Comments on Adu Across the Pond

Adu must leave the MSL. It’s a million times better than nothing at all, and has produced decent players capable of getting the USA to the World Cup every four years.

But to get truly good, Americans must leave. They must go to Europe or England. There is no other choice—especially since he is an attacking player. Defenders can do OK in international matches if they play in the MLS, but not attackers.

More than anything, for USA men’s soccer to develop, they must seek out the Spanish-speakers who play in ethnic leagues. USA soccer is white, suburban, and uncreative. The top creative playmakers of the last 15 years have been Latino—Tab Ramos and Claudio Reyna. With Reyna retiring, they’ll be as much fun as watching paint try.

It's not really a contract, it's a two-week trial they're after. A flyer. He's still awfully young, but really he's just another young player. More of a promotional move than anything, I would think. Right now he's not even a full-timer with DC United, who are probably the equivalent of a Division One (i.e. third division) club in England. If they do sign him, he'll play for the U-19s, not the big club.

Adu’s been held back by playing in the USA. He’s definitely not ready to play for a top English team. Send him to Reading instead, there’s a few Yanks there. Or better yet Oxford United.

Good points, all.

He's not ready for Reading, or anyone in the Premier. Maybe Port Vale or Tranmere Rovers or Dagenham & Redbridge or Rushden & Diamonds or Scunthorpe or Macclesfield Town or Grimsby Town or Crawley Town or Huddersfield Town or Swindon Town or Sheffield Wednesday or Kidderminster Harriers or Accrington Stanley or Brighton & Hove Albion. Gotta love those English club names.

What about Nottingham Forest? Then he could say he's played for a 2 time European Champion, even if they are in the 3rd division...

He needs to get out of the United States and go to Europe if he wants to be a true top level footballer. The opportunities for development, competition and impact are much, much greater there. /Where/ he goes is largely irrelevant although I don't see how he'd benefit from playing anywhere below first division.

I'm happy that football sucks in the US, but not for the sport, for the marketing. How anxious are any of us to see MORE tv commercials with our once favorite players hocking Happy Meals?

The problem, Anonymous Coward, is that teams aren't particularly interested in benefiting HIM. They want to benefit themselves, by by winning. Freddie's going to be a development project; he is NOT a player right now. So no one in the Premier is going to be interested in having him, and if they do, sitting in the reserves isn't going to help.

He needs to go to a lower division team, or a higher-division team for their youth squad, so he can get into games. He needs 90 minutes a week.