Photo by ISIphotos.com
Where will Freddy Adu go next?
That's the decision the young midfielder is pondering after a second European club decided to give him back to Benfica after failed loan stints. Belenenses seemed like a good destination when Adu first went there, but the loan proved to be as pointless as his stint at Monaco.
As it stands, we have to at least consider the possibility that one of Adu's options is a return to MLS. If that is, in fact, one of the possibilities, we should start considering potential destinations.
Before we do that, it should be noted that no team in MLS is going to pay Adu what he was making in Europe. No team is spending a designated player slot on him. The only way Adu can return to MLS is if he takes a serious paycut, probably to $250,000 or lower. If Adu is willing to take that sort of paycut, then MLS should be an option again.
Here is a rundown of the clubs that might be potential destinations for Adu:
FC DALLAS
Not the first club you expected to see listed? It might actually make the most sense given Adu's ties to FC Dallas assistant John Ellinger and Schellas Hyndman's preference for young players. And David Ferreira? The club has yet to re-sign him, though given how well he played last year it would be tough to think that he wouldn't re-sign. Dallas might also have to consider the fact that the club has struggled to sell tickets and Adu just might be one of the few names who could draw fans to Pizza Hut Park (and yes, it would be ironic if he returned to MLS and joined Dallas considering Dallas was basically strong-armed by MLS into giving up the No. 1 overall pick D.C. United used to draft Adu almost six years ago).
PHILADELPHIA UNION
Sounds like crazy talk doesn't it? Peter Nowak couldn't possibly want to re-unite with Adu after their first marriage at D.C. United. Right? Don't be so sure. I spoke with Nowak at length about Adu earlier this fall and didn't get the impression that he held any grudges against the midfielder. It should be noted that Adu played for Nowak on the U.S. Olympic team in 2008 (and played well at times). Why would it make sense? Nowak would be the one in total control this time around, unlike back in 2004, when Adu was essential Major League Soccer's golden goose. Nowak just might be the coach to bring the best out of Adu (or finally break him). At the very least, Philly will likely help determine where Adu goes since it holds the No. 1 spot in the new MLS Allocation Order.
D.C. UNITED
Would D.C. really bring back the player it unloaded happily just a handful of years ago? It could make sense for a variety of reasons. Christian Gomez is on his last legs, D.C. is a club that has long catered to one-way playmakers like Adu and Curt Onalfo did a good job of resurrecting Eddie Johnson's career at Kansas City. Adu reviving his career in D.C. would make for great headlines, and he would also be re-united with close friend and former U.S. Under-17, U-20 and Olympic teammate Danny Szetela, which might help both players find their form.
HOUSTON DYNAMO
This destination might not sound like a natural fit, but with Houston set to lose Stuart Holden to Europe, the Dynamo just might have room for Adu's playmaking abilities. Head coach Dom Kinnear is one of the most respected coaches in MLS and is probably as well-suited to help Adu find his form as anybody. Kinnear also recently took a chance on another high-profile reclamation project in Luis Angel Landin so we know he's willing to gamble on young potential.
REAL SALT LAKE
Could Adu really return to RSL and play in the stadium some people believe he helped build? No, not really. Real Salt Lake just won a title and boasts Javier Morales in the playmaker role. RSL doesn't need Adu, but I had to list the club since it was his last MLS destination (and because I wanted an excuse to run the great photo above). Then again, perhaps Adu could fill out the club's right wing role. On second thought, let's not completely rule this one out (and for those of you wondering, RSL doesn't still have Adu's rights if it spend the transfer funds it scored when he was sold to Benfica, which I believe is very likely).
NEW YORK RED BULLS
The Red Bulls have longed for a productive playmaker since trading away Amado Guevara and Adu would offer up a marquee name as the club heads into a new stadium. No, this move doesn't really make much sense, but it's the Red Bulls so you can't rule out anything.
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Where would you like to see Adu go in MLS if he came back home? Which club makes the most sense? Which club is the last place you think he should go?
Share your thoughts below.
