Turning Pro at 13

Chalklines said:
https://www.espn.com/soccer/club/un...eddy-adu-exclusive-im-not-ready-to-give-it-up
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heres some good takes from the article where OM can learn.

"Still, he couldn't shake the feeling that Adu's efforts were almost exclusively confined to taking the ball and putting it in the net. He turned to Jenkins. "It doesn't bother you that he doesn't work that hard on the field?" he asked. Jenkins shook his head. "He's only working as hard as he has to."

""He was touted before it was deserved, and before he was ready to handle it," said Jason Kreis, who was Adu's teammate and then his manager at Real Salt Lake in 2007, and now coaches the U.S. U-23 team. "He couldn't cope with it. He believed what he was reading. He believed he was worth all the money he was being paid."

The articles a good one. It spoke about how lazy Adu became on and off the field from all the hype generated at a young age.

One cant forget you need to always work to stay on top.
 
Chalklines said:
heres some good takes from the article where OM can learn.

"Still, he couldn't shake the feeling that Adu's efforts were almost exclusively confined to taking the ball and putting it in the net. He turned to Jenkins. "It doesn't bother you that he doesn't work that hard on the field?" he asked. Jenkins shook his head. "He's only working as hard as he has to."

""He was touted before it was deserved, and before he was ready to handle it," said Jason Kreis, who was Adu's teammate and then his manager at Real Salt Lake in 2007, and now coaches the U.S. U-23 team. "He couldn't cope with it. He believed what he was reading. He believed he was worth all the money he was being paid."

The articles a good one. It spoke about how lazy Adu became on and off the field from all the hype generated at a young age.

One cant forget you need to always work to stay on top.
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I was at the US-Sweden game at USD when Adu got his first cap. He came in as a late sub and quickly earned a yellow card for a harsh foul. I don't remember anything more about his performance there.
 
I’d argue tho that hard work is not a legitimate knock against OM. She seems to be an extremely hard worker. It actually seems I’d argue the other way. She’s so single minded at the expense of all else and it seems as if no one (parents, coaches, advisors) are helping her by teaching balance and well roundedness.

If it’s my kid and they are super gifted and other worldly in focus and single mindedness I’d be working extra hard to rein her in. How many examples do we need to see of prodigies in every walk of life whose entire identity is _______ and even if they reach the pinnacle of whatever they are broken and hurting people. That’s my take. They are putting her in this spot so early for what gain? Not that much money and a path to pro that would be open to her anyways. But the parents seem all about it. I’d be fighting hard for normal and as much balance of being a kid with a unicorn ability cuz we all know how fleeting childhood is and how long and painful life is if your foundation is shaky and identity is in something that can end at any moment and will end before you know it.
 
More interesting to see how she plays in a game under pressure with opponents in her face pushing and pulling on her and knocking her off the ball and needing to make decisions in the heat of the moment.
 
RocketFile said:
I think she is amazing and has a big future. Nothing but impressed here.
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She is the type of player that US Soccer is looking for. Totally focused on the prize. 100% loyalty to the sport. My dd played against her for two years during practices at Blues every week when she was 9 and 10. Very committed, confident and determined player back then. Props to her and the fam :) I just hope US Soccer adds a little "social sugar" to the team........
 
Watched the Thorns/Pride game with my daughter, who asked after lineups were announced "Where is OM, the 13-year old who turned Pro, I thought she was on the Thorns?" When I commented that I believe her pro contract is with Nike, and she is not necessarily being paid by or playing with the Thorns, she looked at me like I had two heads and said "What is the point of turning pro if you are not playing in the pros?"

As for the game, it was very exciting, a surprisingly entertaining game to watch in the second half, with some very good football (after a pretty uneven start for Orlando). I hope OM makes it out there quickly, but the speed of play and often physical nature of the game are a combination a non-fully developed athlete should not be exposed to. For elite girls, I would expect 16-17 to be the earliest their bodies could be ready for the rigors of the NWSL.
 
full90 said:
I’d argue tho that hard work is not a legitimate knock against OM. She seems to be an extremely hard worker. It actually seems I’d argue the other way. She’s so single minded at the expense of all else and it seems as if no one (parents, coaches, advisors) are helping her by teaching balance and well roundedness.

