I'm curious what everyone thinks is the best direction for Freddy to go in terms of staying in MLS or going abroad. I for one am concerned that despite his immense potential he might go to a European power when he's 18 and end up languishing on the bench or on a reserve team. Such an outcome would stunt his growth as a player and end up hurting his development. I understand the financial incentive would be almost irresistible as would the challenge of playing against the worlds best in Italy or any other big league. But strictly from a standpoint of what's in his best interest as a player during his formative years I'm of the opinion that staying in MLS would be good for him at least until he's 21-22. The MLS environment is certainly conducive for he development of good young players (Beasley, Donovan, Mathis, Wolff) and while Adu's potential is certainly a cut above these players and would demand competition from the best I think it would benefit him greatly to remain in MLS for a while.
I think 3 years in the MLS is enough for Freddy. Right now, Landon, DMB, and others are reaching the point of not being able to improve much more since the competition in the MLS is not as tough as it is in Europe. Landon is not in Germany because his ego prevents him from being able to sit on a bench and learn. DMB is here because a few deals fell through. If the European football economy rights itself, we will see more Americans playing in Europe, but who can predict when that will change.
My opinion on this is that what's best is what will make Freddy and his family the happiest. Whatever his ability and potential, he is still a person. Same as the situation with Landon. I think the above statement about Landon is ridiculous. He doesn't have a huge ego, not even compared to a lot of NON-celebrities that I know. I mean, I don't know him personally, but I have talked (very) briefly with him, and I've read articles and interviews about him, and from what I can tell he's a pretty down-to-earth person. My understanding is that the biggest reason he wanted to come back to the USA was because he was homesick. He was a young man just out of high school, alone for the first time, in a foreign country even, and he didn't speak the language, so that's about expected and normal. You know what? Why am I even explaining this? It's moronic to suggest otherwise. Anyhow, back to Freddy. I hope he fulfills his potential. Showing such great talent and ability at such a young age, he'll have several years of MLS play under his belt before he even hits 19, so I think there's a very good chance he will go abroad before he's 21, and I think that's probably the best way to go, especially if there's strong interest in him in Europe. That is, as long as he and his family are excited about doing that, and he feels mature enough to do so. From what I've read about him, he's already very mature, emotionally and intellectually, for his age. The problem with any American going to Europe is the perception by coaches that those players are lacking in some respects. If that perception persists, then it could definitely hurt him. Since more American players are continuing to do better and better for themselves abroad than ever before, the groundwork is being laid so that maybe that won't be much of a problem by the time Freddy heads to a team on the other side of the Atlantic.
Well, Freddy has already made a name for himself and he's 13. Additionally, he doesn't have the baggage of growing up in the US. And, we know that his family was offered $750,000 by Inter. I don't forsee a problem with Freddy's future. I am just wondering how long MLS will be able to hold him (I would guess 1 season, and then he transferes during the Winter season).
A year only in MLS isn't going to happen. He'll be here for several years. His mom obviously isn't concerned about money, and she wants him to get an education, which I'm sure will be here, not abroad. It doesn't make sense that they would do anything else. As far as him having "made a name for himself", that's a relative term. Yes, his talent has been recognized; but talent and accomplishments are two very different things. Don't confuse hype with history.
How much do people out there want to bet that if Landon was playing in Germany, he would not have gotten homesick? Its ego, plain and simple. Athletes, hell everybody, has an ego and don't like being second best in anything.
Well, you do make a good point about that, but I still stand by my evaluation of his personality. I think it's only fair to say that your assessment is a *part* of what happened, but come on. In that situation, MOST youth would want to come home. It was hard, thankless work. Yeah, you're right -- no glory. Just learning the system, learning how hard it was to be a pro. How many minor league baseball players with dreams of getting called up by the Dodgers or the Yankees ended up going back home to work a regular job or enrolling in college rather than tough it out? A lot of teenagers would make the choice he made, and I don't think anyone is worse off because of it. Especially if they had to play their minor league ball in Mexico, not in the PCL. Yeah, the money he got was better than any minor league contract, but we're still talking about a kid. He'll be playing abroad soon enough, and he'll still have to prove himself. I don't think it demonstrates a massive ego, I think it's just human nature. Better to play, feel good about yourself, and enhance your future chances of starting, than to keep toiling away unhappily and wonder if you'd get more credit if you were born on European soil.
The rumour that i heard about Freddy's development is that he is planning on signing with the mls when the turns 15. If that works out well and he plays well and maybe even pushes himself in to the world cup squad then i think he said he would go to europe after the cup when he is about 18. That is the ideal scenario, so if everything works out great i think that will happen.
What it boils down to was taking the money, and not looking at the other factors involved with the situation: 1)the German Bundesliga has no history of playing younger players in mass numbers, much less Champion's League clubs. 2)Germans speak German. 3)MLS wasn't considered good enough 4) A P-40 deal wasn't considered good enough I realize that the Donovans were concerned about getting enough money to offset a possible scholarship, but it was far from the best situation for Landon's soccer or personal development. Beas and Convey took less money and stayed here in the states--didn't seem to hurt their development, did it? Adu reportedly has visions of playing with Real Madrid or a top Serie A side. It'd be better for him to stay here for probably 2 years and then head across the pond should he desire to do so.
