First of all, I'll be the first to admit that Adu has not lived up to expectations. OK, but let's step back...what were his expectations? Pele basically said he was his next prodigy. So Adu has not yet lived up to being Pele...right along with the entire USMNT. And whose fault is that? Adu's or the folks burdening him with stupid expectations? Point being, even if Adu is not Pele, he's good...very good. Good enough in fact to be getting looks from the USMNT (do we know better than Benfica?). I know that many folks think its Bradely and nepotism (his desire to play Michael), but I wonder if its not deeper than that. Maybe it's the hierarchy thing we find uniquely in America? People resent youthful arrogance and instead prefer humble patience...ie, that Adu should wait his turn behind the veterans. Whatever the case, I personally believe that the longer we sit on a talent like Adu who could very easily play for Ghana, the more likely we'll lose him. I don't know how many more USMNT camps we can afford to ignore this guy. Adu will be 20-21 come 2010 when the world cup hits. To the extent that we want him helping us in the fight at a prime age, we have to get him in the mix now. Your thoughts?
we all kno how good freddy is and how good he can be. for him not to be chosen ahead of bradley and sizzo is criminal. i don't know if it's bradley or someone at the federation but whomever it is needs to get their head examined. after his performance in the u20s he is clearly ahead of his u20 teammates.
I completely agree with you. I drove down from Northern California a year and half ago, hooked up with my son, watched the U.S.-Canada game, and witnessed Freddie's debut. Since then, nothing but cricket sounds from Bobruce.
we dont need him at the u20s we need him on the senior team as he's better than most of the guys there.
And Zizzo, Davies, Hill, for example, are already capped to the senior team. Adu, apparently, is not their "quality" in RoboBob's eyes. Actually, I wonder if RoboBob doesn't have a clue as to what to do with Adu. After all, Dempsey already gives him a headache...and Freddy is even less a natural for the glories of The Bucket than is Clint.
In other revolutionary news, the sun rises in the west, the earth rotates around the sun every year and Kangaroos have three vaginas. (yep, it's true)
Well, it's not unheard of for a country's best talent to go even younger (Wayne Rooney 17). In addition, many U-20's are getting the look already. Why not Adu? Zizzo, Bradley....Adu???
Look, bottom line, if anyone is dissappointed with Adu, that's your own fault for being naive enough to buy the hype that others were putting on him. Put him on the squad and lets give him several years with the USMNT. Have to be forward thinking in to 2010
benfica is playing him about as much as the nats- good thing theyve got a contract, huh?hes also played for the nats as often as zizzo, but dont let that bother you... hes second at the depth chart (at BEST) wherever he would play for us, so save the "hes better than everyone we have" nonsense. im looking forward to freddy being a part of the team, and i agree hes as "deserving" as hill or davies for example- but it doesnt make any less of a difference that he hasnt been in the team than their being in has. im sure the benfica bench is just as comfortable as the one the nats use.
I don't get why Adu doesn't get called up. People will say he's not big enough or physical enough to play at that level. Thats what he's done his whole life... He's pretty much always played people bigger than him. He is what this US team needs. Someone that can create chances for others. I wouldn't mind him having take corners and etc... after seeing balls come in low repeatedly the other day. I don't know if I'd call up Altidore yet. He's only 17. Everyone is expecting big things out of him. I worry about wrecking his confidence.
Adu really needs to get his opportunity as soon as possible. I don't think that many can deny that he's a large part of our future (potentially, at least) which is why he should be getting bled "early".
The only explanation I can chalk up to Adu not being called in post the U-20 tournament is that Bob Bradley wants to give him time to become more established with his new club over in Portugal. You have to think that Adu is more deserving of a call-up than Hill, Davies, Nguyen or Zizzo. I can understand if Bradley is holding out because he recognizes that Adu is challenging for a first team spot (unlike Zizzo, the other u-20 with a new club), but at least come out and say that then.
He just moved to Portugal and his mom is there with him. Maybe he needs to finish decorating his apartment. He's 18. Relax.
I dont know about losing him but if he doesnt get a call up within the next six months which he deserves he may consider playing for Ghana or at least hint that it is a serious option to try to put a little pressure on the US coaching staff.
I'm just hoping that this doesnt have anything to do with Nowak and his prior dealings with Freddy. If Bradley's reasoning is that Freddy needs to settle in at Benfica, and he's communicated as much with Freddy, then this is just bad judgment on Bob's part, and could be overlooked. If he really is trying to freeze out Adu, he should be fired immediately and never be allowed to watch a USMNT game again.
It's obvious isn't it? Bob hasn't seen enough of Michael yet, so there is just less opportunity for guys like Adu & Clark. Besides, from a program standpoint, why on earth would you want to cap a talented teenager that could go to another program? I think that Reyna told Bruce who told Bob that Ghana isn't really all that good. And who got a better view than Claudio?
You guys need to chill out. Freddy has stated before that he only wants to play for the U.S. His family is here and he left Ghana when he was like 9 why would he want to go back? Based on his performances at the U20 World Cup he will be with the full team it's only a matter of time and I say it happens sooner rather than later. I bet if he hadn't transfered to Benefica he would have been called up for the Brazil game seeing as how RSL is tanking. Bob Bradley is giving Freddy every chance to settle in at his new club and once that happens we sill see him maybe as soon as next month. He might have even been called in if it weren't for Benefica swapping managers.
He's already been capped, but he isn't cap tied. He technically could still go to Ghana before he's 21. The only thing that can cap tie him in the next 3 years is a WCQ or the Confederations Cup. But, he'll be playing in the WCQ's.
To get familiar with him. He got a "thank you" cap for coming in and participating in camp. Probably got some career advice from Bradley and Nowak. His callup was nothing more than that. If you'd like to use it as an argument for Adu being called up, fine, but I personally don't find that to be valid. Even without considering that they play totally different positions, I disagree. Unless the game is a competetive game (ie Gold Cup, WCQ or the World Cup itself), you can't read much into the callup of a young untested player. Is Zizzo going to play in WC qualifying if he is not getting games and playing well for his club? No. Neither is Davies, Hill, Ngyeun or anybody else. As I said above, these players were called in so that the coaches can become familiar with them. Everybody knows Adu. Everybody knows what his strengths and weaknesses are. Every move he ever makes is in a giant spotlight. Peter Nowak is an assitant coach...don't you think he knows Adu very well? Let me propose a path to becoming NT regular for Yanks abroad (MLS players take the January camp/friendly route): 1. Recognize a possible talent 2. Bring player in, become familiar with a player 3. Advise him what he needs to do to become a NT player 4. Monitor him at his club...bring him after determined level of success Now, step #4 is the crucial one. It depends on your overall level of talent/potential, plus the level of the league you play in. Freddy Adu has already been through steps 1-3. Everyone knows he is a talent. He's been in a full NT camp. I'm sure he's been told ad nauseum by Peter Nowak, Bruce Arena, Thomas Rongen, and maybe even Bob Bradley what he needs to do to become a national team regular. He has been fasttracked straight to #4 at age 18. As soon as he becomes a regular in Portugal, he'll have his chance to be in the team. He doesn't need to be brought in 'for a look'. The kid is in our program. He's not being ignored. He has never been ignored for a single second since he was 13 years old. That might not be a good thing, you know. I say, maybe ignoring for a bit might be the best thing for him.