because you changed my words and then asked me to explain what I meant by them when I never said what u wrote.
Had you responded to what I said without changing anything then I felt like I could respond but I did't use those words and if you look in the dictionary your replacement does not mean the same thing. How is this so difficult to comprehend....I just shaking my head in amusement...and just for the record I doh mean that in an insultive way :chilling:
ok Massive & Filho
ah jumpin' eeen because this argument warrants way less words. Massive I agree (and Filho admitted), that Filho's rebuttal to your original post was too strong because I intrepreted your post to mean, that whatever Freddy could learn from Jaime & co. is significantly less than what he would learn from veterans in Europe.....plain and simple..and I know you didn't mean to imply that Freddy could learn "nothing"....as Filho said in his response.
however saying that Freddy is "already on their level" , calling the statement "rediculous", and by asking "what lot of things could he learn from them"....is in itself an exaggeration & based on pure speculation, because the truth is Freddy could well be learning alot from these guys, and your knowledge of his ability & know-how compared to theirs is very limited. In the end, you'd have to get Freddy's take on it to really understand what he's learning from those guys, before jumping out and making such statements........and from the article it would seem that Freddy IS IN FACT learning alot from his more experienced teammates
and that is what Filho was commenting on by saying EVEN IF u think his skills are superior, he could still be learning alot........(even if implies that he accepts that you think they are on the same level, but IN THE EVEN THAT you thought he was on a higher level etc etc).......so it's not a complete misunderstanding of your post, it's just taking it one step further to strengthen his point......and he makes a good point.....no ?
Massive all yuh had to do was say "yeah yuh make a good point, but I didn't mean to imply that he would learn nothing yadda yadda etc....", and all this setta pc muscle banter would be uncalled for....
This forum is de best yes.....
-
Kicker and Fihlo I respect both of all yuh opinions, but as some one fairly new to this board i've realize whenever Filho is in ah disscussion with another formite, Kicker always get in and usually agrees with Filho.Now gentlemen plz do not take this the wrong way I'm not suggesting bais, as there is nothing wrong in 2 men thinking alike and sharing the same views but just out of curiousty, do you guys ever dissagree on this board ?
-
Breds if yuh read meh post yuh would see I never tried to insult you. Matter of fact I even told you I find most of your posts are good and it is hard to dispute it.
Look at my posts and yours and tell me if "I" was being long winded.
The fact remains that you DID change words from what I said and replaced it with words I NEVER used....which changed everything. That is indisputable
The politricks remark was a joke because you changed my words and then asked me to explain what I meant by them when I never said what u wrote.
Had you responded to what I said without changing anything then I felt like I could respond but I did't use those words and if you look in the dictionary your replacement does not mean the same thing. How is this so difficult to comprehend....I just shaking my head in amusement...and just for the record I doh mean that in an insultive way :chilling:
ok Massive & Filho
ah jumpin' eeen because this argument warrants way less words. Massive I agree (and Filho admitted), that Filho's rebuttal to your original post was too strong because I intrepreted your post to mean, that whatever Freddy could learn from Jaime & co. is significantly less than what he would learn from veterans in Europe.....plain and simple..and I know you didn't mean to imply that Freddy could learn "nothing"....as Filho said in his response.
however saying that Freddy is "already on their level" , calling the statement "rediculous", and by asking "what lot of things could he learn from them"....is in itself an exaggeration & based on pure speculation, because the truth is Freddy could well be learning alot from these guys, and your knowledge of his ability & know-how compared to theirs is very limited. In the end, you'd have to get Freddy's take on it to really understand what he's learning from those guys, before jumping out and making such statements........and from the article it would seem that Freddy IS IN FACT learning alot from his more experienced teammates
and that is what Filho was commenting on by saying EVEN IF u think his skills are superior, he could still be learning alot........(even if implies that he accepts that you think they are on the same level, but IN THE EVEN THAT you thought he was on a higher level etc etc).......so it's not a complete misunderstanding of your post, it's just taking it one step further to strengthen his point......and he makes a good point.....no ?
Massive all yuh had to do was say "yeah yuh make a good point, but I didn't mean to imply that he would learn nothing yadda yadda etc....", and all this setta pc muscle banter would be uncalled for....
This forum is de best yes.....
well said kicker...that is all massive had to say and i admitted a long time ago that my words exaggerated his point. but the gist of my argument has not changed nor did i twist everything he said i even spelt out exactly how i interpreted massive's post and it is more or less in line with your intepretation. i apologize to trinimassive for any strong words i used..it is decent discussion topic an i didn't mean to take it so far.
bless
-
Kicker and Fihlo I respect both of all yuh opinions, but as some one fairly new to this board i've realize whenever Filho is in ah disscussion with another formite, Kicker always get in and usually agrees with Filho.Now gentlemen plz do not take this the wrong way I'm not suggesting bais, as there is nothing wrong in 2 men thinking alike and sharing the same views but just out of curiousty, do you guys ever dissagree on this board ?
I agreed with both sides......check it and you would see.....
I've disagreed with everybody including Filho, but when a man makin' sense, he makin' sense....it's that simple....and in this case both Massive & Filho had good points and the argument was unnecessary.
-
Kicker and Fihlo I respect both of all yuh opinions, but as some one fairly new to this board i've realize whenever Filho is in ah disscussion with another formite, Kicker always get in and usually agrees with Filho.Now gentlemen plz do not take this the wrong way I'm not suggesting bais, as there is nothing wrong in 2 men thinking alike and sharing the same views but just out of curiousty, do you guys ever dissagree on this board ?
yeah.we disagree.....especially since he is a Madrid man and I am 100% Barca..haha. but notice he also defended trinimassive. to me, he first explains how
i added too much to what massive was saying...i didn't see his response as leaning one way or the other.
-
Respect gentlemen....
however Kicker ah have tuh side wid yuh pardner here as Barca will kick(er) Real Mad tail dis year .... ;D
-
Respect gentlemen....
......however Kicker ah have tuh side wid yuh pardner here as Barca will kick(er) Real Mad tail dis year .... ;D
:beermug: :beermug: :beermug: :devil: :devil: :devil:
-
The common trait on this board that is people mistake disagreement for disrespect.....and in typical Trini fahsion, the point gets lost in arguement and people instead just try to be smart & cocky to win an argument instead of just trying to meet at a middle ground and see where eachother is coming from....The majority of debates on this board don't have a right or wrong......
It frustrating, to be involved in and to read, especially when yuh know the poster personally and yuh empathize with their position
Respect gentlemen....
however Kicker ah have tuh side wid yuh pardner here as Barca will kick(er) Real Mad tail dis year .... ;D
That argument however is exception B' because yuh damn wrong !!! ;D
GO MADRID !!
-
Breds if yuh read meh post yuh would see I never tried to insult you. Matter of fact I even told you I find most of your posts are good and it is hard to dispute it.
Look at my posts and yours and tell me if "I" was being long winded.
The fact remains that you DID change words from what I said and replaced it with words I NEVER used....which changed everything. That is indisputable
The politricks remark was a joke because you changed my words and then asked me to explain what I meant by them when I never said what u wrote.
Had you responded to what I said without changing anything then I felt like I could respond but I did't use those words and if you look in the dictionary your replacement does not mean the same thing. How is this so difficult to comprehend....I just shaking my head in amusement...and just for the record I doh mean that in an insultive way :chilling:
ok Massive & Filho
ah jumpin' eeen because this argument warrants way less words. Massive I agree (and Filho admitted), that Filho's rebuttal to your original post was too strong because I intrepreted your post to mean, that whatever Freddy could learn from Jaime & co. is significantly less than what he would learn from veterans in Europe.....plain and simple..and I know you didn't mean to imply that Freddy could learn "nothing"....as Filho said in his response.
however saying that Freddy is "already on their level" , calling the statement "rediculous", and by asking "what lot of things could he learn from them"....is in itself an exaggeration & based on pure speculation, because the truth is Freddy could well be learning alot from these guys, and your knowledge of his ability & know-how compared to theirs is very limited. In the end, you'd have to get Freddy's take on it to really understand what he's learning from those guys, before jumping out and making such statements........and from the article it would seem that Freddy IS IN FACT learning alot from his more experienced teammates
and that is what Filho was commenting on by saying EVEN IF u think his skills are superior, he could still be learning alot........(even if implies that he accepts that you think they are on the same level, but IN THE EVEN THAT you thought he was on a higher level etc etc).......so it's not a complete misunderstanding of your post, it's just taking it one step further to strengthen his point......and he makes a good point.....no ?
Massive all yuh had to do was say "yeah yuh make a good point, but I didn't mean to imply that he would learn nothing yadda yadda etc....", and all this setta pc muscle banter would be uncalled for....
This forum is de best yes.....
Yes this forum is de best...
But first off let me say...he tell meh take win...and ah takin it...rightly so :chilling:
This is what I said and I Will explain it to show where there were NO holes
He is coming along but still needs to be in Europe to really develop. The comment below was funny to me.
It was hard for the talented youngster to watch other emerging stars at the World Cup, though. Especially ones like Lionel Messi, since Adu and his fellow U.S. players had beaten Argentina in group play at the last U-21 World Cup.
"It was frustrating," Adu admitted. "I played these guys. They're getting a chance with their national teams and I'm sitting at home watching the World Cup. It's tough. I didn't really enjoy that."
Can't really compare what Adu does in DC United to Messi in Barcelona, the latter playing along side Ronaldinho, Eto, Larsson
Yuh think that funny...well this even funnier
Albright noted that Adu seemed to be picking up improvements from his teammates: "He's playing with a lot of good offensive players in D.C., so I'm sure he's taken away a lot of things from Christian and Jaime."
What lot of things could he be taking away from Christian and Jaime Moreno...that statement is rediculous. Adu already on they level and whatever he learning from them is minute compared to being in an environment where he playing with the best in the World. He need to go...and fast.
I not an MLS basher but to be that talented and surrounding yuhself with average players is not really helpful.
Now Filho admitted that he put in words I never said. But if yuh read my post it water and air tight. I said what he would learn would be minute compared to.....not that he wouldnt learn anything. I didn't say he was superior...I said he already on their level...which he is. He no longer looks out of place on the field. I said surrounding yuhself with average players is not really helpful...and quite frankly it is not really helpful...For Him because he was/is considered one of the best young players in the world.
Adu mentioned Messi but unlike Adu..Messi didn't surround himself with average players even if he could gain "average" knowledge he didn't have. It doesn't compare to being at Barca.
Saying all that...when Filho changed up my words I felt like it wasnt anything I had to clearify because I would have been clearifying something I didn't say.
But what I said I still felt is air and water tight because I put it in perspective by comparing his enviromnent to a higher level.
Whew. I think this will do it..I pray it does :angel:
-
Massive de man dun give yuh win,he apologise,he commend yuh on having good points oh gawd boy buh like yuh want de trophy ...all yuh gid de man de trophy please or is another 5 page ...say wah it intersting doe
.... :beermug: :devil:
-
The common trait on this board that is people mistake disagreement for disrespect.....and in typical Trini fahsion, the point gets lost in arguement and people instead just try to be smart & cocky to win an argument instead of just trying to meet at a middle ground and see where eachother is coming from....The majority of debates on this board don't have a right or wrong......
It frustrating, to be involved in and to read, especially when yuh know the poster personally and yuh empathize with their position
Respect gentlemen....
however Kicker ah have tuh side wid yuh pardner here as Barca will kick(er) Real Mad tail dis year .... ;D
That argument however is exception B' because yuh damn wrong !!! ;DGO MADRID !!
ah like yuh reasoning :rotfl: ....buh is still licks :beermug:
-
Massive de man dun give yuh win,he apologise,he commend yuh on having good points oh gawd boy buh like yuh want de trophy ...all yuh gid de man de trophy please or is another 5 page ...say wah it intersting doe
.... :beermug: :devil:
Yeah ah wah de trophy yes
Ah ent walking pass the trophy like Zidane...ah taking it with meh :devil:
-
Massive de man dun give yuh win,he apologise,he commend yuh on having good points oh gawd boy buh like yuh want de trophy ...all yuh gid de man de trophy please or is another 5 page ...say wah it intersting doe
.... :beermug: :devil:
Yeah ah wah de trophy yes
Ah ent walking pass the trophy like Zidane...ah taking it with meh :devil:
Filho :cheers: Massive
to me is ah draw so all yuh hah to share de trophy
:beermug: one for you :beermug: and one for Filho ...
-
Now Filho admitted that he put in words I never said. But if yuh read my post it water and air tight. I said what he would learn would be minute compared to.....not that he wouldnt learn anything. I didn't say he was superior...I said he already on their level...which he is. He no longer looks out of place on the field. I said surrounding yuhself with average players is not really helpful...and quite frankly it is not really helpful...For Him because he was/is considered one of the best young players in the world.
Adu mentioned Messi but unlike Adu..Messi didn't surround himself with average players even if he could gain "average" knowledge he didn't have. It doesn't compare to being at Barca.
Saying all that...when Filho changed up my words I felt like it wasnt anything I had to clearify because I would have been clearifying something I didn't say.
But what I said I still felt is air and water tight because I put it in perspective by comparing his enviromnent to a higher level.
Whew. I think this will do it..I pray it does :angel:
cool ting berris..trinimassive..u kinda immature. you didn't say anything kicker didn't say..and yuh still eh cool enough to own up to unncessary insults..i done give yuh your props and i still stand by the points I made. that simple, but yuh too small for that. good luck to you boss..I really gone now. Hopefully we will be cool on another post when you ready to chill :beermug:
-
Now Filho admitted that he put in words I never said. But if yuh read my post it water and air tight. I said what he would learn would be minute compared to.....not that he wouldnt learn anything. I didn't say he was superior...I said he already on their level...which he is. He no longer looks out of place on the field. I said surrounding yuhself with average players is not really helpful...and quite frankly it is not really helpful...For Him because he was/is considered one of the best young players in the world.
