Freddy Adu leaving MLS for Portugal

[G. Keenan]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/s ... ml?cnn=yes

Kind of sucks.

[thrill]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/s ... ml?cnn=yes

Kind of sucks.

Benfica is a great fit for Freddy if he works hard for minutes. They develop young attacking players better than just about anyone, and the decreased physicality of the league will be beneficial to Freddy, also having more skilled teammates to complement his skills will do wonders.

For MLS this is a small loss, but for American soccer overall, this is a great move.

[G. Keenan]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/s ... ml?cnn=yes

Kind of sucks.

Benfica is a great fit for Freddy if he works hard for minutes. They develop young attacking players better than just about anyone, and the decreased physicality of the league will be beneficial to Freddy, also having more skilled teammates to complement his skills will do wonders.

For MLS this is a small loss, but for American soccer overall, this is a great move.

So you're saying it's a chance for Adu to improve and shine on the international stage and boost the reputation of American players?

Doesn't it suck for MLS though if they can't keep young talent in their league, and are just the league for aging vets and former stars?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/s ... ml?cnn=yes

Kind of sucks.

Benfica is a great fit for Freddy if he works hard for minutes. They develop young attacking players better than just about anyone, and the decreased physicality of the league will be beneficial to Freddy, also having more skilled teammates to complement his skills will do wonders.

For MLS this is a small loss, but for American soccer overall, this is a great move.

So you're saying it's a chance for Adu to improve and shine on the international stage and boost the reputation of American players?

Doesn't it suck for MLS though if they can't keep young talent in their league, and are just the league for aging vets and former stars?

MLS has about 100 years of catching up to do with European leagues. Until the all around level of play in MLS gets raised to a certain level(through foreign players coming here and an increase in the volume of US born talent), it's much more worthwhile to send our best overseas. That way they develop to their potential, and the National Team doesn't have to suffer from a (comparably) fledgling development league.

[Michael]

How good is Freddy Adu? Is he one of the best prospects in the world or is he only elite by U.S. standards?

[Radio_Bugtussle]

Good for him.

Adu needs to play against people who will push him.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

How good is Freddy Adu? Is he one of the best prospects in the world or is he only elite by U.S. standards?

He's elite by US standards, and depending on how much he develops, he could be elite by world standards. He was pretty much controlling the field in the U-20 World Cup.

[thrill]

How good is Freddy Adu? Is he one of the best prospects in the world or is he only elite by U.S. standards?

He's elite by US standards, and depending on how much he develops, he could be elite by world standards. He was pretty much controlling the field in the U-20 World Cup.

That's the thing. He hasn't had a chance to play on the senior national team (I think he maybe has one cap) so we don't know where he stands there, and the MLS was just not a good fit for him. Like TT said, at u-20 world cup, he was definitely one of the best and certainly most creative, skilled players. This move to Benfica will help take him to the next level where in the next 3 years he could develop into an elite player by the time the '10 World Cup comes around.

[Jocephus]

i remember kornheiser and wilbon going nuts over him for awhile

[thrill]

i remember kornheiser and wilbon going nuts over him for awhile

Adu too.

OH SNAP