Freddy Adu

[Kerry Dixon's Boots]

In keeping with Reading being linked with every US player out there I saw this in the Sun online today. Any legs to this story?

Would Adu succeed in the Premiership or do you feel he still needs more time to develop his game?

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2002390000-2006440711,00.html

[mschofield]

Long discussion already running on the general nature of the idea: http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=415703

As for Reading, don't know that he'd have much luck finding the field right now.
He's been playing on the right and center, correct? Center might be more likely, as I think Harper might be the most vulnerable of the starters right now. Still, adu doesn't look like a two-way mid, which both harps and sids are, so it would mean he has to be enough better than either to force a shape change by coppell.

As for the wing, where Adu really has looked useless in the clips i've seen, he's not any better right now, at 18, than seol.

[superdave]

Adu is not good enough for the Premiership at this time. Further, I would be surprised if he were good enough next year. Maybe the year after that.

Also, I think the English style, where central mids divide up defending and attacking LESS than just about anywhere in the world, doesn't suit him. IMO, he'd be best served by going to a good Dutch club that plays a 4-3-3, and he could play either left-sided forward, or in the central midfield behind them.

[K:theCore]

He is gonna get smoked in the EPL. No doubt in my mind.

[prvev]

I've seen a pretty good amount of his matches recently, and one positive thing is that he does seem to be playing more defensively now than he did before, and at least trying to become a two-way player. Probably in anticipation of an eventual move to England. Still, I don't think he'd play much at all at this point, and if he's not going to play there is no point in getting him on loan, unless its to get around the rules.

And its in the Sun. So its not happening anyway.

[T_Rock]

I've seen a pretty good amount of his matches recently, and one positive thing is that he does seem to be playing more defensively now than he did before, and at least trying to become a two-way player. Probably in anticipation of an eventual move to England. Still, I don't think he'd play much at all at this point, and if he's not going to play there is no point in getting him on loan, unless its to get around the rules.

And its in the Sun. So its not happening anyway.

That was my big concern when I heard this report. Adu just doesn't seem to be a very good two-way player. I am happy to hear about that possibly changing.

[uniteo]

He is gonna get smoked in the EPL. No doubt in my mind.

that's interesting, because in the matches (admittedly not competitive contests) where DC has played elite level competition (Chelsea, Real Madrid) he's the one player who seems to be able to play his game despite the higher level competition...well, him and Boswell

[mschofield]

that's interesting, because in the matches (admittedly not competitive contests) where DC has played elite level competition (Chelsea, Real Madrid) he's the one player who seems to be able to play his game despite the higher level competition...well, him and Boswell
maybe they're after boswell...

[K:theCore]

that's interesting, because in the matches (admittedly not competitive contests) where DC has played elite level competition (Chelsea, Real Madrid) he's the one player who seems to be able to play his game despite the higher level competition...well, him and Boswell

Im not wishing ill will against the kid, but cmon....you cant say playing Chelsea in a friendly on American soil encapsulates the EPL experience. You just cant.


I'd really like to see how he'd fare against the thugs and gangsters of the league like West Ham and Fullham......BOLTON....

[Pablo Chicago]

I hope this puts an end to it...at least for a little while.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/reading/5387890.stm

[English_Gent]

I'd really like to see how he'd fare against the thugs and gangsters of the league like West Ham and Fullham......BOLTON....

or away in the cup against Rotherham on a rainy January evening. Christ, Adu wouldn't know what had hit him.

[Kerry Dixon's Boots]

I hope this puts an end to it...at least for a little while.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/reading/5387890.stm

Adu is far more important to MLS then he would be to any Premiership side. He is the face of the future MLS (shown by the largest contract he received as a baby) and if they sold him for 5m they'd lose an awful lot more in terms of marketing.

Maybe when he has an all round game he'd fit in well as a playmaker but right now he wouldn't make Reading's first team.

P.S. Looking forward to the 14th - should be a belter :)

[uniteo]

Im not wishing ill will against the kid, but cmon....you cant say playing Chelsea in a friendly on American soil encapsulates the EPL experience. You just cant.



I'm not saying that, but based o their experiences I'd be confident that Ben Olsen, Christian Gomez, and Jaime Moreno, for example, could play in the league, but in these games they all look less effective. Adu, however, not so much.

Why would that be? I happen to think that it is because he has the physical tools (great quickness, decent speed), outstanding technical ability and attitude that will let him be successful. I guess we'll know in a few years...

[uniteo]

or away in the cup against Rotherham on a rainy January evening. Christ, Adu wouldn't know what had hit him.

Standard tactics now are to foul Freddy throughout the game. Actually the standard tactic against DC United is to foul their skill players as often as possible. MLS may be lacking a lot, but unskilled thuggish defenders are in no short supply.

[uniteo]

maybe they're after boswell...

they should be, but the work permit will be extremely difficult

[Kerry]

Dempsey would be a better fit for Reading and the EPL than Adu, at this time.

[uniteo]

Dempsey would be a better fit for Reading and the EPL than Adu, at this time.

yeah, he's more than ready for training ground bust ups and drunken bar fights.

And yes, of course he's more ready at the moment.

[pokemoncards]

Adu on the right wing vs Celtic

http://youtube.com/watch?v=q0jUl6RKnpc

Dunno if he could play there(well, he can't, cause he's not 18 yet)

[mschofield]

Adu on the right wing vs Celtic

http://youtube.com/watch?v=q0jUl6RKnpc

Dunno if he could play there(well, he can't, cause he's not 18 yet)
The problem any young player has arriving in the prem from mls is going to be the total commitment, every second, every game (not turning it on and off). Now, Adu clearly has talent and would overcome that, but it does take some time. the problem with a loan deal (which isn't going to happen according to Reading) is that if there isn't a longer term deal in place, it's pointless.

As for Dempsey, get him and Lita together and watch out brentford.:eek:

[John L]

At the expense of killing more kittens, its not so much "Is Adu ready for the EPL" as "Is there an EPL team that can be the right fit for Adu"

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/leitzkejs/Personal/aducat.jpg



Adu's strengths are: Quickness; Light feet; Willingness to shoot; Being pretty good playmaker from the Wing; and Free Kicks

Weaknesses are: Not the fastest around (quick, YES, but not fast); Lack of Defense (has absolutely NO concept of First Defender); Dribbles INTO trouble (instead of OUT of trouble); Hospital Balls (lazy back passes that are intercepted by Opponents); No more growth spurts (not a real "Weakness" but he isn't growing taller than he is and he will only get so much more muscle on him - He will stay a slightly built winger)

Improvements are: Runs off the ball (still learning); Team play; Willingness to come Back on Defense (unfortunately this is often a liability since he does it so badly); Crosses (are mostly unknown - But then we haven't had a good crosser since Stewart left)

Adu's still a work in progress - YES - He would progress more on the right team with good coaching staff that can teach him more, and in a system that lets him be on the wings with nominal Defensive duties - But how many EPL teams (or any teams in a major European league) have that?

My take is that there will not be big enough offers for him to leave DC United next year - He'll stay and improve as much as he wants to - (MUCHO BIG question mark here!!) - Maybe after that his will expectations drop off, he'll accept a lesser offer in 2009