He’s also famous in walla walla. Maybe he should play there.
um, excuse me but…
——————-Ching—–Landin——————
——-Davis————-Adu————Cameron——
———————-Mulrooney———————-
Barrett—————————————-Hainault
—————Boswell———Robinson————–
———————–Onstad————————
where are you sources?
As a matter of fact, washed up shortstop, I did go to practices, games, and talked with coaches of the team. You want more???? You are the one with empty speculation with no cause that it is simply his size (never mind that Iniesta and Javi are about his size) and lack of defensive skills (what is defense but almost all heart, desire and conditioning, and practice?).
will the idiots please just understand that this article was only written to spark conversation and for the appeasement of those who feel that if Freddy were to go to MLS, what an ideal situation would be for him.
I THINK that in MY OPINION, the journalists that comprise the writings on this site, with all due respect, should just concentrate on adding commentary to those readers who rectify it, i.e., the readers, whose opinions spark and ignite worth while conversation.
Probably a good idea, that last comment. You’ve riled up the rebels, and we all know how that turned out.
Seems to me that not even MLS are going to want him back at this point. Simply put, he’s become the forgotten favorite son, the wonderkid who turned bust.
Sad to say, but the kid believed his own hype, and still hasn’t shown a tenth of a return on his potential. A good comparison would be another wonderkid, one Leo Messi. Messi knows how good he is, yet is still all ears when it comes to learning from others, even now when he’s considered the best player in the world by many.
Adu, on the other hand, joined MLS at 15, and already had the attitude that he knew it all. Nothing seems to have changed sense then.
Yea, idk if Jared Jefferey would agree with you there
And the guy behind him is Rimando, the current goalie and latter day hero of the team.
Nah, he’s not an oddball, he’s pretty normal. Just wrong about the Sheriff’s proper title. I think he uses the word “wanker” pretty effectively, though, and that was closer to what he was trying to say, than the moniker he was claiming. Where did you eat dinner, by the way? A place a Yank might enjoy, or would it require an acquired taste?
At the meet the coach event for the Sons of Ben Nowak quashed any question as to whether he would want Freddy. SoB’s were told that’s a no.
That was a while back though…
But you forget the TRUTH. Everybody’s here saying that Freddy is a far superior player to Pato because they once shook hand in ’07 or were in the same city or something… Anyway, if they were both playing in Italy, Freddy could show that he’s the MAN! and Pato is a sorry failure who just gets PT ’cause he’s Brazilian.
Just spitballing….
But would happen if Portland or Vancouver splashed $500K for him THIS year?
He’d be a HUGE draw for both the team and the NASL/USL.
And he’d give them a star quality player for the leap to MLS.
The fact is that until Adu grows up he is never going to become anything at any level. He is a prima donna who simply does think the rules apply to him. I know that he burnt a lot of bridges here in SLC in the short time that he spent here not only with the organization but also his fellow players. He never proved anything in MLS and he never should have moved on until he showed some consistency at this level.
It is a shame because the kid is so talented. I wish someone would just slap some sense into him. The USNT could use him and I think that he should come back to MLS and prove that he is a star and show some consistency. However, he has to change the attitude and prove it or nobody is going to want him.
I actually think the Houston idea could work. The locker room is sacred to Dom, as mentioned, but if anyone could whip Adu into shape it’s him.
“You see Rico and Stu? If that’s what you want, work your butt off and do everything I tell you to and we’ll get you there.”
It would be a surprising move, but one that could have some long-term success.
Man this is a great topic today Ives. I have been reading everyone’s post and I was trying to figure out teams would be best for Freddy. I do believe a move to MLS is the right one. I still get pissed when I read the lack of respect of MLS by people. Why is it bad that players comeback to MLS. I dont care what anyone says the standard of play is comparable to Scandanavian countries and the coca-cola so what’s wrong if a player wants to get his confidence back and get playing time? MLS has been great for our national team and for our players. Our pool is deeper and many of the players have mls connection. Honsestly Im realistic to know that no MLS team can compete with Benfica but honestly is Belaneses that much better than any of the top MLS teams? With all that being said I think Philly would be great for him but I really like your opinion on Houston. I have a tremendous respect for Dom Kinnear and what he has accomplished. He has shown the ability to help develop players like Davis, Cameron, Clark and Holden. I think Adu on a veteran team like Houston could be kept in check. I also like everything Nicol has done with young players for almost a decade and God knows that New England could use some serious bump in attendance and relevance in Boston. Thanks for letting me put in my two cents!
