US Under-17s vs. Man Utd Under-17s

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BillP

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I know this probably doesn't belong here, but the two sides are playing on Thursday at 2. Can anybody tell me where this game would be? I'm coming up from London to see Freddy Adu, the 14 year old next Pele that is supposed to be incredible for the US. Anybody have an idea where the game would be?
 
Check out this link for US U17 news.

<a href="http://www.ussoccer.com/home/default.sps" target="_blank">USSF</a>

This link has a good story on Adu.

<a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/us/" target="_blank">SI.com US Soccer </a>
 
BTW, the kid has United written all over him. I sure hope SAF and his brother are talking to him and will bring him in for a tryout this winter. Not sure if they can sign him since he does not turn 16 till 2005. However, they could bring him in a training apprenticeship, then loan him to the MLS. But I think the MLS want to sign him outright because in about 3-4 years, he will be worth about 8-15 million on a transfer fee. If United can sign him now, they can loan him for 3-4 years then bring him back when he's 17 or 18. This kid might be ready for PL action at 18. He's a good sized kid for his age. And will only get stronger and thicker.
 
Originally posted by MrMarcello:
<strong>BTW, the kid has United written all over him. I sure hope SAF and his brother are talking to him and will bring him in for a tryout this winter. Not sure if they can sign him since he does not turn 16 till 2005. However, they could bring him in a training apprenticeship, then loan him to the MLS. But I think the MLS want to sign him outright because in about 3-4 years, he will be worth about 8-15 million on a transfer fee. If United can sign him now, they can loan him for 3-4 years then bring him back when he's 17 or 18. This kid might be ready for PL action at 18. He's a good sized kid for his age. And will only get stronger and thicker.</strong><hr></blockquote>

How thick will he get, bit of a puzzle is that.
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Americans don't use "thick" like Brits. For us it means he's muscular, not stupid. It cracks me up how we speak the same language, but some words have very different meanings, like "Fag" or the phrase "I'm stuffed."
 
I was led to believe with the new Fifa rules, that a player has to play in his home country until the age of 18 as of now. Adu has to play in MLS, but I don't know if that means a team from overseas can't sign him, and loan him out for 3 years. Ya figure he will be busy with the U-21 team and the olympic squads. Both coaches seem to want him. That should finish him up through next summer. Then 3 years in MLS, then wherever.

I think MLS are going to be the only ones legally able to sign him. If he is smart, he will only take a 3 year deal, then be able to negotiate his own contract at 18. MLS might require 4, and then after year 3, there will be a bidding war.

Expect a minor bidding war for a MLS player named Carlos Ruiz during the transfer window in January btw. He is basically the only spectacular player on the Guatamalan team, kind of a Dwight Yorke situation, he's a striker as well. Small but extremely physical. MLS won't be able to afford to resign him. Should be interesting to see where that one lands. Where Adu lands, is anybody's guess.

Anybody watching the match Thursday, give a report.
 
Also, don't forget to post where the game will be as I want to see it. And, Carlos Bocanegra, one hell of a defender for the Chicago Fire and US National Team (very impressive against Mexico, Brazil twice, and Cameroon) will be a free man in January too. Newcastle is already looking at him.............hopefully he'll end up at a good club in a good league.
 
Bocanegra is good at going forward too and solid on headers from set pieces. He will be a success wherever he goes and will be the best US defender ever (with apologies to Eddie Pope, a solid defender). Although the US defense is quite bad. If not for the heroics of the GK, the US would lose 2/3 of their matches.
 
It appears the next match is in Manchester.

<a href="http://www.ussoccer.com/news/fullstory.sps?iNewsid=40584&itype=113&iCategoryID=0" target="_blank">US U17 </a>
 
A friend of mine played agains Freddy Adu and he says that he's definatelly not 14, he's much older. When he came to US, he lied about his age. So if we do sign him, we'll have a player that's at an end of his career at the grand age of 27 <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laugh Out Loud]" />
 
Sigh............he's 14, guys. Even if he was 16, he'd still be just as amazing..........there's no reason to lie!
 
Originally posted by BillP:
<strong>Sigh............he's 14, guys. Even if he was 16, he'd still be just as amazing..........there's no reason to lie!</strong><hr></blockquote>

There is apparently a bone test that can be done to establish a player is not yet 16. Certain bones in the wrist don't fuse until that age. It would be interesting to see the result of that- he is not unusually developed physically for 14 and his voice hasn't broke yet, it seems quite possible that he is 14. Anyway, he is still an amazing talent.
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Originally posted by BillP:
<strong>Sigh............he's 14, guys. Even if he was 16, he'd still be just as amazing..........there's no reason to lie!</strong><hr></blockquote>

Rafael Furcal...Danny Almonte...El Duque...it happens all the time and there is much to gain...
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Originally posted by muchadu:
<strong>I was led to believe with the new Fifa rules, that a player has to play in his home country until the age of 18 as of now.
</strong><hr></blockquote>

I believe it means they cannot sign a professional contract outside of their home country before they are 18. But that doesn't stop a schollboy from 'studying' football at an academy- which does not qualify as professional employment.
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