Adu: I've been to Hellas and back, now it's time to Rize up

Turkey seems to be a good fit for Freddy but I'd like to see him playing in the top flight. Assuming his current team doesn't get promoted, have there been other Turkish teams in the top flight that have expressed interest in him?

 

yeah I think it was intended for the other guy but Freddy had the best chance with it. I'm just glad the other guy held up and allowed Freddy the shot, I've seen cases where both players go for the ball and the one who makes contact shanks it because of the other player, ala Jozy in the WC (can't remember which game but it was like 8 yrds out and one of our guys went for it too and seemed to get in Jozy's way)

 

Considering that Rize has regressed in the standings with Adu, he has to wonder if even they will be interested.

He ain't playing for free, you know.

 

Algeria in about the 40th minute, part of the cavalcade of missed/blown/unlucky opportunities.

 

Between the entire Algeria game, and minutes 35-85 of the Ghana game, we had about eleventy billion chances that went begging. It's easy to get them mixed up.

 

I'm not that worried about Freddy..kid can play and to some level he has proved it in Europe. He has actually improved as well. He has a right foot now...

He will most likely go out on another loan..to some other team after this season.

Lets just hope he goes to a better league.

 

if you mean regular contenders of premier division like Galatasaray, Fenerbahce, besiktas, it is a very looong shot. Adu scored a few goals and show he has talent. But, he could not change his teams fate after all. Other than that, with the help of his manager , i believe he can be on loan for a premier division side next year.

Especially, my team Samsun would be a perfect fit for him. We play a 4-3-3 version. i believe as the righ or left side forward, he would be great. i think he needs a strong midfield to support him and keep him in action for most of the game. i dont see him as center forward though. he is not strong enough for that. Plus, one of our forwards was on loan with us this season and i dont think his team would let us have him for next season after the performance he has shown.

 

What is the problem with Benfica? Why wouldn't they consider giving him a shot?

I'm relatively new here, so I don't know the history there.

 

Was he the guy who said to the ref "Mann, wir Schwatten müssen doch zusammenhalten!" ?

 

Yeah, that's him. A shame he gave up his tv career - one of the most likeable football players turned TV personalities. He should have hosted Sportschau.

 

translation? I'm not running a joke through an auto-translator.

 

"Us darkies have to stick together" (a reference to the ref's dark uniform).

 

it's quite simple really.

Adu ain't no DiMaria nor David Luiz.

 

Maybe not, but most of Benfica's players aren't quite THAT good.

But they sure have produced some gems lately. Di Maria. Ramires. Luiz. Coentrao.

That's a pretty impressive track record of identifying talent.

When are they going to spend some of that transfer money? They could be Man City of Portugal.

 

Irrelevant to Adu's current situation since neither of them play for Benfica. Also almost all of Benfica's players aren't as good as those two.

 

Well, guess it is just my cable provider, because they definitely are when I'm watching them.

 

Yep, same for me (comcast).

 

Any news or update on the situation with Freddy? Last time I heard of him was when he scored that goal. Playing time, position he's playing, likelihood of promotion, etc.? The 2nd division of Turkey is too obscure to follow, even for me. I want to know how good the chances are of this kid making the Olympics.

 

Unless the rules change (which is possible), a player can only be age-eligible for one Olympic games. Since he played in the last one, he'd have to go as an overage player. Not sure that the US would want him for that kind of role (it's usually to fill a hole by injury/lack of depth in position, or a leader... but it could be someone who is simply available)

 

Regarding playing time, he's been sick. Before then he seemed to be regularly playing and also regularly getting subbed out (most think due to fitness or, maybe, tactics).

Some of us - like me - have been happy that he's finally being played in a position/role more similar to his U20 WC position/role.

He seems to have been playing well, when he's played. He made the league's 'Best Eleven' in 3 of his first 6 appearances, for example. Rize had scored 1 goal and earned 4 points in the 6 games before he started playing, but 8 goals and 12 points in the 6 after, so I think it's fair to say he's made some impact (3 of those goals, btw, came after he was subbed off).

One perhaps unexpected development, though, was that some teams began to man mark him. Not sure if he's figured out how to adjust yet or not.

Others may chime in, but I think promotion isn't looking all that great. The top 2 teams automatically move up. The next 4 duke it out in a mini promotion-playoff type tournament. Last I checked, Rize was 7th, on the outside looking in. So they'd have to move up in the table to make the promotion-playoff, and then win that. It's possible, but I'm not sure you'd bet on it. (The good news is that their last game is against a team that's already clinched promotion and may rest players.)

Anyone feel free to correct me on any point...

 

Just found this section, have contacts in this league I will ask them for info and translate it for you guys, also for Altidore.