Re: Re: Freddy's Future This is a question that is almost impossible to answer. If Beas had gone to Europe (not that he had any firm offers, IIRC), he might have been forced to bulk up a little and improve on a few basics, such as crossing. On the other hand, he also could have been lost in the youth academy with 20 other teenagers. Similar arguments also apply to Convey (or any other young prospect).
But aren't we all in agreement that our premier younger players need to go to Europe at some point, one that may be sooner rather than later depending upon who they are. As much as I want the MLS to develop into a great league, these guys (Landon, DMB, Convey, etc) need to go to Europe to raise their skill level and increase our chances of winning the World Cup, which is the thing I want above all.
Yes. But going at 20, 21 or 22 as a 3,4 or 5 year professional veteran is much better than going at 20 years old as a player without any professional experience like many of our college players do. However, Germany is obviously not the place to go as an unproven youth prospect. For the game to truly arrive here, we're going to have to win the World Cup. Short term, that means shipping our best players to Europe so that they can experience the pressures associated with the European game that just don't exist here.
Re: Re: Re: Freddy's Future Most of our babied youth players here aren't prepared to handle a European professional environment at 16,17 years old. These kids have been top dog their whole lives in youth soccer and then they go and get lumped in with guys who have roughly the same ability. Competition--our kids did not grow up in competitive situations within their youth teams, yet another reason why we need MLS or some professional entity to begin financing competitive youth teams here. Obviously, if they can cope with not being at home, then a Dutch team would seem to be ideal. But not Germany for god's sake, they're so conservative when it comes to youth players that it's better to sign with a 2nd division team rather than with a Bundesliga 1st team.
This, my friends, is a sharp young man. Very intelligent. Keep an eye on him, he's going to do well here.
Freddy's is right here in the U.S. til at least age 18. He will probably test the waters overseas eventually. I disagree with folks here that players can develop better overseas. They can develop right here. Hello we should of beat the Germans in the quarter finals last year. We outplayed them with our own coach. Change your mind set. Its a misnomer that players can develop better there. I would agree 10 years ago with you, but not now. The U. S. is becoming a soccer power, if not already. Hello!, we can develop our own home grown players here. Support it or move to Europe you weaklings and traitors.
I hope that he plays for a few years in the MLS... I think that what Bobby Convey has done has helped him tremendously. It was a little rocky at first, but he clearly has developed into a well-rounded player, capable of playing at the highest level with the USMNT. I would really like to see Adu do the same thing. Even if Adu turns out to be as good as everyone hopes, I don't think that he should go to Europe until he is 21, after the 2010 World Cup. Then he can go to Europe for eight years before coming back to finish his career in the US. I really expect to see him suited up for some MLS team in 2004, and reports indicate the same. There is no doubt that he can play. If Gaven and Memo can get drafted, Freddy can too. People don't give the MLS enough credit. It isn't the best league in the world, but it is definitely the most improved, and continues to get better each year. Freddy may not need the MLS, but the MLS needs Freddy.
First off, will everyone stop referring to MLS as "The MLS"? Is it known as "The Major League Soccer"? Sorry, just a pet peeve. Anyway, in the SI article Freddy stated that he would stay in MLS for about 3 or 4 years. That should be about 5 or 6 years from now. No one here can predict the economic status of MLS 5 or 6 years from now. Hopefully by then the majority of teams in the league will have their own stadiums and MLS will be making a large profit. No one knows what kind of an effect the 2006 WC will have. If the USA does well, maybe attendence in MLS will take a big jump and we could afford to keep Freddy around for longer than 3 or 4 years. At this point in time it's too early to say what he will do. Maybe Freddy will want to stay at home and play in America for a while. Who knows?
the problem with starting with MLS is that Freddy (and others) then rely on MLS about when it comes time to go abroad. i have said it before, and believe it, that MLS's attitude and treatment of players on such issues may come back to bite it in the . . . sure, playing in a minor league has benefits, but it's going to vary from individual to individual as to whether playing more minor league games is "better" than training everyday with the professionals. i don't doubt that MLS could serve a purpose for Freddy and his development, but it's not "obvious" that it's the best thing for his soccer development. also, if his goal is to get to Italy (or anywhere else) and he has the option to do that immediately, going there first is the only way that he controls his own fate, unless he includes some great language in his MLS contract. how can any of you suggest that it is best for Freddy to give up this control? thus far, i am very unimpressed with MLS's assistance in moving US players overseas. i understand the position - that we're not being offered enough and not going to sell them cheap - but what is the price that MLS is going to put on the head/feet of Mr. Adu. what if the Italian teams suddenly think it is a little too steep (even though they would still love to have him)? also, unless i'm missing something, if he goes to MLS first, a good chunk of that money currently being talked about goes to MLS as part of his transfer fee, not to Freddy. i've got no objection to Freddy (and others) doing that for MLS if they choose, but i certainly don't think he has any obligation to do so. given that Europe is where the money is, seems like going there first could have significant financial benefits for him, as well as for his training and development.
I see Freddy Adu developing as a normal child in a small town raised by his earth-parents. But soon after his 16th birthday, when his powers are fully developed, he will realize his true mission in life. After building his fortress of solitude he will go on to defeat the feared "Ronaldo". His only weakness will be kryptonite.., and puberty.
Good chunk? try almost all of it. A typical trasnsfer reuslts in the player getting around 10%...the rest goes to the team who own him...or obviously in the case of MLS, the league