Top Stories

Americans Abroad Notes: Adu makes Bahia gameday roster; Bedoya scores, delivers assist; and more

SadFreddyAdu (ISIPhotos.com)

By FRANCO PANIZO

Freddy Adu may not have to wait much longer to make his Bahia debut.

Adu was named to Bahia’s 18-man game-day roster for their road fixture against Juazeirense on Sunday, and the Brazilian Cup match could see Adu get his first taste of action since joining the club last month. If Adu were to play, the game would also mark his first competitive appearance since Oct. 20.

Bahia are currently in first place in Group A of the Baiano competition but a win is needed on Sunday to guarantee that they maintain their two-point lead over Botafogo, who are set to face Group B leaders Vitoria Da Conquista.

Here are more Americans Abroad notes:

BEDOYA SCORES, SETS UP GOAL IN HELSINGBORG ROUT

Helsingborg IF cruised to their second victory of the Allsvenskan season on Thursday, and Alejandro Bedoya played a big part making that happen.

Bedoya scored a goal and had an assist as Helsingborg went on the road and routed Norrkoping, 4-1. Bedoya scored his first of the season with a driven left-footed shot from distance that found the bottom corner of the goal in the 48th minute, and he then set up Helsingborg’s final tally with a pass from the left at the hour-mark.

You can see Bedoya’s goal and assist here:

KLJESTAN CAPS SCORING WITH BEAUTIFUL BLAST IN ANDERLECHT VICTORY

As far as aesthetics go, Sacha Kljestan’s most-recent strike could not have been much better.

Kljestan capped the scoring in RSC Anderlecht’s 3-0 win over Lokeren on Wednesday, rifling a curling shot from 25 yards out that caromed off the crossbar. The 38th-minute goal was Kljestan’s second of the season and his first since a 6-1 triumph over Club Brugge on Nov. 11.

You can see Kljestan’s goal here.

—–

Expecting Adu to make his Bahia debut this weekend? Impressed with Bedoya’s finish? How many times have you watched Kljestan’s beautiful blast?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Loved that Bedoya had a monster game but…and I know that was just a highlight reel and all…but, man…that league kind’a looked like it sucked somewhat. Yeah, yeah, yeah teams from that league get to play in the UCL and all (someone’s gotta go from there, right?) but that was some of the worst goal keeping and defending I have seen. Maybe they played the whuppin’ boys of the league?

    Reply
      • yeah alot of people saw it so whats your point? Happens in every league around the world where defenders ball watch whether its due to fatigue or positioning….was that suoposed to be a k.ock on beasley bc he’s been ballin and deserves a spot on the left wing for the US

  2. I have never been a subscriber to the Freddy Adu is not his stated age conspiracy, but the older he gets the faster he seems to be aging. He looks like he could be going on 30 now.

    Reply
    • He turned pro at 14 and next year will enter his 10th year of pro soccer. Michael Owen, who started stronger than Adu, started to hit the wall around that same 10 year mark and hasn’t been the same since. Donovan’s at about 13 or 14 years. At some point I think it catches up to you.

      The length of Adu’s tenure is my response to people who want me to treat him like a draft pick of promise. After a decade of bouncing around he’s either cutting it or not, I don’t think he can be treated like some college grad player his age who’s not had the same opportunities and professional environment.

      Don’t get me wrong, if his salary ever comes down to the 100s or 200s I think he’s a solid MLS starter, although his skill set and limited height and athleticism may not be for everyone. But his original DC days suggest he’s a worthy role player as long as you’re not foolish enough to hand him the keys to the offense.

      Reply
      • Adu may have been a pro for 9 years now, but he hasn’t exactly been playing a ton of games like Donovan and Owen. Hes probably played less than 100 games in the last 6 years. There’s no reason his body should be breaking down.
        I agree we can’t treat him as some college grad though. He’s young, but he has been a pro for quite some time now. If he hasn’t figured out what it takes to be a professional player by this point, he probably won’t ever get to that point.
        He has all the talent in the world, but lacks the consistency to play at the highest level. He is MOTM one week and disappears for the next 3. That just doesn’t cut it. Its the same story we have seen with many many other very talented young players. Talent can only get you so far. I know I’ve read Arsene Wenger, and I’m sure many others, say that consistency is the most important quality of a professional player. Freddy Adu doesn’t have that.

      • Owen was a speed guy. Once his legs went, he was done. Freddie is a technical guy with only decent wheels. He shouldn’t burn out like Owen barring a catastrophic injury

      • TomG,

        Once the legs go, most athletes are done playing.

