Will the 2010 World Cup team be Freddy Adu's?

[Lefty]

I'm really looking forward to Freddy playing for team USA.

 

[CaptTurbo]

I'm really looking forward to Freddy playing for team USA.

Me too. But Id rather buy a team. Lets get a couple top stars who's souls are for sale and make them citizens.

We sure as heck wont home grow this thing.

 

[Zeno]

Me too. But Id rather buy a team. Lets get a couple top stars who's souls are for sale and make them citizens.

Easier said than done. Once a player appears for his national team he is married to that nations team for life.

I'd much rather develop our own players. Unfortunately USSF isn't doing it the right way--ODP and Bradenton are great starts but we need to follow the lead of the worlds leading soccer powers and create real soccer academies for our kids to grow up in.

Adu has a lot of growing to do but he has 4 years to do it. Look for other players like Bradley, Szetela(sp?), Nguyen, Wynne, Gaven, Barrett, Spector to make their moves for the 2010 roster. They will be added to Donovan, Onyewu, Beasley, Johnson, Dempsey, Howard and others from this current roster as players like Reyna, McBride, Pope, Keller, Lewis, Mastroeni move on.

Next year the U20 World Championship is in Canada. I plan to go for a few matches to see what our future looks like.

 

[Lefty]

Freddy was on PTI today and he said he does not know if he will play for the USA or Ghana. Let's hope something like the USA having better chance at making the 2010 World Cup than Ghana has some influence. Also, he said he will be playing overseas next year to prepare for the World Cup.

 

[Renz]

Freddy was on PTI today and he said he does not know if he will play for the USA or Ghana.

If Adu chooses to play for Ghana I hope he realizes that he will have to travel to Africa for all of their qualifiers, not to mention that he will be persona non grata in the States and will also likely lose millions in endorsements. I don't see him playing for Ghana.

 

[Zeno]

Freddy was on PTI today and he said he does not know if he will play for the USA or Ghana. Let's hope something like the USA having better chance at making the 2010 World Cup than Ghana has some influence. Also, he said he will be playing overseas next year to prepare for the World Cup.

I don't think Adu has much of a choice, he already has 1 cap for the US I believe. He came in late during a warm-up match...unless for some reason it wasn't a full international.

 

[slinslin]

If Adu chooses to play for Ghana I hope he realizes that he will have to travel to Africa for all of their qualifiers, not to mention that he will be persona non grata in the States and will also likely lose millions in endorsements. I don't see him playing for Ghana.

Since he plays in europe eventually, I guess that would be a shorter travel.

 

[Stout]

I don't think Adu has much of a choice, he already has 1 cap for the US I believe. He came in late during a warm-up match...unless for some reason it wasn't a full international.

Nope. Freddy Adu has not been capped for the US at all, ever. He came into an early camp but didn't even stay for long. This issue was discussed on XM 148 the other day. I don't remember who the two guys were, but they argued a lot about Adu. One guy said he was too young, didn't desere a place at all, even in friendlies, and that he refused to blame Arena for not getting Adu capped. I see the point that he was not indeed ready, but we have been idiotic...I repeat, idiotic, not to cap this kid. We have NO EXCUSE for not securing his services by capping him in one meaningless friendly match. The other guy was saying the same, and really ripping the US team for it, and rightly so.

 

[Zeno]

Adu played late versus Canada--that uninspired 0-0 draw in San Diego a few months back. But it wasn't recognized as an international--not sure why.

Here is from an article...

>Freddy Adu: Besides making history as the youngest player ever to earn a cap, Freddy had one spectacular move in the midfield to shake his mark, earning applause from the crowd. He also went down poorly in the box, earning a yellow card from referee Benito Archundia. Though Arena admitted that Adu would not have seen the field that day if it were not for Johnson's injury, the coach allowed that the prodigy "did fine" in his ten minutes of action. <

Even though it said he earned a cap, he didn't because it was not an official international.

 

[Renz]

IMO, this is all much "adu" about nothing. :rimshot:

Honestly, what are the advantages of going to play for Ghana? Adu has lived in the US since he was 8. His family is here. I don't see it happening at all.

If he wanted to play for Ghana he could have joined their squad this year and played in the World Cup.

