At 14, Pele was kissing him; today he'd be lucky with Elizabeth Lambert
Our buddies at Unprofessional Foul had a great piece on Freddy Adu just last week. I couldn't have really put it better myself:
"...the guy doesn't have enough talent to play at any level higher than the MLS.

American international soccer players Landon Donovan and Eddie Johnson were officially presented as Everton FC and Aris Thessaloniki FC players today. Donovan joins the Toffees on a 10-week loan from the Los Angeles Galaxy while Johnson joins Aris from Fulham FC on loan for the rest of the season. Fellow U.

As the clock continues to wind down towards World Cup 2010, there are a plethora of players striving to make their dream a reality; being a part of the US National Team heading into South Africa.

Off of the clear successes this team has enjoyed during the Bob Bradley era, the States are expecting to turn in one of the most memorable performances in it's long and painful soccer history.

Freddie Adu has now scored twice in both games he has started in for his Greek club Aris. The latest goal came in a 3-0 victory against Skoda Xanthi. Once again, he scored the goal with the inside-of-the-foot.

spotted at FIRST TEAM FOOTBALL

Fulham forward Eddie Johnson said on Monday that American players were still struggling to be respected in the English Premier League.

Since joining Fulham in January 2008, Johnson has spent time on loan at second-tier club Cardiff and Greek side Aris.

Freddy Adu scored for Aris in Wednesday's 3-0 Greek Cup win over Xanthi Skoda. Adu got the second goal of the game in the 22nd-minute, with the win advancing Aris to the semifinals. He was subbed out in the 66th-minute. Eddie Johnson came on in the 75th. In the Scottish Cup 5th Round, Maurice Edu started and went the full-ninety for Rangers in their 1-0 win over St Mirren.

As we near halftime, Aris FC leads 1-0 at Panionios thanks to an 11th minute sharp angle one-timer from Eddie Johnson.- Greg Seltzer

The Aris America era should soon be over as quickly as it began. It appears Freddy Adu can halt with those Greek lessons. Clearance rack, here he comes?- Greg Seltzer

Despite rumors of a new contract with Greek club Aris, striker Eddie Johnson says that he is still a member of Fulham and is planning on being with the Cottagers come preseason.

After his loan from Benfica to Belenenses was cancelled last month, word has spread all across the internet that Freddy Adu is contemplating a move to either Aris Thessaloniki FC of Greece or Hull City of the EPL. Either choice would be a positive move for Adu, as long as it resulted in more playing time.

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USMNT attacker Eddie Johnson got on the board for Aris on Sunday in a 1-1 draw. See goal below.

In his showing against the Netherlands, Johnson proved he shouldn't be in Bob Bradley's plans for the World Cup. Stranger things have happened.

AEK Athens could only manage a 0-0 draw with PAOK Saloniki today. Dusan Bajevic had this to say after the match:

We started well in the first 10 minutes and they only deserved the first half. We got the rhythm of PAOK and did nothing remarkable. In the second half we played better but we had no pace and we could not do anything.

I'm going to have to watch more Mexican soccer.

I think that is the only way I will better understand Herculez Gomez's success this past season and find a way to grasp his inclusion on the preliminary US Men's National Team roster for the World Cup announced on Tuesday. Among the 30 picked by Bob Bradley were some intriguing and confounding choices.

MLSSoccer.com is now reporting that Johnson's injury might not prevent him from participating in the World Cup camp starting this weekend. Johnson's agent Richard Motzkin is quoted as saying: "He doesn't think it's going to be that long. As planned, he'll join the US team shortly, and he won't play any more matches for Aris.

Now, in my opinion we didn't play the best football we could have but, WHO CARES!!!! It was the last game of the season, what mattered most was the result. And, to top things off, Aris also won which mean Oly finishes fifth in the league! IM LOVING IT!!!!

Alright, as I mentioned in the post before Oly had a very depleted squad.

I had a fascinating chat the other day with a gentleman who once played for Aris and now resides in Sydney, after returning from Greece a few years ago to play in Australia before eventually ending his football career.

He's a somewhat familiar face for all of you Greece fans who [read more]

Eddie Johnson says that he is looking forward to starting his 2010 with Greek club Aris Thessaloniki and hopes that his time there will earn him a spot on the USMNT 23 man World Cup roster.

Greek club Aris Thessaloniki F.C. is looking to add its second American in a week as the club has extended an offer to Freddy Adu.

As reported on ESPN, Freddy Adu will be joining Eddie Johnson at Greek club Aris Thessaloniki FC. You can read more about it by clicking here.

Eddie Johnson made his debut for Aris on Wednesday, coming on as a 79th-minute substitute in his new club's 2-0 win over Asteras Tripolis in the Greek Cup. Freddy Adu remains unavailable while waiting on his international clearance. In the French Cup, Carlos Bocanegra got the start as Rennes took Lille into extra time with the score 1-1.

Well, all I can say is we were lucky. PAO had a few incredible chances to score a few goals but were either stopped by the post or Arabatzis. But, they never should have won in the first round against us so it's all good

We started without Makos which was great news. Our starting XI was Arabatzis, Araujo, Majstorovic, Geraldo, Karabelas, Manduca, Kafes, Jahic, Blanco, Scocco, and Djebbour.

