[AMERICANS ABROAD] Freddy Adu is in Switzerland for a tryout with Swiss club FC Sion following the latest setback in hisEuropean career. The 21-year-old American no longer fits in the plans of Argentine coach Hector Cuper at Greek club Aris, his fourth club since moving to Europethree years ago.
FC Sion Sportchef Fredy Chassot
Adu arrived at Aris in January on loan from Benficaafter a loan spell at Belenenses last fall did not pan out. Cuper hoped Adu would be the answer on the left wing, but the American scored only one goal and played sparingly.
He wasn’tincluded in Aris’ squad for its preseason camp in Austria. Aris opens its season Thursday at Jagiellonia Białystok in the Europa League.
Benfica signed Adu from Real Salt Lake followingthe 2007 Under-20 World Cup. In his first season in Lisbon and second year on loan at French club Monaco, his playing time dwindled quickly.
ADU’SCLUBS:
YEAR TEAM GP G
2004 D.C. United 30-5
2005 D.C. United 25-4
2006 D.C. United 32-2
2007 Real Salt Lake 11-1
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2007-08 Benfica 11-2
2008-09 Monaco 9-0
2009-10 Belenenses 3-0
2010 Aris 9-1
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)?
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)?
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.
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.
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.