It Seems To Me . . .

Adu, Nowak clash over differing views of player's abilities.

By Robert Wagman
SoccerTimes

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Friday, October 28, 2005) -- Freddy Adu is unhappy. He's unhappy he is not a starter for D.C. United, and when he went public with that unhappiness last week, it made his coach Peter Nowak unhappy.

When Adu wouldn't apologize to United players at the team meal before last Friday's playoff game against the Fire in Chicago, he was suspended for the match. That made league officials unhappy. So what are we to make of this mess?

Adu scored what may be the Major League Soccer's "Goal of the Year" October 5 at Real Salt Lake. For the effort, he was adjudged MLS "Player of the Week." The following Saturday, he was a starter as United demolished the MetroStars at Giants Stadium. But then it was back to the bench as he played a half of D.C.'s next game against Columbus.

Obviously frustrated, Adu vented to reporters. "I got 'Player of the Week' and the next week I'm sitting on the bench," he told The Washington Post. "I'm like, 'What is going on here?' It's frustrating at times when you think you've earned a chance to play on the field and you're over there sitting on the bench. That's not the kind of player I am. I'm the kind of player who wants to be out there on the field and needs to contribute every minute of every game. I'm not saying I should play 90 minutes every single game, but I am saying that I should definitely play a lot more than I've gotten to play.

"It's funny because I've been playing so well in practice. I felt so good at training, but come game time, I'm sitting on the bench. I'm just like, 'Man, it (stinks).' That's the kind of thing that is out of your hands. You can't really do anything about it. It's out of your control. All you can control is you and what you do. It [stinks] that I'm in this situation."

In the general scheme of things, these were rather mild remarks from a player who wants more time on the field. One would hope that every player thinks he should be in for 90 minutes every game. However Nowak, who is very much a 'my way or the highway' type of coach, apparently saw Adu's comments as a direct challenge to his authority, and something just short of outright mutiny.

So what's going on here? Who's at fault? Does Adu have a legitimate gripe? Is Nowak right that this was a challenge to his authority he couldn't let slide?

Here are some statistics. Adu has played in every game for which he was available during the regular season. Of the 25, he started 16. Of the 22 field players who have appeared in a league game for United this year, he ranks ninth in minutes played, averaging a bit less than 60 minutes per appearance. He has had four goals (three of then match-winners) and six assists, and ranks fourth on the team in both categories.

So, while Adu has not started every game, he has been on the field for 1487 minutes. He probably should have more goals, but on a team where the scoring is spread around, he has achieved decent results.

It's also clear that there is some level of disenchantment on both sides. Adu, probably quite understandably, has bought into the idea that he is a young superstar. When he was signed before the 2004 season and made the highest paid player in MLS at age 14, he was extolled as not only the best player ever produced in this country, but spoken about as guaranteed to some day join the ranks of the likes of Pele and Maradona.

Adu is influenced by the way both MLS and United have marketed him as a savior. Even this week, the team sent out a mailing offering a ball signed by Adu for those who renew their season tickets for two years.

On the other side, one has to look at how much Adu has developed over his two professional seasons. He has developed some, but probably considerably less than might have been expected or hoped for.

Adu had a chance this summer at the Men's Under-20 World Championships in the Netherlands to show what he could do, and he did not have a good tournament. While he has grown physically stronger, Adu still gets moved off the ball easily. His first touch is often lacking. He has good vision and great pace, but he often does not use them as effectively as he should.

Part of Adu's problem with United is Nowak's very rigid on-field system. United plays with three defenders and five midfielders. Probably one of the miracles of the past season has been that United, with less than outstanding defenders and goalkeeping, gave up only 37 goals. Only San Jose conceded fewer. United's secret is, that while on paper it has only three defensive backs, it uses two defensive midfielders -- and, in fact, all the midfielders are expected to play a lot of defense.

Moreover, Nowak likes to attack from the wings, so he uses two of his midfielders -- usually Dema Kovalenko and Josh Gros to play wide and speeding up and down the sidelines. While he has improved, defense has not been one of Adu's strong suits, and his style is better suited for the center of the field, not on the flanks. That's leaves him suited for one position in the middle and that was held this year by Christian Gomez, voted team "Most Valuable Player."

Futhermore, only Jamil Walker and the injured Alecko Eskandarian are true target strikers with everyone else more suited to be withdrawn forwards who attack out of the midfield, essentially Adu's natural position.

Adu's current situation comes down to one central question -- is Nowak correct in relegating him to a substitute's role because he still has not progressed to the point where he should be play 90 minutes in every match. Or has he not progressed because of the way he's being coached and the way he's being used.

At times I tend to think it is the latter -- Adu might have progressed better under a different coach in a different system. Then, Adu gives away a ball away or fails to make a pass and I think he still has a lot to learn and Nowak is right.

The answers to these questions are elusive.

Robert Wagman is a SoccerTimes senior correspondent. E-mail Robert Wagman.