Freddy Adu was the wunderkind of American soccer, but unlike fellow (one time) youthful superstar Landon Donovan, Adu has failed to really produce on the big stage (without getting into the question of Donovan’s failure to star in Europe – because his achievements in MLS, for the USMNT, and during his brief spells with Everton far outstrip what Adu has accomplished).

In truth, Adu looks like something closer to Clint Mathis. Mathis was an outrageously talented attacker whose attitude cost him the best years of his career.

He finally came through good when an injury to Real Salt Lake’s #10, Javier Morales, forced the coach to put Mathis in the game as their playmaker. Mathis played with heart and skill and Salt Lake won. He retired soon after.

But Mathis had the talent to break through with big European club and be a go to player for the national team, but he squandered both opportunities.

Adu seems aware of the risks to his career, but has also wasted many of the years when he might have been progressing or developing.

But I still remember watching him play for the national team during the last Gold Cup.

Since the retirement of Claudio Reyna, the national team has featured a midfield based around counterattacking wingers (Donovan, Shea, Dempsey) and athletic, muscular central midfielders. Most of our players attack by powerful surges  towards the opposing goal. Not to say that they can’t be creative, but it’s about motion, speed, and drive.

What I saw Adu bring was patience. If a move started to break down, players could pass him the ball and he could hold it and keep possession while his teammates re-oriented themselves. He then had the vision and creativity to try and unlock the opposition and start another attack. Without him, the team is usually forced to bring the ball back deep before re-starting, whereas Adu seemed comfortable keeping the ball higher up the pitch.

More recently, he was practically the only player on the U.S. Olympic team that can hold his head up high after the team failed to qualify for the London Olympics. He delivered delicious balls to the attackers and virtually every move went through him.

Donovan and Dempsey both making slashing runs, cutting in from the wings using timing and quick first step to get into attacking positions, but neither is the sort of player who controls to tempo of a game.

Coach Jurgen Klinsmann has been trying to incorporate and more attacking, possession oriented style to the national team. Surely Adu has to be part of that now?