Freddy Adu and the U17 Natl Team are playing in the U19 Super Group of the Dallas Cup (premier intl youth soccer Tournament). Nats tied Chivas U19 team 2-2, with Freddy playing a role in both goals: assist on 1st goal and taken down in box for penalty kick on 2nd goal. I would love to see impressions of other attendees. Freddy is extremely skilled on the ball and quicker and faster than any defender. He tends to get easily shoved around given his size, but is also effective at winning balls. He plays with a calm confidence and seems to glide across the turf. I can understand the attention he has received. Can't wait to see more.
I was there to watch Freddy on Sunday. If you were on the side facing the sun, I was the black guy continuously yelling "You da man Freddy!!" The kid just has pure talent. My friend and I kept commenting on how everytime he gets the ball something happens. He can take players on, yet he knows when to give it up. I wasn't impressed with the tall guy we had up top though, #4 I think. He does not strike me as a true striker. He had a few opportunities to take some shots with his left in the box and each time he tried to turn inside to his left only to be met by 2 or 3 defenders. We also need to find a true 10 shirt for this team because they have trouble building the attack.
Agree with your analysis. Freedy plays a withdrawn forward role on the team, perhaps because there is no true #10 to win balls in the midfield and set him up. Gavin (#4) squandered numerous opportunities, several supplied by Freddy. The team won 6-0 last night.
Aw, this takes me back a few years ('99?) to seeing the U-17s take on Corinthians U-19 at the Dallas Cup. All the buzz that year was about a talented kid in the middle named Landon Donovan. Pretty decent crowd of about five thousand IIRC. He was definitely the most talented US player and generally a threat going forward. I also remember a skinny kid playing wing who was trying to perfect the "touch-and-dive" move and not getting too far upfield that I'm pretty sure was DeMarcus Beasley before he hit his growth spurt. Pretty sure Corinthians won 2-0, but could be wrong about the scoreline.
#4 gaven was horrible today , he is not a striker and should be pushed back to midfield, find a real striker to play with adu.
Not terrible but not good. He set up the PK at least. He did have many open chances and blew them. But then - how many did Freddy have that he missed? Plenty...
I would have to respectfully disagree with you. Adu was taken down in the area . . a play that was all Freddy. #4 did not impress me at all. Freddy is the real deal. He had one play right in front of us in the second half. He had the ball about 2 feet from the touchline, 8 feet from the attacking goal line. In other words, he was pinned in the corner by THREE defenders, and he somehow got through them. Unbeleivable touch, quickness, and presence on the field. If you can get out to see him Friday or Sunday, you won't regret it.
I looked at the Dallas cup schedule as the website and it showed the U17 Nats vs the Newcastle United at 8PM Friday night at Lake Highlands stadium. If they don't win this game they probably won't play Sunday. So, let's all go out and support the team. Wear red and how about meeting around the front rows on what would about be the 35 yard line on the left side of the stadium facing the field? Maybe we could do a few chants or at least an occassional USA USA USA Also, we need to support the Dallas Cup. 9-11 and the war have greatly reduced the number of foreign teams. So, let's support this fantastic tournament and help it rebuild to where it was.
It's in northeast Dallas. Take Skillman north from Northwest highway or south from 635 to Church Street. Go east on Church, I think that's the only way you can go, and you'll see it shortly.
The Dallas Morning News did a article on Freddy http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/columnists/kblackistone/stories/041503dnspoblackistone.b3f87.html