The hype machine declared him ‘the next great thing’. He was placed high on a pedestal by Nike and shoved in football’s face as the future of the US game, a player who was set to take the world by storm with incredible skills. Ladies and gentlemen, Freddy Adu.
Yet, as the years roll by, he has been rejected time and time again, outing his abilities for what they really are. I mean, if Bob Bradley can’t see them, what chance does he have in Europe? The answer isn’t promising.
Benfica purchased the slender American forward and have looked to off-load him to anyone and everyone ever since. “Return to sender, address unknown”, was Elvis a football fan with a crystal ball? Since making 11 appearances for Real Salt Lake in 2007, Benfica fell victim of the Nike marketing machine who decided to push Adu in a time when US soccer needed a hero. Nike thought Adu had something he didn’t: talent.
Well, I am being a little hard on old Freddy, but what I mean to say is the guy doesn’t have enough talent to play at any level higher than the MLS. His career has been one big lie, a false promise fed by sneaker sales. Nike’s marketing has actually damaged Adu’s career to the point that just the mention of his name brings a chuckle.
Once Benfica found out what they had, they looked to off-load Adu as soon as possible. First they sent him to Monaco where he participated in just 9 games before being returned. Then it was off to Belenenses, the oldest club in Portugal, for this season, where Adu was used from the bench just 4 times this season before new coach Toni decided to cut the loan short and send him back to Benfica.
Currently Belenenses have scored just 7 goals in 14 games and sit bottom of the table. Toni needs talent, not t-shirt sales 4,000 miles away.
I don’t mean to be tough on Adu and if he hadn’t been hyped up so much then I’d probably feel sorry for him and champion his efforts to break Europe. But, the truth is that his career is at a standstill. He is clearly not good enough to play in Europe and the wheels have finally fallen of the hype wagon, so much so that even ESPN, the creators and endorsers of ‘hype’ can’t even be bothered to update his stats!
Ironically, Adu is sponsored by Nike ‘Total 90′, yet 90 minutes is something that Adu hasn’t seen for a very long time. The American needs to realize his potential and where it is suited, the MLS. At least he can compete at that level and start his career afresh because right now talk of America’s great soccer hope is met with Freddy Who and not Adu.
wow. sadly, it’s all truth in there.
No comments on any posts today. I expect more out of you people to get me through work.
when’s the SFB/Megson post coming?
Well said, Ned!
@bergkampesdios
Coming! Don’t worry!
For being 38 years old, I don’t think Freddy is too bad a player
When he has gotten a run of games for the USMNT, he’s shown sparks of brilliance. Especially when he’s played the wing- which is unfortunately the way forward for any American “striker/CF combo” not named Jozy (see Dempsey and Donovan as well). I don’t doubt that he could do well, say, out wide for SFB.
Keith – living in DC with season tickets I watched him attempt to grow up as a player. He oftens showed flashes of brilliance every step of the way. The problem is a complete lack of tactical awareness or true understanding of the game. At the time he was one of the most frustrating players to watch – for every brilliant run he made he missed three others, and his workrate was always lacking.
Complete hype machine and rumored not to be a good teammate. I think the MLS is the right level for him but I don’t want him anywhere near United again.
Let’s not absolve USSF of any blame here either. His career has been mishandled a little bit, most recent example being the Gold Cup of 2009. Freddy only gets to appear in 2 games, then is told he should go back to Benfica for training. Weeks later, it’s revealed that Freddy has been in New York the whole time. It would’ve been nice to see him get some more USMNT run instead.
@Keith, You or I could play well against barbados.
This post is f**king retarded. Adu already has a more accomplished club career than Donovan, he has more than lived up to the hype.
@Georger..OOF.
There is no level of sarcasm I can hit to express my distaste for the logic behind that original statement, still cannot believe anyone honestly thinks that.
We can’t forget that MLS told the world that he was the chosen one, at 14, signed him to half a mil a year, at 14, and then expected him to fall in line behind a hard ass coach, at 14.
MLS handled the whole situation badly and further cemented their reputation for doing a s**tty job developing young players.
When Adu had his trial with your lot RedDevil and they flat out rejected him, I started to get the feeling he was a bust. I remember Kornheiser predicting multiple WC wins for the USA thanks to Adu.
Every year at every club in the world there are AWESOME 14 year olds. Hardly any make it. FACT.
Whatever happens for him, I hope it happens quickly. No sense for Benfica to leave him twisting in the wind for all of January.
send him to mexico
[...] 14, Pele was kissing him; today he’d be lucky with Elizabeth Lambert Our buddies at Unprofessional Foul had a great piece on Freddy Adu just last week. I couldn’t have really put it better myself: “…the guy doesn’t [...]