Adu mentioned Messi but unlike Adu..Messi didn't surround himself with average players even if he could gain "average" knowledge he didn't have. It doesn't compare to being at Barca.
Saying all that...when Filho changed up my words I felt like it wasnt anything I had to clearify because I would have been clearifying something I didn't say.
But what I said I still felt is air and water tight because I put it in perspective by comparing his enviromnent to a higher level.
Whew. I think this will do it..I pray it does :angel:
cool ting berris..trinimassive..u kinda immature. you didn't say anything kicker didn't say..and yuh still eh cool enough to own up to unncessary insults..i done give yuh your props and i still stand by the points I made. that simple, but yuh too small for that. good luck to you boss..I really gone now. Hopefully we will be cool on another post when you ready to chill :beermug:
I so chill I nearly turnin Ice. 1) Kicker is probably ah faster typist 2) I was on the phone and typing so I take kinda long to finish the post that is why it come after some other posts so it seemed like ah was gloating and gallavanting. You real defensive today breds. Take it easy nah. Where I insult you. I makin joke and you gettin worked up.
Is you tell meh take win...so ah take it...then yuh vex. I easy like sunday morning
Berris was jokin bout the trophy I joke back next ting yuh sayin bout immature
Yuh eh cuss meh..I eh cuss yuh. I ent call yuh idiot, stupid, dotish, retard, or bush
I cool breds :chilling:
-
I so chill I nearly turnin Ice. 1) Kicker is probably ah faster typist 2) I was on the phone and typing so I take kinda long to finish the post that is why it come after some other posts so it seemed like ah was gloating and gallavanting.
breds...u responded to kicker's post. it attached to yours.
anyhow..yuh not immature..yuh just forgot you replied to a post you said you didn't see by accident ;). anyway...i hope you understand why i thought you were overdoing it...cuz of the timng of your post. not sure what to make of your last explanation...and we both being a little defensive. i apologize for my contribution to that .this is real ridiculous. sorry for going on and on. i agree with you that Adu could probably learn more in a better league but i still beleive the veterans in MLS can teach him alot and they're not all average
trinimassive..big up yuhself soldier..i cool
until next time breds :beermug: :beermug:
-
Adu Headed to Real Salt Lake
By Steven Goff
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, December 11, 2006; 5:31 PM
Freddy Adu's three-year stay with D.C. United is over, but not because of a move to a European club.
Adu, who joined United in 2004 at age 14, has been traded along with veteran goalkeeper Nick Rimando to Real Salt Lake for a major player allocation from MLS, reserve goalie Jay Nolly and future considerations.
Adu recently returned from a two-week training session with Manchester United and hopes to sign with a team in Europe sometime after his 18th birthday in June.
He has been a work in progress since signing a four-year contract with MLS, showing flashes of brilliance but also exhibiting growing pains in a professional setting. In addition, his relationship with Coach Peter Nowak has been strained at times as he grew frustrated with playing time in 2005 and with his role on the field the past two years.
In his three seasons, Adu has 11 goals and 17 assists in 87 regular season appearances.
Rimando spent five seasons with United, but was relegated to a reserve role following the emergence of Troy Perkins this season. Nolly has been in the league for two years, appearing in seven games and making six starts.
United is expected to use the player allocation to acquire a Brazilian or Argentine attacking player. Nowak and United technical director Dave Kasper recently visited those two countries on a scouting mission.
-
United is expected to use the player allocation to acquire a Brazilian or Argentine attacking player.
talk about stereotype :D
-
United is expected to use the player allocation to acquire a Brazilian or Argentine attacking player.
talk about stereotype :D
If you were looking for a pannist where would you look first ? Stereotypes are earned most of the times you know ...
-
United is expected to use the player allocation to acquire a Brazilian or Argentine attacking player.
talk about stereotype :D
If you were looking for a pannist where would you look first ? Stereotypes are earned most of the times you know ...
jai dat a dangerous statement...wah bout the stereotypes many white persons have of blacks? are those well earned....
in case of de argentian attacking maybe then it is earned....but broad statement like that open to be abused...
jus my 2 cents
-
Real Mardid surely organised this.. (both Real And Salt Lake are tied either financially or friendship(feeder club).. not to sure)
very dissapointed... seems more than ever los galaticos won the race
-
i eh want to see adu anywhere near real madrid....he eh prove himself to be anyting super special to me as yet
-
i eh want to see adu anywhere near real madrid
he aint ready for the Red Devils yet either..
Real Salt Lake is probably the best move at this point...
-
Much Adu about nuthin
-
Real Mardid surely organised this.. (both Real And Salt Lake are tied either financially or friendship(feeder club).. not to sure)
very dissapointed... seems more than ever los galaticos won the race
Real Salt Lake strengthens bonds with Real Madrid
James Edward Deseret Morning News
While bond measures and stadium financing dominated much of Saturday's press conference with Dave Checketts, the Real Salt Lake owner did insert a little snippet that should excite soccer fans.
In addition to confirming that Real Madrid will indeed be coming to Salt Lake City on Aug. 12 to play an exhibition game, assuming it finishes in the top two in the Spanish First Division, he also revealed RSL's long-rumored partnership with the European power.
"We're pursuing a permanent sister-team relationship with Real Madrid," said Checketts. "We're actually talking with them about handling all of their U.S. rights, licensing, merchandising, television. They need an American partner.
"The benefits will be that Real Salt Lake in the future will be able to train at Real Madrid's practice facilities, and Real Madrid will come here to play on a regular basis."
Perhaps the most exciting thing for the future of soccer in the Beehive State is Real Madrid's desire to become RSL's partner in the construction of a soccer academy in Utah.
Major League Soccer's board of governors recently passed a bylaw that rewards clubs who build their own soccer academies. As a result, MLS teams will retain the rights to any player developed in those academies, and Madrid wants to become RSL's partner with the construction of its academy.
In regard to the Aug. 12 exhibition game with Real Madrid, Checketts still isn't sure where the game will be played. He is, however, leaning toward LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo because it's a natural grass playing surface and it seats 20,000 more people.
"Real Madrid is not going to play on a temporary grass or fake grass," said Checketts.
With two games remaining in the Spanish season, Real Madrid sits in second place, one point ahead of Valencia. If it finishes second, the August international friendly is a done deal. If Madrid finishes third, RSL's contingency plan is a game with an Italian First Division team.
LATE SCRATCH: Salt Lake left back Daniel Torres, who early in the week complained of pain in his left knee, was a late scratch from the RSL line-up.
Torres, who had started the first five games for RSL, was replaced in the line-up by rookie Willis Forko.
"I thought Willis did well," said RSL coach John Ellinger.
The Houston native was a second-round supplemental draft pick for RSL in January. Having played in three reserve games prior to his MLS debut Saturday, Forko said he felt at home the entire game.
"I felt comfortable. It wasn't a last-minute thing because we knew Danny maybe wasn't going to play, so I was just prepared myself expecting to play," said Forko.
The rookie wasn't the only RSL player who made his debut.
In the 84th minute, in a desperate attempt by Salt Lake to net an equalizer, Christian Jimenez came on for Carey Talley.
WHAT MIGHT'VE BEEN: Salt Lake could've really used Jason Kreis' finishing.
On a night no one could put a quality shot on goal, having MLS' all-time leading scorer on the field could've helped.
"It's always an impact not to have Jason," said Ellinger, about his striker who was suspended for his red card last week. "You finally get him back to starting at forward, and again, it's his leadership and willingness to die for the franchise. You miss him when he's not out there."
He will be back in the line-up for RSL heads to Los Angeles next week.
FOREIGN TERRITORY: Despite Real's winless streak, midfielder Chris Klein insists the team can turn things around.
"We're 0-5-1, and I've never experienced things like this, and to be honest, I don't think this is a bad team." said Klein. "That's the most frustration thing about this whole thing, I've been on bad teams before, and I don't think this is a bad team."
He knows, however, that the team will ultimately be defined by wins and losses, not how the team plays.
E-mail: jedward@desnews.com
Copyright C 2006 Deseret News Publishing Co.
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4188/is_20060507/ai_n16352912
-
adu eh nuttin nah much to prove still from such a 'great player'
-
Another articcel about the transfer:
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/sports/4395445.html
-
It's unfortunate to see this young guy with talent slowly fade,But I've been saying it for sometime now he's not that good and if he's lucky he'll be on the u.s. national squad in another life........
-
good for freddy. novak and he cyah pull. plus it is suspected that novak is a racist.
only thing is leaving the good social scene of the DC area for salt lake.
maybe freddy will married a few mormon girls and make a whole heap ah baby.
but then i hear mexicans taking over that town. so it will be just like DC.
-
Good luck to de youth-man.... :beermug: :beermug: :beermug:
-
Freddy Adu pens five-year deal for Lisbon club
Benfica have pulled off another blockbuster signing over the weekend when they locked American teenager, Freddy Adu, to a five-year contract. The 18-year-old prodigy is due to arrive in Portugal on Monday to finalise the deal.
The Lisbon giants have agreed to dish out 1.75 million euros for the players signature. The deal was announced by club spokesperson, Trey Fitzgerald, before the Utah club took on the New England Revolution on Saturday.
(continue) (http://www.portugoal.net/Benfica0607/Freddy-Adu.htm)
-
(http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070730/capt.0225c010db3b44b6a6d62fe3c7c868d1.portugal_soccer_benfica_adu_xsg101.jpg)
-
Let's see how he makes out in Europe now.
-
Congrats to Freddie !!
Best of luck..
-
I wish him all the best! :beermug:
Big Up!
-
well done Freds....get out a dat shite league...
-
great move freddy, greater move benfica. freddy has some years to adjust to europpean soccer and mature as a person. in say 3 years or so benfica a more seasoned freddy will gather interest from all the top teams out there and big windfall for benfice in transfer money, big money for u too freddy. go make it happem now.
-
Congrats to Freddy
-
congrats to adu.....portugese league not that good but atleast he may get a taste of champions league football.
-
(http://eur.i1.yimg.com/eur.news1.yimg.com/eur.yimg.com/ng/sp/ap_photo/20070731/all/l2670720.jpg)
BENFICA OFFICIALLY CONFIRMS ADU
The saga is finally over, 18-year old Freddy Adu has left Major League soccer and is now an official member of Benfica.
The former Real Salt Lake midfielder from Washington, DC signed a five year contract for the club, and will be presented to his new fans next week when the club unveils their new stadium for the upcoming season.
"Freddy will be presented with the rest of the new signings next week, at the new Stadio de Luiz," Benfica Press Officer Roberto Mayo told YA. "This is where we will present all the new players and the team for the new season."
(continue) (http://www.yanks-abroad.com/content.php?mode=news&id=3269)
-
More confirmation from Sports Illustrated (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/soccer/07/31/bc.eu.spt.soc.adu.benfica.ap/index.html):
LISBON, Portugal (AP) -- American teenage soccer star Freddy Adu has reached an agreement to play for Portuguese club Benfica, pending the results of a medical test.
"It's a done deal," a club official said Tuesday, speaking on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to make an announcement.
The official said details of the agreement, including the length of the contract, would be announced at a later date but could not say when.
Adu joined the rest of the Benfica squad at a training session Tuesday, a day after arriving in the Portuguese capital to negotiate personal terms, and was undergoing medical checks, the official said. There were no immediate plans to introduce the player to the media.
Major League Soccer and Benfica agreed last week to a $2 million transfer fee for the 18-year-old attacking midfielder, who was captain of the U.S. team at this month's under-20 World Cup in Canada.
Adu has been one of the highest-profile stars of MLS since he signed with D.C. United in November 2003 at age 14, becoming the youngest player in the league's history.
Real Salt Lake acquired Adu from D.C. United last year knowing that when he turned 18 last month he would become eligible under FIFA rules to move to a foreign club.
Benfica has traditionally been one of Europe's stronger clubs, but has been unable to match the spending of teams in wealthier leagues such as England, Italy and Spain. Benfica finished third in the Portuguese league last season behind Porto and Sporting Lisbon.
Benfica will start play in the European Champions League in the third qualifying round on Aug. 14 or 15.
Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
-
It eh La Liga but it eh MLS. Thank God he can only improve
-
It eh La Liga but it eh MLS. Thank God he can only improve
hey...it was good enuf fuh Latas at a time when the Portuguese league wasn't really respected, so...
-
Decent league. Very technical. Plus he gets the chance to develop and at the same time play Champions League football. This is a great launching pad, cause once he does well there, the Bigger Boys will definitely come knocking.
-
1.75 mill...dem get he real cheap....bargain price
when he start to perform...dey go sell he rights at triple the price
-
1.75 mill...dem get he real cheap....bargain price
when he start to perform...dey go sell he rights at triple the price
.......especially when yuh consider the same team offerd 5 million something (u$, euro$, SOMETHING) for Eddie Johnson a couple seasons ago and the mls msl misled tell dem "no!"
Did I see a man say that league ain't good?!?! Weeeeeeeey sah!
-
It eh La Liga but it eh MLS. Thank God he can only improve
hey...it was good enuf fuh Latas at a time when the Portuguese league wasn't really respected, so...
Portuguese league had pretty much the same relative status in Latas' day as it has now.....somewhat 2nd tier but not to be taken forgranted- Though Mourinho's big mouth & Porto's CL triumph in 03/04 did temporarily raise the profile so to speak for the "now comes"- teams like Porto & Benfica (both having won the CL 2wice each...or so) have always garnered some respect without being feared....