 

[Stout]

Adu played late versus Canada--that uninspired 0-0 draw in San Diego a few months back. But it wasn't recognized as an international--not sure why.

Here is from an article...

>Freddy Adu: Besides making history as the youngest player ever to earn a cap, Freddy had one spectacular move in the midfield to shake his mark, earning applause from the crowd. He also went down poorly in the box, earning a yellow card from referee Benito Archundia. Though Arena admitted that Adu would not have seen the field that day if it were not for Johnson's injury, the coach allowed that the prodigy "did fine" in his ten minutes of action. <

Even though it said he earned a cap, he didn't because it was not an official international.

Interesting. Not sure how we played Canada without it even being an international friendly. The things you learn every day...

 

[Stout]

IMO, this is all much "adu" about nothing. :rimshot:

Honestly, what are the advantages of going to play for Ghana? Adu has lived in the US since he was 8. His family is here. I don't see it happening at all.

If he wanted to play for Ghana he could have joined their squad this year and played in the World Cup.

Well, he probably wouldn't have sniffed the field for Ghana this time around. And, guess what? Ghana is light-years better than the US right now, and until we change some internal issues, will continue to be better. They're called the Brazil of Africa. I think we're in trouble, but I hope he stays with us.

 

[Renz]

Well, he probably wouldn't have sniffed the field for Ghana this time around. And, guess what? Ghana is light-years better than the US right now, and until we change some internal issues, will continue to be better. They're called the Brazil of Africa. I think we're in trouble, but I hope he stays with us.

I'd like him to stay, but I won't lose any sleep over it. IMO he is talented, but waaaay over-hyped. If he was as great as he thinks he is he would be tearing up MLS and he's not. True, he's only 16 but his stats so far this season with DC United are:

Shots - 32 (most on the team)
Shots on goal - 17 (3rd on the team)
Goals - 0 (tied for 11th)

He's also nuts if he thinks he's going to go to a club like Chelsea or Man. Utd. this January and see the field. He could play for their reserves, but I don't see him accepting that kind of role.

PS - The match against Canada when Adu played wasn't sanctioned by FIFA. That's why it didn't count as an official CAP.

 

[Stout]

I'd like him to stay, but I won't lose any sleep over it. IMO he is talented, but waaaay over-hyped. If he was as great as he thinks he is he would be tearing up MLS and he's not. True, he's only 16 but his stats so far this season with DC United are:

Shots - 32 (most on the team)
Shots on goal - 17 (3rd on the team)
Goals - 0 (tied for 11th)

He's also nuts if he thinks he's going to go to a club like Chelsea or Man. Utd. this January and see the field. He could play for their reserves, but I don't see him accepting that kind of role.

PS - The match against Canada when Adu played wasn't sanctioned by FIFA. That's why it didn't count as an official CAP.

Well, I hope the U.S. soccer officials feel much, much more urgency than you do. He is a major talent. Does he have question marks? Sure, but WHO THE HELL CARES? If we find talent here, we absolutely need to cultivate it, because we're so thin in talent at the national level. Adu is most definitely a special talent. Everybody in the world agrees. I'm not sure which clubs they have been, but I've heard on the radio that major European clubs have already bid for his services and have been rebuffed. So he needs an attitude adjustment? So get the right coach, not just for Adu, but for our team.

 

[Renz]

Well, he probably wouldn't have sniffed the field for Ghana this time around. And, guess what? Ghana is light-years better than the US right now, and until we change some internal issues, will continue to be better. They're called the Brazil of Africa. I think we're in trouble, but I hope he stays with us.

Wow. I think your disappointment is blurring your objectivity. The US loses 2-1 to Ghana on a B.S. penalty kick and they are "light years" ahead of us? That match was remarkably even. Possession was almost exactly 50/50 and both teams had 11 shots, 3 on target. The US won 6 corners to Ghana's 2.

In the 2006 African Cup of Nations, Ghana didn't even get out of the group stages. They are definitely peaking at the right time, but to say that Ghana is all of a sudden some sort of world powerhouse is more than a bit premature.

The US has been to five straight WC finals. Ghana has qualified once. If you look at the financial resources and facilities available to the US vs Ghana, IMO the US will have a much stronger squad than Ghana by 2010.

