13 lutego 2006
Chelsea Does the Freddy?
There are reports that Freddy Adu is being looked at by Chelsea FC and has offered $8 million for his services. Rumors also say that Manchester United is looking at him too.Um? Have they actually seen him play, or are they just reading the fawning press reports? They realize that these fawning reports are being written by reporters that don't actually follow the game, right?
I realize that the English think that they have the only league in the world that matters. If you guys are so great, why are you fighting over a kid that couldn't even make the national team?
Yes, Adu has great potential. But that potential will not be developed freezing his butt on a bench watching Chelsea vs. Scunthorpe United in an FA Cup match. Of course, it won't be developed here either if his antics keep him benched for DC United either. Heck, I guess talent is not developed very well if you are on the bench watching DC United play the Mid-Michigan Bucks in a US Open Cup match.
When Adu first joined the league, I was impressed by his humility. That all seems to be gone. He's had public spats with his coach, former Polish national team player Piotr Nowak. His play has become selfish, inerrupted by his falling down and whining anytime anyone comes near him. With this sort of attitude, the guy ain't going to learn from anyone, even if he is playing next to Ronaldo or Thierry Henry.
He keeps hearing from all of his new best buddies, who are all convinced that he should start every game. The mainstream sports media, who have trouble naming any other player besides Adu, are also perplexed why he doesn't start every game. I'm amused when soccer bashers like Tony Kornheiser demand that Nowak have him start more. Adu should stop listening to these people, be a little less concerned about how much he can spend on a new home entertainment system, and just play the game.
The non-soccer press last week reported that Adu was "cut" from the national team. First of all, the man was not "cut" from the national team. It is hard to say that he was "cut" when he has barely played for the Nats. The only game he played in was a friendly against Canada. He didn't play in the qualifiers at all, and those who actually watch the game on even an occasional basis can tell you that there are much better players that we can field for the World Cup.
Despite the fact that a soccer team consists of ten human beings plus a goalkeeper, the sports press seems to have an aversion to being able to identify more than one player at any given time. Without Freddy in Germany, what ever will they do? They may need to learn who the heck Kasey Keller or Carlos Bocanegra is. These guys are still smarting from the fact that the "big names" on the women's team have moved on...now we expect them to actually watch both the men's and women's teams to see who is a good player. I mean these guys only do this for a living.
Another weird thing: rumor has it that Bruce Arena didn't even want to play Adu in the Canada game. Ghana, who qualified for the world cup and we will be playing in the first round, was making noises. Adu was in our "player pool," but we had never played him in a "full" national team match. Since we had never played him, he was still qualified to play for Ghana, and they wanted him for their team. Arena played him against Canada, thus making him inelligible to play for any other national team.
Do zobaczenia. Hasta la proxima.
Comments:
<< Home
what is it about men in sports that make them turn white at the thought of women also in sports?
I had a really long argument with this one Irish guy in NI who told me without citing anything other then women do not have as much muscle mass as men, that no matter what, women could not beat men in soccer.
From what little I can gather, soccer is not like American football where body mass is important, so why would women not be able to wipe the floor with ya'll?
I had a really long argument with this one Irish guy in NI who told me without citing anything other then women do not have as much muscle mass as men, that no matter what, women could not beat men in soccer.
From what little I can gather, soccer is not like American football where body mass is important, so why would women not be able to wipe the floor with ya'll?
In the league I play in, yes, women can kick some serious ass. Of course, some of the women have played at division 1 colleges and most of us men didn't play at any appreciable level after high school. We also don't play a very "physical" brand of soccer.
At the professional, to say nothing of the international, level, the game is very physical. Some smaller players have trouble getting keeping possession when a defender who has thirty or fourty pounds on him is trying to strip him of the ball.
Play in soccer is a lot more physical than people give it credit for. Take the story of Brian Kamler, one of my favorite players. Kamler was playing for DC United when they were playing a friendly with the US Under 20 team. One of the players became angry with Kamler, ran up to him at full speed and punched him in the face. When Kamler got to the hospital, the surgeon said that the injuries were equivalent to those seen in a 35 mile an hour car wreck. Kamler still plays today, complete with plates and screws in his face.
Of course, that was a deliberate assault, but there are many injuries that occur because of the speeds and strength involved. Even though male soccer players aren't the size of football players, they are still larger than female soccer players. I could easily see a male player try to muscle around a female player who is more "finessed" and cause great injury.
Oh, and women's soccer is a heck of a lot more violent than people think it is.
At the professional, to say nothing of the international, level, the game is very physical. Some smaller players have trouble getting keeping possession when a defender who has thirty or fourty pounds on him is trying to strip him of the ball.
Play in soccer is a lot more physical than people give it credit for. Take the story of Brian Kamler, one of my favorite players. Kamler was playing for DC United when they were playing a friendly with the US Under 20 team. One of the players became angry with Kamler, ran up to him at full speed and punched him in the face. When Kamler got to the hospital, the surgeon said that the injuries were equivalent to those seen in a 35 mile an hour car wreck. Kamler still plays today, complete with plates and screws in his face.
Of course, that was a deliberate assault, but there are many injuries that occur because of the speeds and strength involved. Even though male soccer players aren't the size of football players, they are still larger than female soccer players. I could easily see a male player try to muscle around a female player who is more "finessed" and cause great injury.
Oh, and women's soccer is a heck of a lot more violent than people think it is.
OH MY GOD, TED. When is this soccer shit going end? I'd rather hear Brian Williams tell me about some Olympic rags to riches story...dear Lord when will it end?
# posted by 
: poniedziałek, lutego 13, 2006 3:03:00 PM
: poniedziałek, lutego 13, 2006 3:03:00 PM
Kamler still plays today, complete with plates and screws in his face.
Kam retired at the end of last season to move into a front office gig with RSL; apparently he and his wife really love it there. Fitting way to bow out, I'd say.
McBride at this point has so much titanium holding his face together he qualifies as cyborg.
Some smaller players have trouble getting keeping possession when a defender who has thirty or fourty pounds on him is trying to strip him of the ball.
And thus you have why, besides FIFA rules regarding transfer of minors, Adu needs another year or so before he's ready to look overseas. He's not yet learned how to capitalize on his small size like, say, Beasley has.
Post a comment - Dejame un comentario - Piszesz twój komentarz
Kam retired at the end of last season to move into a front office gig with RSL; apparently he and his wife really love it there. Fitting way to bow out, I'd say.
McBride at this point has so much titanium holding his face together he qualifies as cyborg.
Some smaller players have trouble getting keeping possession when a defender who has thirty or fourty pounds on him is trying to strip him of the ball.
And thus you have why, besides FIFA rules regarding transfer of minors, Adu needs another year or so before he's ready to look overseas. He's not yet learned how to capitalize on his small size like, say, Beasley has.
# posted by : poniedziałek, lutego 13, 2006 8:25:00 PM
: poniedziałek, lutego 13, 2006 8:25:00 PM << Home
