The Rise and Fall of Freddy Adu
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I maintain my view on this whole age debate, a top club like Benefica will not sign him without properly determining his age first, he was just extraordinaly talented footballer in my opinion who development was screwed up
This age debate is such ****. Come on... do you seriously believe, after he's undergone bone marrow dating with both country and (most likely) club, that he's two years younger than he actually is?
While I do not pretend to be an expert on ages of youth players, I cannot think of any reason for Adu or his family to be dishonest about his age. They won a green-card lottery and had to put the birth dates of the family on their application. He was eight-years-old at the time with no predictions of soccer greatness. The only thing giving falsified information to the U.S. immigration authorities could do is to get the family sent back to Ghana.
While I do not pretend to be an expert on ages of youth players, I cannot think of any reason for Adu or his family to be dishonest about his age. They won a green-card lottery and had to put the birth dates of the family on their application. He was eight-years-old at the time with no predictions of soccer greatness. The only thing giving falsified information to the U.S. immigration authorities could do is to get the family sent back to Ghana.
Absolutely true, these age rumours were just spready by idiotic journalists who were jealous of his talent and his former teammates back at DC, he was very talented, lets face it plus he probably would have got sent back to Ghana if his age was false
I'd like to bring up the case of Danny Almonte.
In 2001 he pitched in the little league world series, and was incredibly dominant (3 hits in 3 starts) and first perfect game in half a century. The media was all over him, and even had some scouts watching him (lots of LLWS players go onto pro baseball).
Turns out he was 2 years older than he claimed to be.
In 2001 he pitched in the little league world series, and was incredibly dominant (3 hits in 3 starts) and first perfect game in half a century. The media was all over him, and even had some scouts watching him (lots of LLWS players go onto pro baseball).
Turns out he was 2 years older than he claimed to be.
mate we are talking about Adu not him, I dont see much of a conection as ur are suggesting that since Danny Almonte had some age issues, Adu must too, I maintain that a club like Benefica wont sign him until they have cleared the age issues if any and they seem to have
Don't jump the gun there sparky.
I just brought it up as it actually is a similar situation, and it's relevant to the current conversation of age.
I wasn't making any statements or suggestions, so please unwad your panties.
If anyone here watches baseball they'll know that age fraud has been a HUGE deal with players from the caribbean region, its not the biggest matter to switch birth certificates, even identities, with others.......and the motivation should be quite obvious, as if you take a 12 year old and 14 year old with the same skills, the 12 year old appears more impressive in relation. Not hard to imagine this same thing taking place in other situations.
There was actually a bit of a controversy in America about this during his first season, former player/current commentator Eric Wynalda said something like "he's playing so poorly, he might actually as old as he says he is".
Definitely a sad story though. Thing is, take the best 100 14 year olds int he world at any given time, I bet not a huge number of them turn into stars.
There was actually a bit of a controversy in America about this during his first season, former player/current commentator Eric Wynalda said something like "he's playing so poorly, he might actually as old as he says he is".
Definitely a sad story though. Thing is, take the best 100 14 year olds int he world at any given time, I bet not a huge number of them turn into stars.
The thing is football is different from other sports, and just because you have a tremendous amount of talent at a young age doesn't mean you'll be able to turn out. Had Adu gone to a European youth academy, he probably could have become a great player. Staying in the MLS was a HUGE mistake. Obviously there was the factor of expectations, but more importantly, the MLS (especially in those years) is terrible for developing players. He had problems with the coach and I'm sure it was because he wanted to do something other than play kick and run and try to beat the other team with fitness.
The coaches in the league are terrible (nobody in that generation played soccer in the US), the idea of "player development" is really new here (didn't exist in the states at the time) and anyone knows that if you don't even try to make a young player develop it won't happen, and the style of play is a poor imitation of English football so it's just not conducive to player development. Not to mention the talent around you is *****: surprisingly good raw athleticism but no skill or intelligence, save for the few players who have played in Europe.
People forget though that at the beginning of his career at Benfica he was doing well. He scored a game winning goal and had some significant playing time. But the manager that brought him in (forgot his name) was fired, and after that he never really played. The Monaco and Belenses loans were a disaster and I suspect it had to do with his poor work ethic. At Aris last season under Hector Cuper he was doing pretty well, got a decent amount of PT and had some goals and assists (along with Eddie Johnson, believe it or not). But not this season and I think it has to do with his attitude.
I think another reason for his downfall was his lack of coachability. The kid has it in his mind that he's going to be a classic #10. The problem is that isn't used in the modern game, not to mention that he's not good enough. He's pretty athletic and a good dribbler but that's it. He's not a good enough passer to warrant teams playing him as a #10 or a center mid playing deeper, and he never developed his crossing skills enough to play as a winger. He won't play forward as he's too small and probably not a good enough finisher. Had he listened to the coaches who wanted to play him as a winger and knew that's all he'd ever be good for, maybe he would have developed his crossing to the point where he could be useful on the flanks.
Apparently he was in talks with Randers about a loan. I say they give him one last shot and put him on loan in a Scandinavian league (Americans usually can do well there). If that doesn't work ship him stateside as he clearly would be unable to make it anywhere in Europe. I think it'll be good for the MLS though if he comes here and succeeds (he's talented enough) because of how many tickets he well sell, not to mention he's about the only creative American player other than Clint Dempsey and is exciting to watch.
