Freddy Adu to be a starter for DC

[usasoccerboy]

This is crunch time for Freddy Adu. He needs to show Bruce Arena that he can be a challenging forward in the MLS as a starter. If he has a successfull april, Arena will call him in to the USA camp in May, and how he does in those last pre world cup games will determine if he makes the roster.

I am going out on a limb and will say that he will make the team.

Now, let get all the england butt kissers and the jealous high school soccer kids calling me crazy.

I predicted Adu's career when he was 14 and I said that this is exactly how it would happen. I didn't think he would be capped by now, but predicted he would get his first in May of 2006. But, in that Canada game this year, he wasn't supposed to get in the game, but did due to other injuries, so I wasn't that far off.

Freddy turns 17 on June 2.

[lvrpoolfan11]

I think Freddy is a great player, don;t get me wrong. But there are players like him all over the world, in every contry. Just look at Brazil, lots of young players are just as good if not better. I think he gets the publicity because he is in a big market, America. However, I think he will be great, but no Pele or Maradona.

[usasoccerboy]

You say other players are better.

Can you give me an example of one?

Adu has a lot of growning up left. He needs in my opinion to grow up physically to be able to make a difference at this level.

It seems, to me, the USA has a bunch of players who are quick and agile but weak physically. These would include guys like Adu, Beasely, Convey, and Donovan. Donovan is the one who is starting to get more physical in his game and that adds to his range as a player, but then again, he is the oldest and most experienced of the players I have listed. He has had the most time, and time is what these players need to really show the world what they are capable of.

Adu though, to make that run that fans are hoping for, has to occur this month. If he scores enough goals, then Arena will have to call him in to camp.

And even with the roster of experienced players that the USA has, not one on the roster has his skills. Remember, Arena brought a young and inexperienced Beasely to Japorea and Landon was also sort of a newbie as well in Japorea. Both were very young, so there is precedent from Arena where he will take young talent to the game.

I am hoping Marvell Wynne can show as well and maybe prove he is capable, but he has not played one professional game yet, so we don't know, but if you compare what he did to Adu at the U20 world cup, then Wynne should be starting for the senior MNT right now.

Just put it this way. What is going to happen now for the next two months is going to really shake up what many perceive to be as the final MNT roster for Germany. Injuries will probably happen as well.

[lvrpoolfan11]

Lionel Messi for one. There are always players like Adu, when they are young. He's good, just not unusually good. It's happened before and will happen again.

[usasoccerboy]

Sure, phenoms will always come along.

Adu, really has no chance of making the national team, because Arena is in no way going to really even think about taking him unless he has a good april. But, in terms of going forward, there are not many better than him in the USA system, so it might seem crazy, but crazier things have happened. Even if he made the roster, it would be tough to get him in a game like Pele in 58 or even an Owen in 98. The problem is that Adu is only 17, like Pele was, but Pele had brazillians around him. Big difference. Owen was 18 so he had an extra year of development.

Adu is going to have a solid career. I will bet anyone on that. He is not some run of the mill prospect.

The kid is still 16. This is when guys like Convey and Donovan got their starts. Freddy already has two years experience on them.

I will say this. I don't see other 16 year olds with the experience like Adu has.

[ronaldo11]

For me, the main problem with Freddy Adu is the weight of expectation that everybody now has for him. I dont expect him to be 'phenom' at all, but if he ever does start to play very well, it wont be for at least another 4-5 years. He stands out because there's no one else that's even close to being like him for America. Its 'mostly' hype.

In terms of making the world cup squad, I would still take him, simply for the experience, although I doubt that I'd ever play him, unless it was absolutely necessary. Its like Ronaldo in 1994, and Kaka in 2002; they hardly played at all (if any) but at least they had that experience. It has worked wonders for Ronaldo, and Kaka's not doing too badly either.

Leo Messi will turn 19 during the world cup. He's had a great season already, but even at the back of the previous season, he made a few appearances as a sub and looked so strong. Cesc Fabregas will turn 19 just before the world cup, but he's had 2 years of playing in a top quality team, and he's never looked out of place. As a 15 year old, getting best player and top goalscorer in the fifa youth championship was huge accolade. Wayne Rooney, at the age of 16, was scoring goals for Everton...including that goal against Arsenal which was fantastic.

I just think that Adu's not had anything like the experience that the above players I've mentioned. Obviously he has still got a lot of years ahead of him to grow, but I just dont think he will be an asset to the MNT. He definitely wouldnt be affective as a striker yet, but in terms of left wing, USA has players like DMB, Bobby Convey and Eddie Lewis who have all had great seasons playing at a higher standard than the MLS.

My prediction is that Adu will only go if there's a space left, due to injuries.

[d1d5fan]

usasoccerboy said:

I will say this. I don't see other 16 year olds with the experience like Adu has.

