Arena on Adu and Germany

[pokemoncards]

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/23/sports/soccer/23stars.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1130126722-HLJl1JrdGDwjBtpZdID6PA

Scotland Match confirmed as well

[Nutmeg]

"It's obviously early for him," Arena said. "He's not ready for the national team, either."

Uh, what?

That's perfectly consistent.

"You're invited to the party, kid, but don't even think about touching the keg."

[Swami]

"It's obviously early for him," Arena said. "He's not ready for the national team, either."

Uh, what?

That's perfectly consistent.

"You're invited to the party, kid, but don't even think about touching the keg."


Translation from BruceSpeak:

I might want to take him to fill one of the last roster spots as a late game sub IF he improves a lot over the next 6 months, BUT I recognize there is a very high probability that will not happen. Since 16 year olds tend to take things emotionally, I want to make sure he's prepared for that probability so it doesn't kill him, and I want to make sure he comes into camp knowing that he has to learn and step up his game.

[Scoobs]

"It's obviously early for him," Arena said. "He's not ready for the national team, either."

Uh, what?

That's perfectly consistent.

"You're invited to the party, kid, but don't even think about touching the keg."

Hey someone claimed the +/- numbers you gave for Adu were wrong. What's up with that.

[Asprilla9]

Bruce was never interested in psychobabble.

my translation:
"I was planning on given Freddy an outside shot at making the 06 WC team, therefore I was to likely invite him to our January camp. But after my original quote made the rounds and was summarily turned into 'Freddy is on the 06 team,' I decided to dismiss the latter by offering up a bizarre statement that is completely and 100% at odds with my original statement. Besides making me look more indecisive than a 14 year old girl after 2 liters of Jolt cola, the comment also serves to further confuse everyone on my team about my state of mind and their roster statuses on the team. In conclusion, it's all part of my master plan."

[Nutmeg]

Hey someone claimed the +/- numbers you gave for Adu were wrong. What's up with that.

They were wrong. Somehow I missed 7 league games. bofahey caught them. My mistake.

[rgli13]

actually, when i ran it through my arena-translator it came out as "im saying hes not ready but he will actually be in our starting 11"...

[SUSIE-Q]

i would rather take Herculez Gomez over Adu,Ching or Wolff anytime ..... has Arena seen Gomez playing ? i think this kid has talent and should be on the US team for Germany.

[bltleo]

i would rather take Herculez Gomez over Adu,Ching or Wolff anytime ..... has Arena seen Gomez playing ? i think this kid has talent and should be on the US team for Germany.

I think Adu is ready for USMNT in Germany

but Arena will probably not take him....

how important could be ADU for USMNT in Germany? Does he have special advantages compared to other players in USMNT?

bltleo
GERMANY

[Ikari]

Well he can't be prosecuted as an adult for another 2 years, I suppose that might be an advantage.

[SUSIE-Q]

he is not strong enough physically yet. let him grow to be a great strong player in the league, when the time's come he'll go, he is still young there'll be alot of opportunities for him in the future...

[lmorin]

"It's obviously early for him," Arena said. "He's not ready for the national team, either."

Uh, what?

That's perfectly consistent.

"You're invited to the party, kid, but don't even think about touching the keg."
Seems pretty clear to me. 1) He's being invited to January camp. 2) He is not ready to play for the Nats. 3) Bruce already figures that he has assets that would benefit the Nats. 4) If Bruce figues he could be ready by WC06, Bruce will get him ready.

All that said with a strong admonition to Freddy to bite his tongue, get on club business and play his best (also, from a different source - he shouldn't punch out his coach.)

[dcchelseafc]

I think Adu is ready for USMNT in Germany

but Arena will probably not take him....

how important could be ADU for USMNT in Germany? Does he have special advantages compared to other players in USMNT?

bltleo
GERMANY

sorry dude, but ADU doesnt belong within 100 miles on the USMNT team yet. He has to still develop alot more skills, esp. in defense where he is non exsistant. Were not playing Panamas anymore, this is the real deal, and we have much better players at this point. in 4 years who knows? in 2 years who knows? but right now not him, not him at all. Play him against Scotland, I would love to see it and it will point all rumors to sleep, either he can play or he sucks. It would be interesting, and unfortunantly I fear the later that he will be grilled so hard if he doesnt play well at all if he played against Scotland.

[FirstStar]

Seems pretty clear to me. 1) He's being invited to January camp. 2) He is not ready to play for the Nats. 3) Bruce already figures that he has assets that would benefit the Nats. 4) If Bruce figues he could be ready by WC06, Bruce will get him ready.

All that said with a strong admonition to Freddy to bite his tongue, get on club business and play his best (also, from a different source - he shouldn't punch out his coach.)

I can buy this-- Bruce is setting himself up to be ready to take all the credit for moulding Freddy into an International. That certainly fits within his ego.

[taylor]

Bruce was never interested in psychobabble.

my translation:
"I was planning on given Freddy an outside shot at making the 06 WC team, therefore I was to likely invite him to our January camp. But after my original quote made the rounds and was summarily turned into 'Freddy is on the 06 team,' I decided to dismiss the latter by offering up a bizarre statement that is completely and 100% at odds with my original statement. Besides making me look more indecisive than a 14 year old girl after 2 liters of Jolt cola, the comment also serves to further confuse everyone on my team about my state of mind and their roster statuses on the team. In conclusion, it's all part of my master plan."


great post!

[SamsArmySam]

In a meeting with reporters during halftime Saturday night, Bruce Arena, the manager of the United States national team, acknowledged that Freddy Adu could be an asset to the 2006 World Cup squad. "He plays in positions that we're not particularly deep in," Arena said. "So, we'll look at him." Arena said there was a strong possibility he would invite Adu, 16, to a national team training camp in January. But Arena was cautious not to raise expectations about Adu. "It's obviously early for him," Arena said. "He's not ready for the national team, either."

Looks like the last quote is a comment that's missing some of the context. The "either" is key. Bruce is probably making one of his trademark flip comments to the media. My guess is it went something like this.

Reporter: "Freddy thinks he's ready for the starting 11 at DC United. What do you think?"

Arena: "It's obviously early for him. He's not ready for the national team [starting 11], either."

It's amazing, though. Bruce's comments get dissected on BigSoccer about as much as Wall Street analysts dissect every word of Alan Greenspan's speech. (Hey -- and I'm guilty as charged.)

[MarioKempes]

The kid's not ready for Germany. If I had to decide today, no way I'd take him. However, Bruce doesn't have to make a decision until 6 months from now. A lot could change.

Getting called up for a camp and training with the team is a far cry from making the final 23. I see nothing inconsistent in what Bruce said. Besides, those are probably two disconnected sentences taken out of context.

Adu has earned a look. I believe he trained with the team once before. He's going to get to the National Team and he's going to play in 2010. People just need to be patient.

[superdave]

he is not strong enough physically yet.
I'd take him over Beasley in an armwrestling contest in a second. Do you think Beasley's not strong enough?

[mickhayafe]

I'd take him over Beasley in an armwrestling contest in a second. Do you think Beasley's not strong enough?

what are you talking about? beas is 100 pounds of pure skin and bones :D

[quitoamature]

freddy plays five to ten minutes against japan in san fran.

that is it.

end of freddy 06.