I’d like to see Freddy playing in either Turkey or Uruguay. His “on the ball” talent really is best suited to the Turkish league’s style of play, but since he’s well known to the Uruguayan public he’d be a natural in that country as well.
I’m just not sure where the hyperbole is? Yes, Adu would be a step DOWN, not from where we currently are, but from where we want to be. Sorry I wasn’t clearer about that. I see no exaggeration anywhere else here…. Oh, and HGH would be a marked improvement for Adu–at least you’d know he recognized the problem.
Re: field vision? Not. He had 2 assists at DC his last season and 2 at RLS. If you mean he often can make a nifty little back heal to a streaking player… yes, he’s actually pretty good in tight spots (a strength). But when it comes to seeing the space, the player, and making the pass, it just isn’t there. He’s only 20, doesn’t mean it won’t, that’s for sure. But first we’d need to start with recognizing that there is a problem.
Okay, maybe he didn’t fail in MLS (perhaps the second bit of hyperbole, MVK?), but he sure as heck didn’t give us any reason to believe that he was ever going to be anything special either.
Adu needs to think long and hard about his next move. His career depends on it. He needs playing time, period, and if that means returning to MLS and taking a pay cut, then so be it.
For his sake, I hope the young man is getting good advice.
I don’t think a third small guy named Freddy would help the Sounders. Lljunberg is plenty creative and Montero is a better finisher than Adu.
Get his feet back under him…like Convey and Szetala. If he comes back, I see him being a career MLS player of midling talent. He needs a European environment where he will play to develop. Belgium would be the best fit.
“Needed”?
I get it, it’s like, there is no reason to have posts or articles on who will make the USMNT squad for SA because, guess what, Bradley will announce it sometime in May and then we can be glad no one spent any unnecesary energy thinking about something we have no control over anyway.
So, EDB, why do you even have a computer?
Very good post. The only problem with it is will Adu agree with you?
First of all its seems as if,under your scenario his choice is to gamble that taking a big pay cut will pay off later. That is a big ask. He may never again get such a good deal. As for endorsements, well he is now mostly known as a spectacular flop.
Second, very few people have seen him play regularly for years now and much of his popularity is based on this mystery about him. If after one year, Freddy isn’t tearing it up and leading his team to the MLS cup, the novelty will quickly wear off.
Third, as Ives has pointed out, if he is to be a starter, Adu needs to go to a team that is more or less built around him and, again that is a bit of a leap. At this point his talent level doesn’t warrant such a risk.
Basically, resurrecting his career is certainly doable but Freddy will have to take some risks and maybe pay a big price, but it’s all in his hands.
There are a couple of issues here to consider (especially for those saying “let him go to Scandanavia/Serie-B/Erie, etc.”).
1. Yes, he needs minutes. He’s unbelievably rusty.
2. But it’s more than minutes. He’s an incredibly one-dimensional player. He has so many holes in his game as a player. At one point he had a nice finishing touch. His vision is good. He’s unselfish. His touch is great. He has the ability to create chances off the dribble. That’s the upside. Here’s the downside:
–his judgment is terrible (some of that is due to rust)
–movement off the ball and showing for the ball is very weak and at his best moments, inconsistent
–physically he’s at a disadvantage in almost every matchup on the field: shorter, slower, weaker than almost any opponent.
–not a high work rate
–he drifts in and out of matches (terrible for an A-mid: unless you don’t mind your A-mid disappearing for 20 minutes)
–doesn’t read a match well (which is a problem for an A-mid)
–oh, and he doesn’t defend well, win balls, provide defensive support or coverage, markup on restarts.
Now, you don’t expect a player to do EVERYTHING well. But if you’re going to have an A-mid who is a defensive and ball-winning liability (or weak in the air) than he’d better be really good at being a creator and finisher. And right now, Adu isn’t. Even if he was sharp (which he isn’t).
