Article that analyzes the prospects for Freddy Adu (AKA The Messiah) in which the writer says that Freddy wants to turn Pro, but MLS says he's still too young: http://sports.yahoo.com/mls/news?slug=myviewisfreddyreadyf&prov=socceram&type=lgns
I'm glad MLS is making Freddy "The Messiah" wait, even if it's only for a year. I'm sure he wants to help out his family, but it's important to be a kid. Besides, he'll be done with high school next year - always a nice milestone before your first job.
I'm all for making him wait, even though the devil in me wants to see him play for purely selfish reasons. The great thing is, is that he wants to play professional soccer, and what's more, his first stop appears to be MLS.
If quarantas sign up at.... If Santino Quarantas sign if at 16 why MLS can't stablish a new record??? what is the difference between a 16 and a 15....
Re: Re: If quarantas sign up at.... But for practical purposes, would this affect Freddy's ability to play for an MLS team at age 14 or 15? I think not. The Department of Labor states that a 14 or 15 year old may work up to 18 hours during a school week. Hence Freddy would be able to play in one game and participate in up to 5 or so practices each "school week". And during the summer, labor law is even more generous, allowing 14 or 15 year old to work up to 40 hours per week. http://youthrules.dol.gov/hours.htm
Adu's said a bunch of times he's going to Europe as soon as he can. that's why MLS needs to sign him NOW, and then sell him in a year or two. This kid would outgrow MLS in a year or two
True.. but he can't until he can qualifiy for a permit. (see above post) My guess is that he will go pro next season (a MLS publicity campaign) and get some substitution playing time. The following season he will do well, and then gather suitors for a big career in europe. In short, we can expect to see him (In DC United close to home) until he goes to europe when allowed to...
Let him go to Europe and rot on some reserve team for 3-5 years. He'll appreciate what he can get in MLS then.
this is a bit complicated. Euro teams, at least big ones, have U-19 and reserve teams. If Freddie can PLAY in MLS, he should turn pro next season. But if he turns pro and rots on the bench in MLS, that would be a negative.This has hurt Eddie Johnson a lot. He should be playing somewhere. I am a huge supporter of MLS but it does nobody any good to sign hot young 16 year olds and have them rot on the bench.MLS does not have reserves so if someone can't get time with the first team, they sit. That sucks. I consider the best situation to be Adu signs with MLS and plays.Barring that, I would rather he go to a team in Europe or even Argentina or somewhere, and PLAY-even if it is with U-19s. A stint with ManU or Arsenal's U-19 or reserves would beat the bench in MLS.The key question is would Freddie PLAY in MLS next year?
Is it naive of me to think that, in return for the blessing of US citizenship, Freddy might dedicate at least a few years to MLS before migrating to Europe?
how are these connected? What if MLS doesn't want to sign him?Should he stay and play for local rec leagues cause he is thankful for to USA. Here is a hint- as much as I love MLS, it is not equivalent to the USA.Having said that, I hope he signs with MLS and PLAYS. The last part worries me. Ask Eddie Johnson. I am not positive he would sign with MLS again.
Since his birth certificate states that he is thirteen he can not turn pro for three years. Right?????
We are talking about a 13-year-old kid, right? At this stage of his career the chances of him NOT making it at pro level is much more likely than the opposite. Add these absolutely insane expectations and comparions with Pele and you have further reasons to believe he will not make it big.
I am sure this sounds wierd if you haven't heard much about him...but he will almost surely be at least a good pro player. He has had an offer from Inter Milan and his coaches are the same ones who coached Beasley and Donovan, who went straight from the US U-17 team to the pros. Everyone, even Landon, says he is better than they were at that stage. So while I retain a certain skepticism, there is no doubt at all that he will turn pro within a year or so and be at least a very good pro. In the U-17 qualifying tournament, there were a whole pack of pro scouts there supposedly just to watch him.Inter Milan, AC Milan. The BBC also had a piece about him. The dean of USA soccer writiers, Paul Gardner, a crusty old Englishman, who hates MOST things, said... "he looks like Pele".
I would agree, but it must seem insane to someone who hasn't heard of him and reads what people are posting about Freddy. He truly is an unusual talent. How many players are so good that they are this disorienting?
what I like is that he seems to play well when the prssure is on. He is 13, playing with the U-17s, against a U-19 side of a famous English Premiership team in a big tournament. And they couldn't cope with him either.
You mean how many American players. He would not have the same effect in established soccer countries.