Re: EJ (no Adu): Aris vs Kavala (Greek Cup Semi Final) 3/17 17:00 Greek/ 11:00AM ET Actually, I don't really think he played well in any of his games for Aris. Sure he had moments of brilliance in about every game, but they were marred by his inability to make-up his mind quick enough throughout the rest of the game. What I notice now (that he never used to do as much) is that he gets the ball and then slows down immediately. He really kills the flow of the attack more than the other players on the field by holding on the ball too long. It allows the defense to get in position and kills any man/positioning advantages Aris might have. I said that after Freddy's first two Aris games and I almost got my head cut off on this forum. I'm not biased, I just point out what I notice. I love Freddy and his passion for the game, but I think he's actually worse at soccer than he was two years ago. I know that's hard for some people to comprehend (an 18 yr old regressing consistantly for so long), but I've watched him just as much as others on this forum, and that's what I see. He's developed some horrid habits and he needs to find a place to play where he can shed the bad aspects of his game before its too late.
Re: EJ (no Adu): Aris vs Kavala (Greek Cup Semi Final) 3/17 17:00 Greek/ 11:00AM ET You're right that skill isn't enough, of course, but think of this. As we all know, Brazil has won 5 World Cups and supplies more players for clubs all over the world (and national teams all over the world!) than any other country. How many Brazilians going to the World Cup play in the PL? Only Alex, that I know of. I'm not even positive that he's going. Skill-only, not-enough Robinho starts for the Brazilian national team, if I'm not mistaken. I think if the entire Brazilian national team would agree to it, the Sheiks would gladly replace Man City with them.
Re: EJ (no Adu): Aris vs Kavala (Greek Cup Semi Final) 3/17 17:00 Greek/ 11:00AM ET I think the bold part is common ground we can all agree on. Hopefully from that we can build and get away from the whole "hater" , "fanboy" thing.
Re: EJ (no Adu): Aris vs Kavala (Greek Cup Semi Final) 3/17 17:00 Greek/ 11:00AM ET I think the issue with him slowing it down has more to do with his gel'ing with other players and his team, more so then a bad habit. He has to do that to get on the same page as the others and others to see runs for him right away. Once they get used to him and he gets established as a normal starter that will come (if that ever happens). If you notice in that first air through ball with Adus dribble that led to EJs first goal, there was no pause, because he knew EJs run was coming, and I think gets the way he plays. There is a good connection between the two. That needs to happen with the others, with Calvo, Nafti, Prittas, Koke and Campora. I dont think his level has droped, I think he needs some time to get used to this team, which he has shown he can be a great player in time, with his short flashes of brilliance, it will just take time for him to build up his consistency and confidence, and chemistry with the team which will equal to him playing better, looking better out there, and becoming another strong link in the chain that is Aris right now.
Re: EJ (no Adu): Aris vs Kavala (Greek Cup Semi Final) 3/17 17:00 Greek/ 11:00AM ET I think you forgot to take your "Adu skeptic" glasses off if you thought he didn't look good in his first few games. One game (Ergotelis???) he virtually played flawlessly, he never hesitated and scored, and played great defense, that game had me very excited and then he went south so we'll see... I really think it was the long lay off and fatigue that started catching up with him, I hope he makes he bench this weekend...
Re: EJ (no Adu): Aris vs Kavala (Greek Cup Semi Final) 3/17 17:00 Greek/ 11:00AM ET I think what most people misunderestimate here is that the basic soccer is ... well, basic. The "genius" moves, whether they come from Messi or Zidane, are very rare. And Freddy can kind of suck in "basic soccer". And if his competition for the position sucks a lot less, he gets the spot even without the displays of geniusity. BTW, a large portion of Gerd Müller's goals were near tap-in's. The genius of Müller was in getting into the position which allowed the tap-in. It looked simple but it wasn't. Folks like Adu because he does a few complicated things well on occasion but it's doing the ordinary things well that his coaches clamor for.
Re: EJ (no Adu): Aris vs Kavala (Greek Cup Semi Final) 3/17 17:00 Greek/ 11:00AM ET This sums up how I've always felted. It seems if many of his fans often become blinded to the rest of his game after he pulls of a great move life is famous more in the right corner in the Brazil match. After moves like that they seem to ignore how bad his positional play can be at times. He's not really a winger, not really a forward and definitely not a CM.
Re: EJ (no Adu): Aris vs Kavala (Greek Cup Semi Final) 3/17 17:00 Greek/ 11:00AM ET http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...n-titans-offense-doesnt-impress-heimerdinger/ An interesting piece on the NFL from PFT that has a bit in common with the Adu situation.
