freddy/usmnt from newsweek.com

[sregis]

usually agree w/ starr, but have to diverge here as he tries to link the (mis)fortunes of adu and the mnt...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16207313/site/newsweek/

[Sachin]

He picked a poor day to post that article. It's been a terrible year for other reasons.

[BigKahuna]

I don't think he is saying that they are related...he's just commenting on the biggest stories of the past year and how most of them are about disappointment rather than triumph. Not really pointing anything out that wasnt already known, TBH.

[Ronaldo's Idol]

I agree that today, Lamar Hunt's final, is a bad day to post a pessimistic article. But it was probably posted before he knew Hunt died...

Anyways, I find myself agreeing with him on almost everything. I am a little more optimistic about the future (but not really about Freddy, at the moment) because I see players like Rolfe (my favorite, dunno why), Feilhaber, Cooper, Wynne, Altidore, Smith and others as the future, and it is very very bright. Undeniably, there is more talent coming through the pipeline than every before in US history. Hell, we have players like Alecko Eskandarian, who in my opinion is excellent and on his day, unstoppable, who can't get a whiff of the USMNT. That says something about our newfound depth. It is now time to let the cream rise to the top over the next 3-4 years.

But yeah, Freddy is a disappointment at the moment, but wasn't that nearly inevitable? I certainly haven't counted him out, but I think this article's mention of his underwhelming U20 WYC performance is very insightful. There, Freddy was still competing against players who were mostly 3-4 years older, but if Freddy is truly a phenom, that shouldn't have mattered. And he was overshadowed by Feilhaber to an enormous degree, and even Chad Barrett. If Freddy dominates in this year's WYC's at age 17 perhaps that adds a little more fuel to his potential, but right now I am very much on the fence about Freddy. To me, his work rate, off the ball runs, and ability to withstand physical defending are all lacking to a pretty appalling degree, and he needs to rectify these ASAP if he wants to ever be anything more than another early phenom who flames out IMO.

[sregis]

I don't think he is saying that they are related...he's just commenting on the biggest stories of the past year and how most of them are about disappointment rather than triumph. Not really pointing anything out that wasnt already known, TBH.

i guess more that freddy's woes are symbolic of the nats. i'm also much more optimistic abt the next generation of players.

[golazo68]

A lacking effort with the usual 'let me swing all the way to one side to get attention' headline.

Soccer such a murky game, its never so cut n dry.

- So Adu is washed-up, HE'S 17 1/2 YEARS OLD! How many talented senior at high schools teams in the US does one called 'washed up'? It would be ridiculous

- Writer's apparent knowledge of US Soccer is of Arena, Beasley, Donavon. Uh, that's so yesterday. He doesn't sound like he has a clue about easily the most talented, experienced (yet youngest- so they could go 2 cycles or more) group of Men's Nats candidates ever. A big leap over 4 years ago.

- He seems to totally not understand why it made sense for DC United to trade Fed, chalking it up to "he's a failure". The dude is LEAVING either this year or next, and doesn't want to play on the wing.

Its just silly for experienced soccer watchers- 6 months after the Cup- to write such a day after the Cup type piece.

[golazo68]

But yeah, Freddy is a disappointment at the moment, but wasn't that nearly inevitable? I certainly haven't counted him out, but I think this article's mention of his underwhelming U20 WYC performance is very insightful. There, Freddy was still competing against players who were mostly 3-4 years older, but if Freddy is truly a phenom, that shouldn't have mattered. And he was overshadowed by Feilhaber to an enormous degree, and even Chad Barrett. .

I think a little more context should be put to the situation.

First, the hype for Adu in that tournament was ridiculous. Pretty much he and Messi got the most hype, even over the talented youngsters at Arsenal. etc/.

I'll grant you Adu was only so-so by his standards, but he wasn't helped by the fact that he made 2 or 3 terrific passes (one vs. Argentina, two vs. Germany) and his teammates were ridiculously bad at finishing. Once Ochoa, once Gaven and once Feilhaber.

He might have had a spectacular goal or 2, but he got cut down for PKs instead.

He didn't get to play much against the weakest team of the group- a game in which he could have got his groove back + padded the goal/assist totals overall.

Vs. the top teams (Argentina, Germany + Italy) was often getting double teammed, but his open teammates could not do much with lesser pressure.

I'll grant you that Messi stood out (especially the speed of his play + running with the ball), but Fred did ok. Not matching the lofted expectations, but not as bad as some say.

The reason Feilhaber + others went some where with that Cup- because they could. Freddy wasn't going anywhere no matter what happened.

I thought he would be better at this stage too, but this is like trying to call the final score of the game when you are still in the late 2nd quarter. There is still time.

So, the writers who are trying to be early in calling his demise (and getting a 'scoop') and just as bad as those who tried to hype he was definently the answer years ago. Its extremism at its worst, and this author seems to swing between the 2 wrong poles.

