Freddy Adu signs with MLS

Post by **Jared** » Tue Nov 18, 2003 8:23 pm

<A HREF="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2003/w ... s/?cnn=yes" TARGET="_blank">Adu coming to the MLS</A>.
 
 This is a major coup for the MLS. And it´s games imitating life....in my CM4 game I started with DC United and made Freddy Adu my first signing. Was a good player for the club, but was by no means a start (hadn´t developed enough yet).

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Nov 18, 2003 8:39 pm

MLS better savor Freddy while it has him, because he´s gone to Europe within five years, tops.
 
 The quality of play in the MLS is so inferior to top-level European football. It would be a total waste for Freddy´s skills to atrophy over here.
 
 Freddy would look damn good in Newcastle kit in about four years. <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_smile.gif">
 
 Take care,
 PK

TheMightyPuck · Post by **TheMightyPuck** » Tue Nov 18, 2003 8:47 pm

Newcastle. A fine beer. And a fine club when Shearer and Dyer and Bellamy are on the pitch. Not likely as an Adu destination. MLS got Freddy on a 6 year deal so they can have him for 4 and then sell him for a nice chunk of change to Manchester United or Real Madrid.

TheMightyPuck · Post by **TheMightyPuck** » Tue Nov 18, 2003 8:50 pm

I think they sent him to DC to make sure he doesn´t end up getting his leg broken by Stoichkov. Although who knows, Stoichkov might break his leg in practice.

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Wed Nov 19, 2003 12:57 pm

Great signing by MLS IMO. It will give them a high profile, recognizable face to market for the next 3 or 4 years. If he is as good as the hype (which he seems to be considering the offers he has already turned down from ManU and Chelsea), he will almost certainly leave by 18, but as Puck pointed out MLS will receive quite a nice fee when that happens.
 
 It´s also good for Freddy to develop his skills as a teenager with a professional team, and live at home, rather than adjust to a new country and be stuck in youth and reserve games. Another thing the article doesn´t mention is this also builds a good relationship with his family, as supposedly Freddy´s younger brother is a good little defender himself.

Zeppo · Post by **Zeppo** » Wed Nov 19, 2003 4:22 pm

Look at it this way. In 5 years, the ridiculous glut of quality rookies that exploded into the league this year will be 5 year veterans. And all signs point to an even bigger bumper crop of rookies for next season. Plenty of room for this trend to continue in years to come.
 
 The hope is that by the time young Mr. Adu goes to Europe, (imo assuming continued good health, most likely after Germany ´06, when he will be "17") MLS will be a very different league than it is now. By then, more than half the teams will likely have thier own venues, the good rookies we are starting to see (and these guys are crazy young, a lot of them) will be solid pros, and God willing Mr. Adu can stay healthy and start to bring some much deserved mainstream attention to this slowly building institution that is MLS.
 
 All this is to say the quality of play will improve in this league. It has every year, and will only get better faster as the youth takes control.
 
 Hey, this league is all we got, have to be optimistic, right?
 
 BTW, anyone watch the LA-San Jose 2nd leg? How about the Western Conference Final? Those two matches were among the more intense, entertaining, and exciting soccer games I (admittedly biased) have ever seen.

Post by **Jared** » Wed Nov 19, 2003 9:24 pm

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD>Quote:<HR></TD></TR><TR><TD><BLOCKQUOTE>
 On 2003-11-18 17:09, sf_z wrote:
 Right now, Adu´s better off playing in MLS than serving in the reserves somewhere else.
 
 I´m a bit surprised he went to a club that doesn´t wear Nike kit.
 </BLOCKQUOTE></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR></TD></TR></TABLE>
 
 His family lives in Bethesda (or somewhere around DC) so he can still live at home and play for DC United. Also, he has practiced a lot with the team in the past....I think the ONLY way he would have signed for MLS was if he went to DC United. Great for me, since I´m a fan and am only a 45 minute drive away from games.

