Bruce working to expedite Freddy's citizenship

[dcc134]

The latest on our man Freddy Adu

http://soccer365.com/US_home/Features_Interviews/page_38_36615.shtml


Seems he doesn't yet have his citizenship, but the powers to be are working to get it done.

How much should the MLS offer a 14 year old?

[CbR]

$20 a week if he does his chors

[fox point fury]

Originally posted by dcc134
How much should the MLS offer a 14 year old?

How long of a contract should a 14-yr old signwith MLS, especially one who has already attracted Inter's attention. The lessons of McBride and Mathis may cause him to skip our league, and I can't say I blame him.

[The Wanderer]

Yeah but his mom's going to have a lot to say about this whole thing since he's not 17 or 18(or whatever the age is for independence) yet.

[todda74]

if freddy is only 14 they shouldn't even be discussing a pro contract yet. Let the kid live a little before he's put under all that pressure. Though he's been disected here on BS for the few years though.

But seriously, his mom shouldn't even think about allowing him to sign with anyone until at least 16.

[ballsmahoney]

Could someone give a little background to this post. I've never heard of this kid.

[The Wanderer]

Originally posted by ballsmahoney
Could someone give a little background to this post. I've never heard of this kid.

go to the junior team forum. There's info on him there.

[The Wanderer]

Originally posted by todda74
if freddy is only 14 they shouldn't even be discussing a pro contract yet. Let the kid live a little before he's put under all that pressure. Though he's been disected here on BS for the few years though.

But seriously, his mom shouldn't even think about allowing him to sign with anyone until at least 16.

He feels like he is ready to turn pro and if he indeed does play at next year's youth championships the Euro scouts will be all over him. Inter offered up like $100K plus per year to him LAST year.

[todda74]

I've followed this story for the past year so I know that he's already been offered a contract.
I meant that if I was his parent I wouldn't want him to focus 100% of his time on soccer until at least 16 or 17.

[dark knight]

Originally posted by fox point fury


How long of a contract should a 14-yr old signwith MLS, especially one who has already attracted Inter's attention. The lessons of McBride and Mathis may cause him to skip our league, and I can't say I blame him.


Which lesson was that? Play in MLS and you can perform well on the world stage?

[ojsgillt]

Originally posted by dark knight



Which lesson was that? Play in MLS and you can perform well on the world stage?

No, it was play in the MLS and you can start and gain experience.

[Maczebus]

I can't believe there's so much fuss surrounding this Freddy character.

Does anyone else think pinning an entire nations footballing future on a 14 year old is a bit wierd?
Not to mention the fact that that amount of pressure usually buggers things up.
What happens if, like so many other promising youngsters the world over, he fails to translate his talent to the bigger stages?

[Bruce S]

Maradona turned pro at 14 and started in D1 in Argentina. There prodigies are rare but it happens.

[diablodelsol]

Originally posted by fox point fury


How long of a contract should a 14-yr old signwith MLS, especially one who has already attracted Inter's attention. The lessons of McBride and Mathis may cause him to skip our league, and I can't say I blame him.

Just as the lesson of Donovan and Twellman would tell him to skip Europe.

[dark knight]

Originally posted by Bruce S
Maradona turned pro at 14 and started in D1 in Argentina. There prodigies are rare but it happens.


I think Pele was 14 as well. He was 16 or 17 at his first World Cup.

[fox point fury]

Originally posted by diablodelsol


Just as the lesson of Donovan and Twellman would tell him to skip Europe.

Fair enough.

[Kenobi]

Originally posted by dark knight



I think Pele was 14 as well. He was 16 or 17 at his first World Cup.

While I very much hope Freddy is the next Pele or Maradona, those are some rather weighty comparisons you guys are throwing out there.

[Maczebus]

Originally posted by Bruce S
Maradona turned pro at 14 and started in D1 in Argentina. There prodigies are rare but it happens.

Granted, I'm just thinking that the pressure on Maradona although probably not insgnificant, was not proportionately as great as it will be/is for this Freddy chap.
Argentina produces great footballers year after year. If Maradona hadn't made it, there would have been others to put in his place (granted wouldn't have been fill it exactly). The loss wouldn't have been that colossal had he not blossomed into a great adult footballer.
I just get the impression that the pressure on this boy will just be immense. What happens if he doesn't make the transition? Argentina had other fantastic players (Burruchaga, Cannigia to name a couple), what are the other 15 year olds like in the US. It's just not healthy to be so dependent on one 14 year old boy for footballing success.
IMO.

[Scumby]

Originally posted by maczebus


I just get the impression that the pressure on this boy will just be immense. What happens if he doesn't make the transition? Argentina had other fantastic players (Burruchaga, Cannigia to name a couple), what are the other 15 year olds like in the US. It's just not healthy to be so dependent on one 14 year old boy for footballing success.
IMO.

As a counterpoint, this is football in America where the world's greatest players can come and be anonymous. There are maybe a few hundred of us on big soccer (guessing at the number) who know who this kid is. The internet faithfull might have their hopes pinned on this kid, but that is only a handfull of people. The pressure we can exert is miniscule at best. Unless he reads Big Soccer, of course. ;)

Scumby

[Mr. Cam]

Originally posted by maczebus

I can't believe there's so much fuss surrounding this Freddy character.

Does anyone else think pinning an entire nations footballing future on a 14 year old is a bit wierd?

Quotes please?
Originally posted by maczebus

Not to mention the fact that that amount of pressure usually buggers things up. What happens if, like so many other promising youngsters the world over, he fails to translate his talent to the bigger stages?

That's okay, the U.S. produces two to four kids just like him EVERY year to take his place. All the Americans have to do is find, train, develop, and field them. What the Brits have yet to figure out is this, they have reached the apogee of their football\soccer potential. The Americans have only used 10% of their potential and still made the 2002 World Cup QUARTERFINALS!!! How sad that the bitter Brits don't want a former colony to win a WC!