Adu Considers Leaving United - Goff, W. Post - Part I

Re: Goff article: Adu Considers Leaving United

Yes, for all the abuse he took here, Thomas did win us a Cup, even though everyone says he did it w/ Arena's team. Doesn't matter. He won. In 50 years, his name will still be there.

 

Re: Goff article: Adu Considers Leaving United

Don't let the doorknob hit you in the back of the head, sonny!

 

Re: Goff article: Adu Considers Leaving United

this is too fun

Didn't Freddy win a cup too?

 

Re: Goff article: Adu Considers Leaving United

there's a thread on national team nicknames where the players/personalities were given native american names, and i just found one for adu

freddy adu: running mouth

 

Re: Goff article: Adu Considers Leaving United





~worm~

 

Re: Goff article: Adu Considers Leaving United

way too much free time on your hands??

 

Re: Goff article: Adu Considers Leaving United

https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=257529

oh dear god, i think the scum are starting to feel good about this...

 

Re: Goff article: Adu Considers Leaving United

Now that sounds more like it

 

Re: Goff article: Adu Considers Leaving United

Now you're arguing just to argue. That's silly.

To extend your train of thought, Kevin Ara won a Cup too. So what?

 

Re: Goff article: Adu Considers Leaving United

Don't get me started ...

 

Re: Goff article: Adu Considers Leaving United

For my money, reporters are servants of the devil and should be avoided at all costs. No good ever came of a player or coach voicing criticism to a reporter, and especially criticism that he had not already said to the other person involved. I am a little surprised at Freddy because he has shown considerable media smarts in the past. On the other hand, Nowak also should have known better when he singled Freddy out for criticism after the second Metrostars game. At the risk of getting slammed for outrageous speculation, I wouldn't be at all surprised if the two sets of comments aren't related.

After Sunday's reserve game, I found myself marveling at Freddy's talents. Seen up close, he really is an amazing player. Best of all, he makes everyone around him much better too. I may be the only one, but I thought he gave a good account of himself at the U-20 championships. Perhaps not headline stuff, but he showed he was one of the best, if not the best, player(s) on the US squad, despite being several years younger than most. Yes, he's a little undersized, but that's not unusual on the DC roster. And yes he's not the best defensive player around, but he puts in a good effort in that department.

But he's only sixteen! What was DC supposed to do with him? I thought that acquiring Gomez was questionable, simply because he plays almost the same spot that Freddy would play in a 3-5-2. But since then until the last few games, I thought that Nowak and DC were bringing Freddy along fairly well. I would have liked to see him on the field a bit more, but not so much that I questioned Nowak's overall judgment.

The last few games, however, cast some doubt on Nowak's thinking. I thought that Freddy was playing a key role in the second Metostars game. Moving him to the outside and then taking him out made no sense to me. Against Columbus, Nowak started Walker and then put Freddy at a deep midfield position, again a really odd decision. I would say defensive middfielder, but I can't really believe that Nowak wanted Freddy to concentrate on defense. Surely Simms would have been a better choice in that case. But that's where Nowak had him playing. With the Metrostar and Columbus games bracketing Freddy's performance in Salt Lake, I am not surprised that the kid wonders where he fits on this team. I certainly wondered, after the Columbus game, whether Nowak wasn't signaling that Freddy wouldn't play much in the playoffs.

Nowak is obviously a competent coach, perahps not a great coach, but competent. What has concerned me, however, are signs of rigidity in his approach. First, the commitment to the 3-5-2. Second, his reliance on certain players almost regardless of the circumstances. In both cases, it's not that Nowak has done anything grossly stupid (he's not our Ray), but you begin to wonder whether he isn't pushing a good thing too far. For example, he has gotten a lot out of Moreno, more than I would have imagined, but, in more than a few games, Moreno has been virtually dead on his feet after 60-70 minutes and Nowak has left him in the game. And so on.

Nowak's treatment of Freddy follows much the same pattern. A lot of good stuff, but then the hint of a little stubborness too. I have wondered at times whether Nowak isn't tempted to make an example of Freddy just to prove how tough he can be.

The danger here is that Nowak and Freddy will get locked into some sort of power struggle (maybe they already have) -- which will have no good consequences. As the adult, Nowak needs to be the flexible one. It's not a matter of giving in; it's a matter of changing the paradigm somehow so that they can both concentrate on what they obviously agree on -- playing winning soccer. I have to wonder whether Nowak has it in him. I guess we shall see.

 

Re: Goff article: Adu Considers Leaving United

Wow! Where is his agent and/or responsible adult again?

I hear Dorados are looking to strengthen their attack to make a better run in Mexico. Maybe FAS El Salvador?

