I couldn't help but notice that all the posters who saw Freddy Adu at the Dallas Cup came away saying that he's legit. I also watched some of the clips from the U-17 Qualifying Tournament and I was absolutely awestruck. I remember hearing recently that many of the people in England who saw Jovan Kirovski when he was a youth player said that he was fully the equal of Beckham and Giggs at that stage. Obviously Kirovski didn't develop into that type of player but I always wonder how much better would the U.S. have been over the last 6-7 years if he had in fact become as good as them. How much impact would a world superstar have on U.S. Soccer? Let me put forward a best case scenario. Let's just say for arguments sake that Freddy Adu is in fact the REAL DEAL, a world superstar in the making destined to become one of the best players on the globe. Let's assume that by 2006 he will have developed skills comparable to those that Ronaldo or (what the hell) Pele possessed at 16 or 17. Given the supporting cast (Donovan, Mathis, O'Brien, Mastroeni, Beasley, Pope, Bocanegra, etc.) he'll have, how good would the U.S. be? Will we be favorites to advance out of our group at the WC? (unless its one of those Group of Death type deals) Will we become unquestionably the best team in CONCACAF by that time? Just how good would a burgeoning superstar make us on the world stage? It's a fun question to ponder and I wonder what everyone's thoughts are.
Well Lets say that we do get Adu (me) to be a Superstar. Thing is, one player does not make a team. For example take Sweden. Arguably they have a better supporting cast that the USA, and if Adu is anywhere near Larsson's level in 3 years, well, damn, I will be thrilled. Point is, Sweden is never really even favored to get out of the Group of 16, and certainly not an automatic to get into the Knock Out Rounds from ANY group. So with Adu I think we have a chance to be a good team, but certainly not a favorite. It takes a team of great players, not one. Nevertheless, if Adu does become stunning in 3 years, I think the Quarters should be expected from us fans. Otherwise there will certainly be disappointment.
Re: Re: If Freddy's for real how good will the U.S. be? Freddy, do you always spell your name wrong when you sign up for a message board?
As nice as it would be to think we are just one superstar from being a world power, I don't think it's anywhere near that simple. Argentina bombed with a whole slew of superstar players in Korea. France had a host of great players and did nothing. Examples of super talented teams failing abound in World Cup history. And, if you're talking about the effects of a single player, Trinadad/Tobago was still not a very good team when Dwight Yorke was one of the leading forwards in Europe. Of course, more good players increase the chances of a team's winning. I just think that for us to become a true power, it's gonna take more than one guy to achieve that level. I do think the US is getting to be a very solid team on a global level nowadays and do believe that any improvements we get at any position will only help. A true world superstar player would increase our chances of success undoubtably. I just don't think that having such a player is a gaurentee of success.
I disagree with you guys. The addition of one superstar can definitly help a team liek the US. We have something that those other teams don't possess, and no matter how much skill they have it will always be an obstacle. France, Argentina and Sweden don't have a Brad Friedel or a Casey Keller. The addition of an Adu to a super goalie may put us over the top. Maybe I am wrong but guys like JOB, Donavan, Mathis, McBride are not as far behind the other superstars and would be pretty good pieces in a World Cup puzzle if Adu is legit.
any team going into a world cup w/ the expectation of success has world-beater/superstar players. unless freddy becomes the next pele in a big hurry, he's going to be just another promising young talent (albeit very young). no question he can't hurt our team depth, but for better or worse, after '02, we already have high expectations.
As good as we have always been, but this time with Freddy. 1 man (kid) cannot single handely win games. That being said, a good showing is possible in 06, a good showing in '10 is expected, but I don't think a championship will be seen until at least the 20s.