I think Ghana will have a tough time even qualifying for the next World Cup. South Africa, as host nation, is all ready guaranteed a slot and I look for traditional international powers Cameroon, Nigeria, Tunisia and Senegal to be better than Ghana and also Ivory Coast. Africa only gets five slots total.

 

[Stout]

Wow. I think your disappointment is blurring your objectivity. The US loses 2-1 to Ghana on a B.S. penalty kick and they are "light years" ahead of us? That match was remarkably even. Possession was almost exactly 50/50 and both teams had 11 shots, 3 on target. The US won 6 corners to Ghana's 2.

In the 2006 African Cup of Nations, Ghana didn't even get out of the group stages. They are definitely peaking at the right time, but to say that Ghana is all of a sudden some sort of world powerhouse is more than a bit premature.

The US has been to five straight WC finals. Ghana has qualified once. If you look at the financial resources and facilities available to the US vs Ghana, IMO the US will have a much stronger squad than Ghana by 2010.

I think Ghana will have a tough time even qualifying for the next World Cup. South Africa, as host nation, is all ready guaranteed a slot and I look for traditional international powers Cameroon, Nigeria, Tunisia and Senegal to be better than Ghana and also Ivory Coast. Africa only gets five slots total.

First, did you watch the game? We showed almost no desire to win. Ghana didn't have a top game either. Yet Ghana did exactly what they had to do to advance WITHOUT the BS call. They needed a draw, and they got it. They were CLEARLY the better team. Statistics mean very little when they advance and we don't.

I'll make my argument quite simple. Who would you rather play with, guys like:

Michael Essien, Chelsea

or

Landon Donovan, L.A.


Yeah, we have a few players over in Europe, but we do not have the quality of players that Ghana has. Put simply, the past means nothing at this point...which team has the better future? I'd love to say we do, but that's certainly not 100 percent. More importantly, what does Freddy want? He feels slighted by the US, and Ghana most certainly would have at least capped him if he declared for them. Unless we cap him, and fast, he might just bolt.

 

[dogpoo32]

First, did you watch the game? We showed almost no desire to win. Ghana didn't have a top game either. Yet Ghana did exactly what they had to do to advance WITHOUT the BS call. They needed a draw, and they got it. They were CLEARLY the better team. Statistics mean very little when they advance and we don't.

I'll make my argument quite simple. Who would you rather play with, guys like:

Michael Essien, Chelsea

or

Landon Donovan, L.A.


Yeah, we have a few players over in Europe, but we do not have the quality of players that Ghana has. Put simply, the past means nothing at this point...which team has the better future? I'd love to say we do, but that's certainly not 100 percent. More importantly, what does Freddy want? He feels slighted by the US, and Ghana most certainly would have at least capped him if he declared for them. Unless we cap him, and fast, he might just bolt.

I still think money talks, and especially to the yungens. If he went to play for Ghana, like many have said already, he would lose out on a ton of endorsement money. I think that will be enough to get him to play for the US.

 

[Zeno]

As far as Adu goes don't discount his mothers influence. They won an immigration lottery to get to the US, she turned down nearly a quarter of a million $$ to sign with AC Milan's youth academy when Freddy was like 11 yrs old (he attended a tournament in Europe and impressed Milan scouts). At the time she was a cashier at Home Depot--she said she didn't win a lottery to get to the United States only to leave a few short years later. She honestly is grateful to be in the US and is very appreciative and from what I hear is just as happy to be out of Ghana as to be in the US.

 

[Zeno]

Good ESPN.COm article on 2010 team...

Now the second-guessing begins in earnest. Hindsight is 20/20 and post-World Cup manager is very much analogous to the NFL's version of Monday morning quarterback. What the U.S. should've, could've and would've done is now the topic de jour and also a moot point. Looking forward is all that will salve and heal these wounds.

Running from the past and looking ahead is what Argentina did in 2002 after its worst World Cup in over 50 years. That's what the Netherlands has done after missing out entirely on Korea/Japan. Many people forget England didn't qualify for USA '94. And those are just recent examples of traditional soccer powers throughout World Cup history who have all felt the pain of a disastrous World Cup.

That said, there are several questions surrounding the U.S. team's future and the most important revolves around coach Bruce Arena.

