This match is before his MLS debut (and barring injury, we all know he's going to play) and its time for Freddy to make it with the full national side. This is a minnow opponent, he can see 10-15 minutes in the second half when we're up by a few goals. Freddy needs to make his debut and give him a taste of things to come, but also lessen the anticipation for him. Plus, Freddy playing with the full national side will create more of a media stir and will help sell him at the MLS level. For the good of MLS, Freddy needs to play this match. Discuss.
I think Freedy needs to cool his heals in MLS for a season before a full national call up. There is no reason to rush him or "give him a taste of things to come." I think he is getting enough of what's to come this off season and getting ready for his new team. There is no reason to take his mind off the upcoming MLS season.
Full national team caps are earned, usually with play with your club team. A) Freddy is a rookie and has yet to play a real game with his club. B) In preseason games with his club, he, or his team, have yet to score a goal. Freddy's an attacker. He hasn't scored. He hasn't earned a call-up. I'm not saying if Freddy had poked 2-3 in against the Wizzos or Rapids or MetroStars in preseason that he would merit a call-up, but it certainly would have helped his case!
Relax. This brings new meaning to the phrase "jumping the gun." Beasley's development arc is instructive. He played in one qualifier -- a meaningless one -- at the end of the Hex, having played around 40 or so MLS and open cup games up until that point. Not only does he make the final J/K roster, he evolves into a very key guy, and would have played a lot more minutes in '02 had he been healthier. I expect the same pattern with Freddy. He'll play MLS this year, into next, get called up for the last couple of HEX qualifiers, and then work his way into the final 23 during the 6-month run up to Germany. So, relax, let it play out with its own rhythm and timing.
Please give the kid a chance to learn his trade. He does not need to be in the USMNT now. Maybe he can be in the squad in 18 months or so. Maybe be can be in the team at age 16 or 17. Maybe...Let him concentrate on being a kid and learning how to be a professional. In is quite wrong to say "its time for Freddy to make it with the full national side" (and I'm not talking about your punctuation).
Freddy deserves to be called up. I mean, he hasn't played one official MLS game. Hasn't scored one professional goal yet, most who cheer for him haven't even seen him play but he should jsut jump right past guys that have proved they deserve a shot. Hell, I thin they should bring in LeBron James and Michel Jorden too
See, now you are just being silly. Michael Jordan is retired. Seriously, let Freddy get some regular season MLS games under his belt before capping him at the senior national level. Baby Adu steps, guys.
Come on guys. Let's be open and honest here. 1. We all expect Freddy to tear up MLS. 2. We all HOPE that it happens relatively soon. 3. We all are doing our best to patiently wait until it is politically correct in the soccer world to cap him, but it's excruciating to wait, because he's better on the ball than anyone we have now. 4. Noone wants to seem premature, though we are. 5. I for one will admit that, from what I'm learning on BS, with Adu, Cooper, Simek, Weah, Jr. Gaven, Spector, Szetela, Marshall, coming right behind the Convey, LD, DMB, Boca, Howard, Gibbs, Martino group- we can start to get a real excitement about the future. 6. We need to see consistency from all of these. 7. We are united in our hopes, but at this point, that's all they are. Champions are consistent, and that's why we're not Champions yet. Comments?
wont that full cap make him ours 100%? for sure he would be a us nat for the rest of his international career. that is the only reason i kind of agree with this guy. what if ghana somehow comes out of nowhere and wins the african nations cup or something that would make him think twice. although im sure nike has made him agree to stay here for his million of endorsement money. if a rich business man in ghana put similar cash down whos to say he wouldnt go play for ghanas nats? he only has U caps and those can be with anyone before a full international cap and career is set in stone as far as i understand the current rules of the game.
If he wasn't playing with the Olympic team then he shouldn't be playing with the USMNT. To quote Gaylord Focker in Meet the Parents, "Where's the fire?"
I'm not entirely sure that's a productive set of criteria. I don't think Freddy should be capped just yet either, but his not making the Olympic team is not one of the arguments I'd use. There is a player or two who didn't make that Olympic squad who I would consider capping, just not Freddy right now.
cool your jets, Simon Simon, please read Dyson's DC United camp summary of player performance about Freddie (scroll down to the bottom--he's the last player reviewed). Clearly promise, but also clearly a work in progress. I don't see that he's at all ready for prime time.
Freddy struggled a bit at the U-20 level. Think he needs his confidence destroyed? Simon, did you watch any of the U-20 WC.He certainly did not dominate there and was getting pushed off the ball alot.He has great potential, but I can't see how having him humiliated helps his development.