Theo Walcott. He was a 16 year old starter for southhampton in the English Championship who I believe has just been bought by Arsenal. That is some experience. He is on English youth national team. Im suprised that when it comes to 16 year olds, we really only hear about Adu. Id like to hear about some of the other young phenoms around the world besides Adu.

[lvrpoolfan11]

thats exactly what I'm trying to say ronaldo 11, thank you.

[bignasty]

Wayne Rooney. (to add another example of a young kid bursting on the scene)

But Adu is a great player. Only fools and haters didn't see Adu's future as being bright, so don't pat yourself on the back too much usasoccerboy.

And lvrpoolfan, you're definitely right about there being players like Adu around the globe, but he's the first in America. So, of course he'll get the publicity.

Personally, I love Adu, and I hope he reaches his potential.

[usasoccerboy]

Adu, today no goals, 2 assists.

Didn't get to see it, ...

but when an ineffective Brian Ching against Germany, can score 4 goals, that doesn't say much for the MLS.

I am not asking for a pat on the back. I still think I am going out on the deep end thinking Adu really has a shot at making it and somehow he will do it.

I do agree with your reasoning that if he did make the squad, he more than likely would be going for the experience of the trip for when he will be there next time at the old veteran age of 21.

I remember Rooney's first game. It was awesome to watch. If I remember correctly he came on after 60-75 minutes, and scored a brilliant shot.

The difference between Adu and Rooney, is Adu made his debut at 14, and now is at the age of Rooney's debut, so at this point, in terms of experience, Adu is in front of Rooney, becausen he has 2 years experience over Rooney, albeit in the MLS. Adu has not played in europe yet, but he has played in a U20 (2?) and a U17 world cup. It feels like a long time since that day for Rooney in his everton debut. So, give Adu that long of period of time, and then we can compare how they did at the beginning of their careers.

Adu, still looks small, but in terms of taking on defenders 1v1, only Donovan and Dempsey, seem to be as willing and as capable as Adu in the USA roster.

Good points though about the left side depth in the USA making it less likely, but just like Armas went down before 2002, anything can happen to give a guy like Mastroeni a chance and in the moment, and give them a beginning to a successfull career.

[lvrpoolfan11]

I hope he does reach his potential, and I think he will be great, but he's not going to be some sort of player who gets a hatter every game and scores at will, like many people think. I agree with what you both said.

[ronaldo11]

In terms of experience, "albeit in the MLS" is the key part there. Rooney was sought after by Alex Ferguson since the age of 13.

Everyone knows that Rooney's always 100% in training. I think that Rooney's couple of years training with the Everton first team against top premiership players is worth a lot more than Adu's training and playing with MLS players. Just my opinion......

Even if I didnt take him as one of the registered players, I would still make arrangements to take him in some capacity. In 2002, Brazil's captain Emerson got injured playing as a goalkeeper in training, and Brazil were allowed to make a replacement on the eve of their first game and brought in Ricardinho.

Its possible that one of those left sided European based players could pick up an injury after a full season. American based players wont be as tired at all, so perhaps that's where Adu could make a mark.

To be honest, there's ALWAYS one player in every squad that gets in at the last minute due to amazing club form (Trevor Sinclair for England in 2002); so if Adu plays amazingly for the next month, then he's definitely in with a shout.

[acmilan]

Michael Owen another guy who started his career young. also, Freddy is racking me some points from those assists on the MLS fantasy challenge.

[beckhamismyidol]

Rooney is the man for me, the kid places like he's an experienced professional but brings the same flare that a lot of the young players have nowadays as well. He's leading Man Utd at the moment and Englands fate will more or less hang on his shoulders in the World Cup. Adu doesn't have that at the moment, he doesn't even seem to be an integral part of his club team, I just don't think he has the maturity to help the U.S. in any way especially against three physically tough games in the group stages. He is good but, I don't know if it's his time yet. I personally think he would've been better off going to Europe and plying his trade over there even if it got him a couple of seasons in a youth squad, he'd learn much more

[pompey]

Think it would be hard to argue that Rooney is not an experienced professional. He was arguably the star of the group stages of Euro 04. Adu is hyped up due to being an American, and that he stands alone in sheer potential. However, the list goes on of those in a similar situation. WR and Owen are very good examples.

The burning question? Do you take hm to Germany? Surely, once you get past the main 14-15 players, and those that you will use for various matchups/tactical reasons, 3rd keeper, etc, then there really must be 1-2 spots left where you take a guy almost for the hell of it. Are you honestly going to use 8 defenders? Probably not. Timo Hidebrand for Germany will not touch the ball.......of which i think is a travesty.......but surely for the next major championships, he will be their #1 GK. So, am thinking I would take Freddy just for the whole Euro frenzy, insane press, noise outside the hotel, experience. It will serve him better for 2010 and beyond, unless we go down the Tracy Austin path. Lets hope not.

[acmilan]

yeah, but do u think that adu will get to play if they are losing or winning by like 3 goals wiht like 5 minutes left?