Freddy Adu still to ManU?

[mac3]

Is Adu still going to ManU? Did he passed the tests?

[Gavmundo]

He had a trial a couple of months ago and did ok but he won't get a work permit if he moved to England so i think it's unlikely. Possible in the future but I expect him to move to someone like Real Madrid if they're still interested in the Summer.

[Mtroyo]

theres an article on adu's little brother on SoccerNet.com...anyone else read it?hes 15 and he is already committed to a college!!!ill post the link a little bit later...

[IvanK]

Hes not even that good. Ive seen him play in person. Very over hyped.

[Andriy-]

Personally I think he didn't even come close to what ManU were looking for. If he had a significant impact in the try out ManU would have immediately made a move.

It's not really his fault, he was just way too hyped. I don't think he's of European level.

[benfica64]

I agree he simply isn't good enough to play in Europe let alone for Man U.

[mac3]

Yeah he's good dribbler but.. not complete enough.

[Gavmundo]

Lets remember people that he's still a kid. He's been hyped up since he was FOURTEEN!!! :rolleyes:

I'm not saying he the next Ronaldo but if he moves to a club with a good youth policy and works hard I think he will be a good player!

[Langbaard]

Lets remember people that he's still a kid. He's been hyped up since he was FOURTEEN!!! :rolleyes:

I'm not saying he the next Ronaldo but if he moves to a club with a good youth policy and works hard I think he will be a good player!

I believe he's 17 at the moment, he has been thrown way to early in the spotlight and you can't expect a kid at 14/15 to perform consistently good in all games.

Often people have way to much expectations, this kid probably has alot of talent, which especially outshine in the MLS, although he's been stuck in his progress and needs a better team or youth system where he can learn more to 'develop' his talents like you say, Gav.

If he'd go to Ajax or Man United (with very good youth systems)he'd really reach his true capacity, rather than play in weak leagues, don't have team mates who bring you to a higher lvl, the competitiveness, the mentors you would have in a world class team.

I've seen it so many times at Ajax, where they let youngsters often make a debut and you clearly see the struggle they have to live up to the expectations.

As long as they don't come with a ridiculous high offer, he would be a decent signing to put in the youth/2nd team to improve his technical abillities and you can see on what level he can truly perform. Maybe reach the 1st team although I think that's highly unlikely for now and Man Utd need another striker who is already ahead in technical level and can easily adapt to the team's high expectations.

[Becks]

I hope he doesn't come here.

We need to offload some talent *Cough*Richardson*cough*

[Elicea]

I doubt that Man U will take him. He has talent, but he also has a lot to learn.

[onbrick247]

part of the reason he hasnt performed well is that dc united played him out of position man u will get a good 2 months to make a decision (MLS starts in april and he isnt eligible for a work permit untill he turns 18 in june) also this season he will be playing his natural position with real salt lake

[Saraj Fanático]

He cannot make Man U. he should try of a team with a lower caliber such as Everton maybe???

[Becks]

Lower Calibre? EVERTON?

do you watch much English football?

Maybe he should ATTEMPT Leeds or another lower side.

[penalty_20]

ahhahaha
Everton is a goodside.
I would like to see him get another Trial with United.
But im not so sure about signing him. Because he grew up in The US they gave him way to much hype and if he was smart he would have been playing for a youth team somewhere in europe.

[onbrick247]

i wouldnt even mind him playing for a championship side as long as he gets out of mls i was watching a game last night and the style of football is just gross i wish the us could adapt a more british style of play

[materazziIZbad]

The US game is one of discipline, good defensive structure, and an attack every 10 minutes. It wouldn't be so bad if players weren't whipped for taking more than 2 touches. Adu might not be fast enough for the english game though, he's not a burner like those that are prevalent in the premiership.

[Gavmundo]

Well seeing as he can't get a work permit for a move to Utd it's a moot point anyway. He'll need to play a lot more internationals to get a move to England so I guess he'll go elsewhere. I still think he's a good prospect though...

[penalty_20]

I think Chelsea may buy him...just because they can. But I would still like to see him in for another trial at United. I want to see how he does competing at the european standard of football.

