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Run, Freddy, run
Adu's next focus should be heading to the big leagues
Posted: Monday July 9, 2007 11:44AM; Updated: Monday July 9, 2007 2:23PM
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Freddy Adu exploded for a hat trick in the U.S. Under-20 team's 6-1 demolition of Poland last week.
Freddy Adu exploded for a hat trick in the U.S. Under-20 team's 6-1 demolition of Poland last week.
David Boily/AFP/Getty Images
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It must be tough being Freddy Adu. It's only been two days since he turned in the performance of the tournament in the U.S.' 2-1 win over Brazil at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup, and the question about whether or not he should jump to Europe has been asked countless times.
To me, the answer is easy: Go, Freddy, go.
For some reason, though, many people I've talked to disagree. Sure, he's looked good. But he's only playing against guys his own age, they point out, scoffing at Freddy's MLS career. Until he can prove it on the professional level, he's done nothing.
Man, we are a strange soccer nation. Such a self-loathing bunch. We hold our guys to much more stringent standards than we do everyone else, as if a player's American-ness is an inherent impediment that must be overcome. It makes sense from a sociological perspective. The underclasses have always done this. As the old adage goes, "You can't just be as good as the other guy, you have to be better."
From outside appearances, Freddy's career seems to be lacking. He didn't play on the 2006 World Cup team. (You don't know how many times I was asked where he was last summer. And, if you ask me, he should've been there, if only for the experience.) He doesn't score highlight-reel goals every game. He was traded -- to Real Salt Lake!
He's a bust, people love to say. Even his fellow players mock him at times, perhaps envious of all the press (and money) the "loud-mouthed pipsqueak" has garnered since he hit the scene in '04 as a brash, smiley 14-year-old.
Except that when you really look at his career, it's pretty darn impressive. He's scored 19 goals in 96 appearances in MLS, which is 19 goals more than the vast majority of the players (and certain future SI.com writers) who have cycled through MLS over the years.
He also has an MLS Cup to his name, in '04, with D.C. United. Say what you will about his contribution to that trophy and his endless clashes with then-coach Peter Nowak, but the truth is Freddy appeared in every single match that season and he scored five goals.
Obviously Adu has been a victim of unrelenting overhype. Some of that was his own fault because he never figured out how to ingratiate himself with his older teammates and other people who resented his success. He's admitted many times that he has trouble relating to the grown men around him with his club team. But most of the fault lies with the adults around him, who cast as the star before he'd even stepped on the field.
On the fields in Canada, though, he's turning in a Golden Ball-type performance, proving he is indeed the budding superstar everyone portrayed him as. The key word there is "budding." He's still only 18, and his best days are still ahead of him. In fact, his future looks brighter than anyone else's at the U-20 World Cup.
Against Brazil last Friday, he pulled off audacious moves and tricks that a Brazilian would've been wildly praised for. But we Americans seemed to say, Why is messing around? He fearlessly drove at the Brazilian defense all day long, and we said, Why doesn't he pass it?
But when it was over, Freddy stood clearly as the man, er, boy of the match. All the pregame blather about Brazil's high-priced strikers Jô, who plays for CSKA Moscow, and Internacional's Alexandre Pato, who supposedly has a $35 million price in his contract.
Now if Adu were from some other country, like Argentina or Portugal, everyone -- even Americans -- would be wondering when he was going to move to a big European club. They wouldn't have looked or cared about his pro career in his native country. They be calling him the next Carlos Tévez (a player he resembles a great deal, now that I think about it).
So what is it about Adu that rubs everyone the wrong way? What is it about his MLS performances that makes so many people **************** on his parade? I'd bet the big European clubs up in Canada probably view Freddy's MLS career as proof positive of his potential. After all, he's still only 18 and he's got it.
The U.S. Under-20s, who won Group D, play Uruguay in the round of 16 on Wednesday. The Uruguayans lost to Zambia, 2-0, in their last group-stage match and they finished third in Group B. They're a decent side, but Team USA should beat them. Easily. After that, the U.S. has a legitimate chance at winning the whole thing.
And Freddy is the key. He has a terrific supporting cast including Jozy Altidore, Michael Bradley and Sal Zizzo. But Adu will be the focus -- and the focus of the Uruguayans defense, obviously. He'll get kicked around, but he's used to that by now.