If it’s my kid and they are super gifted and other worldly in focus and single mindedness I’d be working extra hard to rein her in. How many examples do we need to see of prodigies in every walk of life whose entire identity is _______ and even if they reach the pinnacle of whatever they are broken and hurting people. That’s my take. They are putting her in this spot so early for what gain? Not that much money and a path to pro that would be open to her anyways. But the parents seem all about it. I’d be fighting hard for normal and as much balance of being a kid with a unicorn ability cuz we all know how fleeting childhood is and how long and painful life is if your foundation is shaky and identity is in something that can end at any moment and will end before you know it.
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Her attitude is obvious!! She really believes she’s better than the girls she practices with! Mommy and daddy have made her ego what it is and they need to figure out a way to burst that bubble head of an ego before it’s too late! I don’t know for a fact but heard the only honesty she got from a coach was at the Blues. Apparently, mommy and daddy disagreed so they took her to another club willing to do what her parents demanded! Very sad!! So much talent with such little guidance that benefits her besides the money part!
 
Sidekick said:
Her attitude is obvious!! She really believes she’s better than the girls she practices with! Mommy and daddy have made her ego what it is and they need to figure out a way to burst that bubble head of an ego before it’s too late! I don’t know for a fact but heard the only honesty she got from a coach was at the Blues. Apparently, mommy and daddy disagreed so they took her to another club willing to do what her parents demanded! Very sad!! So much talent with such little guidance that benefits her besides the money part!
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If you do not know for a fact, you might consider tempering your words about a 13-year old. As for her parents, she would not be unique in the world of club soccer having parents who think they know best -- that is more the norm. Nor would it be the first time a Blues coach (or any other club soccer coach, for that matter) claimed to be the only honest coach in soccer.
 
Sidekick said:
Her attitude is obvious!! She really believes she’s better than the girls she practices with! Mommy and daddy have made her ego what it is and they need to figure out a way to burst that bubble head of an ego before it’s too late! I don’t know for a fact but heard the only honesty she got from a coach was at the Blues. Apparently, mommy and daddy disagreed so they took her to another club willing to do what her parents demanded! Very sad!! So much talent with such little guidance that benefits her besides the money part!
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Spoken like a true parent waiving their check book at the coach.

You understand this is youth sports, right? All it takes is a small group of ego bruised parents to complain and threaten to leave when a star shits on their kids playing time.

It's simple math. Bench the new kid or lose 2-3 core members of the teams success. OM parents I'm sure have had a tremendous time navigating the politics of club soccer. If she's as advertised her parents made a great decision moving into a professional environment.
 
[QUOTE=" I don’t know for a fact but heard the only honesty she got from a coach was at the Blues. Apparently, mommy and daddy disagreed so they took her to another club [/QUOTE]

Lol. What was the wisdom. She needs to be able to kick the ball 70 yds and throw the ball to the back post?
 
Dos Equis said:
Watched the Thorns/Pride game...

As for the game, it was very exciting, a surprisingly entertaining game to watch in the second half, with some very good football (after a pretty uneven start for Orlando).
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I watched it as well. Orlando would have won without the dreadful mistakes by their defense and keeper.
 
Sidekick said:
Her attitude is obvious!! She really believes she’s better than the girls she practices with! Mommy and daddy have made her ego what it is and they need to figure out a way to burst that bubble head of an ego before it’s too late! I don’t know for a fact but heard the only honesty she got from a coach was at the Blues. Apparently, mommy and daddy disagreed so they took her to another club willing to do what her parents demanded! Very sad!! So much talent with such little guidance that benefits her besides the money part!
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I think therefore I am. This is the attitude of champions. I tell my player when she’s on the field to “lean back and strut” and never let them see you sweat. Why do you have a problem with confidence and what are teaching your player?
 
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