I'll play Devil's Advocate here. What about Hristo Stoichkov in '94? He was the lone superstar on that team and they made it all the way to the semis beating Germany in the process. Someone correct me if I'm wrong but I think he had only one other top notch player (Balakov?) on that team and they were still very successful.
we don't even have a Casey Keller nor do we have a goalie who has won a world cup and CL winner, like France. That is a GREAT goalkeeper
Remember that article a few weeks ago on soccernet where the guy said something like "In case you haven't noticed the United States is a large country that is rather fond of winning." Freddy would embody that statement.
Were you being sarcastic I hope?You can't be talking about that dolt Barthez? The guy who is a millstone around ManU's neck?
Adu won't be able to do much if Sasha Victorine, and Nick Garcia are still playing defense for us. Then again Frankie Hejduk isn't that much better so I'm not so sure. Hopefully Jo(h?)nathan Spector and others will come through and be good. Hopefully Man Utd can groom Spector into another John O'Shea who looks like a rock solid R/L back. One thing that we had this WC that a lot of teams didn't is a team that worked well together and a good manager. Bruce will still be around so I think our team should fulfill or exceed its potential again.
Here's a novel idea.....let's qualify for the World Cup first! If you really think its that much of a gaurantee, talk to the folks in the Netherlands, and they'll tell you otherwise. I think chances are very slim we won't qualify, and granted this isnt UEFA, but let's not get ahead of ourselves here, please. now, if we do qualify, a superstar can make the difference, even a young one. michael owen was an unavoidable lift for England in France 98.
If Adu is as good as his hype then he will score 8 goals a game blindfolded while simultaneously founding a new religion with more followers than Christianity, Islam and Bhuddism combined. I think with an 8 goal a game scorer and a divine prophet the US has 2006-2030 wrapped up.
You know, the whole point of this debate revolves around what might happen if... So don't be too much of a killjoy, please.
The problem that the US is about to run into is the learning curve in international soccer. To go from a national team made up of amatuers that can't even qualify for the world cup to a fully profesional team that can on its best day compete with any team in the world is a huge step. But its a step we have made. But to take the next step from a team that on its best day with luck can win any game, to a team that consistantly beats the best in the world is going to be even harder. And is going to take alot more then one superstar. If Adu is the vanguard of new generations of world class players we might be looking for championships. But even if he meets all of the expectations, its gonna take more than one player to give the US a chance to win the world championship.
My beef is I never hear this semi-condescending, albeit well-intentioned, "advice" about other nations. This makes the awful presumption that the progress of the US is static, even with all the evidence otherwise. The other presumption is that the talent level of Adu and the talent level of the next best player in the entire US pool is leaps and bounds apart, and I don't accept that. I dunno, I'm just tired of being cautiously optimistic and I'd like to enjoy our successes every once and a while. That's alright with everyone around here, is it?
After today's game, there are 10 keepers in MLS I'd take over him...well, I'd probably take him over that Canadien guy...so 9
If he is for real, the one certain thing is that our midfield would look really nice (Beasley, Reyna, O'brien , Donovan, Adu....oh, the possibilities!) Now, just to crash back to earth...our defense's future has in no way been settled, and a team whose defense is not sure of itself will stuggle... Of course, there is lots of time to get ready, so anything can happen
We still need to find 3 other defenders besides Bocanegra who can contribute to the offense and play a role in a possession game.
But Adu will only be 17 in the next World Cup. He probably plays well, but would not be the ultrimate superstar until he is 19, 20, or 21(roughly when Pele, Maradona, and Ronaldo reaches their potentials). By then, Reyna will be retired. The age gap between Reyna and Adu is about the same as Tab Ramos and Landon Donovan. As for keepers, Keller and Friedel are old enough to be Adu's father.
And if you watched what is now yesterday's game, you'll realize that the team that scored on Barthez has Zidane, Ronaldo, Raul, Figo, and Roberto Carlos. Three world player's of the year. Barthez is one of the best GKs in the world. Period. The Ring is the Thing.
Hey Flan.. I'm completely with u on Clint...but Barthez? I'd take our top three (Brad, Kasey and Tim) over Barthez without a moment's hesitation....as would France at this moment if they had that option.