Re: EJ (no Adu): Aris vs Kavala (Greek Cup Semi Final) 3/17 17:00 Greek/ 11:00AM ET Its nothing new, I even brought it up a couple posts up which you may/may not have noticed. I still dont understand that? Whats wrong with his positioning? Can anyone give me concrete examples? As an offensive winger that is supposed to pinch in when needed to act as a offensive midfielder or a '10' he did great so far for Aris. He scored two goals from that left wing position, finishing crosses from the right where a forwad should have been, he was there instead to finish the cross/ long pass in his second goal. Adu just needs PT IMO.
Re: EJ (no Adu): Aris vs Kavala (Greek Cup Semi Final) 3/17 17:00 Greek/ 11:00AM ET Usually what one wants from a winger is speed and the ability to consistently beat the fullback and whip crosses in to the box. Adu's not traditional winger in that sense. He's not going to get the ball in his own half and run down the wing beating defenders with his speed and dribbling. Teams need traditional wing players to spread the field to stop the opposition from loading players in the center and stifling attacks down the middle.
Re: EJ (no Adu): Aris vs Kavala (Greek Cup Semi Final) 3/17 17:00 Greek/ 11:00AM ET Are there detailed analysis of games for Aris? Like there is for PL games, I mean. Passing accuracy, tackles, shots on goal, stuff like that. Some people say Freddy is great; some people say he's awful. Everyone agrees he needs to play to improve, but that doesn't happen. Some people say his positioning suck (I honestly don't know how you could tell that from watching a game on a blurry computer monitor). I don't know if there's a statistic for that, but I'd be interested if someone can describe what his sucky positioning looks like, and how we'll know when it's better. Wow. Isn't that a very English style of play? (and they don't even play that way in England anymore) I guess Messi and CRonaldo have bad positioning.
Re: EJ (no Adu): Aris vs Kavala (Greek Cup Semi Final) 3/17 17:00 Greek/ 11:00AM ET I'd give you this, if we were talking about a generic team, mabye in england. But with Cuper, looking at Aris' best midfielder, which is Toni Calvo.... he is NOT your average winger, is what he wants out of adu. He does everything I described about adu, but better, and for the most part more consistently. He can beat defenders, and dribble towards the middle, unleash nice shots, or switch the fields. He isnt your average winger, he can act as a creative '10' from his position also, just like Adu can too. Cuper wants A Calvo for the left side, thats why he got Adu. He showed some brilliance, but messed up one game, and now is back at the bench. He needs to get back to starting again, as he has potential, and cuper knows it.
Re: EJ (no Adu): Aris vs Kavala (Greek Cup Semi Final) 3/17 17:00 Greek/ 11:00AM ET They may or may not be available in Greece but the Aris posters did make compilation videos that included his every touch and posted the links somewhere in game threads. Messi plays on his off-foot and is a forward in 4-3-3 to boot. Plus, you know, he's Messi. Adu plays on his strong foot at Aris, so one sort of expects crosses from that spot. He did play on the right for Monaco.
My biggest disappointment with Adu is while some people like to talk about his genius on the ball and his dribbling, I seem to see him fail to beat his defender more often than not when he take shim on. If his forte is going to be his skill on the ball, he can't fail in that regard and he can't lose track of it so often. Yes, he will once or twice a game beat someone with something flashy, but for every time he beats someone with a spectacular move, there are usually more times he gets stood up and/or loses the ball.
Re: EJ (no Adu): Aris vs Kavala (Greek Cup Semi Final) 3/17 17:00 Greek/ 11:00AM ET Many teams in England, United definitely do, that's why Rooney has so many headers this season. And even if a team doesn't use it as there primary attack they still need it as an option when teams stack the middle against them. And yes Ronaldo does play that way, maybe not with the crosses, instead of crossing he cuts in and scores the goals himself but all the rest is the same. The same is true with Messi, has great burst speed and consistently beat just about any fullback in the world.
Re: EJ (no Adu): Aris vs Kavala (Greek Cup Semi Final) 3/17 17:00 Greek/ 11:00AM ET Yes, Ronaldo is fast. Other than that, I have no idea how you would think that he was a 'traditional' winger who hugged the touchline and sent in crosses. Also, I really hope that Aris didn't buy Freddy Adu thinking he was going to turn into Aaron Lennon* (and I really don't think that Aaron Lennon hugs the touchline and sends in crosses either). *I have to go look up Aaron Lennon's name because I couldn't remember it, so I went to his Wiki page. Lennon was born in '87 (2 years old than Freddy) so he's 22 now. He's played at Tottenham for 5 years -- since 05/06 (when he was 17/18). In 05/06, he played 29 games, scored 2 goals and had 3 assists. Before that, he played 2 years at Leeds United. Wikipedia says he played 11 games on 03/04 and 27 games in 04/05. He scored 1 goal those 2 years, and had 3 assists. So, if you look at Lennon, you can see that early on he played a lot, but didn't produce all that much in the way of goals/assists. And yet he played, because (presumably) the coach saw something in him worth cultivating.