The truth is: when Adu was with MLS and if he came back now (while the standard of play has improved), he would not start at A-mid for probably half of the teams in MLS. He has world-class skill in a couple of areas. And major huge gaping deficiencies in some other areas. Marco Etcheverry was never a ball winner or defender. Carlos Valderamma never had much of a workrate. But you could cover for those two b/c they were so absolutely world class that the few things you did ask them to do.
Anyone who starts Adu now, once he gets past the rust from not playing in a couple of years, is basically dealing with a development project. Nowak knew that when he was in MLS. Adu and his peps refused to believe that. He’s got to go someplace where he can get major minutes and that team can afford to play him even though he’s going to be a liability in a lot of areas for a couple of years.
he has a nose for goal? he doesnt score, ever.
you act like its some sort of quick fix, like he’d go to serie b and somehow become a magical player. what about the thousands of guys that have played in serie b and still suck?
The back track joke didn’t translate that well in text form.
Look, I get your point and after this I guess we can both drop it, but seriously? I can understand maybe you’re tired of people bashing a post you’ve made or whatever, but I didn’t. I just thought the whole question was moot point, which is an equally valid claim to make, isn’t it?. I couldn’t care less if you discuss it or if anyone else does. Where did I demand you delete your post and not post things like this?
Anyway, mountain out of a mole hill as far as I can tell. I’m sure I’ll get shot down by your loyal followers (which I am/was one of), but what the hell.
Mental!
i would just like to point out that he is still on 20. i have to say i cannot help but think that signing with MLS at 14 and getting drafted and trying to play with men at such a young age was disastrous for his career. if ryan giggs cannot do it than freddy adu couldn’t. i understand that the mls is no premier league but a 14 year old boy (and still to this day a smallish player) simply had no shot at properly developing by throwing him into the line of fire with full grown men, whatever their skill level. having said that he would have been so much better off having been signed by manchester united and joining thier youth ranks. would he have turned into a world beater or united starter? who knows, but being around other super talented players his age with the best coaching on the planet would have not only helped his game but also his attitude. he would not have been the ‘golden boy’ but rather one of a number of talented players and would have learned that you only get what you earn in the game of soccer. plus with mentors like scholes and giggs who are of a similar build and technical skill and who also knew the perils/pressures of being a teenage phenom would have done tremendous help.
shoulda woulda coulda. but trying to start an mls career at 14 was definitely the problem. how much of the blame lies with mls for trying to desperately clutch at a 14 year old straw and how much lies with his family for allowing such a thing i really couldn’t say.
i hope he goes to a place with good coaching and mentoring that can help him reach whatever potential he has. whatever that may be at this point.
Freddy’s dealing drugs? Get out!
Fair enough. But if you’re saying that Adu’s skill in any way matches the above, you’re definitely mistaken. I said as much in my first post. The guys who are undersized and still have impact have mass skill…. way more than the average pro.
Why exactly wouldn’t Adu to New York make any sense?
I agree with most of your points, however, i certainly disagree with your opinion of the portuguese league/team. That’s a very difficult league to play in. They are very defensive like the Italian league. The league doesn’t get the recognition because Portugal is one of Europe’s poorer countries.
So at what point will the Adu fanboys finally admit that Freddy Adu is nothing more than Eddie Johnson Jr.?
It’s time he started making money from an autobiography and reveal it all books. He’s not going to make it playing soccer. He’s a flop, and the fact that he still doesn’t get how bad he is guarantees that he will stay a flop. I would bet that he still thinks he is far too good for MLS.
agree
Nice post!
Upon adding up the salaries on that list from the MLS Players Association for 2009, under “2009 Base Salary”, the Revs players listed add up to $2,586,995. Given that the salary cap is something like $2.3 million per team, and considering the salaries of both the veteran players and some of the guys they’ve brought in, explain to me the “tightness of the Krafts” when it comes to the salaries paid.
I disagree. Adu is a very talented player. Many coaches tried to harness his talent by resticting him. Look at the Brazilians, they allow players natural instincts to dictate their development, then they reel them in. Unfortunately, the American/European way is to do the opposite. That said, I do believe that Adu can regain his confidence in the right situation.