-
Portuguese league had pretty much the same relative status in Latas' day as it has now.....somewhat 2nd tier but not to be taken forgranted- Though Mourinho's big mouth & Porto's CL triumph in 03/04 did temporarily raise the profile so to speak for the "now comes"- teams like Porto & Benfica (both having won the CL 2wice each...or so) have always garnered some respect without being feared....
'relative' is de key...I think is only de past 15-20 yrs or so that Portuguese football in general has really become globally respected and I think that respect has filtered down some to the domestic league. 20 yrs ago when Latas went there I'm certain that wasn't the case. Of course I have no empirical data to support this...just an overriding sense based on their accomplishments over that period.
-
Portuguese league had pretty much the same relative status in Latas' day as it has now.....somewhat 2nd tier but not to be taken forgranted- Though Mourinho's big mouth & Porto's CL triumph in 03/04 did temporarily raise the profile so to speak for the "now comes"- teams like Porto & Benfica (both having won the CL 2wice each...or so) have always garnered some respect without being feared....
'relative' is de key...I think is only de past 15-20 yrs or so that Portuguese football in general has really become globally respected and I think that respect has filtered down some to the domestic league. 20 yrs ago when Latas went there I'm certain that wasn't the case. Of course I have no empirical data to support this...just an overriding sense based on their accomplishments over that period.
Well 3 out of the 4 Champions league triumphs that came from Portuguese teams happened b4 Latas went to Portugal. -
In terms of the Nat'l team- the furthest they've made it in the W.C. was the semi-final in '66 & '06 (I eh feel like confirmin' that on wikipedia- so correck meh if wrong, but I'm pretty sure that's accurate)- but that's once b4 Latas & once after.....other than that they exited in the 1st round in '02 & I think in Mexico '86 as well....again once b4 Latas & once after.....
I hear you though in the sense that their two most recent golden generations (Figo, Rui Costa, Paolo Couto, etc...) & (Ronaldo, Quaresma, Deco etc...) have had arguably the biggest Portuguese impact on the modern game as we know it, and at the Euro champs competition, they've had their greatest sucess in the last 8 years with a semi & final birth in '00 & '04 respectively...
That's the best empirical evidence I could give yuh without research :beermug:
So I guess it all depends on how yuh look at it...but with Benfica winning CL titles from way back I want to say that the league has had sparks & potential for sometime now.....in terms of Global respect? that's anyone's guess, but in terms of success- the record speaks for itself.....
-
Portuguese league had pretty much the same relative status in Latas' day as it has now.....somewhat 2nd tier but not to be taken forgranted- Though Mourinho's big mouth & Porto's CL triumph in 03/04 did temporarily raise the profile so to speak for the "now comes"- teams like Porto & Benfica (both having won the CL 2wice each...or so) have always garnered some respect without being feared....
'relative' is de key...I think is only de past 15-20 yrs or so that Portuguese football in general has really become globally respected and I think that respect has filtered down some to the domestic league. 20 yrs ago when Latas went there I'm certain that wasn't the case. Of course I have no empirical data to support this...just an overriding sense based on their accomplishments over that period.
Well 3 out of the 4 Champions league triumphs that came from Portuguese teams happened b4 Latas went to Portugal. -
In terms of the Nat'l team- the furthest they've made it in the W.C. was the semi-final in '66 & '06 (I eh feel like confirmin' that on wikipedia- so correck meh if wrong, but I'm pretty sure that's accurate)- but that's once b4 Latas & once after.....other than that they exited in the 1st round in '02 & I think in Mexico '86 as well....again once b4 Latas & once after.....
I hear you though in the sense that their two most recent golden generations (Figo, Rui Costa, Paolo Couto, etc...) & (Ronaldo, Quaresma, Deco etc...) have had arguably the biggest Portuguese impact on the modern game as we know it, and at the Euro champs competition, they've had their greatest sucess in the last 8 years with a semi & final birth in '00 & '04 respectively...
That's the best empirical evidence I could give yuh without research :beermug:
So I guess it all depends on how yuh look at it...but with Benfica winning CL titles from way back I want to say that the league has had sparks & potential for sometime now.....in terms of Global respect? that's anyone's guess, but in terms of success- the record speaks for itself.....
You probably right, like I say...I have no stats to support my position. Maybe it would be more accurate to say that Latas went at a time when the league enjoyed even less of a standing than it currently does now :beermug:
-
.......especially when yuh consider the same team offerd 5 million something (u$, euro$, SOMETHING) for Eddie Johnson a couple seasons ago and the mls msl misled tell dem "no!"
Wrong.
MLS wanted to sell him but Johnson himself said "no!".
-
Portuguese league the right place for Adu to develop
In 3 MLS seasons, Freddy Adu showed he could play a technical game and also survive physically against rough-and-tumble opposition. Those qualities will serve Adu well in Portugal.
The Portuguese Superliga has a reputation for technical play but it also has a hard side which reflects the character of Portugal, a self-contained country built to endure. But there is no guarantee Adu will thrive with SL Benfica, which paid the MLS $1.46 million euros ($2 million) to acquire him. And this is precisely the situation Adu needs.
(continue) (http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=449195&root=us&cc=5739)
-
.......especially when yuh consider the same team offerd 5 million something (u$, euro$, SOMETHING) for Eddie Johnson a couple seasons ago and the mls msl misled tell dem "no!"
Wrong.
MLS wanted to sell him but Johnson himself said "no!".
Sorry Zeppo, but you're wrong. In 2005, Benfica offered $5million for Eddie Johnson and MLS rejected the offer.
I believe that what you're thinking about is the $6million offer from Derby County that MLS had agreed to but EJ himself rejected
-
Sorry Zeppo, but you're wrong. In 2005, Benfica offered $5million for Eddie Johnson and MLS rejected the offer.
MLS ended up rejecting it because Johnson didn't want to go.
Read his quote. Do those sound like the words of a player who wanted to make the move?
"MLS has made me into the player I am today, and I have a lot of loyalty to the league," Johnson said from the national team's training camp in Colorado Springs on Thursday. "We're all competing for a spot on the World Cup team, and here I can play week in and week out in front of [U.S. coach] Bruce Arena. I'd like to spend a couple more years in MLS and grow as a player, but at the same time, Europe is every young American's dream. I think it's definitely in my future."
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/writers/grant_wahl/03/11/johnson.notransfer/index.html
-
Sorry Zeppo, but you're wrong. In 2005, Benfica offered $5million for Eddie Johnson and MLS rejected the offer.
MLS ended up rejecting it because Johnson didn't want to go.
Read his quote. Do those sound like the words of a player who wanted to make the move?
"MLS has made me into the player I am today, and I have a lot of loyalty to the league," Johnson said from the national team's training camp in Colorado Springs on Thursday. "We're all competing for a spot on the World Cup team, and here I can play week in and week out in front of [U.S. coach] Bruce Arena. I'd like to spend a couple more years in MLS and grow as a player, but at the same time, Europe is every young American's dream. I think it's definitely in my future."
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/writers/grant_wahl/03/11/johnson.notransfer/index.html
ok..so u're having a bit of a comprehension issue. You said MLS wanted to sell him but EJ didn't want to go. Noone is even challenging the notion that EJ did not want to go.. we both (Mango Chow and I) simply stated that MLS REJECTED the offer. And in saying that they wanted to sell him....that is precisely where you are wrong. Even in the article you attached it is clear that MLS took the lead in rejecting the offer.....
"The timing and the offer didn't work, so we turned it down," Garber said, explaining the league's rationale for holding onto the 20-year-old Johnson, whose contract runs through the end of 2006.
afterward, the article goes on to say
Johnson, who would have received a cut of the transfer fee and a significant salary increase, met with MLS officials after Benfica made its offer near the end of the January transfer window and pronounced himself satisfied with their decision.
Where do you see MLS trying to sell EJ?
From the series of events it seem a lot more like MLS convinced the kid that it was not the right time to go.... not the other way around.
Afterwards, what EJ said sounds simply like good PR with the league.
Now in the case of the Derby offer, it is very clear that EJ was the one to initially and independently say no thanks.
-
Pretty clear that MLS convinced the kid that it was not the right time to go, not the other way around.
In any case, what EJ said after was just good PR
Sounds more to me like Don Garber was just trying to save face after having to miss out on a great deal.
Johnson did not want to risk going to a big European club and possibly sitting on the bench the whole season with the World Cup only 1 year away and his playing time in MLS was practically guaranteed. Both he and the league figured that he would light things up in Germany the following summer (which he didn't) and then secure an even bigger move overseas with an increased transfer value. Obviously that didn't happen and it's quite possible that both he and MLS are regretting it.
Also keep in mind that Johnson's girlfriend was expecting a child at that time. Even more reason for him to reject the offer.
-
Pretty clear that MLS convinced the kid that it was not the right time to go, not the other way around.
In any case, what EJ said after was just good PR
Sounds more to me like Don Garber was just trying to save face after having to miss out on a great deal.
Johnson did not want to risk going to a big European club and possibly sitting on the bench the whole season with the World Cup only 1 year away and his playing time in MLS was practically guaranteed. Both he and the league figured that he would light things up in Germany the following summer (which he didn't) and then secure an even bigger move overseas with an increased transfer value. Obviously that didn't happen and it's quite possible that both he and MLS are regretting it.
Also keep in mind that Johnson's girlfriend was expecting a child at that time. Even more reason for him to reject the offer.
cool ting breds. can't really know what happened behind the scenes, but nothing yopu've said or shown indicates any desire on MLS' part to want to sell him in 2005. Based on what was said publicly, MLS made it clear that they were intent on keeping EJ. either way..he's still in the MLS
peace
-
Good move for Adu. With the hope of cashing in on another star, Nike helped to raise the level of expectation and set the bar really high for Freddy. Being away at Benfica would not only help him develop, it might also help to reset the level of expectation.
-
He's gone back to the States to take care of a few things and will return to Lisbon this weekend to resume training on Monday.
-
Good move for Adu. With the hope of cashing in on another star, Nike helped to raise the level of expectation and set the bar really high for Freddy. Being away at Benfica would not only help him develop, it might also help to reset the level of expectation.
Unreasonably high at that. The fact that MLS made him a 15-year old millionaire didn't help either.
-
Adu interviewed on Benfica move
On Wednesday night SI.com snagged the first interview with Freddy Adu since the 18-year-old U.S. attacking midfielder signed a five-year contract with the Portuguese powerhouse Benfica.
Adu is coming off a standout performance at the Under-20 World Cup, and his move to European soccer ends a three-and-a-half year MLS career with D.C. United and Real Salt Lake that was marked by insanely high expectations when he signed with the league at 14, occasional highlight-reel moments and (let's be honest) a fair amount of frustration by both Adu and his MLS coaches.
(continue) (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/grant_wahl/08/02/adu.qa/index.html)
-
the deal for freddy is that benfice pays 2 million for freddy now but when freddy goes to a bigger club for big big money the mls getting a good chunk of that transfer. mls is a business, no way they giving freddy for just 2 million.
-
Adu looking to play "natural position" with Benfica
Freddy Adu's off to Europe later this week, still the center of attention and ready to be in the center of the field.
"I can't wait to get started," said Adu, who's moving from Real Salt Lake to 31-time Portuguese champion Benfica for a $2 million transfer fee. "Coach made it clear that I'll be a pretty big part. If they're going to spend that kind of money on someone, they're going to showcase them."
To Adu, that means allowing him to play his natural position, the central attacking midfielder. That's the position that earned him praise and attention as a youth, interest from Italy's Inter Milan at age 10 and an early call to the U.S. under-17 national team.
(continue) (http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news;_ylt=Al4ewgHkHjxwGRMJZPdC_JIdwLYF?slug=ap-adu&prov=ap&type=lgns)
-
I am glad to see the boy (or man, pending bone density scan results :devil:) finally go to something close to a league (since so many of you dont "rate" Portuguese football at the League level....I still dunno why) where his kinda talent belongs. I ain't exactly a big fan of Freddy himself, the path his Mother chose for him or the way that
mls msl misled and nike exploited the young fella and I really think he has a whole lot of learning to catch up on. But I truly admire his ability and his drive and courage to go on to bigger challenges.
-
I ain't exactly a big fan of Freddy himself, the path his Mother chose for him or the way that mls msl misled and nike exploited the young fella and I really think he has a whole lot of learning to catch up on.
Yes, Nike certainly exploited him.
When he came over to the States from Ghana with his family and they didn't have a pot to piss in the horrible tyrants at Nike paid him $1 million to -- that's right -- advertise soccer gear!
It's almost worse than working in the diamond mines of South Africa! Oh, the exploitation!
::)
-
I ain't exactly a big fan of Freddy himself, the path his Mother chose for him or the way that mls msl misled and nike exploited the young fella and I really think he has a whole lot of learning to catch up on.
Yes, Nike certainly exploited him.
When he came over to the States from Ghana with his family and they didn't have a pot to piss in the horrible tyrants at Nike paid him $1 million to -- that's right -- advertise soccer gear!
It's almost worse than working in the diamond mines of South Africa! Oh, the exploitation!
::)
I guess your levitated state of conciousness for the suffering Africans in those diamond (or gold or silver) mines have had you suffer to pass up on purchasing jewelry on a whole, has it? I guess poor Freddy would have been contributing to our collective vanity here in the good old usa had it not been for the Department of Justice and it's life-saving lottery, eh? Good for you, good for him. ::) The "path" I talk about that his mother chose for Him that I have the slightest bit of issues with, was passing up on all of the offers from European clubs that little Freddy was getting before the mls msl misled came knocking on their door. She claimed that she preferred for Freddy to stay in the us because she wanted him to receive an "education." He got an education alright. In PR. (and I don't mean "Puerto Rico.") Freddy's career wout have been far further advanced had he joined up with one of the youth academies that were calling for him.
