Say what you will about Freddy Adu.
After Pele, and now likely thanks to the media-worldwind of ESPN, David Beckham, the young now-18-year old Ghana-born Fredua Koranteng Adu is the most-well known soccer play by most red-blooded Americans.
Thanks to his sizzling play in the U-20 World Cup in Canada over the last week, the talented, albeit it inconsistent and temperamental Real Salt Lake player has made himself many, many Euros. Adu has always had one foot out of MLS, planted firmly in Europe.
The question arises, where is Adu going. And more specifically, which would be the best place for him to move. The European transfer window is open until the end of August, which should lead to a lot of speculation on both sides of the Atlantic.
Now, were MLS like most other leagues with each club worrying about its own fianancial health, rather than the Marxist-approved setup run by Doug Garber, et al, Adu would definitely be sold very soon. His value will never be any higher. Yet, there's always the chance that last-place and out-and-out putrid (even by MLS standards) RSL might want to hold on to their prized asset until the MLS season ends, thus giving way to a January move.
What kind of player is a prospective club getting in Adu?
Good question.
Adu clearly is a gifted attacking player, primarily as a playmaker setting up teammates. But as witnessed by his hat trick last week vs. Poland, he can finish if asked. His role is likely in the proverbial, No. 10 shirt. Naturally he'll never be a great defensive player and that remains his biggest liability, which could hamper his immediate contributions in Europe. He's also shown to be rather petulant at times, at witnessed with his spat with former DC United coach Piotr Nowack in the 2005 MLS Playoffs.
In any event, there seems to be a few roads Adu can take in the coming months.
1. He goes to a 'smaller' league, the Dutch Eredivisie immediately springs to mind to prove to clubs that he can hack it in a top-flight European league. At his smallish stature, some clubs might be wary that the Ghana-born midfielder can hack it against seasoned pros. A club like PSV Eindhoven is player development factory and could provide a soft landing -- and Champions League football for Adu.
Another option would be signing with a mid-level Bundesliga squad. No, it wouldn't be the 'sexy' choice, but would allow Adu to get regular playing time and also at the same time prove he's tougher than Landon Donovan.
Adu is a well known commodity, if only for all his arrival hype, in Europe. So he's not going to be some diamond in the rough that gets polished at a 'secondary' club.
2. Adu has flirted with Europe's elite. At times he claimed Chelsea was his favorite team. (Sure.) Last winter he spent time training with Manchester United. Clearly, England would be his preferred destination. Though with their current situations it's doubtful any of the EPL 'big four' -- Utd., Chelsea, Arsenal or Liverpool -- would sign Adu. Even if they did, the prospect of getting a lot of first team action remains dim. Freddy might be a big star in MLS, try walking into United's lockerroom with Tevez, Rooney, Ronaldo, Nani, Scholes, etc. Can you say Carling Cup?
If Adu is hellbent on one of these clubs, he could conceivably sign with them and try to fight for a spot in the first team. The more likely scenario if he goes here is that he's loaned out. The big clubs can never have too much talent under their control. In other words, say hello Sunderland.
Though, of those four Arsenal seems like the best in developing young players and with a big question mark looming over Arsene Wenger and the Emirates, perhaps Adu could carve out some space for the Gunners. Of course, do they need another tricky, offensive player?
Adu could go at a second tier EPL club like Everton, Blackburn, Spurs, etc. But those clubs have too much at stake monetarily to risk developing a sleight 18-year-old that doesn't play defense.
Could Adu opt for the grind of the League Championship and its marathon 46 game season? I pray not. He might not survive it.
3. Adu could opt for La Liga, but it's hard to envision the giants like Real Madrid or Barcelona pining for his services. Again, he could take the second-tier club approach and eye a team like Sevilla, Atletico Mardid, etc.
Then again, in a league as technically sound as La Liga, it's very difficult to see Adu getting any burn outside maybe a last 20-minute offensive substitute.
On the flip side, if Adu get play and thrive in Spain, watch out. That said, there's never been an American field player to suit up in Spain, to my knowledge.
Whichever way what figures to be a protracted transfer saga plays out, Adu should almost be able to pick where he wants to go, unlike most American exports. Let's hope he makes the right decision, as he will clearly be an intriguing piece for the USMNT ahead of the 2010 World Cup.
I just wonder how Adu, Donovan, Clint Dempsey and DaMarcus Beasley can all play in the same XI. That's a good problem to have, right?
After Pele, and now likely thanks to the media-worldwind of ESPN, David Beckham, the young now-18-year old Ghana-born Fredua Koranteng Adu is the most-well known soccer play by most red-blooded Americans.
Thanks to his sizzling play in the U-20 World Cup in Canada over the last week, the talented, albeit it inconsistent and temperamental Real Salt Lake player has made himself many, many Euros. Adu has always had one foot out of MLS, planted firmly in Europe.
The question arises, where is Adu going. And more specifically, which would be the best place for him to move. The European transfer window is open until the end of August, which should lead to a lot of speculation on both sides of the Atlantic.
