Freddy's career seems to be going down in flames...so question: is Freddy just not good enough for the top levels (we were wrong) or has he squandered his opportunities (head case)?

Richard: I've followed Freddy's career ever since I saw him in a tournament in SoCalif. In my humble opinion and in answer to your question, no he has not squandered his opportunities, and yes he is very good. As to "we were wrong" no we weren't; and as for being a "head case?" the only ones with a head case were the people that used him to the nth degree, his managers and advisers who only see the perennial money signs "dancing over their greedy heads," that plus his first MLS Coach who did not give the necessary opportunity to continue his development i.e. sufficient playing time, followed by his being sold to European teams, etc. There is still time for him to be brought home and "groomed" yet again, but MLS and US Soccer must see to it that he is properly advised and "managed," (for lack of a better term. My advise to him is to be persistent and persevere, and lastly do your very best and Good Luck Freddy in your newest endeavor!

I saw him play for the first time when he was 14 with the U17s in Lancaster v. Mexico's U17s. I thought he was overrated then, and I still do. He was very good when he was dribbling 1 v 2, but then when Mexico sent only one defender at him and did not crowd him, he lacked ideas on the ball and did not know how to get his teammates involved. Off the ball, he was clueless. There was one time when a US mid was dribbling at him. Adu just froze and stood like a statue as the midfielder had to dribble around him and find other options. Also, just as today, he did not come across as a very hard worker, off the ball or on defense. I think he had good dribbling skills that show very well against players at his level and below. I think he dazzled with his juggling and that he has a pretty good left-footed shot. But he is not much of a soccer player. He can't be a center mid because he lacks the creative vision and work ethic. He can't be a wing if it calls for physical speed. He can't be a forward because his physical abilities to not make up for his lack of size, and he doesn't work hard enough for the ball. I think if he changed his work ethic, opportunities will open up for him. I could see him as a steady, hardworking winger for a team with a controlled attack. I can see him as a withdrawn forward for a team that plays the ball on the ground. But he needs to work for his teammates. He needs to learn the game.

He has been through a lot of teams and a lot of different managers, did anyone stop to think that maybe he is just lazy in training? It came too easy too early and he didn't develope good training habits.

Bob Olberding, good point! Has everyone forgotten just how he was "discovered?" and what happened to him from that point on? Did anyone ever bothered to take him under their wing and help him expand his playing repertoire, knowledge of the game, and inculcating into him a "work hard ethic"? It seems to me and many others, that every one from his youth coach to the men and youth national teams automatically assumed that he knew the game and thus was the second coming of Pele. There is also the psychological aspect of his growing up and maturity that has escaped him as I've seen it time and again: so-called "scouts" see a player with excellent skills, the parents who also play a significant role, then the so'called coaches who marvel at a players abilities. Then come the vultures to market with little bit of any well thought-out PR, and before one knows it, he's declared by the mass media as a new Pele, Chicharito, etc. And when the time comes to put out on the pitch, as in Freddy's case, not getting sufficient playing time in the MLS simply because the coach did not believe in letting younger players on the pitch and thus no playing time. Is it no wonder then, that people have lost "insight" on Freddy's current dilemma? All I can say, is HANG IN THERE FREDDY, HOPE SPRING ETERNAL!!