USA Soccer

What Gooch did in the Premiership, stalling at Newcastle, so might Freddy Adu do in the MLS. He moved from DC United, a stellar franchise with an excellent coaching staff, to Real Salt Lake before the beginning of this season.

Here's a depressing exchange from Steven Goff's blog (Washington Post soccer writer):

Q. Do you think Adu has the potential to develop into a starter on an elite club?
A: By elite, do you mean Premiership, La Liga, etc.? No.

Pressed further, Goff finishes a little more optimistically: "At the moment, Freddy is a good, but not great, MLS player. Good MLS players don't become starters in Europe's top leagues. Maybe he'll show something this year, but right now, he is not a top-flight Euro player."

But still. This feels like a dangerous moment for the future of USA soccer. A month ago, Marvell Wynne, the USA's 20-year-old answer to Ashley Cole, was sold by the NY/NJ Metrostars (or Red Bull, or something). Normally, that wouldn't mean much. The Metrostars have been an awful franchise. But, they just brought on Bruce Arena. And if Arena cannot make Wynne work, I fear no MLS coach can.

All that said, I think the crashing constellations of American football are buffered by some good news. Josi Altidore, also of the Metrostars/Red Bull (or whatever), has looked good in the two games I have seen him. If anything, he reminds me of Schevy -- a goal scorer who seems slow, and never particularly dangerous, and who seems to succeed almost in spite of himself.

Also, the quality of the MLS in general is surprising. I've been taping Thursday night games on ESPN2, and while there are undoubtedly stretches of brutal soccer, there are also moments of absolute class. So, you know, keep your head up, America.