-
I ain't exactly a big fan of Freddy himself, the path his Mother chose for him or the way that mls msl misled and nike exploited the young fella and I really think he has a whole lot of learning to catch up on.
Yes, Nike certainly exploited him.
When he came over to the States from Ghana with his family and they didn't have a pot to piss in the horrible tyrants at Nike paid him $1 million to -- that's right -- advertise soccer gear!
It's almost worse than working in the diamond mines of South Africa! Oh, the exploitation!
::)
I guess your levitated state of conciousness for the suffering Africans in those diamond (or gold or silver) mines have had you suffer to pass up on purchasing jewelry on a whole, has it? I guess poor Freddy would have been contributing to our collective vanity here in the good old usa had it not been for the Department of Justice and it's life-saving lottery, eh? Good for you, good for him. ::) The "path" I talk about that his mother chose for Him that I have the slightest bit of issues with, was passing up on all of the offers from European clubs that little Freddy was getting before the mls msl misled came knocking on their door. She claimed that she preferred for Freddy to stay in the us because she wanted him to receive an "education." He got an education alright. In PR. (and I don't mean "Puerto Rico.) Freddy's career wout have been far further advanced had he joined up with one of the youth academies that were calling for him.
Lol...
Well, I also disagree on the whole "Nike exploited him" thing. Nike saw in him a unique opportunity to latch onto a hot, young player in a sport growing in dominance. It was a smart bet at the time, that unfortunately didn't pan out. Freddy was given the opportunity to be the face of US Soccer (perhaps at too young an age) and tremendous entre into the world of both celebrity, and celebrity endorsement. By his own accord the experience has prepared him well for the global stage...and then there's that little thing about the extra dollars in his pockets too. Hardly the stuff of exploitation if you ask me.
Where I do agree with you is that the opportunity to learn and grow within the Inter Milan system 6 years ago would likely have developed his talent exponentially compared to where he is now. As much as I understand why any mother would not want to dispatch her 12-year old son and trust him to strangers half a world away...I think she received poor advice from her trusted cadre at the time.
-
The "path" I talk about that his mother chose for Him that I have the slightest bit of issues with, was passing up on all of the offers from European clubs that little Freddy was getting before the mls msl misled came knocking on their door.
FIFA does not allow the international transfer of children. That's why he had to wait until his 18th birthday to transfer to Europe.
And you still didn't explain how Nike is "exploiting" him.
BTW - since when does the Dept. of Justice run the Green Card Lottery? ???
-
I ain't exactly a big fan of Freddy himself, the path his Mother chose for him or the way that mls msl misled and nike exploited the young fella and I really think he has a whole lot of learning to catch up on.
Yes, Nike certainly exploited him.
When he came over to the States from Ghana with his family and they didn't have a pot to piss in the horrible tyrants at Nike paid him $1 million to -- that's right -- advertise soccer gear!
It's almost worse than working in the diamond mines of South Africa! Oh, the exploitation!
::)
I guess your levitated state of conciousness for the suffering Africans in those diamond (or gold or silver) mines have had you suffer to pass up on purchasing jewelry on a whole, has it? I guess poor Freddy would have been contributing to our collective vanity here in the good old usa had it not been for the Department of Justice and it's life-saving lottery, eh? Good for you, good for him. ::) The "path" I talk about that his mother chose for Him that I have the slightest bit of issues with, was passing up on all of the offers from European clubs that little Freddy was getting before the mls msl misled came knocking on their door. She claimed that she preferred for Freddy to stay in the us because she wanted him to receive an "education." He got an education alright. In PR. (and I don't mean "Puerto Rico.) Freddy's career wout have been far further advanced had he joined up with one of the youth academies that were calling for him.
Lol...
Well, I also disagree on the whole "Nike exploited him" thing. Nike saw in him a unique opportunity to latch onto a hot, young player in a sport growing in dominance. It was a smart bet at the time, that unfortunately didn't pan out. Freddy was given the opportunity to be the face of US Soccer (perhaps at too young an age) and tremendous entre into the world of both celebrity, and celebrity endorsement. By his own accord the experience has prepared him well for the global stage...and then there's that little thing about the extra dollars in his pockets too. Hardly the stuff of exploitation if you ask me.
Where I do agree with you is that the opportunity to learn and grow within the Inter Milan system 6 years ago would likely have developed his talent exponentially compared to where he is now. As much as I understand why any mother would not want to dispatch her 12-year old son and trust him to strangers half a world away...I think she received poor advice from her trusted cadre at the time.
Hear what I'm saying: I doubt seriously that nike entered into their little marriage with Freddy for benevolent reasons (no matter the $1M contract he got from nike, I'm sure they projected to earn much, much more from the deal themselves.) When Freddy was.......discovered, everybody and they momma was lining up to jump on Freddy's bandwagon (fifa and all!) and while Freddy is always going to benefit from all the hype and publicity, the people that are/were jumping on his bandwagon weren't necessarily doing it to "help Freddy"
Granted, he was "given the opportunity....to be the face of the mls" (msl misled) but even the most ardent of their fans HAD to know that, for all his prodigy, it was a responsibility that Freddy's shoulders would have been a little too narrow to take on...........at that time. I applaud the fact that Freddy has forged his way through his challenges (remember his disastrous outing at his previous appearance at a Youth World Cup in 2003) and I even give credit to his mother, but at the very least, nike was being very opportunistic (as well I expect them, adidas or any of the major "brands" manufacturers to be) in their dealings with him. I was just belching out from having drunk my nike hatorade this morning.
The "path" I talk about that his mother chose for Him that I have the slightest bit of issues with, was passing up on all of the offers from European clubs that little Freddy was getting before the mls msl misled came knocking on their door.
FIFA does not allow the international transfer of children. That's why he had to wait until his 18th birthday to transfer to Europe.
And you still didn't explain how Nike is "exploiting" him.
BTW - since when does the Dept. of Justice run the Green Card Lottery? ???
......so I guess that means there are no foreigners taking residence in any or many of the football academies around the world? Read my statement again, carefully this time, and check out your facts.
.....at the time that Freddy's Mom had won her lottery to gain entry into and resident status within this country, the lottery itself was overseen by what was then the Immigration and Naturalization Service. That department was overseen by the Department of Justice. Does that answer your question now?
-
The "path" I talk about that his mother chose for Him that I have the slightest bit of issues with, was passing up on all of the offers from European clubs that little Freddy was getting before the mls msl misled came knocking on their door.
FIFA does not allow the international transfer of children. That's why he had to wait until his 18th birthday to transfer to Europe.
And you still didn't explain how Nike is "exploiting" him.
BTW - since when does the Dept. of Justice run the Green Card Lottery? ???
1. He wasn't under MLS contract when he turned down the Milan offer along with offers from PSV, Manchester United and Chelsea. Thus 'transfer rules' would not have applied.
2. INS/ICE is aligned under Homeland Security which is itself an offshoot of the DOJ.
-
The "path" I talk about that his mother chose for Him that I have the slightest bit of issues with, was passing up on all of the offers from European clubs that little Freddy was getting before the mls msl misled came knocking on their door.
FIFA does not allow the international transfer of children. That's why he had to wait until his 18th birthday to transfer to Europe.
And you still didn't explain how Nike is "exploiting" him.
BTW - since when does the Dept. of Justice run the Green Card Lottery? ???
If Fredy and his moms/family moved to Europe at age 14, it would not have been considered an international transfer of kid. It is called relocation, like he did by moving from Ghana to the USA.
-
Hear what I'm saying: I doubt seriously that nike entered into their little marriage with Freddy for benevolent reasons (no matter the $1M contract he got from nike, I'm sure they projected to earn much, much more from the deal themselves.) When Freddy was.......discovered, everybody and they momma was lining up to jump on Freddy's bandwagon (fifa and all!) and while Freddy is always going to benefit from all the hype and publicity, the people that are/were jumping on his bandwagon weren't necessarily doing it to "help Freddy"
Granted, he was "given the opportunity....to be the face of the mls" (msl misled) but even the most ardent of their fans HAD to know that, for all his prodigy, it was a responsibility that Freddy's shoulders would have been a little too narrow to take on...........at that time. I applaud the fact that Freddy has forged his way through his challenges (remember his disastrous outing at his previous appearance at a Youth World Cup in 2003) and I even give credit to his mother, but at the very least, nike was being very opportunistic (as well I expect them, adidas or any of the major "brands" manufacturers to be) in their dealings with him. I was just belching out from having drunk my nike hatorade this morning.
Nike was opportunistic...agreed, as any smart business entity would be. To say they "exploited" him implies that there was a one-way beneficial arrangement that Nike took advantage of...simply not the case. $1million is a fair amount of money to give a 14-year old unproven commodity, and more than compensated for the opportunity cost of not going to Milan.
Indeed the arrangement and simultaneous MLS promotions cast on him an undo burden to produce...but again, this is why you surround yourself with competent advisors which I think was lacking in this case. I don't recall the specifics, but these were largely well-intentioned but inexperienced people (one a coach from his youth club, another a family friend etc.) who advised Emelia on both the Milan and Nike decisions.
-
If Fredy and his moms/family moved to Europe at age 14, it would not have been considered an international transfer of kid. It is called relocation, like he did by moving from Ghana to the USA.
I think the 'transfer' thing as originally raised by MangoChow refers to his move to Milan when the offer was made at age 12. At that time he wasn't under contract to anyone and no FIFA regulation would have restricted his movement to the club. While under contract to MLS at age 14 any transfer would have to be negotiated with the professional entity holding his rights...MLS. Regardless as to where he 'relocates' to
-
Hear what I'm saying: I doubt seriously that nike entered into their little marriage with Freddy for benevolent reasons (no matter the $1M contract he got from nike, I'm sure they projected to earn much, much more from the deal themselves.) When Freddy was.......discovered, everybody and they momma was lining up to jump on Freddy's bandwagon (fifa and all!) and while Freddy is always going to benefit from all the hype and publicity, the people that are/were jumping on his bandwagon weren't necessarily doing it to "help Freddy"
Granted, he was "given the opportunity....to be the face of the mls" (msl misled) but even the most ardent of their fans HAD to know that, for all his prodigy, it was a responsibility that Freddy's shoulders would have been a little too narrow to take on...........at that time. I applaud the fact that Freddy has forged his way through his challenges (remember his disastrous outing at his previous appearance at a Youth World Cup in 2003) and I even give credit to his mother, but at the very least, nike was being very opportunistic (as well I expect them, adidas or any of the major "brands" manufacturers to be) in their dealings with him. I was just belching out from having drunk my nike hatorade this morning.
Nike was opportunistic...agreed, as any smart business entity would be. To say they "exploited" him implies that there was a one-way beneficial arrangement that Nike took advantage of...simply not the case. $1million is a fair amount of money to give a 14-year old unproven commodity, and more than compensated for the opportunity cost of not going to Milan.
Indeed the arrangement and simultaneous MLS promotions cast on him an undo burden to produce...but again, this is why you surround yourself with competent advisors which I think was lacking in this case. I don't recall the specifics, but these were largely well-intentioned but inexperienced people (one a coach from his youth club, another a family friend etc.) who advised Emelia on both the Milan and Nike decisions.
I will hate on nike as I see fit no matter hummuch allyuh fight meh dong. Maybe the person I have been hard on most with my comments is Freddy's mother, especially where you said "....this is why you surround yourself with competent advisors...." I wonder just how much of a task it must have been, with all the attention that her son was getting, to decide within herself just who she could trust, confide in and allow to make decisions for her and (more importantly) her son. How would this lady really have known who to surround herself with?
-
Reading Hugo Sanchez comments about the Mexican League, have me thinking about our league & MLS. When asked about the Mexican players going abroad to play, Hugo stated one game in Europe is equal to 10 games in the Mexican league. Now that depends on what league in Europe, but Freddie can only gain from his move, especially if he plays in CL.
-
If Fredy and his moms/family moved to Europe at age 14, it would not have been considered an international transfer of kid. It is called relocation, like he did by moving from Ghana to the USA.
And by moving away from the USA to Italy they would have kissed their chances at U.S. citizenship goodbye just a few short years after having previously won the Green Card Lottery.
And then if Freddy didn't pan out at Inter? In fact, do you know how many of the 12 year olds in their youth team manage to actually make it all the way to the first team?
No way were they going to take that chance.
$1million is a fair amount of money to give a 14-year old unproven commodity
Well it's a hell of a lot more money than I used to make mowing my neighbors lawns at that age! ;D
-
If Fredy and his moms/family moved to Europe at age 14, it would not have been considered an international transfer of kid. It is called relocation, like he did by moving from Ghana to the USA.
And by moving away from the USA to Italy they would have kissed their chances at U.S. citizenship goodbye just a few short years after having previously won the Green Card Lottery.
And then if Freddy didn't pan out at Inter? In fact, do you know how many of the 12 year olds in their youth team manage to actually make it all the way to the first team?
No way were they going to take that chance.
It's not that serious, boss. Freddy mudder woulda jes' have to travel back to the US once every 6 months to maintain her resident status (if even THAT woulda been necessary) and I'm quite sure, given Freddy's "special" talents and subsequent "special" circumstances, his path to citizenship would not have been hindered in any way, shape or form.
Reading Hugo Sanchez comments about the Mexican League, have me thinking about our league & MLS. When asked about the Mexican players going abroad to play, Hugo stated one game in Europe is equal to 10 games in the Mexican league. Now that depends on what league in Europe, but Freddie can only gain from his move, especially if he plays in CL.
