Freddy Adu: An American in Aris [R]

[cynic]
So what's the over/under for how long until the coach who brought him in gets fired and he ends up stuck on the bench?
[/cynic]

I can't believe Adu hasn't drained us all by now -- I'm definitely in the I'll-believe-it-when-I -see-it camp.

The coach will not get fired.

Please God, no. Not for Freddy's quality of life, but I can't endure another thread like that. It's all about us on Big Soccer you know.

It may just be my imagination or wishful thinking but this loan deal feels different from the Monaco or Belenense gigs. I don't know what it is. I can't quite pinpoint it. It could be the commitment (18 months), right off the bat, that gives this loan a sense of security. It may be the fact EJ is there. It may be the fact Cuper is the manager. It may be because I've always respected and appreciated the Super League and Aris has been a name I've associated with success. In reality it may be a combo of all. Adu's fate is in his hands but resources are in place to aide him. From the sound of it, Cuper handpicked Adu, and that's quite a change from his other loans where he was thrown at the feet of his managers. Like I said, it's all up to Adu to succeed but this loan feels different.

Freddy is very fortunate he is young. Its a worthwhile risk for Aris to see if they can develop him and then sell him for some big bucks. I am hoping this will finally pan out for Freddy and hope he puts his heart into the program.

WOOT!WOOT!WOOT! Great ********ing news! Finally, a club who has an interest in actually playing Freddy and developing him.

I have high hopes this time around.

About the fitness, I don't think any of us know because we've never seen him not play for this long so who knows how long it will take? He did look pretty lively in his last outing for Belenonsense though.

One thing about Adu that anyone who follows him can declare without a doubt ( even is haters) is that he's a big game player. When the time to shine and play your best comes, Adu always steps up to the plate and plays his best games.

In the US vs Brasil in the U20's he single-handedly destroyed Brasil. Some of Brasil's brightest young stars were on that team including Pato, Jo, Marcelo, D. Luiz, Adriano...

I think, because of his dire straits with the USMNT, he will be very motivated to make it happen. A motivated player is a dangerous player so lets see if Adu steps up. He always has...

To repeat: How good is Aris?

Here's the full U20 match with Adu vs Pato/Jo etc

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3488121380781809552#

1. Panathinaikos - 38 pts
2. Olympiakos - 36 pts
3. PAOK Salonika - 28 pts
4. Aris Salonika - 25 pts.

Currently in position for a Europa League spot.

16 team league.

It's a fascinating story right now. Some people avoid being drained by scoffing at Freddy, but for those who don't Freddy's story has a hell of a dramatic arc. Kind of a Joseph Campbell hero's journey myth. If Hull was really a possibility, this is the part where he resisted temptation when he was most down and out (permanently benched at a team with poor players and no supporters).

This is the moment of highest dramatic tension where he could fail and become an ordinary low level soccer mercenary, or develop quickly (next year and a half) and be an American soccer hero.

Great move for Aris. They just raised their club profile a ton especially in the US. I would venture to say most soccer fans never heard about them before but now that Adu and Eddie are there people will hear there name. I dont know if fans will be likely to buy jersey's or not but from a marketing and PR stand point it was a good move.

Aris is one of the top clubs in Greece, together with the 3 clubs of Athens (olympiacos, panathinaikos and aek). We have the most passionate fanbase and we play a latin/south american style of soccer, with pace, ground play, through balls and one-touch passes. There are a lot of Spanish, Argentinian and Brasilian players who are keen on playing spectacular and creative soccer.

Hector Raul Cuper is our coach, an accomplished and famous coach, who's a fan of discipline and constant pressure all over the pitch. He employs a strict 4-4-2 formation and Adu is destined to cover the left side.

We are currently in the 4th position of the league and our main target this year is to conquer the Greek Cup and claim a european ticket throught the playoffs.

For more info check out EJ' s topic, we have discussed lots of subjects, concerning Aris.

You can check posts in the Belenonsense thread and EJ's thread as well as in the matchday Atromitos vs Aris thread. You'll find all the information you need there.

I think this applies only in the US. Aris Saloniki is a well known name among European football fans, but almost nobody in countries like Germany has ever heard of Eddie Johnson, and Adu's name is well known, but somewhere between "he was a total flop, wasn't he" and "Adu, yes, almost forgot him... what does he do now?"

great move for aris and freddy!

I like what a previous poster said about the dramatic arc of this thing. It seemed like Hull was becoming a possibility with the guardian even just hours ago running a story saying Brown was going to let go a couple players to make room for freddy. but this is a much better situation hopefully.

He deserves some playing time. I never thought he was really that awful in game, he always seemed really dangerous and capable to give you that extra touch or wicked shot out of nowhere to change the game.

I think we all pretty much agree that if he improves certain aspects of his game he could be wildly successful.

And EJ being there I think will help him a whole lot and let's not forget about EJ a really pacey player with good physicality who was playing well for Fulham reserves. Aris really bumped their American street cred this past week big time

Nothing personal against Freddy - I hope his stint at Aris helps him get his career back on track to reach his full potential... but as the woeful 1000-post threads about Adu's plight have piled up... let's see some playing time and actual performance and development before this move is ordained as great...

It's time to prove it... and I'm hoping he does...

Wonderful.

If they screw with Adu, Aris will be team-non-grata just like Monaco or Belenenses.

And to answer another question: And why would they want EJ and Freddy? Here's a good exchange between Aris supporters in another thread.

A risk he was willing to take?

wait, I thought Adu was a Taurus?

Do you pronounce AR-IS or AR-EES ( like Ares in English)? thanks

Like Yaris the Toyota car but without the Y.

Like Ares

LOL!
Exactly!



Welcome video to Freddy from Aris fans:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpd8b4bGn2I"]YouTube- O Freddy Adu ???? ???[/ame]

Listen this and you will understand

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65AT7wv3Ul0"]YouTube- ARIS vs Marousi ...ARIS k den eimai kala[/ame]