Freddy Adu

[paddy valentine]

I'll be there and am psyched as I missed most of last season while away on assignment.
 
 Again, it will be another season where I do not recognize the team on the pitch as the season starts.
 
 Cheers,
 paddy
 who is psyched to catch Dylan tonight at the 9:30

[mowglibush]

Regarding Michael Owen-- no disrespect meant towards MO.  He did not sign and play with the Liverpool premiership until he was 18.  He played with the England's U15 team when he was younger and then played as part of Liverpool's "club system".  That's what I meant.  I wasn't trying to disrespect English or European soccer by calling their D1, etc. minor league....

[mankie]

Originally posted by mowglibush:
  Regarding Michael Owen-- no disrespect meant towards MO.  He did not sign and play with the Liverpool premiership until he was 18.  He played with the England's U15 team when he was younger and then played as part of Liverpool's "club system".  That's what I meant.  I wasn't trying to disrespect English or European soccer by calling their D1, etc. minor league....

Okay, we'll let you off this time...don't Americanize the beautiful game by bringing in silly phrases like....minor league...Britain is already little America, at least let us keep our sports.
   

[brennser]

In Europe you have to 18 to play professionally

not to harp on this, but a bunch of players have played in the premiership well before their 18th birthdays, milner at leeds, rooney at everton etc, even going back to big norm for man u
 
 not sure if they are prohibited from signing a pro contract until they're 18

[Bags]

Originally posted by lily1:
  bags, what section you in? i'm in 231.

We're in sections 231 and 232!  So I'm sure I'll see you there...Is yours a season ticket?

[lily1]

very nice start to the season. and that second goal was beautiful.
 
 i'm so glad we have jaime moreno back. i just hope he stays injury free.
 
 freddy was ok. he's go skills, but his size and speed are going to need to increase to be able to hold his own this season and coming seasons.

[Bags]

Originally posted by lily1:
 freddy was ok. he's go skills, but his size and speed are going to need to increase to be able to hold his own this season and coming seasons.

Man, can you believe how tiny he looked out on that field?  
 
 Lily, do you have season tickets in section 231?  If so, we'll have to meet up during a game and share a beer!  [Well, not share, you know what I mean!]

[vansmack]

On TV it was a nightmare.
 
 They hyped it on ABC for weeks and then in the first 15 seconds they announced that he wasn't starting so everyone who tuned in to see him (mostly people who would probably not watch MLS) promptly changed the channel.
 
 MLS has their big chance to gain some new fans and they completely drop the ball.
 
 Anyhow, when he finally did come in (thank god for TiVo because the soccer was abysmal) he looked a little lost out there, trying to find the flow of the game.  But he was good for a 14 year old out there, but not quite worthy of the hype.  Yet.

[mankie]

14 is just far too young to be playing in that league, even in the girlie doodle league. Mind you, he could play for Arsenal after the way they bitched and moaned about the tackling on Saturday!!!
 
 If he is this protege that the hype says he is, he should be playing with his age group while being coached for the future. How old was Convey when he started?

<img src="http://idisk.mac.com/johnkamowski/Public/fearandjesus.jpg" alt=" - " />

[vansmack]

Originally posted by Bollocks:
  How old was Convey when he started?

He made his debut for DC United at 15.
 
 And he will likely be in the Premiership within 2 years, likely to Tottenham.

[mankie]

Originally posted by vansmack:
   

Originally posted by Bollocks:
  How old was Convey when he started?

He made his debut for DC United at 15.
 
 And he will likely be in the Premiership within 2 years, likely to Tottenham. [/b]

Why did they refuse his work permit earlier this year? That was weird.
 
 I just think starting players too young jeapordizes their career in the long run. Look at Owen, he wasn't really 'young' but he was small and he gets injured very easily now, and I think that's because they pushed him before his body had matured enough for that level. Rooney, as big as he is, (he's built like an ox) I think Everton have done the right thing by playing him relatively sparingly this season.

[vansmack]

Originally posted by Bollocks:
  Why did they refuse his work permit earlier this year? That was weird.
 
 I just think starting players too young jeapordizes their career in the long run. Look at Owen, he wasn't really 'young' but he was small and he gets injured very easily now, and I think that's because they pushed him before his body had matured enough for that level. Rooney, as big as he is, (he's built like an ox) I think Everton have done the right thing by playing him relatively sparingly this season.

I think it was because Tottenham were only going to use him for 4 months and then give him back to DC United for the MLS opener.
 
 Until MLS plays it's schedule the same as the rest of the world, this will be an ongoing problem.  Landon Donovan tried to go over to Portsmouth before the start of the MLS season, but FIFA changed the transfer rules for MLS players saying that if he went to England, he would not be able to transfer back until the August Transfer window, thus missing the majority of the MLS season.  The sad part is, I actually agree with FIFA on this one, though I would like to see more American's in England for development purposes.
 
 And you're spot on about the way Liverpool handled Owen in contrast to Everton's early handling of Rooney.  And England and Rooney will be the beneficiary in the future.  
 
 The difference in America is that (a) Bobby Convey (who was actually 16, my bad) was the most talented player for United at that position at that time and (b) MLS is in danger of going under and needs a hero now - enter the 14 year old phenom, Freddy Adu.  That doesn't make it right, mind you, I'm just letting you know why they did what they did.