Adu honestly looked one of the best players on ASM. Which isn't saying much. ASM had trouble stringing basic passes together all game and it would be generous to label the performance anemic. Still, he was one of the lone bright spots. He connected well with his teammates. He had a couple of nice dribbles to create chances and was making nice runs (unrewarded by ASM's midfield incompetence). In my honest and obviously unbiased opinion , Adu is just what ASM need. When he was pushed closer to midfield in the 2nd half he showed he's one of the few players on that roster that can make the final pass and create opportunities from open play. From what I've seen in league play, ASM rely far too much on counters. I have to think it pushed him closer to taking Park's spot for the upcoming weekend, but we'll see.
He looked much more comfortable than he did in his sub appearances. He moved around the pitch well, and really worked his way into the game in the second half. He was connecting with teammates, attacking the defense, and set up a few good chances. He also made much better runs, although his teammates weren't finding him. However, as a team Monaco struggled. It was only a cup game, but it was against a solid team in PSG. Overall, Adu showed well, but he will need more help than he got in this game. He seemed to be the only one with any ideas in the attack.
Well, to be fair, every Monaco player that took the field today, except for Adu, has started in league play this year. And several of them, such as Simic, Leko, Mongongu, Meriem, and Pino appear to be first choice starters for the team.
Glad you pointed that out, saved me time. Edit: I have no problem admitting I am a big US player and Adu fan, so take this comment with a grain of salt. I felt the Midfield did a AWFUL job releasing players (through balls) going forward. Over and over I saw players running through from the back or attacking players going forward having to stop because they did not get ball through.
This game made me realize how much better a situation it was for Adu at Benfica. His minutes were limited in Portugal, but when he came on, he was surrounded by much classier players, who were capable of combining effectively with Freddy.
Also, to add to that, others such as Roma, Muratori, and Diego Perez were first choice starters for Monaco last year, so they can't be too bad either.
I'm sure it's as much fun to write posts like yours as it is to read them, but - as Adu's season at Benfica actually played out - your line of reasoning leaves much to be desired and leads to a flawed conclusion (even if we assume that Benfica's players are 'classier' than Monaco's).
Exactly. And did Adu even once play 70 minutes with Benfica? This hasn't been the start many hoped for at ASM but how about a little perspective people?
A few minutes here and there in league games. Major minutes in mid-week cup games. Seems about right for the first year with a new club. Does Monaco have reserve type matches? I remember this being a deficientcy with Benfica.
Sorry, but almost everyone here will be disappointed if Freddy is not a regular starting XI player by the end of the season. The talent around him is not exactly spectacular and Freddy needs time on the field. Especially considering he left Benfica so he could earn more playing time. I'd expect this performance pushed him a bit closer to finding longer sub minutes in league play. If Park starts and has another game like Sunday's Freddy will find a start sooner, rather than later.
I just felt some people were getting suicidal and I wanted to calm them down. We all have to deal with our disappointments in a personal manner. I just don't want the blood of some whacked out BS poster on my hands. I too hope for a steady increase in weekly minutes. Perhaps Park will severely sprain his ankle during the next training session and all our Adu fantasies can come true.
Agreed. I even go as far as expecting Adu to see regular PT (even starts) by January. I think people need to realize that Park is not exactly a "lock in" starter, actually no player in the world is a lock-in. If you continuously don't produce on the pitch, you sit, period. Park is starting over Adu simply because he's older and arguably has more experience (he's like what 23?). Once Adu settled in with the team and showed that he's producing both in pratice and on the field, he'll play more. Also, I don't think there's any absolute reason to rule out Adu and Park both being on the pitch at the same time. Even if there's only one spot for these two, as Adu continues improving and Park producing less, we'll see more of Adu. But at this moment, Park just has an edge over Adu for PT. And I think the situation at ASM is much better for Adu (versus Benfica). I don't they have any international on this team (maybe a few?), while Benfica starting 11 are all international players starting for their perspective countries of origins. I think in another month or two, all will be well and Adu fans should be happy.
Instant rep for anyone who provide highlights on this one. JD where for art thou and your wonderful .gifs??
That's the unfortunate bottom line. Monaco is a football wasteland, period. Where recycled players go to pick up a paycheck. Continuity in their squad is like the gaming wheel in the nearby casino, always a new stop for a new player. It will take a supreme effort by Adu to win his teammates confidence. Should that happen, he could settle in to a successful season. Given the players surrounding him, knowing their past histories, not the best group to make that happen.
I agree with your sentiments-- the long view (or at least a few month's view) is needed here. However, unless Park was starting first-squad matches at age 18, he may not really have more experience than Freddy. Freddy's been a pro a long time already.
Mmmm. First I'll state that I disagree with the sentiment that Adu was the best player for Monaco; I thought the flanker Pino did the biz and it's easy to see why he's a starter. Adu did his thing though and certainly not second best by much. He played up top in a 4-4-2. This presented a bit of Landon-Donovan-with-the-Nats problem in that if the midfield isn't able to play the ball through effectively that type of forward isn't terribly useful. And Adu didn't see much of the ball in the early stages. He did have an opportunity in which Pino made in entry pass from the left corner into the penalty area that was just a bit behind Adu who who couldn't quite reach back and trap it effectively. As the game went on he did track back more to get involved in the play but his best bits came when he drifted out wide to either side. If you've seen the highlights from the various youth championships he's played in or from the Spanish friendly, he has this thing where he takes the ball to the corner surround by 282 defenders and then proceeds to punk all 282 and make the pass, cross, or go in for goal. He did that a couple of time much to the commentators' delight.