Adu's next focus should be heading to the big leagues
Posted: Monday July 9, 2007 11:44AM; Updated: Monday July 9, 2007 2:23PM
Print ThisE-mail ThisFree E-mail AlertsSave ThisMost PopularRSS Aggregators Facebook
Freddy Adu exploded for a hat trick in the U.S. Under-20 team's 6-1 demolition of Poland last week.
Freddy Adu exploded for a hat trick in the U.S. Under-20 team's 6-1 demolition of Poland last week.
David Boily/AFP/Getty Images
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Submit a comment or question for Greg.
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It must be tough being Freddy Adu. It's only been two days since he turned in the performance of the tournament in the U.S.' 2-1 win over Brazil at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup, and the question about whether or not he should jump to Europe has been asked countless times.
To me, the answer is easy: Go, Freddy, go.
For some reason, though, many people I've talked to disagree. Sure, he's looked good. But he's only playing against guys his own age, they point out, scoffing at Freddy's MLS career. Until he can prove it on the professional level, he's done nothing.
Man, we are a strange soccer nation. Such a self-loathing bunch. We hold our guys to much more stringent standards than we do everyone else, as if a player's American-ness is an inherent impediment that must be overcome. It makes sense from a sociological perspective. The underclasses have always done this. As the old adage goes, "You can't just be as good as the other guy, you have to be better."
From outside appearances, Freddy's career seems to be lacking. He didn't play on the 2006 World Cup team. (You don't know how many times I was asked where he was last summer. And, if you ask me, he should've been there, if only for the experience.) He doesn't score highlight-reel goals every game. He was traded -- to Real Salt Lake!
He's a bust, people love to say. Even his fellow players mock him at times, perhaps envious of all the press (and money) the "loud-mouthed pipsqueak" has garnered since he hit the scene in '04 as a brash, smiley 14-year-old.
Except that when you really look at his career, it's pretty darn impressive. He's scored 19 goals in 96 appearances in MLS, which is 19 goals more than the vast majority of the players (and certain future SI.com writers) who have cycled through MLS over the years.
He also has an MLS Cup to his name, in '04, with D.C. United. Say what you will about his contribution to that trophy and his endless clashes with then-coach Peter Nowak, but the truth is Freddy appeared in every single match that season and he scored five goals.
Obviously Adu has been a victim of unrelenting overhype. Some of that was his own fault because he never figured out how to ingratiate himself with his older teammates and other people who resented his success. He's admitted many times that he has trouble relating to the grown men around him with his club team. But most of the fault lies with the adults around him, who cast as the star before he'd even stepped on the field.
On the fields in Canada, though, he's turning in a Golden Ball-type performance, proving he is indeed the budding superstar everyone portrayed him as. The key word there is "budding." He's still only 18, and his best days are still ahead of him. In fact, his future looks brighter than anyone else's at the U-20 World Cup.
Against Brazil last Friday, he pulled off audacious moves and tricks that a Brazilian would've been wildly praised for. But we Americans seemed to say, Why is messing around? He fearlessly drove at the Brazilian defense all day long, and we said, Why doesn't he pass it?
But when it was over, Freddy stood clearly as the man, er, boy of the match. All the pregame blather about Brazil's high-priced strikers Jô, who plays for CSKA Moscow, and Internacional's Alexandre Pato, who supposedly has a $35 million price in his contract.
Now if Adu were from some other country, like Argentina or Portugal, everyone -- even Americans -- would be wondering when he was going to move to a big European club. They wouldn't have looked or cared about his pro career in his native country. They be calling him the next Carlos Tévez (a player he resembles a great deal, now that I think about it).
So what is it about Adu that rubs everyone the wrong way? What is it about his MLS performances that makes so many people **************** on his parade? I'd bet the big European clubs up in Canada probably view Freddy's MLS career as proof positive of his potential. After all, he's still only 18 and he's got it.
The U.S. Under-20s, who won Group D, play Uruguay in the round of 16 on Wednesday. The Uruguayans lost to Zambia, 2-0, in their last group-stage match and they finished third in Group B. They're a decent side, but Team USA should beat them. Easily. After that, the U.S. has a legitimate chance at winning the whole thing.
And Freddy is the key. He has a terrific supporting cast including Jozy Altidore, Michael Bradley and Sal Zizzo. But Adu will be the focus -- and the focus of the Uruguayans defense, obviously. He'll get kicked around, but he's used to that by now.