 

Re: Goff article: Adu Considers Leaving United

Watching at home, it looked as if the condition of the field that half had a bigger impact on Freddy. He looked incredibly tentative on the infield portion and didn't attack as he normally would. And, thanks to some incredibly amateur lip-reading, it looked like Ben was telling him to play higher than him when they were talking before the half started.

Just my two pennies.

 

Re: Goff article: Adu Considers Leaving United

It seems Freddy has all but forgotten how he bombed out at the FIFA U20s. (There were several non pro players who clearly outshined Freddy e.g., Marvell Wynn). And now he's lamenting a shot at the full National Team. Gimme a break.

I agree with Nowak on his assessement on Freddy. He is a very talented but inconsistent youth player who has earned playing time but not a starting role.

 

Re: Goff article: Adu Considers Leaving United

It's interesting how people go on and on about freddy during the u20s, but never mention gaven, or spector for that matter

 

Re: Goff article: Adu Considers Leaving United

Freddy Adu, meet Kwame Brown. Shut the F--- up and earn your playing time. (BTW, did even Maradonna play a significant role for Argentina at 16?) Let the little punk go to the Scum or whereever. DCU can win without him and will not have the cap space problems that his salary will cause. Look, at 18 he will go to Europe whether or not he is ready, so what team in MLS can "build" around him? He is a one-trick show pony for the League (wow, 2 cliches in one clause!) and will be gone for other shores soon enough. Gee Freddy, if you really want to play in '06, go talk to the coach in Ghana. As you can see, I am so tired of punk pro athletes complaining about their woeful lot in life.

 

Re: Goff article: Adu Considers Leaving United

Touche. HOwever you are missing my point. My point is the kid does not have the experience, and is NOT putting up the numbers to support his argument nor his attituded. Freddy doesnt know best, and ceratinaly doenst know best for DC United. PERIOD.

Read the REST of my initial post, and you might have a better understanding of where im coming from and the points I was making. Better yet, go read some articles on Alexander Ovechkin and see what HE is saying. Hes the MODEL player not just in skill / talent, but in attitude as well. Granted he just turned 20 a few weeks ago, so theres a few years difference, but still.

And to the Goff bashers, get real.

 

Re: Goff article: Adu Considers Leaving United

Can't really answer that now, but, pending that move, I'd have plenty of time to consider that during my lifetime personal boycott of DC United.

 

Re: Goff article: Adu Considers Leaving United

Gaven played like crap. Gaven has devolved as a player, IMO, over the last year or so.

Spector was injured in the first game and was brought back WAY too early for the third. Schmid should have played the replacement (name escapes me) who had filled in wonderfully.

 

Re: Goff article: Adu Considers Leaving United

YOU sir get a standing ovation from me, and some REP!

 

Re: Goff article: Adu Considers Leaving United

actually isn't this the second time that he's taken this line?

last year he complained in a similar fashion and got quite a talking to that kept him quiet for some time

 

Re: Goff article: Adu Considers Leaving United

In the DCU forum, I wouldn't expect anything else. Neither Gaven nor Spector play for United.

In the USA Men's forum (and other related places), OTOH, Gaven and Spector do get discussed -- Spector quite frequently, in fact.

 

Re: Goff article: Adu Considers Leaving United

I have often been frustrated by the way Nowak has used Freddie, but he is still young. Also I hate the media. Someone else from the Post (don't remember the name of the writer) wrote something on the same lines of Freddie being frustrated at the beginning of the season. The writer compared Nowak's style to Hitler and made many "eastern european" generalizations about Peter. It gets ugly when some dumb f#ck writer who has never played the sport starts creating sh$t. Don't get me wrong I am not knocking Goff for this article, but it just goes to show how athletes speaking to the media can lead to a big mess. Where the hell in the MLS does Freddie think he is going to go and play on a side with the quality of play that DC has? He is learning from the best in the league. In a way I don't blame him because he could probably start on every team in MLS except New England, San Jose, or LA. He needs to rethink these statements and just be patient for a couple more seasons. Then he will see the dividends of playing for a champion and a good coach. He is young and being very short sited. I hope someone can talk some sense into him because he is on the verge of greatness. All he needs is a little more seasoning and what better way to get that than play for the MLS four time and hopefully five time MLS Champion.

 

Re: Goff article: Adu Considers Leaving United

That's right. After not getting much PT in Dallas he spouted off, and Nellie (and presumably Earnie) had a chat with him.

I suspect that Moreno, and Olsen have already started this process.

 

Re: Goff article: Adu Considers Leaving United

In light of Freddy's comments, I would take Gaven for Adu straight up. (Remember, the last coming of Scum, Mike Petke, played a big role in DCU winning a Cup.)