Tell that to the men that love to cry down the Portuguese league and implicate it as being so much of a lesser league than all the others.
-
Check out what Freddy has to say about the move to Portugal on his blog (which is sponsored by those exploitive slavedrivers at Nike):
Freddys Blog - I LOOOOOVE Portugal!
Things are finally done, I have officially signed with Benfica! I can not even tell you how happy I amI have tears in my eyes writing this blog right now. Playing for a BIG club Europe has been a lifelong dream of mine and its finally happened. Wow, Im speechless right now. Ive said publicly many times that I wanted to go to Europe after 4 years in the MLS, and I was able to accomplish that in 3 and a half years. It just makes me happy to know that I can accomplish anything I set my mind to, even when people were down on me and were saying negative things.
(continue) (http://www.freddyadu.com/athletestyle/wpmu/freddyadunews/2007/08/01/freddys-blog-i-looooove-portugal/#more-21)
-
I will hate on nike as I see fit no matter hummuch allyuh fight meh dong. Maybe the person I have been hard on most with my comments is Freddy's mother, especially where you said "....this is why you surround yourself with competent advisors...." I wonder just how much of a task it must have been, with all the attention that her son was getting, to decide within herself just who she could trust, confide in and allow to make decisions for her and (more importantly) her son. How would this lady really have known who to surround herself with?
I seriously doubt anyone in this thread is that interested as to "fight you down" on your Nike comments, last I checked Phil Knight wasn't on the forum, so by all means, hate on...
Freddy's mother did the best she could...still doesn't mean that more sage advise wasn't in the wanting.
-
I will hate on nike as I see fit no matter hummuch allyuh fight meh dong. Maybe the person I have been hard on most with my comments is Freddy's mother, especially where you said "....this is why you surround yourself with competent advisors...." I wonder just how much of a task it must have been, with all the attention that her son was getting, to decide within herself just who she could trust, confide in and allow to make decisions for her and (more importantly) her son. How would this lady really have known who to surround herself with?
I seriously doubt anyone in this thread is that interested as to "fight you down" on your Nike comments, last I checked Phil Knight wasn't on the forum, so by all means, hate on...
:whew: thanks for the confirmation and the clearance. The two o' allyuh had meh worried there for a while that ah mighta subsequently needed to be expectin' something in de mail from nike legal dept.
Freddy's mother did the best she could...still doesn't mean that more sage advise wasn't in the wanting.
I still wonder who she could have truly depended on to provide that to her, considering her (presumed) inexperience in dealing with this kind of matter.....
-
BENFICA 2 - 1 MARITIMO
For the third time in a month, Freddy Adu scored in the final four minutes, this time converting from close range to give ten-man Benfica the win over Maritimo.
Maritimo silenced Estadio da Luz in the eighth minute when Oliveira Kanu latched on to Ricardo Esteves' pass and expertly lobbed goalkeeper Quim.
(continue) (http://www.yanks-abroad.com/get.php?mode=content&id=3495)
-
Video of the Goal (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEGeTcmKTVY)
-
I am glad for him after he was abused in America. In normal life in America, if a parent did to him what the MLS did they would be charged with "aiding the deliquency of a minor". Hope they take good care of him there ...
-
Well done youthman. A good few weeks for Adu. Let's see how he develops from here. he's making a decent push to get more time.
Diambars..what do you mean he was 'abused' in the US?
-
I'm really glad this guy has kept his head up and doing well,i don't know if it's because he is black but people always try to find a way to discredit or put him down when he was here,at one time it was his age,the DC united Coach put him under so much pressure until he had to complain and every body find he was wrong,he made certain decisions as far as which country he should play for people found him not loyal,for a young player he has a lot to deal with,my only hope does be what ever decisions he make works for him.
-
The Key for Adu now is to get the experience of playing with other good players his age. He will get this in Portugal, it is also good that he is playing with the likes of Rui costa because they can teach him a lot.
In 3 years Adu will be the finished product and ready to play a leading role in Premiership, Spain or Italy.
What is important for him now is that he learns how to play.
he already has skills
Portugal will refine his game.
The more bench and reserve games the better because he does not want to go anywhere fast.
His career has been on super fast forward now is a good time for him to slow down and fall off the radar.
-
(http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/sp/getty/0f/fullj.getty-fbl-port-sl-benfica-maritimo.jpg)
-
(http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/sp/getty/0f/fullj.getty-fbl-port-sl-benfica-maritimo.jpg)
Freddy's changed a lot since moving to Portugal...
-
I am glad for him after he was abused in America. In normal life in America, if a parent did to him what the MLS did they would be charged with "aiding the deliquency of a minor". Hope they take good care of him there ...
but he did hook up with pop singer jojo. not really abuse if she take care of him.
(http://web.wireimage.com/images/Thumbnail/8349978.jpg)
-
Growing mash in order. Even though we all know that he growth spurt come ad gone.
-
Well done youthman. A good few weeks for Adu. Let's see how he develops from here. he's making a decent push to get more time.
Diambars..what do you mean he was 'abused' in the US?
Let stipulate that he was paid, however, to take a 14 year old kid and place the weight on his shoulder of carrying an entire pro league to me is abusive. Whe juxtapose against sweat shops in india and other place, I struggle to see the difference, expect for he was paid better. At 14 Messi, Gerrard, Owen, Robinho, Ronaldinho, Puyol, Cesc and other top players today were learning the game, they were not trying to make their perspective leagues successful. Remember, not even Becks is getting it done.
-
Well done youthman. A good few weeks for Adu. Let's see how he develops from here. he's making a decent push to get more time.
Diambars..what do you mean he was 'abused' in the US?
Let stipulate that he was paid, however, to take a 14 year old kid and place the weight on his shoulder of carrying an entire pro league to me is abusive. Whe juxtapose against sweat shops in india and other place, I struggle to see the difference, expect for he was paid better. At 14 Messi, Gerrard, Owen, Robinho, Ronaldinho, Puyol, Cesc and other top players today were learning the game, they were not trying to make their perspective leagues successful. Remember, not even Becks is getting it done.
This is nonsense...plain and simple. If those players you named were not being abused at 14, then Freddy wasn't being abused either. MLS paid Freddy $1million dollars to sit on the bench at DC United and learn the game, only difference with Fabregas et al was that they were playing academy ball while Freddy ran with the reserves and rode some pine per Peter Nowak. Nike paid him an additional amount to go to its academy in Bradenton, Fl and rub shoulders with Anna Kournikova and other young elite Nike Athletes, pick up the occasional book, and kick some ball.
Being made an instant celebrity and being asked to make a few token appearances on the league's behalf is in no way tantamount to 'abuse'. There is no other way to characterize that assertion than to call it stupid.
-
Well done youthman. A good few weeks for Adu. Let's see how he develops from here. he's making a decent push to get more time.
Diambars..what do you mean he was 'abused' in the US?
Let stipulate that he was paid, however, to take a 14 year old kid and place the weight on his shoulder of carrying an entire pro league to me is abusive. Whe juxtapose against sweat shops in india and other place, I struggle to see the difference, expect for he was paid better. At 14 Messi, Gerrard, Owen, Robinho, Ronaldinho, Puyol, Cesc and other top players today were learning the game, they were not trying to make their perspective leagues successful. Remember, not even Becks is getting it done.
yeah yeah. i see where yuh coming from. dat was really an immense amount of pressure. but he handled it well and he chose to take the opportunity knowing in theory what all the trappings were. true he was only 14, but it was up to the adults around him to guide him. it's easy to argue how difficult it would have been to turn it all down, but he had opportunities to go to Europe from early, under the radar and learn the game at a big acadamy with other youths with his level talent. in the end..he and his advisors chose the money, MLS and all the hype, pressure, fame that went with it. Fredi had choices..So maybe your sweat shop analogy is not all that close. Having said that...to even offer that to a 14 year old is a lil predatory. everyone was trying to get their piece of the small man..takes two hands to clap and both sides made their choices for better or worse. he seems to have come through it intact. let's see where he goes from here
-
Getting paid the league maximum at 14 years old! Oh, the abuse!
::)
-
Well done youthman. A good few weeks for Adu. Let's see how he develops from here. he's making a decent push to get more time.
Diambars..what do you mean he was 'abused' in the US?
Let stipulate that he was paid, however, to take a 14 year old kid and place the weight on his shoulder of carrying an entire pro league to me is abusive. Whe juxtapose against sweat shops in india and other place, I struggle to see the difference, expect for he was paid better. At 14 Messi, Gerrard, Owen, Robinho, Ronaldinho, Puyol, Cesc and other top players today were learning the game, they were not trying to make their perspective leagues successful. Remember, not even Becks is getting it done.
...to even offer that to a 14 year old is a lil predatory. everyone was trying to get their piece of the small man..
Is it predatory when Monterrey signs a Giovanni Dos Santos at 12...and then later that year sells him to Barcelona? The guy is 18 years old and already he's been in Barcelona six years, pressing for playing time now with the First Team...let's not diminish the real despair suffered by children all over the world by calling this 'abuse'.
-
Zeppo yuh know he wasn't no 14 yrs old! lol
-
Well done youthman. A good few weeks for Adu. Let's see how he develops from here. he's making a decent push to get more time.
Diambars..what do you mean he was 'abused' in the US?
Let stipulate that he was paid, however, to take a 14 year old kid and place the weight on his shoulder of carrying an entire pro league to me is abusive. Whe juxtapose against sweat shops in india and other place, I struggle to see the difference, expect for he was paid better. At 14 Messi, Gerrard, Owen, Robinho, Ronaldinho, Puyol, Cesc and other top players today were learning the game, they were not trying to make their perspective leagues successful. Remember, not even Becks is getting it done.
...to even offer that to a 14 year old is a lil predatory. everyone was trying to get their piece of the small man..
Is it predatory when Monterrey signs a Giovanni Dos Santos at 12...and then later that year sells him to Barcelona? The guy is 18 years old and already he's been in Barcelona six years, pressing for playing time now with the First Team...let's not diminish the real despair suffered by children all over the world by calling this 'abuse'.
Bakes..That analogy is not even close. Even so, I am in no way comparing what freddy experienced to real child abuse. I made that pretty clear when i disagreed with Diambars sweat shop analogy. Freddy and co. had choices to make and they made theirs. Maybe you disagree with me calling some of the treatment a 'lil' predatory'..but I think you can see by my response that I am steering clear from calling it abuse. he had to face some pressures that the typical 14 year old should not have to face and I believe that there were those who were out to a make a buck of freddy and didn't really care what it did to his psyche...but how is that even news to anyone? i don't see it in black and white..but some shade of grey.
-
Well done youthman. A good few weeks for Adu. Let's see how he develops from here. he's making a decent push to get more time.
Diambars..what do you mean he was 'abused' in the US?
Let stipulate that he was paid, however, to take a 14 year old kid and place the weight on his shoulder of carrying an entire pro league to me is abusive. Whe juxtapose against sweat shops in india and other place, I struggle to see the difference, expect for he was paid better. At 14 Messi, Gerrard, Owen, Robinho, Ronaldinho, Puyol, Cesc and other top players today were learning the game, they were not trying to make their perspective leagues successful. Remember, not even Becks is getting it done.
This is nonsense...plain and simple. If those players you named were not being abused at 14, then Freddy wasn't being abused either. MLS paid Freddy $1million dollars to sit on the bench at DC United and learn the game, only difference with Fabregas et al was that they were playing academy ball while Freddy ran with the reserves and rode some pine per Peter Nowak. Nike paid him an additional amount to go to its academy in Bradenton, Fl and rub shoulders with Anna Kournikova and other young elite Nike Athletes, pick up the occasional book, and kick some ball.
Being made an instant celebrity and being asked to make a few token appearances on the league's behalf is in no way tantamount to 'abuse'. There is no other way to characterize that assertion than to call it stupid.
It is amazing that you call my "assertion" stupid when you made my point with your assertion "...only difference with Fabregas et al was that they were playing academy ball while Freddy ran with the reserves and rode some pine per Peter Nowak." That is exactly where a 14 yr old boy shouls be learning the game. Now, you have a tendebcy to call people names wheile trying to make your point, a real intelligent person can make their point without attacking the individual and calling them names.
-
MLS teams didn't have academies when Freddy joined the league.
-
MLS teams didn't have academies when Freddy joined the league.
But he was offered the opportunity to go to Inter.
Also, Banke n Shark and others, do you all think that their might be some correlation behind that fact the talented youths such as Cesc and Messi who spent the majority of their teen learning the game are having a tremendous amount of success today?
-
MLS teams didn't have academies when Freddy joined the league.
But he was offered the opportunity to go to Inter.
Also, Banke n Shark and others, do you all think that their might be some correlation behind that fact the talented youths such as Cesc and Messi who spent the majority of their teen learning the game are having a tremendous amount of success today?
But instead of sending her 12-year-old son across the Atlantic, Freddy's mother chose to wait a couple of years more and keep him close to home, where he was able to sign for the top salary in the league and still live with his family -- something important for someone so young.
You also seem to be forgetting that for every Cesc and Messi in Europe there is the other 95% of youth players that doesn't even come close to making it to the first team. When they fail to make the grade they get discarded like yesterday's news.
And you think MLS abused him? You don't have a clue.
-
MLS teams didn't have academies when Freddy joined the league.
But he was offered the opportunity to go to Inter.
Also, Banke n Shark and others, do you all think that their might be some correlation behind that fact the talented youths such as Cesc and Messi who spent the majority of their teen learning the game are having a tremendous amount of success today?
But instead of sending her 12-year-old son across the Atlantic, Freddy's mother chose to wait a couple of years more and keep him close to home, where he was able to sign for the top salary in the league and still live with his family -- something important for someone so young.