[onbrick247]

Well seeing as he can't get a work permit for a move to Utd it's a moot point anyway. He'll need to play a lot more internationals to get a move to England so I guess he'll go elsewhere. I still think he's a good prospect though...

word on the street is he cant get one till he turns 18 in june

[materazziIZbad]

Yea he got dumped by DC united because they knew he was going to europe in june. Nothing can be done before then, but he's going to europe. He'll probably get bought by Chelsea or Man U just in case he pans out, and get sent somewhere on loan. I have watched him at DC and he really isn't much to be honest. He has confidence, but he probably won't be a legend or even mentioned in the same breath.

[penalty_20]

I think the Americans were way too quick to mention him with the likes of Pele. He has not proved himself at all, and until he gets to Europe he wont.

[Gavmundo]

word on the street is he cant get one till he turns 18 in june

but has he played enough internationals to get one and is he still a full international? Permit rules state you have to have played a certain number of games and be playing in 75% of said games to qualify. I'm not sure he's played enough games to qualify for a WP.

[materazziIZbad]

You're right, people keep expecting one player to save US football, but it really doesn't need saving. The fact that pretty much every kid plays it will pay dividends soon enough. There are players just as good as him that are still playing for youth clubs, and thats becoming more clear as guys like Altidore hit the MLS. Unfortunately, even the youth clubs are extremely political and that's what got Freddy into the MLS, not ability.

He won't be Pele, but he'll be decent. Man U and Chelsea probably shouldn't be wasting time on him though, they have world class players to recruit.

[Becks]

He was young
He was marketable
He was a kid from Ghana that found a miracle method to get to America
He was the "American Dream."

You would think that by now, the MLS fans would understand that their league is trying to MAKE MONEY first and foremost (As any league should do) and build a strong league second.

At first, the marketed the league to children... Bring in a child and flashy team nicknames.

Didn't work?

Introduce the rule that has set them back for the past 15 years. The "Beckham Rule."


It is only now that they are beginning to break even on their debt and begin marketing a strong league first. From this point on, I see them getting stronger with sponsorships on the front of kits, stadiums, and international talent (Angel will prove to be the best signing yet.)...

Now they will begin to make profit, which coincidentally solves the mystery of

"Why didn't they have a 'Beckham Rule' sooner?"

The league needed funds to break even to pay for the player salaries if internationals were welcomed.

Freddy Adu served his purpose in the MLS - He tapped into the youth and made a lot of money doing it. Hence, send him to the MLS' weakest market - Real Salt Lake - to make more profit for the area which from what I have read is having trouble finding funds for a stadium.


If America did have a Pele, it would be in the form of Altidore. I have watched him play and he is going to be something someday.

[materazziIZbad]

I agree that the MLS was beating around the bush for a good while, but more than anything, the reason the MLS is starting to flourish is because it's been around long enough for kids in america to aspire to go pro. There are kids in back yards saying they're going to score goals like Adu, Jaime Moreno, or whomever their favorite player is. Football was going to get big in America once more kids started playing it, and now more kids are playing football than anything else.

I can say I got a red card from fouling Adu when I was 14. He fouled me from behind, but it wasn't called so as soon as I got up I chased him down and tackled him from behind execution style. It was quite satisfying.

[Becks]

Congratulations on the card!


The major problem with the MLS is that people have failed to see that by not introducing international players until now was not a matter of building the American support.

Look at the most recent clubs added to the MLS -

Chivas USA
Houston Dynamo
Toronto FC
Real Salt Lake

1 club uses the name of an international Spanish club...The other 3 are marketed to Mexicans and Canadians, respectively. From what I can tell, the Houston market is in an area of strong Hispanic ties...

However... 4 clubs - Which is marketed to the typical white-American family?



By not introducing international players just yet - the MLS were able to get themselves out of the debt left to them.

[Elicea]

Yea he got dumped by DC united because they knew he was going to europe in june.
That's not the only reason why. If, or when Adu moves to play overseas, DC will get more money. I think DC made the right choice by trading Adu.

[materazziIZbad]

There certainly isn't any royalty in Utah.

I would think the Revs are catered to the white american families not only with the patriotic name, but also with the demographic that lives in the northeast. Up in new england there are far more whites than anything else and they have a strong following.

[onbrick247]

There certainly isn't any royalty in Utah.

but there are plenty of mormons