I will grant the author this- Freddy's physicality (or lack thereof) is one thing to watch going forward. Can he learn to develop his game to an elite level in which he may not be the fastest player on the pitch + also the smallest? Other great players have managed. Let see if he can figure that out. He well might, but agreed it is a challenge.

[JohnR]

Give Starr credit, he's the first writer I can recall who stands up and admits he was part of the hype. Ives, Beau Dure, and others palm off their responsibility and write about people who were stupid to believe in 14 year old saviors, although they were presenting 14 year old saviors.

Freddy wasn't that bad in the U20s and anyway, it was just one tournament. We collectively need to let that one go.

[Nutmeg]

Man, this stuff really pisses me off sometimes. We complain about US Soccer only focusing on "big and fast," and then we get this:

"...my reluctant conclusion is that, while he is quite talented and, at times, dazzling with his feet, Adu is not the magical player that will someday lead American soccer to the Promised Land. He is neither big enough nor fast enough to dominate on the big pitch."

Mark got a few things right in this piece, though:

He was too quick to hype Adu and expected way too much to soon (even comparing a 16 year old Adu to a 19 year old Lebron is a joke)
His optimism and pessimism ebbs widelyHere's how I see it:

In Major League Soccer today, we have a wonderfully skilled young player who is still coming into his game. Unlike other wonderkinds, his legend didn't get to grow in the obscurity of high school and AAU basketball with occasional highlights showing off only his best moments. He's been forced to grow up in front of all of us. We've seen some inspiring peaks that lead us to believe there is something really special about him. We've seen some lows that remind us he is still a kid. No different than you or I were at the same age.

His coach at DC United had to make a business decision. Hold on to a superfluous player who wasn't going to oust a locked-in starter and league MVP at his best position, and who is obviously gone the second he can be, or deal him for options that can improve his overall team? His coach made the right decision from the business perspective. Freddy ended up in a better situation as a player. No complaints, and all sides should be thrilled.

At 17, what should we expect from this point on? My guess - more of the same. At times, his remarkable skill, creativity, vision, and yes - physical ability will leave us wondering why he can't pull the spectacular play at every turn. And at other times, he will remind us he's still very, very young. At the same age, most of his peers are worried about who they're asking to the senior prom. The much bally-hooed Lee Ngyun and Clint Dempsey, for example were the ones lighting up high school and club sports, unaffected by unrealistic expectations and overly critical "critics." And yet, I would bet a significant chunk of my life savings that both had less than stellar games at the same point in their careers, and against a much lower level of competition.

So if you want to continue to hold him to the standards set by those who are now admitting they overhyped the kid, you will continue to be disappointed. My advice - look at Freddy for the player he is. And enjoy him. We don't produce many like him in this country.

[Ronaldo's Idol]

Man, this stuff really pisses me off sometimes. We complain about US Soccer only focusing on "big and fast," and then we get this:

"...my reluctant conclusion is that, while he is quite talented and, at times, dazzling with his feet, Adu is not the magical player that will someday lead American soccer to the Promised Land. He is neither big enough nor fast enough to dominate on the big pitch."



Well count me in the boat that thinks you have to be either fast or big/strong or both to be a world class attacking player. Can anyone name one who isnt? And if you can, they are most certainly the exception not the rule. I could think of a player like Valderrama or Etcheverry, but both were big and strong and could hold off defenders, as can Carlos Ruiz (three examples of players who aren't fast). Small players abound, but they have all got serious wheels if they are world class (Robben, Owen etc.). Even the player who stands in the middle of the field, the "maestro" (Valderrama is the best example) has to be strong enough to hold off defenders all the time.

If you cannot physically compete for the ball when it is not at your feet, you are an enormous liability on the field and you will be tremendously limited in what you can provide offensively. If you can't chase down 50/50 balls into space and get there first from time to time, if you can't win a header once in awhile, if you can't beat your man with speed to the endline to get off a cross etc. etc. etc. you are enormously limited at the highest level offensively.

I think Freddy has improved enormously at holding off defenders when he already has the ball and can gain an advantage with body positioning. But in other situations where he has to go shoulder to shoulder with someone to win the ball, he gets pushed around still. And he just plain doesn't have world class sprinting speed...he can't break away from defenders who are fast themselves with raw speed. That alone isn't a huge problem, but it is a bit of a setback...Maradona was a tiny little guy but he had world class speed.

These things are important, but certainly when evaluating youth soccer players who are still growing and developing, these things should be secondary to technical ability. If a guy with spectacular technical ability is small, but has a growth spurt when he's 17 or 18, you in business for a world class player. But if you are picking all the big kids instead of technical kids, well you are probably not being as efficient as you could in judging future potential. At least that's how I see it: in the finished product you have to have speed and or size/strength, but in a kid you don't need the latter.

[On the Road Again]

Actually, I thought the article was pretty much on target with only one or two exceptions. Adu still has much to prove and that is exactly what Starr pointed out. Heretofore, it has been widely suggested on BS that Nowak was Freddy's anchor (which may or may not be the case). Now Freddy has a chance to strut his stuff but like many of our well-skilled MLS players, it is my guess that he'll find that most of his teammates will not have the skill level nor game knowledge to help him be successful. That is the case with the handful of true finesse players currently on MLS rosters.