At Arena's post-World Cup presser, he carefully danced around the "R" word, "resign." U.S. soccer has till December, when Arena's contract expires, to either re-hire or fire Arena and find a replacement. For Sunil Gulati, U.S. soccer's newly elected president, this is the most important issue on the agenda. In fact, it is the only urgent item on his to do list.

There's strong sentiment that the U.S. needs another American coach.

There's strong sentiment that they need a foreign-born coach who has been successful as a player and coach at the highest international levels such as Juergen Klinsman. My sentiment is to find the best coach for the job regardless the orgin of the passport. Arena will go down as the best U.S. soccer coach ever but maybe not the most important.

As the years go by we will look back at the 2002 World Cup quarterfinal squad's achievement as one of the best ever and give the team its proper respect.

However, I have always contended Bob Gansler's heroics taking a bunch of college kids to Italia '90 is one of the most underrated achievements in U.S. sports history. What Bora Multininovic did in USA '94, infusing confidence and self-belief, -- to steal a page from Tom Brokaw -- in 'America's greatest soccer generation' was phenomenal and the catalyst for U.S. soccer's ascension to respectability.

Save the gallant U.S. effort against Italy, the team never played well. Not as well as they played in 2002 or even more recently thru CONCACAF qualifying. However, they played very much like they did during the three friendlies leading up to the World Cup and in Germany, consistent in their inconsistencies. Arena's party line before the Cup was, "no excuses" and there aren't any. So where does the team go from here?

Both the coaching staff and the players have to absorb and share the blame.

However, looking ahead to 2010 there are very good pieces in place.

Despite what one may think of their World Cup performances, Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey, DaMarcus Beasley, ***** Onyewu and Bobby Convey will continue to be key players for the United States.

The core group players, whether in MLS or abroad, need to maintain a high level of play in training day in and day out in an environment where competition for places is intense and unforgiving, or else the United States will atrophy.

With the help of Jason Saghini, Major League Soccer's version of Mel Kiper Jr., I compiled an unofficial player pool list for the 2010 World Cup.

Goalkeepers: Tim Howard, Brad Guzan, Steve Cronin, Zack Westberg

Defenders: Carlos Bocanegra, ***** Onyewu, Cory Gibbs, Jonathan Spector, Heath Pearce, Zak Whitbread, Hunter Freeman, Nathan Sturgis, Marvell Wynne, Ugo Ihemelu, Kevin Goldthwaite, Jose Burciaga, Jr.

Midfielders: Bobby Convey, DaMarcus Beasley, Landon Donovan, Lee Nguyen, Clint Dempsey, Michael Bradley, Benny Feilhaber, Pat Noonan, Ricardo Clark, Justin Mapp, Danny Szetela, Eddie Gaven, Freddy Adu, Danny O'Rourke, Quavas Kirk, Logan Pause, Sacha Kljestan, Brian Carroll, Dax McCarty, David Arvizu, Clyde Simms

Forwards: Kenny Cooper, Eddie Johnson, Edson Buddle, Jamel Johnson, Chad Barrett, Chris Rolfe, Josmer Altidore, Nate Jaqua.

There's more than enough room for improvement and I'm confident the U.S. team will bounce back just as it did in 2002 after being the butt of international soccer jokes after finishing last in France '98.

I'm putting good money behind U.S. soccer futures, it's still a good investment.

 

[Zeno]

Another article about 2010 team...

23 TICKETS TO SOUTH AFRICA
Yanks Abroad Monday, July 10, 2006

The long wait until World Cup 2010 has already begun for Red, White & Blue supporters, but YA has no intention of waiting to handicap the field for the South Africa sweepstakes.

With coach (fill in the blanks)'s roster deadline only 45 months away, we felt it best to start rating everyone's roster chances as soon as possible. Of course, we will continue to update our airplane manifest as the tournament approaches.

We begin the new four-year cycle with our staff predicting 11 holdovers from this summer's squad, including two-time participants DaMarcus Beasley and Landon Donovan.

At the other end of the spectrum, only three as-of-yet uncapped players got the inaugural nod: Kenny Cooper, Benny Feilhaber and Marvell Wynne.

Just to clarify: since this is officially our first 23 Tickets for World Cup 2010, we will use the "MOVING UP" category in this edition to spotlight some of the guys that finished just outside the team in our balloting.

As always, we welcome your feedback in the YA mailbag.