Now, were MLS like most other leagues with each club worrying about its own fianancial health, rather than the Marxist-approved setup run by Doug Garber, et al, Adu would definitely be sold very soon. His value will never be any higher. Yet, there's always the chance that last-place and out-and-out putrid (even by MLS standards) RSL might want to hold on to their prized asset until the MLS season ends, thus giving way to a January move.
What kind of player is a prospective club getting in Adu?
Good question.
Adu clearly is a gifted attacking player, primarily as a playmaker setting up teammates. But as witnessed by his hat trick last week vs. Poland, he can finish if asked. His role is likely in the proverbial, No. 10 shirt. Naturally he'll never be a great defensive player and that remains his biggest liability, which could hamper his immediate contributions in Europe. He's also shown to be rather petulant at times, at witnessed with his spat with former DC United coach Piotr Nowack in the 2005 MLS Playoffs.
In any event, there seems to be a few roads Adu can take in the coming months.
1. He goes to a 'smaller' league, the Dutch Eredivisie immediately springs to mind to prove to clubs that he can hack it in a top-flight European league. At his smallish stature, some clubs might be wary that the Ghana-born midfielder can hack it against seasoned pros. A club like PSV Eindhoven is player development factory and could provide a soft landing -- and Champions League football for Adu.
Another option would be signing with a mid-level Bundesliga squad. No, it wouldn't be the 'sexy' choice, but would allow Adu to get regular playing time and also at the same time prove he's tougher than Landon Donovan.
Adu is a well known commodity, if only for all his arrival hype, in Europe. So he's not going to be some diamond in the rough that gets polished at a 'secondary' club.
2. Adu has flirted with Europe's elite. At times he claimed Chelsea was his favorite team. (Sure.) Last winter he spent time training with Manchester United. Clearly, England would be his preferred destination. Though with their current situations it's doubtful any of the EPL 'big four' -- Utd., Chelsea, Arsenal or Liverpool -- would sign Adu. Even if they did, the prospect of getting a lot of first team action remains dim. Freddy might be a big star in MLS, try walking into United's lockerroom with Tevez, Rooney, Ronaldo, Nani, Scholes, etc. Can you say Carling Cup?
If Adu is hellbent on one of these clubs, he could conceivably sign with them and try to fight for a spot in the first team. The more likely scenario if he goes here is that he's loaned out. The big clubs can never have too much talent under their control. In other words, say hello Sunderland.
Though, of those four Arsenal seems like the best in developing young players and with a big question mark looming over Arsene Wenger and the Emirates, perhaps Adu could carve out some space for the Gunners. Of course, do they need another tricky, offensive player?
Adu could go at a second tier EPL club like Everton, Blackburn, Spurs, etc. But those clubs have too much at stake monetarily to risk developing a sleight 18-year-old that doesn't play defense.
Could Adu opt for the grind of the League Championship and its marathon 46 game season? I pray not. He might not survive it.
3. Adu could opt for La Liga, but it's hard to envision the giants like Real Madrid or Barcelona pining for his services. Again, he could take the second-tier club approach and eye a team like Sevilla, Atletico Mardid, etc.
Then again, in a league as technically sound as La Liga, it's very difficult to see Adu getting any burn outside maybe a last 20-minute offensive substitute.
On the flip side, if Adu get play and thrive in Spain, watch out. That said, there's never been an American field player to suit up in Spain, to my knowledge.
Whichever way what figures to be a protracted transfer saga plays out, Adu should almost be able to pick where he wants to go, unlike most American exports. Let's hope he makes the right decision, as he will clearly be an intriguing piece for the USMNT ahead of the 2010 World Cup.
I just wonder how Adu, Donovan, Clint Dempsey and DaMarcus Beasley can all play in the same XI. That's a good problem to have, right?
Labels: Freddy Adu, Soccer
What about playing at a team like Lyon?
Didnt Tab Ramos play in La Liga back in the day?
Looked up Tab Ramos, kind of a trick question. He played at Real Betis when they were in the second division. They won promotion, but he never played due to a skull fracture from that nefarious elbow from Leonardo in the 1994 World Cup.
Great post. I hope Adu ends up somewhere we he plays regularly, that what he needs of course. Holland is probably the best place for him but Spain does seem interesting. For him, he still needs to learn how to not dribble so much. Don't know if he'd get away with some of the things he's done in the U20 Cup, but I could be very wrong.
Am I the only one who wants him nowhere near the Bundesliga? While there's a lot of scoring over there, it seems to me to be a rougher league and I don't think he'd really thrive in the German culture. But what do I know?
I agree with the above poster - Ligue 1 would be an interesting place; good competition, but nothing exceptional. Seems like a compromise between the Everdivise and the EPL. I think it could work, even if not at Lyon.
I think Zack Thornton playes 2nd division Spain, also...
According to his bio, Thornton played with Benefica but never appeared for the Portuguese giants.
I can't wait to see Adu-to-Altidore in action in South Africa.