Right, and that's a huge problem. But it can't be brushed off and twisted into "well, he's only 20" because that's not the path his career developed along. It's the rosy-colored argument now though and really the only straw left to grasp, because when you look at his career as "he's a veteran pro" it does not look good. So, sure, on the one hand, he's a six/seven-year pro. But he was also handed rather than earned contracts and playing time due to his preternatural skills against boys and a lot of supposedly smart soccer people's poor handling of the kid. He never learned how to really play the game. And now he's at a place where he is expected to know what to do and go out and compete for a spot rather than be brought along slowly, or given playing time in big pro games simply for the benefit of his personal development (as some suggested in this thread). This is exactly what Wahl was getting at in the kicker of his piece too-- that this guy now has to swallow his pride and step back a few spots and become a late bloomer if he's really going to be a star. He's not a normal 20 yo-- he was treated as a pro too young, and now he's too much of a check-cashing pro to go back and get belated schoolboy training. But to just say "oh, well, he's only 20" and then compare his place in the world to especially a European-raised 20 yo, let alone an American, ignores the fact that those other guys have a solid foundation of education and youth experience and are progressing in some cases are, at age 20, progressing along their ideal path to being the best player they can be. Adu's path and expectations-- and they do matter, because they are in large part the seed of his potential ruination-- didn't allow his the same preparation for his current challenges.
The fact remains that he IS only 20, and the phrase "6-7 year pro", while technically accurate, couldn't be more deceptive. He got his (freak) age 14-17 MLS years instead of the quality European youth academy, and then he got the sporadic playing time and bench of your average 18-20 Euro pro. So he's your average 20 year old Euro pro if you ask me, but with a disadvantaged upbringing in the US. He can't change the past, so all he can do is be the best 20 year old European pro he can be. Everything else is just people settling old scores. MLS is not exactly the destination of choice for your struggling but ambitious 20 year old Euro pros. Homesickness would pretty much be the only reason to come back.
I am not a fan of the 6-7 year pro argument. Here are his pro career stats (including league and cups): Years Team Appearances Goals 2004–2006 D.C. United 92 (12) 2006–2007 Real Salt Lake 11 (2) 2007– Benfica 20 (5) 2008–2009 Monaco (loan) 11 (0) 2009 Belenenses (loan) 4 (0) 2010– Aris Thessaloniki (loan) 4 (2) Grand total: 142 games, 21 goals 65% of his games came when he was at DC United. By comparison, Cesc Fabregas has made 267 appearances, 83 goals since 2004, averaging 40 appearances or so a year for Arsenal...that is a 6-7 year pro and he is considered a freak doing what he has done at the age of 22...
^^^^This. Let Freddy have time to adjust to a new team, learn from a good coach, and if he doesn't make this WC, so be it! It appears that he is in an environment where everyone (especially the coach) wants him to succeed. We know he has the skills, but if he can get some of the mental aspects down to make his play more consistent, he'll be an excellent player. But it will take some time. In hindsight, he was not in the right place(s) at the right time(s), IMHO. At least now it appears like he is, to me. Now he has fans, team-mates, coaches, AND owners that want him to succeed! (Keeping fingers crossed that Cuper stays at Aris at least as long as Freddy!)
Folks, I've removed a random trolling post and responses to said post. The age stuff has to stop, please, as well. Thanks.
It's at 29 seconds. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inTRh1nkyXg"]YouTube- Olympiakos-Aris 2-1 day 30 (18-4-10).flv[/ame]
Looking at the no of matches in the short duration, there should be a good chunk of playing time for Adu and EJ