As far as the men's national team is concerned, his comments about the team's inability to perform and the apparent lack of motivation or leadership from some of our so-called "stars" was very disappointing to the true soccer fan as well as to the fringe fans who were looking for a spark.

Finally, Gulati's handling of the coaching selection process was pathetic, IMO. To someone who wants to see soccer really succeed in this country, it was a bad year when the league's poster boy is only average, the USMNT laid a large egg, and now Gulati has saddled Bradley with an unfair label as "interim coach." From my perspective, this article was right on target.

[Nutmeg]

Well count me in the boat that thinks you have to be either fast or big/strong or both to be a world class attacking player. Can anyone name one who isnt?

Riquelme
Juninho
Deco

Just for starters, off the top of my head.

[JohnR]

But if you are picking all the big kids instead of technical kids, well you are probably not being as efficient as you could in judging future potential.

True, but as I have explained elsewhere the U.S. youth selection process doesn't work like that. It favors strong, explosive physically mature kids. As Freddy was at age 12, for example. That is not necessarily the same as favoring big 12 year olds, although most of those players are pretty good-sized for 12 years olds, since puberty contributes to growth.

But yeah, if you're tilting toward physically mature kids, you will miss many good prospects and will limit your pool. So I agree with your thesis, in a slightly different form. These ODP selection guys are WAAY too preoccupied with body types when choosing among 12, 13, 14 year olds.

[Ronaldo's Idol]

Riquelme
Juninho
Deco

Just for starters, off the top of my head.

All of them are much stronger than Freddy. In particular, I've seen Deco and Riquelme win 50/50 challenges by outmuscling a defender.

I never ever see any of those three get knocked off the ball like Freddy does.

I think there is a big difference.

[lmorin]

Right on, Nutmeg! The only thing Freddy has not yet convinced me of is his willingness to work tirelessly, hard and physically at a level necessary to succeed, for example, in the Premier League. I think he has all the other attributes necessary to be a high impact player. Hopefully, in Salt Lake he will rise to the occasion of loosened fetters and make BS clamor for Kreis and Cunningham to be included in the USMNT. They are going to be the immediate beneficiaries of Freddy in Salt Lake. Service, service, service.

[Ronaldo's Idol]

True, but as I have explained elsewhere the U.S. youth selection process doesn't work like that. It favors strong, explosive physically mature kids. As Freddy was at age 12, for example. That is not necessarily the same as favoring big 12 year olds, although most of those players are pretty good-sized for 12 years olds, since puberty contributes to growth.

But yeah, if you're tilting toward physically mature kids, you will miss many good prospects and will limit your pool. So I agree with your thesis, in a slightly different form. These ODP selection guys are WAAY too preoccupied with body types when choosing among 12, 13, 14 year olds.

I agree...the ODP selection is, for no apparently good reason, biased toward "what can you do right now" as opposed to "how good will you be in 5 years". It is a problem, certainly.

[QuakeAttack]

"Still, my current, muted enthusiasm about Adu’s potential is derived less from his three years in MLS than from watching him in several games during last year’s U-20 [under age 20] world championships. That was no case of a boy against men but boy against slightly older boys. And Adu was startlingly ineffective."

While I was never on the Adu bandwagon, I still had high hope that he would develope into a world class player. However, his play in the U-20 tournament was a huge disappointment to me. While others have pointed out the business decisions for his move and his potential (he can still be a very good player), he will not be playing at ManU, Real or Barca in the next couple of years (unlike Rooney, Messi, or Ronaldo) and most likely never.

Whether right or wrong, I would have to say this year has been one of the worst for the US in a long time. Why? I lost the optimism that big things could possibly happen in next 4-8 years. We don't have enough quality players playing in the top 4-6 teams in the top leagues of the world. In fact, we have none. The USSF really needs to focus on youth development and hire a technical director and staff to focus on player development, but we seem to be stuck with trying to find a new coach who won't have a lot of quality players to really take the team to the next level.

Good article written from a fan of the game. I don't expect him to stop watching or cheering the team on, nor will I. However, please don't expect me to get to excited when we play Denmark next year...

[Nutmeg]

All of them are much stronger than Freddy. In particular, I've seen Deco and Riquelme win 50/50 challenges by outmuscling a defender.

I never ever see any of those three get knocked off the ball like Freddy does.

I think there is a big difference.

There is. They're all not 16. or 17.

[appoo]

Riquelme
Juninho
Deco

Just for starters, off the top of my head.

Ronaldinho, Scholes, Van Der Vaart, Schneijder to.


Great post above btw 'Meg. Best I've seen on the subject

[Ronaldo's Idol]

There is. They're all not 16. or 17.

I know. If Freddy attains their physical abilities with age, great. But will he? That is really the big question isn't it?