PACK YOUR BAGS, BOYS

Oguchi Onyewu - D, Standard Liege (Belgium)Moving to a bigger club will certainly help his development, but he must remain a consistent starter. (RF) The experience the big man gets over the next four years will elevate him to a world class level. (MF)

Bobby Convey - M, Reading (England)Bobbinho will be in his prime. (CW) I'm still trying to figure out why he wasn't a lock for every minute of THIS World Cup. (NT)

Clint Dempsey - M, New England Revolution (USA) The real face of the future of American Soccer: versatile, enthusiastic, spastic and loads of resolve. (AG) He needs to move to Europe soon. (PK)

Tim Howard - GK, Everton (England) The only top tier guy we have who will be in his prime in 2010 - if he isn't a lock, we're in DEEP trouble. (NT) Timmy should get his game straightened out under David Moyes. (GS)

Jonathan Spector - D, West Ham United (England) Can play multiple positions and will likely have multiple years of European competitions on his resume given West Ham's rapid rise. The only question is where he'll play for the US in 2010. (NT)

Cory Gibbs - D, Charlton Athletic (England) He'll be there if his knees hold out; not a better man marker do we have. (MF) The perfect companion to Onyewu in the middle. (AG) His absence dearly cost the team in Germany. (GS)

NEARLY A LOCK
Heath Pearce - D/M, FC Nordsjælland (Denmark)Young wingback with loads of pace, a move to a bigger club is possible and will help him tremendously. (RF) Come 2010, there won't be any left back concerns. (GS)

Freddy Adu - M/F, DC United (USA)Has been the most skilled American player for three years. Needs to get the hell out of Dodge, but not to Chelsea. Yet. A starter in 2010. The question is: Will it be for the US or Ghana? (CW)

Landon Donovan - M/F, Los Angeles Galaxy (USA)He SHOULD be a lock, but he has to sort out his MLS comfort level issues first. (PK) Remember, the next coach will probably not be American, meaning he won't have vested interest in Donovan's "Golden Boy" status. (NT)

Steve Cherundolo - D, Hannover 96 (Germany) Steve could be captain in four years, but I still look forward to a bit more competition at this position. (HK)

DaMarcus Beasley - M/F, PSV Eindhoven (Holland) My shred of doubt isn't so much tied to his form slump; I think da Bease will be just fine (although maybe not under Ronald Koeman). However, the left side of the field only gets more crowded this cycle. (GS)

FAIRLY SAFE BET

Eddie Johnson - F, Kansas City Wizards (USA) With McBride too old for 2010, Eddie becomes our best attacking option... he just needs to fulfill his potential. (PK) Please make me a believer. (HK)

Benny Feilhaber - M, Hamburg SV (Am) (Germany) It might have flown under radar, but the progress he made on the Regionalliga Nord goat tracks this past season was remarkable. Next stop: the pristine pasture of Hamburg's AOL Arena. (HK)

IN A BATTLE

Jay DeMerit - D, Watford (England) We could have used his spirit, and one of those demon spawn crashing headers in Germany. (GS) I haven't heard Jay say he'll be there yet, but as soon as he does, I move him to LOCK! (MF)

Marcus Hahnemann - GK, Reading (England) Will be a backup again, but will still be the only person who can fix and protect the team bus. (HK) He will be the old pro in South Africa. (PK)

Conor Casey - F, Mainz 05 (Germany)Should have been there this time. (CW) Hopefully, he will turn into a true forward - meaning consistent production. (MF)

Carlos Bocanegra - D, Fulham (England) Steps it up for the 'Nats. Period. (MF) Wouldn't it be nice if Chris Coleman just left 'Los in the middle and got him a real partner? Just think of how good he could be if he wasn't always covering for Zat Knight. (GS)

Michael Bradley - M, Heerenveen (Holland)Obviously, there's a lot of projection involved here, but he's ahead of the competition to claim a spot. (NT) Now that he's wet his US feet, Bradley should play a more assertive game in Heerenveen this season. (GS)

DARK HORSE

Marvell Wynne - D, New York (USA) Straight out of a comic book, this athletically intimidating game reader has the potential to be a superstar if he can learn to cross dangerously and solidify his technical skills. (GS)