You also seem to be forgetting that for every Cesc and Messi in Europe there is the other 95% of youth players that doesn't even come close to making it to the first team. When they fail to make the grade they get discarded like yesterday's news.
And you think MLS abused him? You don't have a clue.
When we talk about "clue" the offer was for them to pay to be in charge of his development and he would then move to Italy at age 14. Do you know how many people go to law school and do not pass the bar exam? Should that be a reason for people to stop taking the risk of paying high tuition for the chance to become lawyers? Let me tell you, he could have accepted that opportunity and his entire family move to Italy when he was fourteen and he learned the game properly. His earning potential today would have been far greater and he may have been enjoying the same status of some of the young players mentioned earlier? Whay say you ... notice I did not call anyon stupid or anything of the sort, just dealing with facts and ideas????
-
Let me tell you, he could have accepted that opportunity and his entire family move to Italy when he was fourteen and he learned the game properly. His earning potential today would have been far greater and he may have been enjoying the same status of some of the young players mentioned earlier? Whay say you ... notice I did not call anyon stupid or anything of the sort, just dealing with facts and ideas????
No, he couldn't have accepted the offer from Inter because he was only 12 at the time. His mother could have, but she chose not to. Perhaps she understood something that you do not: that only a small minority of youth players actually manage to make it to the first team. And she didn't feel like uprooting the entire family, after they had just arrived in the U.S. only a few years prior, to move to a new culture with a different language to take such a risk.
As far as his "earning potential" goes, he is making 400K per year with Benfica. I can tell you that there are very few 18-year-old players in Italy making a salary like that.
And "could have learned the game properly" is pure nonsense. Have you followed his career lately? This summer at the U-20 World Cup he scored 3 goals in 5 games was considered one of the players of the tournament. So far with Benfica he is averaging a goal every 53 minutes and the Portuguese press can't stop raving about him. I'd say that the way he has learned the game has done him alright so far.
You claim to be dealing with facts, but you sure don't know how to face them.
-
Adu heading to Monaco on loan
Freddy Adu has completed his switch to French club AS Monaco on a season-long move. The U.S. national-teamer had been on the radar of the Ligue 1 outfit for some time after learning that the 19-year-old was not part of coach Quique Snchez Flores' first-team plans at Portuguese club Benfica for the next season.
Adu failed to hold down a regular spot at Estdio da Luz during his first season in Europe, but nonetheless scored five goals during his few appearances for the club.
He has now joined the ranks of Monaco with hopes of getting more games under his belt before a possible return to the Eagles.
(continue) (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/soccer/07/21/adu.monaco/index.html)
-
(http://www.asm-fc.com/docbase/home/homuneimg.jpg)
-
Monaco boss lauds Adu
Monaco President Jerome de Bontin spares few superlatives in his excitement over landing U.S. phenom Freddy Adu on loan from Portugal's Benfica.
"He is the leading figure of a new generation of U.S. players," de Bontin says. "He is going to be an ambassador for the United States. I can picture Freddy Adu as the player to do for U.S. soccer what Greg LeMond did for U.S. cycling."
(continue) (http://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/europe/2008-07-24-adu-monaco_N.htm)
-
overrated
-
Monaco boss lauds Adu
Monaco President Jerome de Bontin spares few superlatives in his excitement over landing U.S. phenom Freddy Adu on loan from Portugal's Benfica.
"He is the leading figure of a new generation of U.S. players," de Bontin says. "He is going to be an ambassador for the United States. I can picture Freddy Adu as the player to do for U.S. soccer what Greg LeMond did for U.S. cycling."
(continue) (http://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/europe/2008-07-24-adu-monaco_N.htm)
Yeah right.like he eh see Altidor or wah.... If he shit down the place this year, he heading right back to MLS soon :rotfl:
-
(http://www.asm-fc.com/docbase/home/homuneimg.jpg)
Having two sponsors on the front of the shirt is ridiculous...plus the sleeve and the back...Adu looking like a NASCAR car...
It's time for him to start producing on the field :beermug:
-
Adu could bona fide have a complete career in Europe. Eh no doubt about that. Where, for how long and at what level? A completely diff kettle ah fish.
-
Freddy Adu, ambassador to France[/size]
AS Monaco finalized the loan deal that brings American Freddy Adu from Benfica to the French league. Jerome de Bontin, Monaco's French-American president, said Thursday that the club has an option to buy Adu for 5 million euros ($8 million) at the end of the season, and he was on the lookout to sign another American before the end of the French transfer window in August.
"He is the leading figure of a new generation of U.S. players," de Bontin said of Adu. "He is going to be an ambassador for the United States. I can picture Freddy Adu, for instance, as the one player who can do for U.S. soccer what Greg LeMond did for U.S. cycling when he won his first Tour de France. Let's be frank, U.S. soccer is unknown in France and in some ways looked down upon. Freddy and AS Monaco can change that."
(continue) (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/soccer_america/07/25/adu.monaco/)
-
(http://www.asm-fc.com/docbase/home/homuneimg.jpg)
Having two sponsors on the front of the shirt is ridiculous...plus the sleeve and the back...Adu looking like a NASCAR car...
It's time for him to start producing on the field :beermug:
What two sponsors are you talking about ?
One is the kit sponsor and the other a club sponsor....puma=kit sponsor, Fedcom=club sponsor
It's the norm commercially ...Liverpool- Adidas-,Carlsberg, Mutd- Nike,AIG, Chelsea- Adidas,Samsung, Arsenal-Nike, Emirates, AC Milan, Adidas-BWIN....etc etc
-
What two sponsors are you talking about ?
One is the kit sponsor and the other a club sponsor....puma=kit sponsor, Fedcom=club sponsor
I had linked a photo from Monaco website but they changed it. Check out this one to see what he was talking about:
(http://i2.cdn.turner.com/si/2008/writers/soccer_america/07/25/adu.monaco/p1_adu_0725.jpg)
-
clear.
my apologies 'Boss'
He does look like a Nascar driver, lol.
But nothing compared to the Mexican League-multiple sponsors on the pants, painted on the field, real madness.
I also laugh during the MLS, and moreso US national games where they have a sponsor in the top left hand corner changing every 15 mins and sometimes saying 'this portion of the game is brought to you commercial free by.....'
-
Freddy arrives in Monaco
(http://www.asm-fc.com/ImageCache/0895dc82fd6b3e03b4f5cfc427fc9e5e.jpg)
(http://www.asm-fc.com/ImageCache/721e78b4889f9aefa961244d93782bec.jpg)
(http://www.asm-fc.com/ImageCache/2e74be4d234e3ba445df08f97562db4c.jpg)
(http://www.asm-fc.com/ImageCache/93d503f2934d10fe3f8169b71140f69d.jpg)
-
MLS mess that up. :P
-
MLS mess that up. :P
Was ah bad move to sign with the MLS. He would have been better off going off to a big team and being farmed out. Now he has lost some marketability and hype, and he greedy agent make out like a bandit.
-
MLS mess that up. :P
Was ah bad move to sign with the MLS. He would have been better off going off to a big team and being farmed out. Now he has lost some marketability and hype, and he greedy agent make out like a bandit.
Calling it a bad move is a bit of an exaggeration. At 14 his mother didn't want to pawn her kid off to some foreign team, the preference was to have him stay home and mature (physically/emotionally) a bit more. Didn't hurt that he got paid $1million dollars plus an exclusive contract with Nike for his troubles. One could argue that the $750,00 deal Inter offered the family when he was 12 should have been accepted in hindsight... but that as we all know is always 20-20.
Still, he's only 19.
-
there must be some record 4 most loaned out player
-
the last game i saw he actually looked good in de midfield
he should find a club and stick with it tho
-
there must be some record 4 most loaned out player
He's on loan from Benfica... if there is a record he doesn't even come close.
-
Monaco boss lauds Adu
Monaco President Jerome de Bontin spares few superlatives in his excitement over landing U.S. phenom Freddy Adu on loan from Portugal's Benfica.
"He is the leading figure of a new generation of U.S. players," de Bontin says. "He is going to be an ambassador for the United States. I can picture Freddy Adu as the player to do for U.S. soccer what Greg LeMond did for U.S. cycling."
(continue) (http://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/europe/2008-07-24-adu-monaco_N.htm)
Hyper-hyperbole!!
When these men spend money for a player, he is always the best no matter where he rates among other players. Freddy will be a good player, but never a great one!
-
Having two sponsors on the front of the shirt is ridiculous...plus the sleeve and the back...Adu looking like a NASCAR car...
Well if the man name ADuwhat yuh expect ;D
Monaco is a side, when they ready to play, but these days they does pick and choose they games sparingly Hopefully,they decide to play this season... They was really the first french side I ever really follow for a whole season.
On another note, French league shaping up nice: look like PSG, Marseille and Bordeaux really going to give Lyon a run for the money this time around.
-
MLS mess that up. :P
Was ah bad move to sign with the MLS. He would have been better off going off to a big team and being farmed out. Now he has lost some marketability and hype, and he greedy agent make out like a bandit.
Calling it a bad move is a bit of an exaggeration. At 14 his mother didn't want to pawn her kid off to some foreign team, the preference was to have him stay home and mature (physically/emotionally) a bit more. Didn't hurt that he got paid $1million dollars plus an exclusive contract with Nike for his troubles. One could argue that the $750,00 deal Inter offered the family when he was 12 should have been accepted in hindsight... but that as we all know is always 20-20.
Still, he's only 19.
If you was Yorke Mother or family, would you had kept him in Trinidad at 16 to have him play for ah local team and get paid ah small money? Or would you have send him to a top team in Europe that would have giving him better coaching and experience of the game? I think he would have been much more marketable and today a better player, making much more money.
-
MLS mess that up. :P
Was ah bad move to sign with the MLS. He would have been better off going off to a big team and being farmed out. Now he has lost some marketability and hype, and he greedy agent make out like a bandit.
Calling it a bad move is a bit of an exaggeration. At 14 his mother didn't want to pawn her kid off to some foreign team, the preference was to have him stay home and mature (physically/emotionally) a bit more. Didn't hurt that he got paid $1million dollars plus an exclusive contract with Nike for his troubles. One could argue that the $750,00 deal Inter offered the family when he was 12 should have been accepted in hindsight... but that as we all know is always 20-20.
Still, he's only 19.
Ignoring the emotional and sentimental part of the decision making, we would have to say this was a bad decision. What he is doing now, is basically what he would have done 3-4 years ago. Learn the European system. Why yuh think they loaning him out? They don't think he's quite ready to play for Benfica. This is a business, and they made the wrong deciosn in letting him join the MLS. He has devalued his marketability and demand in Europe; you can't deny that.
-
If you was Yorke Mother or family, would you had kept him in Trinidad at 16 to have him play for ah local team and get paid ah small money? Or would you have send him to a top team in Europe that would have giving him better coaching and experience of the game? I think he would have been much more marketable and today a better player, making much more money.
Of course it's better to go ply yuh trade in Europe... but yuh can't compare York, who was 17-18 (not 16), to Freddy Adu at age 12. Especially not after his mother escaped poverty, domestic abuse and all kind of hardship in Ghana to bring him here... then turn around just a few years later and ship him off to strangers.
Ignoring the emotional and sentimental part of the decision making, we would have to say this was a bad decision. What he is doing now, is basically what he would have done 3-4 years ago. Learn the European system. Why yuh think they loaning him out? They don't think he's quite ready to play for Benfica. This is a business, and they made the wrong deciosn in letting him join the MLS. He has devalued his marketability and demand in Europe; you can't deny that.
Nothing happens in a vacuum. To say it was a 'bad' decision to keep him here in the US overlooks other genuine considerations that were made to protect him. From a business standpoint he could have gone to Europe and flamed out... there was no guarantee, other than a place at the academy, which was a year by year situation. Keeping him in the US there was an entire marketing campaign built around him, with guaranteed money behind it... $1mil a piece from both Nike and MLS. From a business standpoint the move absolutely paid off... especially since the alternative in Europe offered no guarantees.
From a footbally standpoint the development of his game was arrested. Would it have been better for his development to send him to Europe some years ago instead of now... absolutely. To say that overall it was a bad move to keep him here... I can't say that. There's good and better... not necessarily this good and bad polemic that you suggest.
-
Honestly I feel sad for Freddy because it seems his footballing destiny would never be in his hands. The world press has a way of making heroes and ultimately breaking them. A few years ago he was this 14 yr old prodigy, a must see, the future of the world game, at least from an American perspective. He was thrust into the limelight too early, paid huge sums of money and burdened with saving a dysfunctional US pro league. He did as any youngster would do when saddled with such a responsibility when placed in an adult world. He rebelled when coaches tried breaking him in slowly because he bought in to the hype. He wanted playing time. Then there were those who were jealous of his success and his paycheck and did everything intheir power to hurt him verbally and physically on the field. What a life for someone who was'nt even old enough to drive then. I was reading recently while abroad that he was bought by Benfica and he was so happy to escape the US and have a new lease on life but here we go again. He is being loaned to Monaco. A player is only loaned when he is surplus to the club. So why buy him in the first place? What message is being sent to the kid really? He may or may not end up being a disillusioned adult who fame ultimately destroys and that would be so sad. He never asked for all that. I pray that it does'nt.
-
If you was Yorke Mother or family, would you had kept him in Trinidad at 16 to have him play for ah local team and get paid ah small money? Or would you have send him to a top team in Europe that would have giving him better coaching and experience of the game? I think he would have been much more marketable and today a better player, making much more money.