Re: EJ (no Adu): Aris vs Kavala (Greek Cup Semi Final) 3/17 17:00 Greek/ 11:00AM ET Ronaldo is more than just fast, he can consistently beat just about any fullback in the world off the dribble, and he hugs the touch line far more than you seem to think. Only cutting in during the final attacking third. As for Lennon (how did his name get come into play?), he's the epitome of an English winger. He's extremely fast with great dribbling ability and a very good crosser. He's still tied for 4th in the EPL in assists despite being out since December with a groin injury. The only thing he and Adu have in common is size. And as you say Lennon didn't play all that much when he as Adu's age, through to be fair he did play 29 games the season was 20/21. So why do you find it so odd when Adu gets dropped for tactical reasons? (To be honest I'm not sure what point you are trying to make with the Lennon comparisons, thus my responses might not make mush sense in context)
I like Freddy and think he should be envolved with the NATS But I saw him for a year at Bradenton at 14 and he seemed more mature physically and never got bigger. I am a fan of Freddy but I also know people from Africa and Bosian and no question people have abused the age thru passport out of 3rd world countries and war torn countries usually because they are behind in academic not for sports. If Freddy's age and passport does not match up even Freddy may not know but it would explain a lot of his success at 14 if in fact he was 17 and why he has leveled off at 22 if in fact he is 25. As a youth it is age due to potential but At this point and age it really does not matter as a professional and mid 20's it is can you contribute or not. Freddy is not the first or last to find he is not 1st team in a top league or 2nd league/ MLS. I think US players should go abroad due to the pay of young player $35k in not enough and with the elimination of the reserve league which was a joke it is hard to develop if not a starter. Make no mistake MLS is a good level for the first 11. MLS does not have the depth because of above but the top half of MLS starter would be stater in most 2nd league teams in Europe.
Re: EJ (no Adu): Aris vs Kavala (Greek Cup Semi Final) 3/17 17:00 Greek/ 11:00AM ET http://www.galanissportsdata.com/football/national/season2009_10/aeteam.asp?t=06 Its only for superleague. Not cup games.
Re: EJ (no Adu): Aris vs Kavala (Greek Cup Semi Final) 3/17 17:00 Greek/ 11:00AM ET So, Adu's perfect crosses to crosses ratio is 0/8 or 0%? Whereas Calvo's is 35/162, Campora's 5/10, Meriem's 2/20. Adu's passes are 14 and (err/ors?) are 9? Calvo's 125/109, Meriem's 15/6, Campora's 44/54. Now sure if I am looking at the right columns here. Maybe it's all Greek to me. Even when the numbers are also.
Re: EJ (no Adu): Aris vs Kavala (Greek Cup Semi Final) 3/17 17:00 Greek/ 11:00AM ET Ronaldo -- doesn't hug the touchline and send in crosses. In fact, wasn't one of Aris' plusses that they played the ball on the ground? Lennon was the only person I could think of who ran up and down the touchline -- and as I said, even he doesn't do it continuously. But when he does something else, it's not that he's out of position. The other interesting thing was how small, lightweight and young Lennon was when he started playing in the PL. Re Freddy -- if you're trying to integrate someone into a team, I would find the play 5 games in 2 weeks, don't play for 3 weeks method, odd. If you assume that he's just been brought in as backup, then it's not so odd. That wasn't the theory behind an 18 month loan though.
Re: EJ (no Adu): Aris vs Kavala (Greek Cup Semi Final) 3/17 17:00 Greek/ 11:00AM ET Considering how many assists he has I highly doubt it.
Same thing happens with Ronaldo and Messi. They're more consistent, with a lot more experience, but when you are a player with license to go for it on the dribble, you are also expected to lose the ball quite a bit. The manager decides how much is too much. Seriously, I have seen many games where Ronaldo and Messi would get crucified by the same people that put Freddy under a microscope. In fact, I have spent many games laughing at Cristiano Ronaldo. In other words, NO player makes spectacular moves without losing the ball more often than not. Maybe in a particular game, but not over time.