Look, while I agree this has hardly been a banner year for Benny, or Adu, one thing has to be kept in mind. NE and Philly are out of it. Literally. Like in baseball (when the actually expand the rosters in September), this is the perfect time of year for teams who are out of it to look at what younger players can do. The coach knows what the guys who have been starting can do. He knows the team isn't playoff bound, so he gives some of the younger guys a chance to develop. Not saying this is 100% the reason Benny and Freddy got benched, but I suspect it has something to do with it. Now, when next season rolls around, and they are still on the bench, that is trouble.
this is how I remember it. He was played in the midfield but showed some naivety and the team lost defensive discipline.
Probably less than the older, slower Blanco, who in his couple of years was easily one the the best players in the league and on the short list for MVP. Riquilme>Blanco=Schelotto>>>>any "CREATIVE #10" the US has ever produced. Blanco fit in well almost immediately, while GBS took some time because he was playing chess while his teammates were playing checkers. Benny has skill and vision, but NOT at the level of the above three players. If he did he would certainly be starting somewhere and for in the NT, especially given JK's preference for a possession team.
Schelotto starred in 2008. That was around the time Adu was still in the league. The league is much different now than even in 2006-08. Ruquelme would struggle in this MLS. I watch the Argentine league, they play little defense and give a lot of space that they don't give in the MLS. Plus most MLS coaches want work rate more than all else.
No it is not. Have you even watched JCR in Argentina lately or just remember what he looked like in his prime?
I can't wait to Benny and Adu leave for the right league and team for a change. EJ tried to go to Mexico and got cut but in the MLS, he is the man. Gomez was a sub in the MLS but in Mexico he is a good striker. Those leagues have different things they value that's good for some and bad for others. The MLS is terrible for Adu and Benny. Adu still is producing though.
Dude, it's actually Juan ROMAN Riquelme. And in the MLS... Riquelme would have the Ref's in his pocket. He knows how to play with physical players like those in our league. he'd pull a blanco and win EVERY call.
I always get the Roman and Carlos misplaced. Riquelme last year was barely moving all too well but he did know how to use the refs to his advantage.
Yep... he wouldnt have ANY trouble with the physicality of the league... IT also helps too that he is a pretty tall guy, who knows how to use his body, and long legs to keep the ball away...
Did Adu get the keys to the car in Philly or not ? I thought he had and did not drive the car well. Some claim he did not get the keys !! Which is correct ? Also, Adu was one of the few bright spots in the US loss to Mexico in the Gold Cup. I noticed the Mex defence rushed to contain him when ever he got the ball. Germany's Podulski is above average for his club side but when he plays for Germany, he becomes some how better. May be certain players are better in big games/qualifiers/tournaments than week in and out on the club side.
This is not an MLS problem. Hamburger, Derby, Aarhus, NE, and now the bench. With repeated reports of blow ups with his coaches. Much less talented players with great work ethics and a closed mouth have achieved more stability (and quality stability) in their careers.
I think both have underachieved and don't really have anyone to blame for MLS being the best option for them when they both came back. However, I do think the allocation process screwed them, and they should have been able to negotiate with MLS clubs of their preference, in which case neither would have ended up on such poor teams. I do think the retarded allocation rule screwed them both more than the league itself. IMO, both players have to shoulder blame for their current situations and subpar performances, but at the same time the allocation does play into the shitty situations they find themselves in. I'd caution against other former or current NT players coming back to MLS if they don't have much control over ending up in places like NE or Philly, while other internationals get to negotiate with whomever they please. If Freddy/Benny were free to negotiate with Sea, RSL, NY, LAG, SKC or DCU, maybe a couple others, they'd most likely be in better situations and our NT might be better for it. Maybe not. But it's ridiculous how they had little choice in the matter than to be sent to two of the more incompetent clubs in MLS.
To set the record straight, he did not sit in favor of Fagundez. Fagundez plays as a forward for NE. Heaps preferred Ryan Guy to Benny. Inexplicable. When he came on in the second half he could have had a hat trick. But he didn't. That's the problem. He's not putting up the numbers, and he's obviously frustrated, along with Heaps and the fans. He was more effective last year under Nicol. So I wonder if this is more a Heaps problem? He'll be somewhere else next season. Heaps doesn't rate him and Kraft will want to dump his salary.
Think he'd do well at Chivas to be honest. They play more of his style plus they have a decent team in the making.
actually im starting to think that Chivas USA and Portland wouldnt bring him in because of his salary. Everyone and their mom with any cap room was in the Marcus Tracy lottery. guys like Califf, Bolanios, Sharlie could be eating a ton of cap room. i really dont know.....
Doesn't matter how horrible the team is you play on. If you're a talented player then you put your head down and work hard, and your talent will be apparent for everyone to see. Then you play out your contract and move on to a better club.
Of course the extent to how horrible your team is matters. It's not nearly the only factor in a players performance, but it sure as hell matters. So does coaching. So does club atmosphere. So does competition for spots in the lineup. So do tactics. So does your diet. So does your workout regimen. There's a long list of things which effect a player. It also can work the other way as well, where varying circumstances can make a decent player look better than he actually is. Nothing I've posted in this thread is an excuse for Freddy. But his situation is also not anywhere near as simple as you try to make it, in three sentences, lol.
Usually the simplest answer is the right answer. That being said, I don't think the fan's and media's expectations of him have helped at all. If no one put these levels of expectations on him maybe he has a very nice career in Philly and we don't have to have these conversations.