Grant Wahl column: Interview with Adu

A very good and revealing talk about his inner conflict when Ghana and the US played each other

And this about Arena: "We just need somebody who could do as good a job as Bruce [Arena] did or maybe even better. It's important to get somebody who has already been there and done that, because he'll know exactly what to do to get this team to the next level."

I think all the players who ever attended any national team camp believe (make that KNOW) Arena was a great coach

 

Not was. Arena IS a great coach. Which makes me more than a little worried about RBNY.

 

Uh-oh. This means either:

• He's taken it upon himself to remember the "Big A,"
• She's branded the "Big A" on his brain, or
• He checked his notes, without the interviewer telling us.

Any of the three, it's a dark day for Freddy being the next Joe Namath.

 

Grant Wahl should be ashamed for killing beautiful, precious kittens.

 

Am I the only person on the planet who thinks its nuts that Freddy's number one priority to improve is... his defense? Sure, that is a weak spot, but freddy's talents lie elsewhere. Why not work on becoming a more consistent scorer? Don't you think that would be a better goal for an attacking player?

 

If he wants to play in the middle of the park, he will have to step up his defense a bit.

However, no fear, he also says he wants to be a better shooter.

 

I don't know if it's as much as he needs to improve his defense, as much as improve his awareness.

There are many times where he doesn't see how the space develops around him and others, or that he can draw a defender or two from another player just by filling in some space away from the ball.

But then again, he his only 17, it'll click someday.

 

If he doesn't play defense, he doesn't get on the pitch. He won't get goal scoring opportunities from the bench. In the long term, this will make FA a better player. This is not to say that he doesn't work on his shooting. Lastly, if anything, FA is politically aware and gives the answer that Piotr wants to here.

 

I'm actually with you. I would rather him improve on his passing awareness (being that he actually is a good passer), and his acumen around goal. Although defense is important, his offense is going to be a bigger part of who he is as an expected attacking player. Ultimately, he ain't gonna be a winger for the US.