The Soccer thread (Part II)

I guess they think that's the only way a national team friendly will definitely get on ESPN.

For me, I say, ho-hum. Nothing like diminishing a rivalry with a couple of friendlies.

We'll lose 2-0 because it's Azteca.

 

Adu's definitely right about MLS being a very physical league. I wonder if anyone will try to snap up Portuguese First Division rights over here, or if they're already gone?

I hope he gets a regular spot, but he's going to have to play well consistently to get it.

 

They are broadcast on a couple of Portuguese channels viewable on satellite. I have a friend that is big into Sporting and I have watched a few games with him.

 

What do you think of Adu's answer to Wahl's questioning of his play in MLS (as opposed to the U-20 Cup)? Is Adu not being accountable enough, or is there a lot of truth to what he says?

 

You mean this:

"Adu: OK, first things first. I have played around 100 games in MLS. I played in the middle of the field in maybe 15 of those games, OK? I was brought up playing in the middle of the field, playing attacking midfield or second forward. Somewhere along the way I became an outside midfielder because people thought I was too small and couldn't handle the physicality or whatnot. It's difficult to switch positions when you go pro.

I'm not a natural outside midfielder. I'm just not. I never was. I'm an attacking midfielder or a second forward, and I like to get more touches on the ball. That's when I'm more dangerous and where I'm most creative. When you're on the outside you don't get the ball as much. I tried my best to play outside midfield, but at the end of the day I'm not an outside midfielder. I'm an attacking midfielder or a second forward. And when I do get a chance to play that position, that's when I've played my best games. I did get a chance from Thomas Rongen to play that position [at the Under-20 World Cup] and I took advantage of that."

Basically, he's a young player with an inflated sense of his own skill who whenever he plays poorly says "Um. . . that's not my BEST POSITION!!!!!!!!!!!"

Yes, playing well had nothing to do with being on the field with people his own age. And playing poorly has nothing to do with a tendency to try to take on 3-4 defenders every time he gets the ball. Maybe he'll grow up in Portugal. Or he'll return in three years or so, tail firmly between legs.

 

I think he's got a point that he's been played out of position. I think what happened, though, is he let it get his head down and as Piotr points out tried to do too much when he was on the ball, which didn't work either. All of which exacerbated the problem.

I think a fresh start is a good thing.

 

Thanks for pasting the text on the board...I should've done that when I asked the question. I tend to agree with what you say. Obviously constantly changing positions is tough on a young player, but still I don't think it accounts for his inconsistent play in the MLS. Maybe the heightened competition in Portugal will raise his play and his maturity-and hopefully his stepping up in the U-20's is a good sign.

 

I thank you for the link, but I have yet to read it. I printed it out and will probably read it when I get home.

 

So if you took a young Derek Jeter and made him, say, a first baseman and he didn't play as well, and he pointed out the shift in position made a difference, that would make him some kind of weenie?
Bull.

 

Okay, so I picked it up and read it over. I liked the interview. It comes across that Adu is slightly bitter about his time in MLS. The league seemed to hype him up greatly and when, as a 14-year-old, he didn't dominate people declared him a bust. It also didn't help that his first team was DC United and the coach didn't even want him there.

From day one people were asking "What is the big deal?"

Adu tried to answer these things as only he knew how; by doing too much. His size wasn't going to help him. His salary made him a target. He just never had a chance to do what he could do best.

The fact that he needs to pause the interview in order to point out how he only played his proper position 15-times, shows his frustration at this. I'm certain that there are things he could have done better. I am more certain that MLS is culpable in the higher expectations and the poor results.

When you setup someone to fail they normally do.

 

Baseball isn't the best analogy, considering the constant free-flowing nature of soccer as opposed to baseball, but I suspect that young Derek Jeter probably would have played wherever got him on the field. Now he can choose, but not as a child.

Freddy Adu was overhyped and asked to achieve things that were impossible at his size, age and experience level. But it is damn tired when he pisses about being played "out of position." It's not like they put him at defender or in the goal. Welcome to the pros.

And besides, a little dude like him needed to stay on the wing in an overly physical league like MLS. He clearly saved himself in MLS this season, giving only partial effort, and it paid off as in the U-20s he again did well against people of his age and experience level. More power to him.

But none of that excuses the bitching about being out of position, especially for a guy who isn't going to make an impact for the senior national team any time soon. You're a teenager. Just play the damn game.

 

tsk tsk -- aren't we a little sensitive about your precious little sport today.

For past few weeks all we heard was Beckham, Beckham , Beckham and now nothing.

Is he out for season?