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Counterattack: Should Freddy Adu Start in the Hex?
A new weekly debate feature debuts with a look at both sides of the Freddy Adu development situation. On one hand, Adu seems ready for a more active role, on the other hand, the task of qualifying for the World Cup would seem to be the more important priority.
Dec 4, 2008 10:02:40 AM
Welcome to Counterattack, where two different sides take shots on a hot topic. Decide whose points are worthy of a score, and
whose premise was defended well.
In our first installment, Andrea Canales of the Canales Daily and Zac Lee Rigg of Rigg's Replays square off on the question of how much responsibility should be placed on the shoulders of talented young midfielder Freddy Adu.
THE QUESTION: Should Freddy Adu start for the U.S. in the hexagonal round of World Cup qualifying?
Andrea Canales: Oh, please. Being in a commercial with Pele years ago is fine, but that doesn't mean that Freddy should be anything other than a complementary component during the final round of qualifying. He has yet to prove himself on a consistent basis and World Cup qualifying is too important to risk on the leadership of youngsters. That's what they need to develop.
Zac Lee Rigg: My apologies if you are biased due to a commercial years ago. The rest of us have been busy watching Adu develop into the most talented attacker in America with the vision to control and change a game and the finesse to look good while doing it. Qualifying needs to be given to the squad with the best chance of succeeding in South Africa, and Freddy Adu tops that particular list
Canales: The same Freddy Adu who can't break into Monaco's starting side? What kind of precedent does that send to all the National Team players to hand the offense over to a player who isn't even completely match fit?
Rigg: This is America, not Brazil. We can't spend time being picky about transient details like Adu's starting status at a club that doesn't yet trust his skills. Fact of the matter is, none of the other attackers in the US lineup would be near starting for Monaco either. It's a gamble on our best players coming through, a gamble aimed at getting us as far into the WC as possible, instead of settling for crashing out in the group stages.
Canales: Huh, so it's a good idea to instead gamble at even making it to the World Cup tournament itself? The youngsters didn't do so well against Trinidad and Tobago. Freddy has faltered at every major international tournament at the youth level. He'll have great games, and then he'll go flat. When CONCACAF teams like Mexico are qualifying for the Hex simply because Jamaica can't score more goals in their final game, it's the height of arrogance for the U.S. to treat the Hex as a foregone conclusion to get Freddy the training time he's not getting with his club. It's the kind of thing that could definitely bite the U.S. in the butt.
Rigg: Mexico are busy building for the future, and in that regard we are falling behind. The current crop of young talent we have coming through are handily more talented than our present generation. We should be doing all we can to coax that potential out of its shell, not only to stay top dog in CONCACAF, but to finally compete on the world stage.
Canales: That's exactly why Freddy has to earn it, and frankly, so far, he hasn't done that. He needs to fight his way onto the starting lineup at Monaco. He needs to really impact the national games he's a part of. That's the precedent that Bob Bradley has to go with - everybody earns it. Nothing is given just because the U.S hopes for better in the future.
Rigg: That's just the thing. Against Spain and Guatemala, Adu has proved he can make a sparkling impact. In most of the rest of the games we are relegated to being a set-piece team. With Adu in there, we still have that threat, but also a truly dangerous attack from open play.
Canales: Notice that in both those matches, there was absolutely no real pressure on Adu or the U.S. team. It's fine and all to have nice performances when it's a friendly or a meaningless-already-qualified-final-group game. It's easy to look good when not much is on the line. Those are exactly where Adu belongs right now. He has to prove otherwise first.
Rigg: And that's exactly what I'm asking. I want Adu to be given a chance to prove that he can bring his obviously greater skill to the table in meaningful matches. He is rarely given a chance in games that matter by an ultra-conservative and myopic Bradley. It's time to unleash our biggest weapon instead of babying it.
Canales: I'm all for Bradley being more aggressive. I'd really like to see the lone striker formation die unless the team goes a man down, or something, but I see a move to Adu as midfield general at this time as one which could backfire. Frankly, giving Adu the keys to the offense is the ultimate babying move. It's making it too easy for him in terms of his not having earned it yet, and yet it's also making it too hard for him, because qualifying for the World Cup is very important, and that's too much pressure to put on a young player like Adu. If he crumbles under the strain, or commits a stupid defensive mistake like he is prone to at times, he may never regain the confidence his game really needs to thrive.
