Comments on: Profile: Freddy Adu http://www.soccerati.net/profile-freddy-adu/ All the latest World Cup news and information from the wonderful world of soccer. Tue, 06 Jan 2009 07:29:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Bald Man http://www.soccerati.net/profile-freddy-adu/#comment-76 Bald Man Sat, 13 May 2006 23:34:47 +0000 http://www.soccerati.net/profile-freddy-adu/#comment-76 Arena is right not to include a 16 year old! Adu has potential, but it has not yet been realised. Further, I have to take exception with this paragraph: <blockquote>The expectations on this kid as the savior of the waning MLS was too much to handle for him and was relegated as a backup on the DC United team. Despite failing expectations set on him, he managed to make it in the league’s all-star team.</blockquote> Adu wasn't regegated to the bench; that was his club's the plan from day one. As you said: a promising talent at age 14, but not yet ready for prime time. The staff at DC United knew this, even if the marketing and media hype were blind. Finally, the MLS "all-star" team is in no small part a popularity vote by fans. Adu's inclusion in not necessarily indicative of his status as a player. Arena is right not to include a 16 year old! Adu has potential, but it has not yet been realised. Further, I have to take exception with this paragraph:

The expectations on this kid as the savior of the waning MLS was too much to handle for him and was relegated as a backup on the DC United team. Despite failing expectations set on him, he managed to make it in the league’s all-star team.

Adu wasn’t regegated to the bench; that was his club’s the plan from day one. As you said: a promising talent at age 14, but not yet ready for prime time. The staff at DC United knew this, even if the marketing and media hype were blind.

Finally, the MLS “all-star” team is in no small part a popularity vote by fans. Adu’s inclusion in not necessarily indicative of his status as a player.

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