In three years time Freddy Adu will be the current age of Wayne Rooney, 17. With Rooney making such a splash on the full English National side the question of age and national team is somewhat answered, a 17 year old can play in the full national pool. And succeed! Will Adu be able to make the same slash for the US Nats?
he might play the same role as Landon did last world cup, and fill in at Right Midfielder. We have a gaping hole there anyhow.
I think Adu can easily have just as much of an impact, if not more, than Rooney. Rooney's a great player, but England already have great players. Adu, on the other hand, brings an overall skill level that could be much better than anyone else on the national team in a few years. Also, his skill with the ball at his feet is a weapon that for the most part is sorely lacking from the current USMNT. However, Rooney doesn't have to be totally in the limelight, as he shares the pitch with players like David Beckham. Freddy is going to be the undisputed star (at the very least, at least in terms of media attention) of the USMNT when he arrives. There will be much more pressure on Freddy than there is on Rooney.
A side benefit of all this could be landon getting to focus on soccer and leave all of that other crap to Freddy. Freddy and a focused, care-free Landon? That could work.
Whoa there! I kinda like the skill level of LD in attack, Boca in defense, and Friedel (or by '06 his successor) in goal. If Adu could be much better than these guys, let's stop all the talk about a WC win in 2010 or 2014. Our time is now!!! I have high hopes for Freddy too, but if he's about the level where LD or WR is now, we'll be just fine. Potent and aggressive in attack. Gotta love Freddy on the 1v1s and 1v2s ... Did you happen to catch how the Brazil U-17s shut him down? Admittedly, he wasn't getting service from his mates, but he couldn't create many opportunities for himself either. I know, you said could, but still, I think it was the much that brought my reply ... ~OG3
The impression that I got from Adu against Brazil and in the whole tournament was that when he was able to collect the ball and turn, he was extremely dangerous, but he had a difficult time winning a 50-50 or being productive if he recieved the ball under heavy pressure. The Brazilian defense simply beat him to every 50-50, and didnt let him collect himself with the ball when he did recieve passes. Occaisionally he got a 1v2, but in those cases frequently he would beat the first guy, but it was always toward another defender, who was never far off. Obviously easier said than done, but I do think it is a weakness in his game.
I'm tired of these kneejerk judgments of Freddy's game based on the Brazil match, because it is basically just the Brazil match. Against Spain he hardly played, against SR the refs never called a foul and he has piss poor service, and against SK he ran wild. The US was totally outclassed against Brazil and Freddy was double and triple marked, and the US had no other real threat that Brazil had to worry about. So they never paid for their overattention to Freddy. But throughout the tournament, Freddy had little if any service to speak of. That said, yes, he needs to get stronger in winning balls when tightly marked. Please let me know what players in the history of soccer USUALLY get or got around a one vs. two? Not even Pele or Maradona could make that claim. As for others' "discussion" of Freddy's balls skills: There is no US player, nor has there every been, with those kinds of skills. This doesn't mean he is ready to play at the highest level right now -- he is not -- nor does it mean he'll be ready for the WC in 2006, even if I believe he will be. It means a guy with the ball at his feet like that has never donned the US jersey. Until now. Donovan is a fine player, but he doesn't have the ball skills Freddy has. Donovan is better running at the goal, at runs in general, perhaps mentally and reading and controlling the game; Donovan has a different game. And if the US had a major mature talent at second foward like Adu, then a mature Donovan making well-timed runs from midfield and sharp, penetrating passes to the area would simply be wicked. I believe Adu will be on the team in 2006, though anything can happen to the kid, despite his obvious talent right now. But if he turns out to be able to handle the physicality at that level like Rooney -- really the key question about Adu at that point -- then I believe there's a damn good chance he's starting for the USA in 2006, just as Rooney is for England right now. And if he's starting, sorry LandonasForwardorDie lovers, Donovan will be playing from the advanced right side of midfield (exactly where he wrecked havoc on Germany from) and Adu will be up top behind a big centerforward like Buddle or Casey. In that set up, if a team wants to double mark Adu, they're going to have trouble with other talent on the pitch, unlike the U17 team. Donovan running at goal from the right; DMB doing the same from left; and Buddle or someone else up top, supported by a talent like Reyna (knock on wood) in the middle. A smothered Adu may not make an obvious impact, but he will draw attention away so that others will shine. There were no others to shine in Finland, at least not against the likes of Spain or Brazil. It's a little like how Holland the other night pasted Davids and, after he was tossed out, another marker onto Nedved. That didn't leave much room for Nedved, but since the Czechs have a host of other talent, it only screwed the Dutch in the end. Rosicky, Poborsky, Koller and Smicer were able to run wild while the Dutch made sure Nedved was out of the game. Which, of course, he wasn't. Nobody takes Pavel out of the game. But that's another story. (Though it could be Adu's some day.)