        Adu does not belong in the same paragraph with a guy like Owen. Owen was forced off the field by endless hamstring injuries. What was Freddie’s excuse?

        Injuries eventually ended Owen’s career but it wasn’t so much about losing speed as simply not being able to get on the field. His body just couldn’t take the pounding. This began when he came back to England with Newcastle. He adjusted to his speed loss by becoming a smarter player but even that does not help when you can’t get on the field.

        With Liverpool and Real Madrid, he averaged a goal every 2 games which is elite level. Henry and Kun Aguero, for example, score at that rate.

        From Newcastle on, when his injury problems really began, he missed a lot of games and his scoring rate dropped to a goal every 3 games which is great for an attacking midfielder but just okay for a striker. Still, a diminished , injury prone Owen was a far more effective and dangerous soccer player than Adu.

  3. C’mon Adu. Prove everyone wrong…again. Get on the field, keep your Twitter shut, and earn it. Simple as that.

    Reply
  4. I cant help but to keep sippin on the Freddy Adu crazy juice. I still feel he can be a part of the USMNT going forward bearing some consistent playing time in Brazil. He may not ever be a full time starter but his skill set could be used against certain opponents depending on the situation. His last appearance for the nats (believe it was 4-2 thrashing by Mexico) was a disaster from a team stand point but I thought he showed well and was our most dangerous attacking player. I think he could play as a winger or obviously an advanced mid. Am I crazy?

    Reply
    • I fell the same way. My head tells me that he is a talented player who just doesn’t have the complete game required to make it at the highest level (consistency, work rate ect). My heart is desperate for him to finally get it together and come closer to fulfilling his potential. He obviously has a skill set that no other American player has ever had. Doesn’t seem like Klinsmann has any faith in him though. I don’t believe he has even been called in under the current regime, even after his MOTM displays in the Gold Cup.

      Reply
      • Why would he be called in? He has yet to establish a consistent track record of performance on… what… his 8th team now? There are MLS standouts who do regularly perform at that level who can’t get on the USMNT.

        I’m a fan of the USMNT of course, so I hope he does well in Brazil and does force Klinsmann to take a look. Heck, for the sake of more options, I hope every American playing on a foreign club dramatically improves by several quantum leaps tomorrow as well. But I’m not expecting it.

      • Just to clarify I never said he should be called in. Just pointing out that even when his stock was at its peak of recent years he still wasn’t called in. That says a lot about what Klinsmann thinks of him.

      • Actually he was called up to a game or two just after klinsmann took over. But apparently he didnt impress.

    • Your not crazy and the majority of true fans hope for the same because of performances like the one against Mexico and Spain and Argentina of years past….I’m hoping Freddy has learned a lesson in that being a professional takes more than natural ability but also work ethic and want to!

      Reply
    • He is 23, left footed and has some flair to his game. He needs to make some huge strides very soon if he is going to attain a role (a LW offensive-minded sub?) with the USMNT.

      Compare what Freddy has done for the Nats at his age compared with Run DMB.

      Reply
      • Fred Adu will be 24 in June.

        By that age DMB had put in a great run for Guus Hiddink and PSV in the Champion’s League, was playing in the EPL for Manchester City and was about to play in his second World Cup. Adu may never do that well even if he plays another ten years.

        What is your point?

        It would be impressive if he could become a season long regular for Bahia It would be even more impressive if he could do it two seasons in a row but I’m not greedy.

    • If you are a U.S. soccer fan then you should be rooting for every American abroad to play well and have a successful career. We don’t have nearly enough talent to say “we don’t need player A or player B anymore”.

      Reply
      • Give it a rest…. that line is tired, played out and has no merit! It’s comical that supposed US fans hate on some of our more genius footballers instead showing support for them smh….what a world we live in!

      • It’s not comical, it’s something that happens all the time in every sport. It’s frustrating to see a player of any sport consistently fail to match their level of play with their level of talent. Think of all of the draft “busts” from the NBA and NFL, articles and articles are written about what could have been if only X player had devoted himself to being a true professional. Yet some people think that if only American fans showed a little kindness towards Adu he would somehow reward them by changing his tune. The truth is, some players have all the talent in the world, but they don’t have what it takes between the ears to put it to good use. Freddy Adu has shown that he is this type of player. You don’t build a team around that kind of player, you don’t build a franchise around that kind of player. You send them packing, and that’s what each and every coach/manager of his has done, and they’ll continue to do that until he learns, which may be never.

Leave a Comment