coming in the late game, "joker" role.....ergo, you need a goal, and the opponents teams' legs are tired....someone who can create own shot, dribble by guys near box...I could see Freddy getting 20-30 minutes.. Formerly, I thought this would be Cunningham's role....(Cobi was kindof the designate this past world cup, and in 98, it was Preki (or so was the original idea...). I think Freddy will bypass Jeff in pecking order the 2005-2006 year (maybe even earlier).. Freddy, wonderboy that he is, may even manage to make it on the field more in 2006....in fact, if it were the 2002 (and Freddy were 17)..he might have that chance, but 2006 team should be stronger than 2002 (and Bruce will want to protect him a bit, I reckon)... The continues to be one amazing story....he may be one of the better players in MLS by late summer 2004 IMO...
Freddie in 2006? Sure, why not? Freddy vs. Guatemala did it for me. Even against. U17 defenders, there are very, very few full U.S. National team members who could zig past 6 guys the way Freddy did. More than 3 years to go, plenty of time for a kid who in some critical facets of the game (balance, speed with ball at feet, agility) is already superior to most current U.S. Nationals.
this is getting to be worse than your corey gibbs fetish... I thought you had a life jri, what happened?
Threads are different (different topic)...same player.. If it is boring to you, just don't post. Is that so hard? I think the silliest thing in the world is to spend time on something that bring no merit or is not of interest. Why your last post is (of interest) to you, I can't imagine. So go help an old lady. Or give your significant other a flower. Leave me alone, I'm having fun (YEE HAW)
2006 line up Donovan-Adu Mathis Beasley--Klien O'Brien Cherundo-Mastroeni-Bocagrena--Convey Friedel I'd like to have a target forward like a McBride, but he'll be 34 and who knows whats up with Conor Casey. If a good target forward develops, then out with either Mathis, or Adu, either one to be used as late game injections to get points. Also, would prefer Reyna to Klien, but we'll have to wait and see.
Re: 2006 line up Mathis is a sub until he regains his form IMHO. 4-3-3 -------------Beas-Buddle-Donovan -----------Convey--Adu--Rmid* ---------LB*---Boca---Pope---Onyewu Slip in JOB there somewhere if you like in the midfield and/or switch Beasley with Adu and sit Beas down. Right mid and left back are positions where I believe we don't know who will finally end up playing there for 2006, and I do think there are capable players coming through the MLS ranks. Quaranta could perhaps slot in as the right mid. Don't forget that the temperature should be cooler in Germany than in Japorea, and as such I think we should abandon somewhat our Germany lite style of play and attack more. The Olympic team had great success playing an attacking style, and it was fun to watch also. It also suits our players better to attack more and 'think' less. I believe that Freddy should start training with an MLS team as soon as possible, immediately after getting enough credits to graduate.
I'm pretty sure that Freddy Adu will come along for the experience of being there, much like they did with Ronaldo in 1994. He won't play. The level of competition rises so dramatically that if we threw him in there now against world class defenders, he'd be schooled and broken. There's no need for it now, and I don't think he'll be ready yet with 17 either. Could I be wrong? Absolutely - just look at Wayne Rooney getting a full run with the English Nats at just 17. But we are talking about the World Cup here and not MLS games or a meaningless friendly against Australia. Let him soak in the experience. Let him progress at his own amazing pace. He'll be all the better off for us winning the World Cup when he's brilliantly 20 in 2010.
Love that 4-3-3! I'm gong with a 3-5-2 I think, however. Casey Buddle Beasely Adu Donovan Mastroeni Armas John O'Brien Pope Bocanegra Friedel So many good players! It's hard to predicto.
I read the recent SI article about Adu and it described him training against MLS defenders and slicing them up like he sliced up U-17's. I think he needs to at least be training with MLS teams as soon as he graduates/during breaks from Bradenton. If he continues his current development you have to expect him on the WC team in 2006. How much playing time he would get (if any) is uncertain. It also depends on what position will suit him and where our strengths and weaknesses are. I certainly think we'll need a McBride type striker up front, whether that's in a front line with Donovan or Adu or Mathis or whoever.
Yeah, I prefer to go out guns blazing from the get go....especially now that we've gotten better at finishing.
If he plays in MLS in '04 & '05 and plays well, why not?? As a last-20-min-goal-creator, he at 17 will be better than Cobi even if he does not improve all that much next three years. Cobi is fast and energetic, a great contributor to USMNT for many years, but his touches cannot compare to Adu's. With that speed and dribbling skill against tired defenders, if nothing else, he can easily creat a few free kick (even PK) chances late in the game.
I think, depending on the makeup of the team, Freddy would be the guy who comes in around the 70, 75 min mark if we need attacking players. You figure the defenders would be getting tired and his fresh legs would really great problems for them and opportunities for us.
Agreed. I read he's on an accelerated academic program to graduate from high school by May 2004, so it would make sense for him to … * 2004 join MLS and play regularly * 2005 play in MLS and go to train with USMNT on occasions, maybe get a few caps late in the year * 2006 get a few more caps and go to WC '06 as a late game sub. Of course, everything is hinged on that he continues to make progress and stay healthy. Let's keep our fingers crossed.