Eddie Johnson goes the distance for Aris in a humiliating defeat while Freddy Adu watches the muddy game from the bench.

Yes, it's only the Greek Super League, but Freddy Adu is playing again, and this time, scoring. The former phenom netted in Aris's 2-1 win against Ergotellis. Positive news from the Adu/Eddie Johnson club should always be tempered, though it's daft to think Adu isn't excited to not only be playing, but also now scoring and helping his club win.

After naming Freddy Adu a fringe player yesterday, I am taking full credit for this hard fought second goal. Check out the 'du continue his torrid scoring pace with Aris in the Greek Cup Quarterfinals!

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Me? I am just tweeting away . . .
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The Gods of War broke the Xanthi curse as Aris paraded into the Greek Cup semifinals with Freddy Adu netting another goal and Eddie Johnson coming off the bench for the Black and Golds.

For Americans plying their trade overseas, the weekend got off to a fantastic start early Saturday, as Landon Donovan and Tim Howard got the better of Manchester United. The 3-1 win was massive for the club,

Donovan and Howard both put in steady performances to lead the hosts past the Red Devils.

Freddy Adu notched his second goal in a row for Aris during the week, helping them move on to the Greek Cup semifinals, but he was unable to inspire his side to victory against AEK Athens in league play.
The Rest

USMNT attacker Eddie Johnson got on the board for Aris on Sunday in a 1-1 draw. See goal below.

In his showing against the Netherlands, Johnson proved he shouldn't be in Bob Bradley's plans for the World Cup. Stranger things have happened.

[Photo: Aris FC]We've already had Aston Villa fall at the Carling Cup finish and Rangers raise the CIS Insurance Cup. Next up with a crack at domestic glory?Well, that would be the Aris FC duo of Freddy Adu and Eddie Johnson, who now have an April 24th Greek Cup date set. The dance partner is not yet set, but league leaders Panathinaikos do hold a 3-1 first leg lead on their scrawny semifinal

First of all, Happy Easter to everyone celebrating today.

Well, because of the the Easter Holidays there were no matches this weekend and therefore not so much to comment on. However, there has been some news lately.

Hull lost over the weekend, 2-0 to Stoke, meaning they still remain in the relegation zone.

Reports coming out of Greece suggest that the upcoming match with Levadeiakos has been fixed. Levadeiakos are in a fight for survival and currently only sit one point above the relegation zone and some are saying that AEK will let them win this match so they stay up. Many betting companies (both in Greece and abroad) have started giving some pretty crazy odds such as around 1.

Eddie Johnson, Aris Thessaloniki (Greece)
Vs. Olympiakos, 2-0, 90 minutes, 2 Goals; Away to PAOK FC, 0-2, 90 minutes
Freddy Adu and Eddie Johnson started and went the full 90 against Olympiakos in Champions League qualifying, with Johnson netting both goals as Aris Thessaloniki won 2-0 thanks to two goals from Johnson and an assist from Freddy Adu.

Due to yesterday's death in Athens as a result of large protests and riots, today's games between AEK-Aris and PAOK-Olympiakos have been called off and will be scheduled for another date. I haven't heard news yet about when that date will be.

More details here.

First Star: We already covered Steve Cherundolo and Hannover 96's dramatic end to the Bundesliga season. For those of you that missed it, Hannover 96 3 - VfL Bochum 0. So instead of repeating ourselves, this week's first star is Eddie Johnson. He played 90 minutes for Aris in the playoffs for the Greek League's other Champions League slot, scoring Aris's second goal in a 4-2 loss to Olympiakos.

So, we drew to PAOK and Lost to Oly. Things were looking very bad and people were wondering "what's wrong with the players???". Well, I don't know what was wrong with them but yesterday's 4-2 win against Aris saw a completely different team on the pitch. Sure, a little late to start playing some football but better late than never and to be honest we still have a chance of getting something worthwhile out of these playoffs if we keep this up.

Eddie Johnson, Aris Thessaloniki (Greece)
Away to AEK Athens, 2-4, 90 minutes, 1 Goal
Eddie Johnson started and played the full 90, netting a goal for Aris, but Freddy Adu was left on the bench as they fell 2-4 in a heated match in which both sides ended with nine men on the pitch.

So, we drew 1-1 with Aris in Thessaloniki while PAOK beat Olympiakos 1-0, in Karaiskaki! To be honest I only watched the final half hour of the match but from what I heard it was pretty uneventful, especially the first half which ended 0-0. I will say though that the football I saw from our team was not the same football we played five days before.

In what seem like the never-ending playoffs for Greece's other Champions League spot, Freddy Adu was on the bench for Aris in their 0-0 draw with Olympiakos. Eddie Johnson is in National Team camp where he is day-to-day with an injured hamstring. Norway, and Clarence Goodson and Hunter Freeman went the distance for IK Start, beating Kongsvinger 3-0.

By Eric Beard, writing from Boston

Eddie Johnson, United States Men's National Team Striker, will know whether or not he is going to South Africa for the World Cup by lunchtime. I was able to talk to the Aris FC and Fulham FC man after the United States-Czech Republic friendly about what it is like to be in his situation because, honestly, it is not a fun one to be in.