Chris Rolfe - F, Chicago Fire (USA) Speedy player that could make for a great super sub to cause confusion in the opponent's defense. (AG) The kid works hard and will get even more savvy around the area. (GS)

Kenny Cooper - F, FC Dallas 96 (USA) We need this guy to be as good as Manchester thought he was. (MF) Amazingly quick on the ball for his size. (RF) After a year or two in MLS, you have to think he will be back in Europe. (NT)

Todd Dunivant - D, New York (USA) While not as naturally gifted as Pearce, he should help push the early favorite to be his best - and vice versa. (GS) In four years, will be one of the few MLS-based players on the roster. (HK)

Brad Guzan - GK, CD Chivas (USA)The common wisdom is that he has the talent to grow into a prominent role with the National Team. (NT) A sophomore slump has him on the bench, but he'll shake it off. (RF)

MOVING UP

Chad Barrett - Ladies and gentleman, meet your new Brian McBride. He does all the little things, plays his heart out and draws my money to make the South Africa squad. (GS)

Chad Marshall - Has talented players ahead of him, a move to Europe soon would be good. Excellent size and reads the game well. (RF)

Lee Nguyen - Guus Hiddink sees something in him and as a result, so do I. (HK) Our 2010 bolt of lightning off the bench? Could very well be after a good spell with PSV. (GS)

Justin Mapp - Could be a star, it's just a matter of containing that talented left foot and speed. (RF)

Taylor Twellman - The Revs gunner just missed out this time, and has too much moxy to be counted out for 2010. (GS)

Eddie Gaven - Hasn't really bloomed as people have expected in MLS, but is still very young and oozes with potential. (AG)

Santino Quaranta - Hard to believe he's STILL only 21. There is undoubted talent, size, and speed... now, can he stay healthy and start to bring all of his skills together? (NT)

Ricardo Clark - With all of our central midfielders either gone or approaching 30, he could be the one to lead the next generation of US field generals. (GS)

OTHER BUBBLE BATTLERS

Josmer Altidore, David Arvizu, Nikolas Besagno, Adin Brown, Edson Buddle, Jose Burciarga Jr., Jon Busch, Danny Califf, Joe Cannon, Brad Davis, Alecko Eskandarian, Hunter Freeman, Rodrigo Hidalgo, Nate Jaqua, Will John, Quavas Kirk, Sacha Kljestan, Kyle Martino, Pablo Mastroeni, Mike Magee, Kyle Nakazawa, Pat Noonan, John O'Brien, Robbie Russell, Ofori Sarkodie, Matt Reis, Frankie Simek, Danny Szetela, Quentin Westberg, Tim Ward, Zak Whitbread, David Yelldell, Joe Zewe, Preston Zimmerman

note: Yanks Abroad's Rich Fidler, Mark Flannery, Aaron Gidding, Harris King, Peter Kratzel, Greg Seltzer, Neal Thurman and Chad Winger contributed to this feature

 

[Chaplin]

Klinsmann resigned today from Germany. Wonder if the US will approach him?

 

[Renz]

Klinsmann resigned today from Germany. Wonder if the US will approach him?

Man, I hope he becomes the US coach.

 

[CaptTurbo]

FRANKFURT, Germany -- Juergen Klinsmann, who coached Germany to a third-place finish at the World Cup last week, is stepping down, the co-president of the German soccer federation said early Wednesday.

"I regret his decision, but we have to accept it," Gerhard Mayer-Vorfelder said.

The mass-circulation Bild newspaper and the Sueddeutsche Zeitung first reported in their Wednesday editions that Klinsmann wouldn't extend his contract that ended with the World Cup.

Klinsmann called German soccer federation (DFB) co-president Theo Zwanziger and national team manager Oliver Bierhoff to tell them that he would not be staying in the job, the papers reported.

DFB spokesman Harald Stenger confirmed that Klinsmann had called Zwanziger and Bierhoff but would not disclose the details of the conversation.

The newspapers said Klinsmann's assistant Joachim Loew was the likely successor.

Klinsmann's rejuvenated team went beyond expectations by finishing third, after losing to eventual champion Italy 2-0 in the semifinals.

Klinsmann, 41, had no previous coaching experience when he took over an ailing German squad two years ago.

After Germany beat Portugal 3-1 to take third place, Klinsmann said he would think about his future over the next few days and consult with his California-based family.