It was my impression during the other games as well. In that game he scored, but it was when the defense allowed him time and space to turn. He didnt need a whole lot, but he needed some to be effective. Hes deadly when he gets the ball facing forward, but I didnt get the impression that he was comfortable or effective when the defense forced him to recieve a ball with his back to the goal. As for his poor service, I think in part it was because he didnt show the greatest instincts in making himself available. Of the two strikers for the U-17s Watson got more service, and it wasnt by accident. Watson clearly was more active in getting into space and running down balls than Adu. No one gets by two skilled defenders that play intelligently. But thats exactly my point, Brazil had a man come to help, and played intelligent supporting defense. Adu needs to recognize this and hold the ball up in that situation and wait for help, not try to take on two defenders in that situation because he wont win. He seemed overly confident in his abilities, and even a player like skilled players like Adu have limitations. Thats not to say he wont learn, just that he hasnt reached a stage of development where he knows when to press and when to wait for reinforcements. All I will say about Adu in 2006 is that I know enough to know that I should be making any predicitions. But really, Adu in 2006 shouldnt be a stated goal, if it materializes than it materializes, if not then it doesnt.
Even though i've never heard of this player, it sure seems that you guys are very excited about him. One comment claims in 3 years he'll be 17....do you realise you are getting all fuzzy over a child? Does he actually play for one of the MLS teams on a regular basis? He should be at school. and for the person who said the USA will win the World Cup...you must be having a laugh surely :\
Adu does not yet play professionally, though he briefly trained with DC United as a guest player. Most of the raving over him is based on his play for the US U-17 national team. He is still in school and there is some speculation on how soon he will turn pro. He was either the team's leading scorer or second-leading scorer in World Junior Championship qualifying, before he turned 14, and he scored four goals in the final tournament in Finland shortly after his 14th birthday. He's scored some highlight-reel goals, and created some great plays even when not scoring - to me his most memorable play was in a U-17 qualifying match against Guatemala in which he dribbled six defenders in very close quarters before hitting the crossbar with a shot. He's also held his own in practice matches against college teams and top amateur teams, and even scored a goal in a practice match against the Chicago Fire.
Simon-- Lots of English folk got fuzzy over some Owen kid in '97. Rooney in '02, you guessed it, fuzzy again. Those kids should have been at school, but on their weekends ... let's just say it seems they spent their weekends well... As for Freddy in MLS, he may go straight to Europe. Yes, I think many Freddy fans realize that they're "getting fuzzy" over a 14-year-old. That's precisely the point ...
Re: Re: Rooney = Adu Excellent post. I agree 100%. People need to realize Adu is only 14. He has outstanding ball skills and loads of physical talent, but he's going against guys 3 years older than him. While most of them may not have his natural talent they are still physically and mentally more mature than him.
i just hope that the kid is embraced by the team. he has a bag of skill. for those of you who think he doesn't, i can say that i just got back from the United/Metrostars match, and i saw Eddie Gaven, who NOONE would say is as good as Freddy, putting moves on these grown men and leaving them on the seats of their pants. by the way, Eddie is only 2 years older than Freddy ......... 16. The bottom line about Freddy is will he physically and mentally mature. There is a clip of Freddy doing a commercial for Nike on the internet, and if you just listen to him as he talks to the people in the room as he plays with the ball (especially the last clip), he truly sounds like a child. With that being said, he will need the support of guys like Beasley and Adu to make it. by the way, there is NOOOOOOOO way that Rooney was better than this guy when he was 14. nooooooooooooooo way!