Freddy Adu: Gold Cup [R]

I'm taking nothing away from this match.

This was his warm-up match, to shake off the rust.

 

I want to see him hold the ball more, as we all know he can do; at the same time I don't want to see him be selfish. Really I didn't see anyone without a stone first touch tonight on either side, so I'm chalking it up to the fact they've been together for like 3 days and the surface was wonky.

Adu should look better (but didn't look BAD but it's hard to look bad vs. Granada) but the guy hasn't played in FOREEEEEEEEVER. So he gets a pass today. Hoping for more next time.

 

???Are you sure they were talking about Freddy? That I didn't notice...I noticed a lot of short passes straight back to the sender and some attempted through ball that were nice but didn't come off. There were a lot of other people who I'd would have picked to complain about passing-wise first (for a while -- 1st 20 minutes -- I thought Holden had an imaginary friend in front of him on the wing.

 

different people voice their opinions more loudly when they think they see blood.

ADU played fine.

 

By speed I suppose I meant his youth form -- taking on players with quick dribbling -- not blinding sprints (apologies). Anyway, lets hope he can get better. I still think he's lost up top, i would prefer him deeper in a play making role though.

 

Yeah, he did some great things offensively. He played the easy attacking passes. But where were the creative passes?

He was really reading the game on a very primitive level. He needs to read the game like a GBS or a Steve Ralston if he wants to up his game to the next level.

 

You'd think he'd have something more against Grenada in terms of 1 on 1, a team somewhat easy to beat on the dribble given what he did against Spain and the Olympics.

 

it's called form. he's out of it, he will be back in it. and even out of form, he can contribute greatly to our first team.

 

He did alright. As someone who we expect to make an impact for the A team playing on the B team he didn't blow anyone away.

Seemed okay, seemed like someone that belonged on the B team where he is playing.

I thought he was fast for some reason as well...must be the technical ability fooling me.

But I've also been critical of his physical presence since it's been a hot topic on BS lately about his height... he has none. And if he's not fast... then I don't know if he will rise above the B level.

He's got to be extremely technically gifted to make an impact if he is only as fast as Dempsey.

 

really? when did they say that? you must've been watching a different telefutura..

I heard them say "es que Adu es un tremendo jugador"

 

???????????????? He was 25 yards out, with the ball, the keeper was out of the goal, and no defender anywhere near him !!!!!! What was he supposed to do-call a time-out?

 

I thought he played a pretty good game. But frankly the whole American team played a pretty good game expecdially when your playing a team that plays low pressure defense like Grenada plays.

I though after the first half that beckerman would be MOTM. He did all the right things in the first half. I said to myself "Self I want to see this guy again, but against a team that high pressures on defense."

Unforetunely, he tired in the second half. He had a lot less touches. But the ones he had werte okay. Not as good as the ones he made in the first half, but ok.

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Back to Adu I wondered why he was playing the right side when he is a left footed player. He made a nice little pass to his left when he was in the middle. That left side player made a bad shot. But that pass reminded me of Peles little outside release pass that the great Carlos Alberta for a great goal back in the 1970 WC.

ADU has pretty good decision making on when to pass and when not to pass. So over all I thought he played good. But again it was against low defensive pressure.

 

pFFFFFFFFFF!!!!!! awwww geeeze, look what you did! i just spat out my coffee.

jeeze what a mess.

nice goin man!

 

This is what is great about a tournament like this. I hope Freddy goes 90" every game. Then the discussion will be over. The truth will show. I hope he kicks ass.

 

Two specific instances.

20-22 mins into the first half (balls to no one).

and about 5 mins into the second half (for being lazy on two consecutive plays)

 

I forgot about that play. He mad a nice skillful effort to hit that window shot. Just missed it a great effort.

 

THIS.

Lets not forget that the discussion recently has been that BB NEEDED to have adu be the 3rd sub agains brazil. This game has hopefully put that to bed now.

Now, before I get shouted down, I did think he played fine considering context. Some near misses here and there that I think he will have tightened up by the end of the group stage-which is really great for him, because it should give him a boost as he heads back to Benefica, or wherever he ends up. I would also like to see what he can get going playing off of someone like ching.

 

It's the same reason they hated Landon Donovan......and more recently Michael Bradley.

 

Bob Bradley was right. This kid needs more club play.

Awful performance.

 

What made you spit out your coffee? Blanco, Steve Ralston and GBS have a better handle of the game than Freddy. What do you expect? They're way more experienced. Steve Ralston may not be as good a player as Freddy, but Steve's mental game is way better (more mature, complex).

If Adu had played the last two years, he'd probably be a lot better off (in terms of reading the game). But he hasn't played. And his mental ability to read the game has suffered.

 

people either like or dislike adu and they criticize accordingly. because he is very talented and was hyped as youngster (which is not his fault. what was he supposed to do? say no to any media attention as a teenager) he is not one of those players that people go "meh."

he could have played better but i see no reason in being ultra critical of a guy who hasn't played 90 minutes in who knows how long. he scored and showed some nice skill and passing awareness. yes, he was sloppy at times but so were a lot of players and so was/is altidore. adu, rogers, and holden seem to work well together and i'd like to see more of them together. good looking future.

 

Why? That's retarded. A forward comes on to score and create goals. That's what he does, even tonight in what was a rusty game for him, he had one, just missed two others, had one called back and set up Charlie for two close ones. On a bad night.

The kid creates havoc, and a lost 50/50 ball here and there in the final third is an acceptable exchange for the difference between him and that donkey Casey, for example. And that's not even addressing his set piece taking abilities which are a class above Lando or anyone else on the current A team.

His place right now should be as an offensive super sub. While working on what he needs to fix, utilize what he already does better than anyone else we have.

 

Uh, maybe you forget what our subs looked like against Brazil.

 

Actually, I think a lot of people go "meh". But here is his chance; the Gold Cup. Maybe he can wow us. But God damn, there are so many coaches he has not wowed.

For me, I think this tournament is his chance. Otherwise; meh.