I’m not the only one to say that the article isn’t that interesting (to me, fine, it may interest others and certainly looks as if it has).
Why are you being so precious? I’ll go back to your point earlier about not being a blog, despite your website being cover in the word ‘blog’.
I’m not back-tracking at all.
Right, I’m off to have my dinner, but first I’m making a list of the rooms I might have my dinner in and then a list of what I might eat for my dinner. Riveting and necessary, I’m sure you’ll agree.
You must be the most thin-skinned journalist ever.
(SBI-I was actually joking about the back-tracking, but since you want to throw stones and call me thin-skinned I’ll simply say it isn’t about having “thin skin” but about having no tolerance for people who are obnoxious enough to think they’re the judge of what is worth writing about and talking about on a soccer site. I mean seriously, did it bother you THAT much to have a discussion about potential MLS destinations for Adu? Seriously? It says in the very intro of the post that “IF” MLS was a possibility we should consider the possibilities. It was a harmless exercise that I thought readers would find interesting. Guess what? A lot of people did think it was interesting and worthy of discussion and consideration. The rest of you need to find something better to do than going around telling people what is and isn’t worth writing about.
I’ll say it one last time. If the subject doesn’t interest you then MOVE ON and let the rest of the public discuss it.)
Actually, that’s not an entirely stupid idea… His game is suited to Mexico, and so is his build.
I agree.
That’s kinda interesting on a couple of levels. So, he came home for the holidays? Not entirely surprising for a young kid, but it does how that he wasn’t fully committed to the Portugal project. Maybe, he does need to be here for now….
I would love to have him back in DC. However, he will go to Scandinavia, Belgium, or Holland.
Jozy starting, just had a decent charging 60 yard run on a counter attack that ended up winning a corner kick.
I think Houston would be best for his development. Kinnear understands what it’s like to be on the national team and a common theme in all of his players is an excellent professionalism and maturity. His handling of young players is great, Stuart Holden being the best example. I could see this being their lineup
——————-Ching—–Weaver——————
——-Davis————-Adu————Cameron——
———————-Mulrooney———————-
Barrett—————————————-Waibel
—————Boswell———Robinson————–
———————–Onstad————————
It’d be great because every player in that lineup save for Waibel and Weaver have been capped internationally so it will be a nice place for him to develop his work rate.
Um. No thank you…I’ll pass.
The history of Adu and his agent appears to be, sit out an entire year rather than take a cut. I hope it changes, but what is the evidence? How long can he sit in Europe and still get the big bucks?
To me its not needed because it is just random speculation, and as this site is more then just a random blog I expect more from the posts. If Ives was to learn that MLS was on the table then I would think it appropriate to consider where he would go if he chose that route. But until that time there is no news other then his loan was terminated so the MLS speculation has no base.
(SBI-You’re entitled to your opinion. I just happen to think you’re wrong. There’s no reason we, or anybody, can’t speculate on possibilities in MLS for Adu. To say it’s an impossible option, or even a serious stretch, is silly. This isn’t me saying, “Hey, if Tim Howard were available, which MLS team could use him the most?” You do realize that Adu’s options are limited, which is why MLS can be considered a possibility (and not “random speculation”). That alone makes it worth discussing. Since only a few of you seem to think otherwise, I’d say I’m comfortable in having made the decision to discuss it. As I’ve said before, if you don’t like a topic being discussed or a post that’s up on the site, move on and let others discuss what you don’t want to.)
NE has been consistently well below the cap. Part of that im sure is the savvyness of Stevie Nicol, but I’m equally as sure it’s in no small part to the tightness of the Kraft’s.
I really feel bad for Adu. I see his talent and struggle understanding why he can’t latch on…anywhere. My best guess is there is something we don’t know, like teams forced to take him by Nike when they don’t have the need for him, bad attitude (hard to believe based on his Tweets), bad training habits, lacks seriousness of purpose, whatever. Although he would take it as failure, I think he should come back to MLS. Sign a 3 year year deal, keep his Tweets to minimum, get his confidence back and worry about Europe later. I for one hope Red Bulls get him, it would at least give me a player I’m interested in watching this season.