American Soccer Weblog: T-Minus One Day, Five Hours And 30 Minutes To Adu

T-minus one day, five hours and 30 minutes as of the time of this post until ABC goes on the air at a lower-bowl, sold-out RFK Stadium to casual soccer fans around the country wanting a glimpse of sports' next icon--Freddy Adu. He is, in fact, the boy who has stopped America's yawning about the world's game.

Adu returns home and his ol' schoolmates are ready to see, but they might have to wait until the second half, or until after Jaime Moreno tweaks something and steps aside for The Kid.

Freddy gets the UK treatment as well, as it notes how American soccer isn't usually cause for "much comment" over there. However, significant space, a not-so-subtle reminder that fans in the UK should care.

The good news for American football fans is that a player with more potential than any other in recent times should be in their national side for years to come, perhaps finally breaking down the country's resistance to the beautiful game.
The bad news for everyone else is that his younger brother is supposed to be even better.

All hype aside, Freddy should play based on merit.

Only The Kid, though, could make the defending MLS Cup champs coming into town a minor thing. While they didn't deal as much with the on-the-field shuffling that took place at most MLS clubs, they do have a new coach (Dominic Kinnear) and GM (Alexi Lalas). Lalas has a tough task on his hands:

Here's a question: How do you sell tickets for an entertaining soccer team in what is supposed to be a strong soccer market?
The answer should be simple, but it has eluded Lalas' predecessors. Finding it is the key to Lalas' job, the standard by which he will be judged. Lalas has no aspirations to tinker with the on-field Earthquakes, who won their second MLS championship last November. But off the field, an overhaul is needed to save the Earthquakes for San Jose.

How tight of a race will it be for MLS Cup? Well, so far I've seen predictions that have every team finishing 1 through 5 in each conference. And no matter who makes the case, they'd probably have a point. Colorado just added a Haitian striker to go with their Mexican defender. I guess this is why Chris Carrieri and his speed isn't necessary, to add more attacking players like Honduran David Castellanos. Said Tim Hankinson of Jean Philippe Peguero, who will start for Zizi Roberts (in all likelihood):

"(Peguero) has great breakaway speed," coach Tim Hankinson said. "That's something that really Colorado has never had, a player that can get in behind defenses."

Colorado's hopes will rest on their new players. Meanwhile for Dallas, Jason Kreis takes over as captain as the team is excited to return to the Cotton Bowl. Check out 3rd Degree's overview of how Dallas is coming together. They start the season with several adds--Cory Gibbs and Simo Valakari.

Taylor Twellman says he won't have nightmares going past Danny Califf tomorrow in the Revs' opener at HDC. In the collission with Califf, Twellman broke his nose and cheekbone. But without Carlos Llamosa for a defense that had problems last season, they may rely on Daoude Kante to fill his spot and shut down Carlos Ruiz and a high-powered LA Galaxy offense. Llamosa, though, may be out for the season with the left knee injury ("likely tearing ligaments")he suffered Saturday. Pat Noonan, despite 10 regular season goals last year, isn't quite assured of a place in the lineup, though I'm sure Steve Nicol is smart enough to find a place for him. The LA Galaxy, meanwhile, went through their worst-season-ever in 2003 and will look to win on the road again, as Sigi Schmid switches things up with his new personnel from a 3-5-2 to a 4-4-2, adding attack-minded Adreas Herzog and Jovan Kirovski to go along with high-powered draft pick Joseph Ngwenya.

Said LA's Peter Vagenas:

In the big scheme of things, last year was more important than the year we won the championship. It sort of brings everyone back to reality. Having to redeem ourselves is a much more comfortable position. If we can do that, then we can work on a mentality for the following year on how to defend a title.

Kansas City gave walking papers to Wolde Harris, who didn't do what he was asked to do for them--score goals. He's "bitter" about the timing of his release. Many people thought Preki bathed in the fountain of youth, or even walked on water, perhaps, but now he's keeping his feet off the ground and reaching for recovery (okay, a poor attempt at a Casey Kasem reference--Seacrest, out, permanently!). With Preki out, look for the Wizards to perhaps move point-to-point more instead of stretching the field with "pinpoint" passing. They'll face a Chicago team tomorrow debuting a new goalkeeper (Henry Ring) and a new-old defender in C.J. Brown, coming off Achilles trouble. Chris Armas, held out of national team duty with a hip flexor strain, is said to be 100%. Ante Razov, with groin trouble, is set to play, but may not start.

I guess 17 is old now for the MetroStars' Eddie Gaven. I don't know what makes the 30-year old Eddie Pope then, which, of course, is still a few years younger than myself. The MetroStars, like the Rapids, made a couple of last-minute attacking additions in Gilberto Flores and Fabian Taylor. The Metros may have the youngest of teams in MLS. Columbus, who host the MetroStars, will be without rookie defender Chad Marshall.

Crew Stadium will get to host 2 US MNT qualifiers, the first being June 13 against Grenada.

San Diego has received the axe from Chivas, who will go to either LA or Houston for 2005.