Black, Red, and Blue

If I ever wondered if Freddy-mania was still around, today answered the bell nicely. Two major Freddy stories are running in parallel. The first is the known Freddy Adu returning to DCU from USMNT camp thread. There's not much development, Steve Goff's reporting included, but an AP report went out which was echoed throughout the googleverse. My feelings on this are clear: Freddy is not the top option at a striker, Center Forward, Center Attacking Mid, or Left Attacking Midfield option. He may be second on those depth charts, and that may translate into more starting time, but I don't see him as starting every game. The second thread is the reemergence of Freddy going to Chelsea. The BBC is running with the story about a potential move to the Blues, and I'll share some of my thoughts at the bottom of this post.

The Playing Time Situation

Comments yesterday were interesting, but I want to answer the "Start him early because he has upside and those early games don't mean much anyways" argument. While this is a very valid way of thinking, and I could well imagine some on MLS trying it out, we're talking Piotr Nowak here. A man who consistently says "I put my best 11 out on a given week." Now, there's reason to think that Piotr doesn't adhere absolutley to his own rule here, but as a guiding principle it seems to be valid. So unless Freddy is on the top of the depth chart for a position, it is tough to see him involved at opening kick under Nowak's system. Which means that the tension over playing time may well escalate again. Now, Freddy has said all the right things recently, as has Nowak. And I don't think Freddy is insincere when he talks of being a team player. I'm sure he means every word. But I am still mindful that he is a teenager, and once the season starts and he finds himself coming off the bench again, his feelings may get the better of him. I'm ambiguous in my phrasing, because I don't know. Freddy may indeed get regular starting time, or if he doesn't he may be a model Nowak citizen. But the possibility for tension remains, and I think Bruce Arena has escalated the stakes with his comments dangling a USMNT position out there.

Does CFC spell ADU?

Now, as for the potential move to Chelsea. I don't think it happens soon, but I've long accepted that Freddy is eventually going overseas if he is truly to become a star. So I have no problems with talks going on, or the Blues expressing their interest, or Adu's agent talking about it in more than hypothetical terms. Fine. If Freddy goes, than DCU loses an asset, but should be well compensated by a in-turn well compensated MLS.

However, the transfers of various footballers is always a topic of discussion, much like the MLB hot-stove but all the time, not just the winter. This is only talk now, and until I see definate evidence that Mr. Adu has typed his name on an English work-permit application, this all seems like thin speculation. In terms of concern for Freddy, I wonder if Chelsea will develop his talent well. We know they can purchase talent. But Freddy needs development, in a way that Chelsea hasn't demonstrated they can do with the youth system they have now, let alone with a new American. That's not to say they can't do it, but rather that the evidence in my mind is inconclusive. Chelsea Blog's comments are fascinating here, as in two comments they neatly describe this dilemma. Yes, he's an amazing hot property, but yes, he's not better that Shawn Wright-Phillips at the moment. Can he push out of that and emerge in that system? Mike H. seems to have similar concerns, and a good parting thought.

UPDATE: As I see that this story is indeed large, I want to answer one argument being advanced. Deadspin summarizes a completley incorrect viewpoint as follows:

If Adu does come to Chelsea, the MLS will have secured the youngest, least productive years of Adu’s presumably long, distinguished career. Adu had no real memorable MLS moments and his time with DC United will surely be forgotten in five years, if not sooner. The MLS helped him develop (kind of), and then released him to the “real leagues.” That’s right: The MLS is the Montreal Expos of world soccer.

First, that's utterly wrong. Lest you forget, Freddy was a finalist for MLS Goal of the Year in 2005, and probably should have won over a direct free kick, however nifty DDR made it. MLS got a year of Freddy spiked ticket sales, and got a phenomenal goal out of him (his finish in LA wasn't too shabby either.) The fact has always been that Freddy ultimately was going to do more good for the US National Team than for MLS or any of its clubs. Always. It is a pure fact that to become a great player in his prime, he must go overseas. That does not make MLS foolish to have him here, to pay him here, as it cements the fact that this is a player for the USA who got his professional start in the USA. History is important, and MLS may have purchased a piece of it. Good for them.

Update 2: John from Pseudo Corner Kick pops into the comments to point out that DCU has officialy refuted the transfer rumor.