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designated players
coming out party, take 348
party # 1
What are we at? Is this the 3rd, 4th, or 5th coming out party for Freddy Adu? Now before you start throwing darts, let me preface all of this with… Freddy is a fine player who didn’t ask for a first surprise party, much less however many have since followed. But that isn’t a conversation killer. Plenty of questions exist, most of them unanswerable by anyone, anything, except for maybe the feet of Freddy. And they aren’t talking very often.
While there are no answers, we have - from the intelligent commenters on this website, to any number of articles that have been making it rain since his hat-trick performance - plenty of questions.
The short list after the jump…
Is Freddy Adu the victim of bad coaching?
Is Freddy Adu a player who resents MLS and needs the motivation of a World Cup to flourish?
Is Freddy Adu great in the boys’ World Cups, but simply average in professional (adult) leagues?
Is Freddy’s footwork being crushed by a physical, arguably low-brow, brand of soccer in MLS?
If you answered yes to the last question, then would it be wrong for Freddy to go to the English Premier League, known by some for its similarly grueling style?
Is Spain the destination where he will finally blossom? Or does he need some work with a middle man like recent stand-out opponent Jo (Brazil) is getting in Moscow? Could Freddy go to a Brazilian club team?
Will he ever blossom - the kid is still Under-20 after all - or will this be the end game for Adu: flashes of brilliance without the long term consistency? In essence the personification of the present state of US Soccer.
Are you sick of Freddy? Or are you happy to have a non-Beckham story line this summer?
Mr. Goodbar
on Jul 10th, 2007 - 3:18pm
Anything is better than Beckham. I doubted Freddy until I saw his U-20 play. As Lalas said, he should go over to PSV with Lee, or Ajax. He will never make it first team in the EPL until he is older and stronger.
Joe Ginto
on Jul 10th, 2007 - 4:09pm
he may not be ready for EPL right now but he’s still filling out. hell, the EPL isn’t the be all end all of football either. i’d love to see him in an environment where he can get the solid training he needs. it’s pretty damn obvious whatever he’s getting at RSL ain’t cutting it. listen, i love MLS. i watch it, i don’t diss it. but if i’m a 17 year old kid looking to make my mark and hone my skills i wouldn’t hang around waiting to get my legs crushed by kovalenko or some other hack.
freddy has enough of a resume where i don’t think he just go anywhere overseas for the sake of playing in europe but i’d love to see him with PSV or ajax based on their track record. easier said than done and getting results in the u-20’s don’t necessarily translate to success elsewhere.
even though he’s not a cut above the rest of MLS at the moment, he has the talent to do so.
Jay Jaeger
on Jul 10th, 2007 - 4:22pm
Oh I am very happy about a non-Beckham story. I feel like us soccer fans have had enough of him - well at least until he starts playing. But I guess we shouldn’t complain, at least MLS is getting more attention
Borba
on Jul 10th, 2007 - 6:27pm
I would love to see Freddy play somewhere in Europe (hopefully PSV because they do great with developing talent and using it in the right way; cue Farfan picture) even a second league team in Spain would give him more attention and better training.
I Don’t think that he has had a good supporting cast at Real, this isn’t the NBA where one player can carry a team to the finals (cue LeBron picture)
In the right environment he could flourish
Mike
on Jul 10th, 2007 - 10:33pm
I think Freddy is suffering in MLS from a lack of opportunity and space to play a creative, attacking style, in the open field. Its also pretty clear that he needs to go someplace where he can get better coaching, and America isn’t that place.
If he could go overseas and get regular first team play in a league like the Dutch Eredivisie he’d have a great chance to develop into the player that we think he can be. At a club like PSV I think he would really flourish.
Michael
on Jul 11th, 2007 - 1:23am
I think Freddy’s best shot at flourishing and developing his still pre-prime skills and life lessons would be to go to the French league. It is quiet, under the radar, quality, and respectable. He’ll be under the direction of better coaching and become nutured in an environment where futbol reigns. Fighting for a spot in the lineup means focused training and a chance to play in crowds that put our domestic leagues to shame. In a strict environment, the best of Freddy will continue to come out…then maybe a transition to a top-three league. Unless he gets the case of Donovan-itis and needs to come home early from school…
Best of luck, Freddy!
ill flow
on Jul 14th, 2007 - 3:21am
i agree fully with michael. i think the france league would definitely be a great option. if not there then maybe Spanish La Liga or Bundes Liga? either of those i think play in a style & are coached in ways that would allow him to ‘let it fly’ in other words by just taking the ball & going for it.
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