Rigg: Confidence is the charge of the management team. They need to let Adu know that a simple defensive mistake won't cost him a place, as it has so many times in the past. Giving Adu the freedom to do what he needs to is the only way to fully tap into his offensive potential. Qualifying is important, and the way to do that is to play your best players at their full capabilities.
Counterattack runs every Thursday on Goal.com USA.
In our first installment, Andrea Canales of the Canales Daily and Zac Lee Rigg of Rigg's Replays square off on the question of how much responsibility should be placed on the shoulders of talented young midfielder Freddy Adu.
THE QUESTION: Should Freddy Adu start for the U.S. in the hexagonal round of World Cup qualifying?
Andrea Canales: Oh, please. Being in a commercial with Pele years ago is fine, but that doesn't mean that Freddy should be anything other than a complementary component during the final round of qualifying. He has yet to prove himself on a consistent basis and World Cup qualifying is too important to risk on the leadership of youngsters. That's what they need to develop.
Zac Lee Rigg: My apologies if you are biased due to a commercial years ago. The rest of us have been busy watching Adu develop into the most talented attacker in America with the vision to control and change a game and the finesse to look good while doing it. Qualifying needs to be given to the squad with the best chance of succeeding in South Africa, and Freddy Adu tops that particular list
Canales: The same Freddy Adu who can't break into Monaco's starting side? What kind of precedent does that send to all the National Team players to hand the offense over to a player who isn't even completely match fit?
Rigg: This is America, not Brazil. We can't spend time being picky about transient details like Adu's starting status at a club that doesn't yet trust his skills. Fact of the matter is, none of the other attackers in the US lineup would be near starting for Monaco either. It's a gamble on our best players coming through, a gamble aimed at getting us as far into the WC as possible, instead of settling for crashing out in the group stages.
Canales: Huh, so it's a good idea to instead gamble at even making it to the World Cup tournament itself? The youngsters didn't do so well against Trinidad and Tobago. Freddy has faltered at every major international tournament at the youth level. He'll have great games, and then he'll go flat. When CONCACAF teams like Mexico are qualifying for the Hex simply because Jamaica can't score more goals in their final game, it's the height of arrogance for the U.S. to treat the Hex as a foregone conclusion to get Freddy the training time he's not getting with his club. It's the kind of thing that could definitely bite the U.S. in the butt.
Rigg: Mexico are busy building for the future, and in that regard we are falling behind. The current crop of young talent we have coming through are handily more talented than our present generation. We should be doing all we can to coax that potential out of its shell, not only to stay top dog in CONCACAF, but to finally compete on the world stage.
Canales: That's exactly why Freddy has to earn it, and frankly, so far, he hasn't done that. He needs to fight his way onto the starting lineup at Monaco. He needs to really impact the national games he's a part of. That's the precedent that Bob Bradley has to go with - everybody earns it. Nothing is given just because the U.S hopes for better in the future.
Rigg: That's just the thing. Against Spain and Guatemala, Adu has proved he can make a sparkling impact. In most of the rest of the games we are relegated to being a set-piece team. With Adu in there, we still have that threat, but also a truly dangerous attack from open play.
Canales: Notice that in both those matches, there was absolutely no real pressure on Adu or the U.S. team. It's fine and all to have nice performances when it's a friendly or a meaningless-already-qualified-final-group game. It's easy to look good when not much is on the line. Those are exactly where Adu belongs right now. He has to prove otherwise first.
Rigg: And that's exactly what I'm asking. I want Adu to be given a chance to prove that he can bring his obviously greater skill to the table in meaningful matches. He is rarely given a chance in games that matter by an ultra-conservative and myopic Bradley. It's time to unleash our biggest weapon instead of babying it.
Canales: I'm all for Bradley being more aggressive. I'd really like to see the lone striker formation die unless the team goes a man down, or something, but I see a move to Adu as midfield general at this time as one which could backfire. Frankly, giving Adu the keys to the offense is the ultimate babying move. It's making it too easy for him in terms of his not having earned it yet, and yet it's also making it too hard for him, because qualifying for the World Cup is very important, and that's too much pressure to put on a young player like Adu. If he crumbles under the strain, or commits a stupid defensive mistake like he is prone to at times, he may never regain the confidence his game really needs to thrive.
Rigg: Confidence is the charge of the management team. They need to let Adu know that a simple defensive mistake won't cost him a place, as it has so many times in the past. Giving Adu the freedom to do what he needs to is the only way to fully tap into his offensive potential. Qualifying is important, and the way to do that is to play your best players at their full capabilities.
Counterattack runs every Thursday on Goal.com USA.
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