Of course it's better to go ply yuh trade in Europe... but yuh can't compare York, who was 17-18 (not 16), to Freddy Adu at age 12. Especially not after his mother escaped poverty, domestic abuse and all kind of hardship in Ghana to bring him here... then turn around just a few years later and ship him off to strangers.
Well he mother and them geh they green card and citizenship off all ah that ah hear, after the hype about him being a phenom, Nike and who else sign him. With his talent he mother should of let him go to Europe...deh will ah still give she thee green card.
-
Well he mother and them geh they green card and citizenship off all ah that ah hear, after the hype about him being a phenom, Nike and who else sign him. With his talent he mother should of let him go to Europe...deh will ah still give she thee green card.
Nah de mother didn't get her green card because of him. His dad used to abuse her, when he cared enough to be around, so she scooped Freddy and his siblings (he's the eldest, then there is his brother Fro, and I think one other child) and with the help of relatives fled to the US. She worked for years as a domestic, and with the help of her employers was able to get asylum... probably claiming that her life was in danger if she went back. I was living in DC back then but can't remember the story that well. I really don't think the green card thing was any consideration, since her hopes for such weren't built around him...
At any rate I remember thinking at the time (2001) that it was a bold move to turn down the $750k that Inter had offered, but familiy is everything to that woman and she wasn't about to send her first-born... a child at that overseas like that. Footballing wise it hurt him, but who knows what further harm she shielded him from. We tend to hear about the success stories of kids at these academies, but we don't hear the horror stories. I really can't fault her even with the benefit of hindsight.
Sammy D yuh make some excellent points...
-
Well he mother and them geh they green card and citizenship off all ah that ah hear, after the hype about him being a phenom, Nike and who else sign him. With his talent he mother should of let him go to Europe...deh will ah still give she thee green card.
Nah de mother didn't get her green card because of him. His dad used to abuse her, when he cared enough to be around, so she scooped Freddy and his siblings (he's the eldest, then there is his brother Fro, and I think one other child) and with the help of relatives fled to the US. She worked for years as a domestic, and with the help of her employers was able to get asylum... probably claiming that her life was in danger if she went back. I was living in DC back then but can't remember the story that well. I really don't think the green card thing was any consideration, since her hopes for such weren't built around him...
At any rate I remember thinking at the time (2001) that it was a bold move to turn down the $750k that Inter had offered, but familiy is everything to that woman and she wasn't about to send her first-born... a child at that overseas like that. Footballing wise it hurt him, but who knows what further harm she shielded him from. We tend to hear about the success stories of kids at these academies, but we don't hear the horror stories. I really can't fault her even with the benefit of hindsight.
Sammy D yuh make some excellent points...
That could of buy she ah whole new life. ;D If family is everything to her, then she could ah go with him after they became neutralized by immigration. Ah hope she ent worried no more because ah nice lil piece ah money like that, could ah take away thee fears from me real quick deh Shark's. Ent?
-
That could of buy she ah whole new life. ;D If family is everything to her, then she could ah go with him after they became neutralized by immigration. Ah hope she ent worried no more because ah nice lil piece ah money like that, could ah take away thee fears from me real quick deh Shark's. Ent?
Boy when I see dey pass up dat I was real surprised yes... but say what. Dey living nice doh, Freddy buy she ah big house up in Potomac and she eh really have tuh worry about money right now... plus he doing he thing in Europe. He'll definitely not suffer for work for a number of years... whether he becomes the star that people projected him to be that's another question. I personally don't see the skill set there, but he has pace and a decent finish... lesser players have gotten by with just that, so we'll see.
-
Freddy go be ok, he a good confident playerand this loan go be good for him. Man recently a good youth WC now in the Sr team pool.
Making money playing in the french league, family set, it could be a whole lot worst.
Bakes think she might have gotten it through the green card lottery.
-
Football's forgotten superstar (http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/chrisbevan/2009/11/freddy_adu_footballs_forgotten.html)
Post categories: Football
Chris Bevan | 17:00 UK time, Wednesday, 11 November 2009
Remember Freddy Adu? Of course you do. In 2004, he was the 14-year-old who was seen as the future of the game in the United States and a potential new global star. The subject of gargantuan hype when he made his Major League Soccer bow in April of that year for DC United, Adu still holds records as the youngest player and goalscorer in the MLS's short history and is also the youngest player to appear for the senior US team.
The chances are you caught more than a fleeting glimpse of Adu in those early days. His name was everywhere on the internet, as were highlights of his goalscoring exploits for DC and for the US in Fifa youth tournaments. On the pitch, he was raw but also fast and skilful - off it, he was commercial gold and a $1m sponsorship deal with Nike was among several endorsement deals that swiftly followed.
Five years on, it is an awful lot harder to see him in action, unless you fancy a replay of those YouTube clips. Cruelly dubbed 'Freddy Adieu' by some, Adu has had a frustrating time since moving to Europe two years ago but, as I found out, any shortcomings he might have as a player are not the only reasons why his career has stalled.
(http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/chrisbevan/adub595.jpg)
Adu has not had much to celebrate since moving to Portugal in 2007
Adu is now 20, an age where most players are just starting to make a name for themselves. Conversely, his biggest problem is that he has been famous since he was a boy and, whatever your thoughts are on his ability, that reputation - not to mention marketability - has arguably hindered his development more than helped it.
In 2006, all seemed well. Adu made his senior international debut at the age of 16, coming on as a substitute for the US against Canada in January, and, despite rumours of a fall-out with DC coach Peter Nowak over his best position and his lack of application in training, the attacking midfielder played in all 32 of their league matches before featuring in the MLS All-Star game for the best individual performers that season.
By the end of that year, he had a brief spell training with Manchester United before, perhaps surprisingly, joining another MLS franchise, Real Salt Lake City. The following summer, he turned 18, allowing him to make his dream move to Europe and join Portuguese giants Benfica for around 1m. Sadly for Adu, this is where his career began to unravel.
He played just 129 minutes of league football for Benfica in 2007/08, with his only two starts for the club coming in cup games, and was loaned to French side Monaco for 2008/09 - again, he hardly featured, except from off the bench. This summer, he asked for another loan move and almost joined Danish side Odense before moving across Lisbon to Belenenses, a club that are perhaps a bit like Adu - a big name but have had a few lean years.
It was at this point that I tried to track Adu down. I know I'm not the only one interested in his progress, or lack of it - at the last count his Twitter account had more than 135,000 followers - and it was through one of his Tweets that I found out my interview request had been successful.
Not that I managed to speak to him. Instead, I received a fax of two sides of neatly-written A4 paper containing the answers to the questions I had emailed his club. Not ideal, as normally it is difficult to grasp the character of a player without talking to him. However, in Adu's case, two things still shine through - optimism and determination.
He needs those qualities too. Adu's move to Belenenses has brought him more frustration rather than the game-time which he craved. Although this season has seen him make his first league start since moving to Europe, when he faced Nacional on 12 October, he has only made two other substitute appearances and, of late, he has struggled to even make their 18-man match-day squad even though his new club are third-bottom of Liga Sagres with just one win all season.
This, clearly, was not part of the plan. As Adu told me last week, he joined Beleneses "because I needed to be on a team that gave me the best chance of playing consistently and because it gives me the best chance of making the US team for next summer's World Cup. I can make the World Cup team if I play regularly here and well."
(http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/chrisbevan/aduc595.jpg)
Adu made his senior US debut against Canada at the age of 16
Therein lies the problem - it's not that Adu is playing badly, simply that he doesn't play often enough. The finals in South Africa are only eight months away and he won't earn a place on the plane by sitting on the bench. So what has gone wrong? American players have struggled to make an impact in Europe before but why is Adu having such a tough time in relatively modest surroundings?
"I'm not sure why," he said. "How any player does depends on your team and the league you are playing on. The Portguese style fits my game because it is about technique and is not too overly physical. But some players thrive under certain coaches and some don't because of the way they are used.
"Every team I go to kind of expects me to be a superstar and dominate but I am very young and still learning. I guess that's what comes of having a big name when you are young."
It's not all bad news. Adu told me he has no problems speaking or understanding Portuguese and most of the time he has his mother, Emelia, to keep him company in Lisbon. Then there is Twitter - his very own online support network, where he is in touch with old US-team-mates like Jozy Altidore, DaMarcus Beasley and Stuart Holden, not to mention his thousands of fans.
Adu, who was born in Ghana but moved to the US at the age of eight when Emelia won an immigration lottery, explained: "My mother is still the biggest influence on my career because she knows me best and always gives me the best advice when things are going well and when things are not going well - she always points me in the right direction. And my fans on Twitter are great. They always keep me positive no matter what. Those are true fans and I appreciate them so much."
If only more people had looked out for Adu, he might not be in his current predicament. Could, or should, the MLS have nurtured him better rather than effectively using him as a marketing tool? He certainly brought new levels of interest to the game in the States, but I struggle to see how any of that attention truly benefited Adu's career, other than financially.
It is ironic that, at the same time Adu - the one-time 'saviour' of US Soccer - left the US in 2007, David Beckham arrived on those shores to become the new face of the game in the States. The timing was a coincidence but the current thinking from those promoting the MLS seems to be that there is no point trying to develop your own superstar when you can just ship in a ready-made one.
As for Adu's next move? Well, it is too late to give him what he should have received - tutelage at an academy of one of Europe's biggest clubs where he could have quietly had the schooling his undoubted talents deserved. What he needs now is time on the field, and to perform well when he gets it.
(http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/chrisbevan/adu595.jpg)
Adu trained with Manchester United at the end of 2006
That looks unlikely to happen at Benfica, where he is under contract until 2012, but he will have to be careful when speaking to prospective suitors. I'm told that the reason Monaco signed him was that their French-American president Jerome de Bontin spotted a marketing opportunity but the club's manager Ricardo did not want him - and used him accordingly. A move back to the MLS might help but Adu is not ready to give up on his European adventure just yet, and could even end up on these shores.
"I LOVE-E-E the Premier League," Adu told me. "Playing in England is my ultimate goal. My favourite players are Wayne Rooney, Frank Lampard, Michael Essien, Didier Drogba and Steven Gerrard. Everything I'm doing now and have been doing is to prepare myself for the Premier League. If it were up to me, I would be playing there now but there are work permit issues."
Regardless of where Adu ends up next, it is surely too early to write him off. His recent displays against players his own age at the 2007 Under-20 World Cup and Beijing Olympics in 2008, where he scored four goals in three games, suggest he still has plenty to offer.
What he needs more than anything is a club where he is appreciated - if there were such a thing as a Twitter FC, it would be ideal.
You can follow Chris Bevan on Twittter at: http://twitter.com/chrisbevan_bbc
-
A marketting ploy that the MLS used that backfired on freddy,they should have allowed him go to AC MILAN for his development.
-
"Therein lies the problem - it's not that Adu is playing badly, simply that he doesn't play often enough."
I thought if you play well barring injury you would get more opportunities to play.....Strange.
-
Freddy needs to holding until the U-17s become the full senior team, by then the style of play would have changed for the US and he will not be seen as a liability on the field any more.
-
"Therein lies the problem - it's not that Adu is playing badly, simply that he doesn't play often enough."
I thought if you play well barring injury you would get more opportunities to play.....Strange.
Not necessarily, there's also the issue of the dimension of one's play.
-
"Therein lies the problem - it's not that Adu is playing badly, simply that he doesn't play often enough."
or could it be that while he is not playing bably.... the truth is that he is really not that good ?..
IMHO: I think he buss out too early.. (just like plenty players I know), the American media found an avenue to write something pleasent about soccer.. and they over hype this yute.....
Not even sure he can make that US 2010 team...
keep ya head up bredda
-
"Therein lies the problem - it's not that Adu is playing badly, simply that he doesn't play often enough."
I thought if you play well barring injury you would get more opportunities to play.....Strange.
Not necessarily, there's also the issue of the dimension of one's play.
But at different clubs as well.
-
A marketting ploy that the MLS used that backfired on freddy,they should have allowed him go to AC MILAN for his development.
"they" meaning who? because the only person who stopped him from going to Inter (not Milan) for $750K was his mother, who understandably didn't want to send her 12-year old child away, especially not after what they had been thru in order to get to the US.
-
A marketting ploy that the MLS used that backfired on freddy,they should have allowed him go to AC MILAN for his development.
"they" meaning who? because the only person who stopped him from going to Inter (not Milan) for $750K was his mother, who understandably didn't want to send her 12-year old child away, especially not after what they had been thru in order to get to the US.
Maybe so but regardless playing in the MLS hinder his development as a player. Frankly, it give the man to much hype for a very young age. That's what I think.
-
Maybe so but regardless playing in the MLS hinder his development as a player. Frankly, it give the man to much hype for a very young age. That's what I think.
I never said playing in MLS was good for him... I simply that I could understand why his mother didn't want to send him away.
-
"Therein lies the problem - it's not that Adu is playing badly, simply that he doesn't play often enough."
I thought if you play well barring injury you would get more opportunities to play.....Strange.
How much minutes Latas play in the world cup as opposed to Theobald?
-
Freddy will be on the US side for South Africa and if he plays he will make an impact. he is an Africa he will be well suported their.
He is a good player.
Most of the european teams fight him down maybe because he is an american premadona.
As long as he keep his simle on his face when given his chance he will take it.
-
Touches are you Zeppo in disguise?
-
Timing is everything
Yahoo Sports
American soccer's million-dollar baby saw his World Cup dream extinguished on Tuesday, a full month before the sport's greatest showpiece has even begun.
Based on how Freddy Adu's career has faltered in recent years, it was no shock that he was left off the United States' preliminary World Cup roster, ensuring him a summer spent in front of a television screen instead of packed stadiums in South Africa.