TheMightyPuck · Post by **TheMightyPuck** » Wed Nov 19, 2003 10:44 pm

Don´t mention the SJ LA second leg ever again. EVER!!! Oh the shame. The utter ***** shame. Still, SJ and Chicago should be a good match. Chicago 2-1 is my prediction. If you watch the game on tv, look for me in section 138. I´ll be the guy throwing piss filled ballons at Landon Donovan.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Nov 19, 2003 11:52 pm

>>>I´ll be the guy throwing piss filled ballons at Landon Donovan.<<<
 
 CLASSIC!
 
 Make sure the balloons are emblazoned with the Bayern Leverkusen crest and images of Klaus Toppmoller, the mad scientist who formerly roamed Leverkusen´s touch line ... <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_smile.gif">
 
 Take care,
 PK

Post by **Jared** » Thu Nov 20, 2003 12:36 am

I wish I could have watched the SJ-LA game...too bad it wasn´t televised nationally (meaning, ESPN or something with more reach than FSW). They should make that an Instant Classic and replay it for everyone that didn´t see it.

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Thu Nov 20, 2003 12:57 am

The Fire-Revolution match wasn´t bad either. The Fire completely outplayed the weakened Revolution squad, but just couldn´t finish. They had a ridiculous number of corners, and outshot New England substantially, but NE did a nice job hanging in against a healthier team which had them significantly outpaced.
 
 Really looking forward to the final on Sunday. [ This message was edited by: RobVarak on 19-11-2003 23:20 ]

TheMightyPuck · Post by **TheMightyPuck** » Thu Nov 20, 2003 3:02 am

Haha. Maybe Klaus can bring him to Spurs if he gets that job, poor bastard. Anyway, now it is time for beer and cigarettes. <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_wink.gif">

Blublub · Post by **Blublub** » Thu Nov 20, 2003 9:47 am

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD>Quote:<HR></TD></TR><TR><TD><BLOCKQUOTE>
 On 2003-11-18 16:50, TheMightyPuck wrote:
 I think they sent him to DC to make sure he doesn´t end up getting his leg broken by Stoichkov. Although who knows, Stoichkov might break his leg in practice.
 </BLOCKQUOTE></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR></TD></TR></TABLE>
 
 Stoichkov is as good as gone after his booking for shoving Convey in the final match. That was pretty much the final straw in a classless act all season long. He and Hudson have nearly come to blows on numerous occasions so I seriously doubt they´ll both be back.
 
 Freddy´s move to DC has been speculated all year, but it´s insanely great to see it finally happen. We now actually have a real forward, and hopefully will dump Stewart and Cerritos´ sorry asses.

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Thu Nov 20, 2003 11:27 am

I thought Stoichkov was retiring after this season anyway. At least the announcers kept saying things like ´his possible last game´ for United´s last regular season matches.
 
 Anyway, it´ll be good riddance. That guys antics were bordering on comical. From the leg breaking tackle in an exhibition match (that certainly wasn´t funny to that guy), to shoving his own teammate in defeat, to when Eric Wynalda pointed out on an ESPN broadcast that Stoichkov didn´t play at all on the left flank for the first 20 minutes of a game because that side of the field wasn´t in the shade yet. Amazing.
 
 EDIT: One other thing---I though Hudson was as good as gone himself. People were talking about him quitting coaching and working for the league as an announcer. [ This message was edited by: Naples39 on 20-11-2003 07:30 ]

jimd · Post by **jimd** » Thu Nov 20, 2003 11:43 am

I´m I the only one who thinks Adu looks closer to 19 than 14? Not that it matters because even if he is 19 he´d still be one of the best at his age. I wouldn´t be surprised if we find out down the line that he´s a few years older than he says he is.
 
 I saw most of the western semis, definitely the best MLS match I´ve seen.
 
 I wish I could have seen the second leg of the Euro Cup playoff matches. I saw the highlights on FSW and the Turkey-Latvia match was pretty sick. Latvia, playing in Istanbul (makes Oakland and Philly look like an LA Clippers game) came from two down to tie the game 2-2 and win on aggregate 3-2.