11/05/24
September 28, 2006
Much Adu about Reading?: 17-year-old soccer prodigy Freddie Adu is rumored to be going on loan to Reading in January. Current team DC United denies it. I think it'll be a good move for Freddie: Relatively low-profile team will allow him playing time at the top levels without too much (once again, it's relative to say, joining Chelsea or Arsenal, etc.) attention. He has yet to be tested in the toughest league, and he's done well to resist earlier offers from the likes of Man U and Milan, but he's old enough now, and he's had a nice warm-up in the MLS. But it's time to move on. Your thoughts?
posted by worldcup2002 to soccer at 12:27 PM - 17 comments
I hope he goes. Staying in the MLS too long will eventually hamper his progress as a player, which in turn will decrease team USA's chances of success in international competition in the future.
posted by chamo at 02:00 PM on September 28, 2006
Too long? He's 17 and only in his third MLS season. Though I agree this would be a good move--Reading also has an American National Team as their first choice keeper but are not so strong that he'd have no chance of playing time. I wonder how EPL reserve teams match up against MLS sides, since he'd probably get most playing time for it.
posted by billsaysthis at 03:09 PM on September 28, 2006
MIND THE GAP Watching this past weekend, I was impressed to hear Reading has a 24 game unbeaten home streak. What side does Freddie prefer? Because Soeul can really service the ball.
posted by garfield at 03:47 PM on September 28, 2006
He has yet to be tested in the toughest league You mean he has yet to be tested in Primera División de La Liga?
posted by sic at 04:23 PM on September 28, 2006
I don't think he's going.
posted by igottheblues at 04:26 PM on September 28, 2006
He's gonna end up like Michelle Wie. He's not even an all-star calliber player for MLS and everyone wants him to test himself against the best? Why?
posted by LaKeR4LiFe at 04:40 PM on September 28, 2006
So glad to see so much optimism for someone who hasn't proven any of his doubters right yet. Oh, and somerville99, cut that shit out. Wandering into threads to tell us how much you don't care about them is not how this place works.
posted by chicobangs at 04:55 PM on September 28, 2006
He was on the MLS All Star squad this year, he only didn't start because instead of East-West, an all league squad faced Chelsea. At the break DCU were chugging right along, they let up on the gas the last few weeks but will still win the east hanily.
posted by billsaysthis at 06:00 PM on September 28, 2006
He has yet to be tested in the toughest league You mean he has yet to be tested in Primera División de La Liga? no we dont mean la liga .... because the epl and the former serie a are much the superior to that , why they are neamed the best league in the world, we may never know
posted by kdrisck at 08:23 PM on September 28, 2006
Hey Chicobangs, I was only kidding! Actually Adu's the best thing to happen to soccer in the US since Pele. There's alot of pressure on him to be the "savior" that finally puts soccer on the US sports map. I don't envy him.
posted by somerville99 at 09:27 PM on September 28, 2006
I think that Freddy needs to make the move overseas to play soon or his game will suffer like Donovan and too many other American based players. Reading or a similar team would be a good match. Somewhere he could play and contribute at the highest level, yet not on too big a club where he would never get PT.
posted by urall cloolis at 11:25 PM on September 28, 2006
I like this move. Reading are a neat side and Freddie should get his chance for them, withough being stuck on the bench every week. Also, it's a cosmopolitan university town, home of Microsoft and an easy run into London, so hopefully there won't be too many cultural problems. The most difficult part of his life in Reading may be just trying to get off the inner Distribution Road. It's known as the Random Distribution Road for a reason.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 02:47 AM on September 29, 2006
He was on the MLS All Star squad this year Because of his potential?
posted by LaKeR4LiFe at 01:16 PM on September 29, 2006
Mr Bismarck, I thought Microsoft was in Seattle. HAH! *runs away*
posted by worldcup2002 at 06:08 PM on September 29, 2006
waddaya mean former Serie A, kdrisck? /razz
posted by romakimmy at 08:49 AM on September 30, 2006
Actually Adu's the best thing to happen to soccer in the US since Pele. I don't watch MLS enough to know if any of this is warranted. Certainly his signing (at age 14?) made quite a splash. I realize that the guy is ridiculously young still, but he's far behind in development to where Ronaldinho or Wayne Rooney were at that age (assuming we're making a case for him to develop into that level of player). I'm skeptical of the hype, though I also have hopes for his development. I think the USA's performance in the last world cup showed us that they can play competent, defense oriented, tough football at the highest level when focused (vs. Italy), but are prone to huge letdowns (vs. Czech and Ghana)... they really are lacking the breakout, creative offensive minded, world class players to get to that next level and stay there. Maybe this is a step toward fixing that.
posted by psmealey at 08:04 AM on October 01, 2006
Maybe having played with Convey at DC United will help any transitional issues he may have. I certainly don't think he'll be ready to have a huge impact immediatly, but playing any at that level will only help him progress.