Yet given the outlandish projections made for Adu in 2003 when, as a 13-year-old, he was handed a million-dollar endorsement deal with Nike and touted as the future of the national team the decline has been both sad and dramatic.
By now, according to the experts, Adu was supposed to be one of the best players in the world the first American to become a global star. Instead, he is floundering in the lowly regarded Greek league, and Tuesday's announcement means U.S. head coach Bob Bradley does not even rate him among this country's 30 best players.
Adu's backstory used to resemble the first few chapters of a fairy tale but is now little more than a cautionary tale against overhyping young phenomena. He emigrated to the States from Ghana as an 8-year-old after his mother won the Green Card lottery, and was quickly spotted in the junior ranks in Maryland.
Observers could barely believe their eyes when witnessing such skills in one so young, and the soccer world soon caught on. Giant Italian club Inter Milan offered him a contract as a 10-year-old. US Soccer chiefs positively salivated at the prospect of a future superstar.
In 2004, Adu made U.S. sports history by becoming the top overall pick in the Major League Soccer draft and making his debut for D.C. United at age 14. In hindsight, such acceleration into the senior ranks smacks of madness. Back then, it was seen as merely the first stepping stone on the path to greatness.
Growing up in the spotlight didn't do Adu much good, with the big contract, big expectations and constant scrutiny weighing heavily on his shoulders.
Since 2006, he has resembled a soccer nomad, bouncing from D.C. to Real Salt Lake and then Benfica, the Portuguese club that retains his rights but has now farmed him out on loan to three separate clubs in three years. Some positive performances for the national team in age-restricted events were interspersed, in the Under 20 World Cup in 2007 and the Beijing Olympics (where most players must be 23 or younger) the following year.
The regular spot on the senior team never came, a decision effectively taken out of the hands of Bradley by Adu's failure to lock down regular playing time for his European clubs.
Back when the draw for the World Cup was made in December, Adu still retained some hope of being selected for Bradley's squad.
"I'm gonna say something right now," he wrote on his Twitter account. "I have never wanted to be a part of something as bad as I wanna be in this World Cup. Work and prayer."
This year's World Cup was earmarked as Adu's time to stamp his mark on the world game. From that time years earlier, when Nike hurled cash in his direction and his future looked golden, there was always an eye on 2010.
The 2006 World Cup was seen as too soon. This one, on the African continent of his birth, was perfect.
In the end, it just wasn't to be. The culmination of that plan did not take place in Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg, where the United States will meet England on June 12. It was instead in Adu's club apartment in Thessaloniki, with the announcement of a roster that didn't feature his name. Back to the drawing board.
So where did it all go wrong for Adu? Were the hype and expectations too much to handle? Or was he just never destined for stardom?
"It is difficult when young players do not have enough time to develop, when too much is asked too soon," said Hector Cuper, a well-respected Argentinean coach now in charge of Adu's Greek team, Aris. "Extra time allows for a more well-rounded game. He has ability, we can all see that."
Yet if Adu is ever to ascend to the heights he still dreams of, it will be a grind through the ranks and a constant battle to overturn perception of him as a bust. European soccer is a cutthroat world, and there won't be anything easy about it.
"I want to be one of the best players to play this sport one day," Adu said in a recent interview with Sports Illustrated. "I still have the chance to do that, and I want to work hard to get there."
"Getting there" is no longer a given. Recent signs have been reasonable, with some solid performances for Aris taking him to the brink of the 30-man U.S. squad after he was barely in contention months earlier. However, there is still a long and uncertain way to go.
"Freddy is still young and he will tell you there are things along the way he did right and things he did wrong," Bradley said. "Now he has to take all those things to the situation he is in and show he is continuing to grow."
Adu's Twitter account was silent early Tuesday, perhaps a reflection of the bitter disappointment he must have seen coming.
Freddy Adu is 20 years old and he feels like yesterday's man. Maybe his time will still come, but it won't be this summer.
-
The 'debut' on the continent of his birth would have been nice
Whapm dey in troot?
-
frankly i don't care.
and i doh believe freddy is only 20 either. probably more like 25 and could get lock up for fraternising with jojo when she was bout 15 a few years ago.
more like him - http://highschool.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1083689
-
That could be his real age. We have a fella on our ODP team that clearly is 15, however last region camp they found out he is even younger than he was saying. He was playing as a 97 in 96 age group, but he is actually 98. The fella is massive and full of muscles.
-
frankly i don't care.
and i doh believe freddy is only 20 either. probably more like 25 and could get lock up for fraternising with jojo when she was bout 15 a few years ago.
more like him - http://highschool.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1083689
:devil: :devil:
-
If he had chosen to play for Ghana, I am pretty sure the outcome would have been different. :-\
Big Up!
-
Timing is everything
Martin Rogers, Yahoo! Sports
American soccer's million-dollar baby saw his World Cup dream extinguished on Tuesday, a full month before the sport's greatest showpiece has even begun.
Based on how Freddy Adu's career has faltered in recent years, it was no shock that he was left off the United States' preliminary World Cup roster, ensuring him a summer spent in front of a television screen instead of packed stadiums in South Africa.
Yet given the outlandish projections made for Adu in 2003 when, as a 13-year-old, he was handed a million-dollar endorsement deal with Nike and touted as the future of the national team the decline has been both sad and dramatic.
By now, according to the experts, Adu was supposed to be one of the best players in the world the first American to become a global star. Instead, he is floundering in the lowly regarded Greek league, and Tuesday's announcement means U.S. head coach Bob Bradley does not even rate him among this country's 30 best players.
Adu's backstory used to resemble the first few chapters of a fairy tale but is now little more than a cautionary tale against overhyping young phenomena. He emigrated to the States from Ghana as an 8-year-old after his mother won the Green Card lottery, and was quickly spotted in the junior ranks in Maryland.
Observers could barely believe their eyes when witnessing such skills in one so young, and the soccer world soon caught on. Giant Italian club Inter Milan offered him a contract as a 10-year-old. US Soccer chiefs positively salivated at the prospect of a future superstar.
In 2004, Adu made U.S. sports history by becoming the top overall pick in the Major League Soccer draft and making his debut for D.C. United at age 14. In hindsight, such acceleration into the senior ranks smacks of madness. Back then, it was seen as merely the first stepping stone on the path to greatness.
Growing up in the spotlight didn't do Adu much good, with the big contract, big expectations and constant scrutiny weighing heavily on his shoulders.
Since 2006, he has resembled a soccer nomad, bouncing from D.C. to Real Salt Lake and then Benfica, the Portuguese club that retains his rights but has now farmed him out on loan to three separate clubs in three years. Some positive performances for the national team in age-restricted events were interspersed, in the Under 20 World Cup in 2007 and the Beijing Olympics (where most players must be 23 or younger) the following year.
The regular spot on the senior team never came, a decision effectively taken out of the hands of Bradley by Adu's failure to lock down regular playing time for his European clubs.
Back when the draw for the World Cup was made in December, Adu still retained some hope of being selected for Bradley's squad.
"I'm gonna say something right now," he wrote on his Twitter account. "I have never wanted to be a part of something as bad as I wanna be in this World Cup. Work and prayer."
This year's World Cup was earmarked as Adu's time to stamp his mark on the world game. From that time years earlier, when Nike hurled cash in his direction and his future looked golden, there was always an eye on 2010.
The 2006 World Cup was seen as too soon. This one, on the African continent of his birth, was perfect.
In the end, it just wasn't to be. The culmination of that plan did not take place in Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg, where the United States will meet England on June 12. It was instead in Adu's club apartment in Thessaloniki, with the announcement of a roster that didn't feature his name. Back to the drawing board.
So where did it all go wrong for Adu? Were the hype and expectations too much to handle? Or was he just never destined for stardom?
"It is difficult when young players do not have enough time to develop, when too much is asked too soon," said Hector Cuper, a well-respected Argentinean coach now in charge of Adu's Greek team, Aris. "Extra time allows for a more well-rounded game. He has ability, we can all see that."
Yet if Adu is ever to ascend to the heights he still dreams of, it will be a grind through the ranks and a constant battle to overturn perception of him as a bust. European soccer is a cutthroat world, and there won't be anything easy about it.
"I want to be one of the best players to play this sport one day," Adu said in a recent interview with Sports Illustrated. "I still have the chance to do that, and I want to work hard to get there."
"Getting there" is no longer a given. Recent signs have been reasonable, with some solid performances for Aris taking him to the brink of the 30-man U.S. squad after he was barely in contention months earlier. However, there is still a long and uncertain way to go.
"Freddy is still young and he will tell you there are things along the way he did right and things he did wrong," Bradley said. "Now he has to take all those things to the situation he is in and show he is continuing to grow."
Adu's Twitter account was silent early Tuesday, perhaps a reflection of the bitter disappointment he must have seen coming.
Freddy Adu is 20 years old and he feels like yesterday's man. Maybe his time will still come, but it won't be this summer.
-
Much Adu about nothing... as recently as three years ago Freddy was wining all over de field in Canada at the U-20 World Cup. People juss fixated on this as though this is some big "Fall from Grace" as Royal have it titled in ah next thread. Yuh can't "fall" from hype. And yuh certainly can't hate de man because Nike, the USSF and MLS hype him tuh death in order to sell jerseys and tickets.
Adu's biggest problem is that he's gone to clubs who either had no clue how to use him (Real Salt Lake), were reluctant to use him (Novak thought he was too precocious at DC) or had different ideas on how to use him...within the organization (his European clubs). "Different ideas" b/c he played for two or three coaches at Benfica ... transferred (or loaned?) to Monaco only to be met by the same fate. Where is he now Sweden? Him not making the team has more to do with the lack of playing time than with lack of ability.
Not to make excuses for him, I'm sure he has his own part to play in his situation... but his professional circumstances have been less than ideal to date and it probably points to poor management by both club and agents. It's unlikely that his international allegiances would have changed his professional circumstances any.
-
Much Adu about nothing... as recently as three years ago Freddy was wining all over de field in Canada at the U-20 World Cup. People juss fixated on this as though this is some big "Fall from Grace" as Royal have it titled in ah next thread. Yuh can't "fall" from hype. And yuh certainly can't hate de man because Nike, the USSF and MLS hype him tuh death in order to sell jerseys and tickets.
Adu's biggest problem is that he's gone to clubs who either had no clue how to use him (Real Salt Lake), were reluctant to use him (Novak thought he was too precocious at DC) or had different ideas on how to use him...within the organization (his European clubs). "Different ideas" b/c he played for two or three coaches at Benfica ... transferred (or loaned?) to Monaco only to be met by the same fate. Where is he now Sweden? Him not making the team has more to do with the lack of playing time than with lack of ability.
Not to make excuses for him, I'm sure he has his own part to play in his situation... but his professional circumstances have been less than ideal to date and it probably points to poor management by both club and agents. It's unlikely that his international allegiances would have changed his professional circumstances any.
Good analysis Bakes!
-
Good analysis Bakes!
Every summer as international competition picks up so too does the talk about how far Freddy has fallen... or how he ent playing to potential. You'd think people would know the story inside out by now. That said, he needs to make the most of the situation in Greece... if not he might want to pack he bags and come kick ball fuh MLS again. At least he'll get consistent run here.
-
He may have benefitted from moving overseas and gradually learning how to play with players his own age versus playing against grown as men. But who knows why one choice was made over another and if a similar choice would be made today. I also don't think the MLS and American Soccer people did enough to protect him as a youth the same way youths are supported in the other 4 big sports.
-
Adu is very good at what he does. Problem is....he not the best at it, and when he goes to clubs that have seasoned players in these creative, floating, get de ball to him roles, Freddy has to adjust and go outside his comfort zone. All the US youth teams that he has starred on he has had this role which showcases his talents. Not sure he has the physical attributes or the determination to work through this and maybe get better at other, more workmanlike, structured roles, but he sure as hell not walking into any reasonably good club and being given that " messi " role just so. Good luck to him though, I think he is a very good talent and has shown this against very good players and and some seasoned pros in the u-20 world cup. :beermug:
-
Like I have always said, Freedy is not a safe enough player for the Senior National team.
-
Bradley should have taken Adu to the cup he will probably be a key guy for the US in 2014 and he would have benfitted from the experience.
It is not like the US is overflowing with attacking midfielders who are good with the ball to feet.
At least one spot on the team is for the youth who can start the next time around.
Beside Adu I not sure who could fill that spot.
-
At least one spot on the team is for the youth who can start the next time around.
Beside Adu I not sure who could fill that spot.
Torres.
-
and i doh believe freddy is only 20 either. probably more like 25 and could get lock up for fraternising with jojo when she was bout 15 a few years ago.
more like him - http://highschool.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1083689
So then what exactly was Freddy's motivation for faking his age?
-
I hear Freddy eyeing a stint with Joe Public.
-
Chups.....he like the US team and their supporters......all hype and nothing behind it...... ::) ::)
-
(http://cdn.majorleaguesoccertalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/adu1.jpg)
-
freddy awho?
-
the Yankee sellout boi who country of birth knockout he U.S.A,WHY WE EVEN TALKING ABOUT THAT PUNK
-
He may have benefitted from moving overseas and gradually learning how to play with players his own age versus playing against grown as men. But who knows why one choice was made over another and if a similar choice would be made today. I also don't think the MLS and American Soccer people did enough to protect him as a youth the same way youths are supported in the other 4 big sports.
Isn't that ironic tho? the hype about Freddy was that he was so far ahead of peeps his age that he was gonna be a wunderkind and was capable of playing with the better players and besides most kids improve by playing against older better players. Regardless of the hype he still is a talented lil player but I'd have to say he has been a victim of poor coaching because it seems his game has not grown and he's been left behind ... he has to step up and work harder.