The Freddy Adu Timetable -- or the parallel universe of DMB

DMB - run fast, play good D, score no goal

Adu - score goal (America need score goal)

 

GOOD post Karl, I think YOU might be ON to something. Their FUTURES might BE close, as TIME goes on.

Once AGAIN, good post.

 

do you kids mind?

any way Karl, Freddy played in the U17 WC before signing with MLS. I think you might be thinking of the U20 World Cup, in which he played in immediatly after signing with MLS.

Freddy has to make a massive mental leap. And who knows when thats going to happen

 

Well, so did Beasley,didn't he.And I remember Bobby Convey looking scared sh@tless for a whole season...

 

Hey Keller even though I dont like you (In terms of bigsoccer.com) good thread......
Although 2 different players Adu may progress the way Bease has.

 

According to a recent large study of juvenile offenders and non-offenders, there is a real and substantial change in mentality that occurs around the age 16. Kid mode of thinking and behavior rather abruptly becomes much more adultish at that breakpoint. I suspect it is a particularly pointed characteristic of what we call "maturity" and applies to a lot of endeavors, including soccer. In this vein, I fully expect a different Freddy to appear in about 2 yrs, that is, of course, if he really is only 14

 

maybe he'll get over that someday.

 

Nice food for thought, but the history of players who've made a difference at 16 in a WC is pretty small, whereas there are a lot of 19-20 year olds (such as dmb) who've made a splash.

 

Is there anything about Freddy's career, so far, that DOESN'T lead you to believe he is in a pretty small group?

In retrospect, years from now, I think the MLS debut will be the most difficult (in terms of Freddy dealing w/hoopla, all things considered including age) that the kid will ever face.....Soccer won't ever get to the stage in this country (in next 20 years) that Freddy will be Michael Jordan, and I think the intrigued foreign press will/would mostly be a laugh-off for Fred at the next World Cup.

"Expectations? What Expectations? I'm just glad to be here" he'll answer (believing it) and rightly so... Bruce will use him as late game sub in a game or 2, and there won't be pressure, since anything he'll do will be a bonus...

 

BTW- Its simply hilarious to hear how several believe Freddy is inadaquate/not ready in some ways to play MLS....clearly, they have forgotten/have no knowledge the debuts of Messrs. Convey and Beasley (that entire first year, Beasley looked like he could killed at any moment....I kid you not)

 

Yeah. Like, zero.

 

Also, Ronaldo's stint on the Brazil bench as a 17 yr old seemed to be ok for his future performance.

 

I realize that Freddy could be one who breaks the mold.

I was simply sarcastically pointing out that the "history of players who have had an impact on the WC at 16" is zero because there has never been a 16 year old player in the WC!

 

I would hope that our squad is strong enough that a 16 year old couldn't make the team, but I realize that we are not talking about a normal 16 year old (in 2006). Also, we haven't in the past had a surplus of lethal goal-scorers and dribbling wizards, so who knows?

Would the inclusion of a kid that age be a desperation move/novelty, though? That said, a Brazilian 17 yr old from days past who shall remain nameless did more than contribute.

 

Owen played and STARRED in a World Cup at 17 didn't he?

 

I certainly hope that when he is DB's age, Adu
will be leaps and bounds ahead. If he is no better
than DB than all this hoopla will be a waste.

DB is good, but Adu is supposed to be great.

-Guido

 

Here's another timeline for you to consider Karl- I think its relevant.


http://soccernet.espn.go.com/player?id=21046&cc=5901

I'd estimate that Freddy is a full 1-1 1/2 years ahead of Rooney's development, which is HUGE and REMARKABLE at this age. Technically, its closer to 2 years, but I think one has to discount the material difference in league quality. (which I am at 1/2-1 year).

Freddy's 2004 season looks to be a carbon copy of Rooney 1st season in some/many ways. Rooney made his England debut during his 1st season! Rooney's "I've arrived goal- spectacular" happened in the last month before his 17th birthday in 2002- Freddy's in the last month before his 15th birthday.

Looking at this, it is not at all unreasonable to think Freddy could have a place at the 2006 table...

 

I think 1 in 5 odds are too low.

Also, it is interesting to consider: How would (the potential of Freddy playing in a match) effect World Cup ratings? Could we see a similar bump to what we've seen in MLS ratings (78% increase). How much money would it mean to SUM if World Cup ratings are 78% higher for the US World Cup games? How would that impact soccer in the States. I'm not naive enough to think this is totally irrelevant, given the owners of SUM are the owners of MLS. The whole Pele connection thing (including looks) is almost eerie, but is a marketer's dream (if soccer in US can ever be considered that). You are going to have major sponsers lining up to get a piece of the Pele/Freddy connection, and American's love a big-time event w/a good story behind it.

But I do think the point will be moot, Freddy will earn it on the merits. I think Freddy will show enough to be the late-game scoring/PK-drawing joker which is a valuable asset in the low-scoring WC competition. He's got 2 seasons to learn to make runs off the ball, runs to passing lanes (I'd be amazed if he can't learn in that time- he's a smart kid), but I have little worry that he will be as dangerous as any US player we have in the final 1/3 by then (or close)...If Rooney can be England-ready in 2 years, Freddy certainly can too...

Finally, I also think we will see massive development of Freddy even in the off-season- maturity (physical), a commitment to shoring up his weaknesses (let's face it- this season is a blur for the kid.....I only expect incremental improvement in the "intangibles"), and his re-dedication coming into next year's training. He will be a force in 2005, and I think you will see the WC placement in sight.

Freddy's a rulebreaker...it'll only continue (and to think, Jordan got CUT from his high school BB team at this age)

At this point, if I had the software, I'd put Freddy pic next to Pele and morph the faces (wouldn't look that odd- they have facial simularity)..