Freddy Adu on loan to Belenenses [R]

Discussion in 'Yanks Abroad' started by bolotoliko, Aug 31, 2009.

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  1. jclampit

    jclampit Member

    Apr 12, 2002
    Fwiw, I think the disagreement here may stem from differing interpretations of the term "downward spiral".

    Taken at face value, without reading anything into it, it may be a fairly factual description of what's happened. High hopes at Benfica ending in no playing time and a loan to Monaco, again w/o playing time and ending in a loan to Beleneses, where he hasn't played so far, after speculation from some that he'd walk into the starting 11 on day one. The direction is clearly down (though one could argue, even if might be a tad premature, that Belenses is the inflection point, the turning point). And compared w/ hopes that he'd set the world on fire and at least resemble the player he was at the U20s or against talented adults in friendlies, it could probably be called a spiral.

    However, if one reads judgment into the term that he's a failure who has sunk to the bottom of a whirlpool from which he will probably never emerge, due to an obvious lack of quality at every level he's been at from Benfica to today, then that's a different story. That's a statement worth debating, even with passion if it was stirred. (I'm not saying it's right or wrong, btw. Or even that that's not how it was meant. Just that it might not be what was meant, and if it was, one can certainly reasonably disagree.)

    As mschofield aptly noted, failing to fully adjust, for a host of reasons, is, if not the norm, pretty close to it, whether we're talking about a Reading starlet or Dos Santos bouncing around, or even a Michael Ballack failing to dominate like he did.

    Sometimes players fail to impress due to their own shortcomings, whether permanent or temporary. Sometimes it's due to exogenous circumstances. Often it's a combination. The thing is, sometimes these players who held such great promise do come around and develop, either where they are or after a change of scenery. Other times - unfortunately, more often than anyone can count - they never do fulfill expectations.

    Hopefully Freddy will. Because we could use him, if he does. (Even if it means merely getting the Freddy that played well as Benfica's joker when he was playing, versus the maestro he's been in youth tourneys and friendlies.)
     
  2. Martin Fischer

    Martin Fischer Member+

    Feb 23, 1999
    Kampala. Uganda
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Really, if you are serious, limit your argument to international "youth" stars. Look at the best players at the various FIFA competitions and see if they are all club starts (that is IF Adu is actually considered to have starred by neutral parties).
     
  3. GoHawks4

    GoHawks4 Member

    Apr 24, 2002
    Chicago
    Club:
    Liverpool FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    David Healy.
     
  4. Friedel'sAccent

    Friedel'sAccent Member+

    Jul 7, 2006
    Providence, RI
    Club:
    Reading FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Time for a refresh here, folks. I'll do the honors.
     

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