For those of you who've seen him.... Not WILL HE....rather, will/would he be good enough? Sounds like by next year (assuming current game growth trajectory) that he will be as good as Convey, Beasley, Quaranta were when they started at young ages? I have not seen him play, but sounds like he is one of the better U-17 players, and by next year, he should be #1 or #2...similiar to the previously-mentioned three's status at beginning of their MLS careers.. Sure, he's only 14, but size-wise, he is bigger/stouter than Convey/Beasley when they started....he's already getting the hack treatment, and will get another year of hack practice....given the huge pub he's rec'd, maybe he will as mentally mature as those guys (when they took the big leap). Doesn't sound like he'll be far off... You gotta admit....Freddy at 14 would create enormous PUB for young MLS....Kornheiser would put him on PTI all the time....Soccer may actually be ESPN-cool....and I could see nice increases in attendence to see "the kid" play...
rji...everyone who has seen him and is knowledgeable enough about the game says he could play now. So obviously he'll be good enough in a year.
Good point...however, if this miracle would occur somehow, I would hope MLS would make it clear (via the coaches) that Adu is not be touched.. If there is a 'bomb' that can launch soccer forward a couple giant leaps in this country (vs. plodding progress), I'm starting to think Adu can be it....but it has to happen while he is the incredible young phenomena....(meaning next 2-3 yrs.)
Do you think this would work? Do you think the league could or would try to promote special "Freddy rules"?
Red Auerbach coach of the Boston Celtics back in the day was quoted as saying, "There are two sets of rules on this team. One set for Bill Russel and one set for the rest of the team."
Has MLS ever said that there's an age limit on who they'd sign? I seem to remember reading something about them setting an age limit of needing to be 16.
(Freddy rules) If they don't, they would be freakin' stupid.....Adu is the league's best shot (from what I've read) to make that quantum leap...it would be a helluva story...the mere fact that Korn-holeo-heiser is atuned should tell us all something...it is a fabulous story (and would get better w/Freddy in MLS at 14)...there would be some tremendous benefits- including raising MLS' profile for transfer fees, and raising/increasing overseas TV interest, $$ rights fees...attract investor interest...you name it MLS may make it regardless....but once-in-lifetime ops are well, once in a lifetime....I see Donovan as a media midget (no offense intended) compared to what a 14 year old Freddy could do... Hell, MLS signs the kid at 14, and you are looking at ONE MONSTER TRANSFER FEE for MLS down the road-g. That alone makes it worth consideration...
Right on. He may be good enough to play in MLS at 14. But man, that sounds too young. Can't we wait until he's 16 before playing in a professional soccer game? That sounds like a good age. My Rule of Thumb: If you can't drive yourself to practice, then you can't play in the (pro) game. MLS should try and sign him at any time - but not play him until he's 16. That's my take. Its less of an issue of "could" he, it's more of an issue of "should" he.
I'm with Northside on this. IMO, there's a lot more to being a professional then being able to play. If MLS signed and played him at 14, how in the world could he fit in with the rest of the team? What happens when team mates, unknowingly, put a 14 year old in situations they should not be in? There's just too much responsibility for a manager and players that goes along with having a 14 year old on the team. The manager and players shouldn't have to deal with that. They should only have to worry about who they are playing and the teams performance. I say let him be a kid for a little bit becuase it goes by fast. It's just a bad situation for the child to be in. Don't believe me, look at most child stars after they grow up. Too much pressure at a young age, when a child is just starting to ask themselves who are they and what do they want, is just bad for a child.
If MLS can sign him than yes sign him. But don't let him play until hes at least 15 at the earliest, but preferably 16. The only problem is that will it stunt Freddie's growth in the game if he is training with the U-17's for another 2 years. What are the other options to be explored other than that? Maybe send him to train with a European youth team? Would that work considering that club would probably want the rights to him as well? As Ned Flanders would say, "This is a diddly of a pickle".
