At 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 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.”
Spot on, really. But I guess Hull manager Phil Brown is not one for reading brilliant soccer blogs.
While I actually believe that in the end Adu will end up in Greece at Aris – which should bring him more playing time playing in a mediocre league rather than fighting for a spot in the squad at relegation threatened Hull, the sheer thought / brainstorm / idea that Brown is even entertaining taking Adu to England is comical at best and pathetic at worst.
Sure, Brown has Adu’s international teammate and Twitter buddy Jozy Altidore on loan at Hull. And perhaps the American has made a decent enough impression to the Hull manager (though he has yet to score a single Premier League goal in 725 minutes played this season.)
725 minutes played. The most minutes played by a striker at Hull. But 0 goals. Altidore has actually played more minutes this season than star internationals Emile Heskey (2 goals in less minutes than Jozy), Eduardo (4 goals in less minutes than Jozy), and Ivan Klasnic (6 goals in less minutes than Jozy) amongst many others.
But he hasn’t scored. Not once. Sure, he looked dangerous against Manchester United a few weeks ago. Sure, he’s only 20 years old and will definitely improve. He has pace and power. But come on, he’s hardly been a hit. Wrongly or rightly, strikers are judged on goals.
So, now back to Freddy Adu. Has Phil Brown lost his mind? Does he see something in Freddy that we don’t? And why bring a project of unfulfilled potential into your squad when you are sitting in 19th place and surely headed for the Coca Cola Championship? Is this an impact signing? Someone, anyone?
I mean I’m just dumbfounded.
My managerial experience in the game consists of currently serving as the assistant coach for a local U-17 youth club in Los Angeles, formerly serving as a head coach for a bunch of six year olds, and acting as a camp counselor during the summers at university organizing soccer games for a bunch of middle schoolers at day camp. Oh, and playing countless hours of Football (Championship) Manager.
Phil Brown learned his craft under Sam Allardyce and has been an assistant at Blackpool and Bolton. He’s also been the manager at Derby and Hull. He can’t be that dumb? Can he?
Come on – it’s Freddy Adu. You bring him in and you punch your relegation ticket. Enjoy the bus trips next season to Plymouth, Swansea, and Scunthorpe United because you surely won’t be playing Chelsea, Arsenal, and United with this kind of decision making, Brown.
Freddy Adu. Sadly, the biggest global soccer bust of the decade. I hope he somehow catches on at Aris and succeeds, I really do, but I just can’t see it.
Then again, what do I know, I’m no Phil Brown.
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I think it's a little premature to call him one of the world's biggest bust … I mean he's still only 20.
Yea, Ha Ha, he is only 20 and he is apparently attracting premier league interest? That doesnt sound like much of a bust to me… He has much more time to develop mentally and physically into a quality player.
Your comments on Freddy seem to be a hugh over statement.Hey, Freedy's not that good and Phil Brown is an idiot again,should have surficed.
Your mention of Elizabeth Lambert for the up'th time leaves me to believe, that you haven't seen very many women's soccer games and you think her behavior was some what uncommon. My two daughters played from six years old through college and them some. The only thing uncommon is the players let her get away with it which made it look worse than it really was.
FIRST OF ALL:
anonymous and those chelsea blues:
There are dozens, if not hundreds, of 20 year olds who are better suited for a Premier League loan than Freddy Adu is around the world.
(Furthermore – I have my doubt that Adu is even 20 years old. There has been huge speculation about his age, and coming over from Ghana to the US at a young age, it is believed by many that he is actually older than 20… Maybe not, maybe it's a moot point, but whether or not he is 20, 22, or 24, he's still not suited for a Premier League loan.)
Geobfree – I don't think it's a huge over statement. I write in the article that I hope Freddy succeeds over time but I still firmly believe, that AT THIS MOMENT, bringing him on loan to a relegation threatened team makes ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE for both parties. For his development – it makes no sense. He has to adapt to a 4th league and 4th country in 3 years (MLS, Portugal, France, and now England) and won't get much playing time. For Brown – it makes no sense – his team is in 19th and he is bringing in a bullshit marketing ploy 5 foot 7 winger who can't get a game at a team in LAST PLACE in Portugal! LAST PLACE. It's not like he was on the bench at Munich, like Donovan last winter or something… Belenenses are absolutely crap.
Lastly – I have absolutely nothing against Women's soccer at all and a caustic jibe against Elizabeth Lambert – who absolutely embarrassed herself and remains a relevant icon in women's soccer, whether we like it or not, is completely justified in my opinion in my "captions" section. As you are a regular reader of the site, you should know that the caption section is meant in jest, not to be taken seriously. And I have not mentioned Lambert on this blog for quite a while. I can count on ONE HAND the number of times I have mentioned her on this blog…
Thanks.
PS – Just as i predicted, Adu moves to Aris not Hull.