Every Football Manager veteran will have a household name that time forgot, a player that once ruled their virtual world but then failed to deliver in the cruel, complicated spectrum that is real life. I know many a player to fit this bill, but one pops to the forefront of my mind as a stand alone legend that will forever have my respect. Not for his amazing performances in real life, but for his scintillating displays as part of my all conquering Newcastle United side of FM05.
The long winded, cheesy babble above is of course about Freddy Adu, a Football Manager legend. Freddy became famous overnight with the release of Football Manager 2005. At just 14 years old he played for DC United and was available for peanuts. Do you remember that edition? Back in the day of Vanden Borre, Lekohang Mokoena and a young Robinho…I digress, back to the point.
We all thought a move to Benfica during 2007 would see the young American come good and offer him a platform to fulfill his in game potential. Unfortunately that never happened, Freddy was thrown around on loan and eventually moved back to America.
Its not all doom and gloom though, as this Football Manager legend joins Blackpool FC, on trial. Whether Freddy Adu will earn a full time contract remains to be seen, but its clear FM researchers still believe there is some spark left. The attributes below (taken from FM14) suggest Adu might still have that extra something, especially for the Championship. With good speed, creativity, flair, dribbling and technique I’d certainly consider my FM05 idol for a second tier team in the latest edition of the game..
Freddy Adu recently took part in an interview for ‘Tangerine TV’ as he spoke about the legacy left behind in FM05, offering his thoughts with a light hearted reaction. Watch it in the video below.
What does everyone think to the news? Will Blackpool sign Adu on a permanent deal and could Freddy make a name for himself in English Football? Or will Adu continue to walk in his FM shadow?
Ryan
15 февраля, 2014 at 14:28
I remember the popularity of this guy back in the day, mainly due to his excellence on FM05, and as a Blackpool fan, this is a particularly intriguing signing. Arguably If there’s any club in England that can unlock potential from a player it’s Blackpool, with such examples being the resurrection of Tom Ince’s career and Charlie Adam to name a few.
However, although the media interest on Blackpool now will be on Adu, most Blackpool supporters would prefer the media interest to be our Chairman, Karl Oyston, who successfully siphoned all money generated from the Premier League season and players sold totalling £100m, into his personal bank account, which in the process has made us go from being everyone’s «second team» in the EPL to the joke of the Championship with the entire playing squad being free transfers, loans and triallists from clubs below us who no longer need them!
Darren Smith
15 февраля, 2014 at 14:38
He certainly was a legend and it will be interesting to see how he does.
As for the Oyston part I couldn’t comment really as I don’t know any facts on the subject. However, if it is indeed a fact that he’s done that with the clubs money then as far as I’m aware he should be looking at a court date as that is illegal.
Ryan
15 февраля, 2014 at 14:43
The family runs a variety of business around here, which they have transferred all the money made by the club into those businesses, which unfortunately isn’t illegal, however, has angered the majority of Blackpool fans, and the catalyst for Holloway to depart us last year, as Oyston refused to invest in the club.
Anyhow, I’m surprised Adu’s stats are so high, especially for a player who really hasn’t lived up to the hype so far. Would be great if he turned out to be a real gem in FM14!
Darren Smith
15 февраля, 2014 at 14:46
That must be frustrating, I knew he had some bad press and a poor reputation but didn’t realize he’d done that.
Pedro Fontan
15 февраля, 2014 at 16:52
God i remeber him scoring a 90 minute free kick in the Champions League final against Real Madrid in 2012 as part of my Benfica side in FM 2007. My first ever european win in any FM or CM. I genuinely got up from the chair and did a power slide on the floor while shouting «get the f#$@ in». Good times xD.
I do hope he gets his career back on track as he seems like a genuinely nice guy in every interview and Blackpool do seem like a good team for that. I feel if Camacho and Quique Flores gave him some game time instead of loaning him out he would have become what he was predicted to become. It’s disappointing that my Benfica staled his career,
Darren Smith
15 февраля, 2014 at 17:17
Yeah it is a real shame, I’d put Adu not on a par with but not far behind Cherno Samba in the what could have been category of FM. Would be a real fairytale for me to turn on Sky Sports every Saturday and hear Stelling talk about Adu’s scintillating performances. :)
Thomas
16 февраля, 2014 at 20:04
I actually saw the guy play in a Youth World Cup in the Netherlands in the Grolsch Veste
pedro roriz
17 февраля, 2014 at 12:59
he was playing for bahia and man, gotta tell ya, he was a huge let down. he only played 155 minutes (7 games in 2013) and didn’t score.
he was a sub, worse than a strugling club’s reserves. all the coaches and directores said that he is really professional and didn’t complain or cause any trouble, but he wasn’t good enough.
you can see in this interview that he is really nice. but unfortunatelly, i don’t expect him to have any impact on blackpool.
Darren Smith
17 февраля, 2014 at 19:55
Yeah theres no doubting his attitude, but his ability is still in question I guess.
saqarius
17 февраля, 2014 at 15:37
Seems like a genuinely nice guy from the interviews. I really do hope he secures a contract and is given a stable platform from which he can develop
Darren Smith
17 февраля, 2014 at 19:57
It would be nice if he can get back on track but only time will tell.
0mariano
24 июня, 2014 at 15:58
I used to signed him on my saves of cm 03-04, he was amazing together with Diego,robinho and of course evandro roncatto! :)
Darren Smith
25 июня, 2014 at 18:51
I remember them all well, those were the days.