It's way too young for him to play in MLS at 14. All it takes is one bad hack from one of these aging euros who come here to make a buck who's been beaten by Adu for the 10th time in a game to put him out of commission for a long period. Let him grow up with kids his own age. Wait till 16. Even in Europe, phenoms rarely play at pro level before 16-17.
i don't know about 14, but there've been a lot of rumblings he'll be here at 15, play 'til he's about 18 or 19, and then head over to europe. he would be great for the league in all sorts of ways one would think, as jri points out, and if mls played its cards right, could be worth a helluva lot of moolah down the line. but there were rumors on the youth abroad thread that there were a number of european scouts at the game yesterday in guatemala, and i can only imagine how many there will be in finland if the U-17s qualify. his mom has said she doesn't want him going abroad at such a young age but who knows how it'll all pan out.
Freddy turns 14 soon. The soonest he would play in MLS is next season and he would turn 15 at the beginning of it.
The answer is yes. HOWEVER, if we wait till he's 15 or 16 then MLS might be ready to play with Freddy. One can always hope.
MLS bound Freddy will stunt his growth as a player wasting his time with the under17's. He's ready for MLS. I say sign him and give him to DCU (as much as I hate to say it) since that's close to home. Pluss DCU has stoichov and Stewart which would be nice for role models for an attack minded player.
Freddy was born on 6/2/89 - he will be 14 this June and 15 next year in June, just as MLS intends to have him next season, Freddy has been already training with DCU and will continue to do so whenever he has a chance in his busy schedule, If this would happen I predict MLS attendance to double, and Freddy will need 24h protection from the crazed foreign media
MLS should start "dealing" when Freddy gets back from this tourney (to hold off Euros)... Sign a development deal around time of WChampionship... Have Freddy play as reserve at DC United- If DC United doesn't have a reserve team, make one (for Freddy). Freddy should start mid-summer on his 14th B Day....gets to practice with DC each day Move mom, brother to Washington....give mom better paying job with DC.. Freddy is development player with DC until 15....gets special mentoring from Ech, Stoitckov....plays with Convey, Quaranta, etc. Freddy makes official debut a couple days before 15 in 2004 (for press purposes) Freddy plays sporadically (depending on how he handles it) in 2004... Starts in 2005, 2006.. MLS sells him right after WC for 10-15million..
I have seen him. He could be in MLS. But mLS will wait a long time becuase they'll be stupid ****** to screw things up. FORZA ADU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Adu in MLS next year I for one think it's a good idea. It would take very little for me to convince my friends to go to a MLS game when DC United is in town. I think 15 is a good age for him to play MLS, although I agree with those who say he should play sporadically, let him get used to it. That said, if I was Hudson and I had a Pele-like player on my bench, it would be hard not to play him alot.
Wayne Rooney was 17 when he STARTED a few weeks ago for the English National team. Adu will be 15 next season, why not let him be on a team, see limited action and then work him into the league? The only thing that concerns me is that I would like to see how he plays with the U-20 team before making a commitment to MLS. And it might be a while before he sees that opportunity.
From what Freddy and his coach have told the media lately, it looks as though there's a pretty good chance that Freddy will play in MLS when he turns 15: US U-17 Coach John Ellinger: "The plan right now is to try and get him to finish his work so he can graduate by the time he turns 15," said Ellinger. "If he goes in MLS he'd go in the draft next year but he would still stay until May to graduate." http://www.northjersey.com/ Freddy Adu in an interview with Sports Illustrated: SI: Do you want to play in MLS? Adu: It's certainly an option. Maybe if I get out of here a little quickly I could play in MLS until I'm about 18 and then just go overseas. There are talks going on about trying to get me to play in MLS for three years from 15 to 18. It would be nice to make it in a way I can just play with D.C. United [Adu's local team] because of my age. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/inside_game/grant_wahl/news/2003/02/27/wahl_soccer/