The coaches in the league are terrible (nobody in that generation played soccer in the US), the idea of "player development" is really new here (didn't exist in the states at the time) and anyone knows that if you don't even try to make a young player develop it won't happen, and the style of play is a poor imitation of English football so it's just not conducive to player development. Not to mention the talent around you is *****: surprisingly good raw athleticism but no skill or intelligence, save for the few players who have played in Europe.
People forget though that at the beginning of his career at Benfica he was doing well. He scored a game winning goal and had some significant playing time. But the manager that brought him in (forgot his name) was fired, and after that he never really played. The Monaco and Belenses loans were a disaster and I suspect it had to do with his poor work ethic. At Aris last season under Hector Cuper he was doing pretty well, got a decent amount of PT and had some goals and assists (along with Eddie Johnson, believe it or not). But not this season and I think it has to do with his attitude.
I think another reason for his downfall was his lack of coachability. The kid has it in his mind that he's going to be a classic #10. The problem is that isn't used in the modern game, not to mention that he's not good enough. He's pretty athletic and a good dribbler but that's it. He's not a good enough passer to warrant teams playing him as a #10 or a center mid playing deeper, and he never developed his crossing skills enough to play as a winger. He won't play forward as he's too small and probably not a good enough finisher. Had he listened to the coaches who wanted to play him as a winger and knew that's all he'd ever be good for, maybe he would have developed his crossing to the point where he could be useful on the flanks.
Apparently he was in talks with Randers about a loan. I say they give him one last shot and put him on loan in a Scandinavian league (Americans usually can do well there). If that doesn't work ship him stateside as he clearly would be unable to make it anywhere in Europe. I think it'll be good for the MLS though if he comes here and succeeds (he's talented enough) because of how many tickets he well sell, not to mention he's about the only creative American player other than Clint Dempsey and is exciting to watch.
woah Captian Paranoid I was just making a statement and ur acting as I accused u of something, I just made an inference from ur post
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Quite True, I would say that he needs a team where the manager actually gives him some PT and knows how to use him best, plus I think he was not sent to Europe becaause he was the poster boy of American Football at the time and was drawing in huge crowds the likes of which the MLS has not seen before and was making so much money for them and giving them lots of attention from the world so I doubt MLS would have sent him to Europe even if he wanted too, they used him like a commercial asset nothing more
woah Captian Paranoid I was just making a statement and ur acting as I accused u of something, I just made an inference from ur post
yeah, the assumption that I was posting garbage in order to improve the age conspiracy argument (which you've been arguing against in this thread).
Which I wasn't; you were out of line.
tbh I saw no connection in what u are saying, just because something similar has happened gives no credit to your side of the arguement as there were 2 different sports and the stories of the 2 players were pretty different
I'm not surprised this has went completely over your head.
I also see that you have backtracked on your previous statement...
Just goes to show you, that even though you can write an essay, doesn't mean you know how to read.XD
I wasn't making an "arguement", the conversation at hand was the discussion about lying about age. I remembered the case of Almonte, which I figure most europeans don't know, so I posted it. I wasn't making any "arguement".
Then you reply saying it isn't relevant, which is just silly as you only said that because you perceived my post to be a part of some "argument" that you were against. If you read the two posts after yours you'd see others agreed that it was relevant and brings up an issue among foreign born US athletes (which, shocker, applies to Freddy!).
I can easily go on, but I'll stop here. Again, get your panties out of wad and stop perceiving every post as an argument against you.
wow u seem to have broken down my post word by word, next time I will get my lawyr to look over before I post, u are telling me to get my panties out of a wad when u seem to be the one constantly insulting me and writing paragrapgh long posts, plus just because others find it relevant I dont, if I look at ur post u are saying that Almonte was 2 years older than he was supposed to be and the way u worded ur post suggests that u feel Freddy Adu is doing something similar which is not a arguement but a debate but with the constant insults it will turn into an arguement
Yeah the age rumors are pretty ridiculous. This kid was watched by top European clubs since he was 10. I trust their judgement. If he was actually 12 or 13, than he shouldn't have made the same strides over the next 4 years. They're experts and if his age was incorrect I think they would have known after watching him grow for a few years. And that's not to mention the bone scanners, which for sure confirm his age.
Interesting you should bring this up, because the same people who researched Almonte did the same to Adu. They found nothing to suggest he isn't what age he says he is.
All he did was post a relevant story about another sportsperson who was suspected to be older than claimed. It didn't imply Adu was older than he is supposed to be, it's just an interesting example to add to the discussion.
Also, every time you type 'u' or 'ur' I die a little inside. So please stop
All he did was post a relevant story about another sportsperson who was suspected to be older than claimed. It didn't imply Adu was older than he is supposed to be, it's just an interesting example to add to the discussion.
Also, every time you type 'u' or 'ur' I die a little inside. So please stop
ok suit yerself lads
ugh, you had to have felt it was relevant since you are "debating" the points it makes *face palm* (read your replies to me)
Our entire conversation has been about you jumping to conclusions (again read your first reply to me), no doubt as a result from suspicion and hostility arising from the previous "debates" you've had in this thread. Now please highlight, bold and underline where I made the "debate" of freddy "doing something similar". How many times do I have to say, "I posted it because it's interesting and relevant to the age discussion" before you finally comprehend?
I can't say I'm surprised by the lack of both reasoning and comprehension coming from a 14 year old...XD
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interesting, thanks for sharing