The time is now for Adu

"Being in the middle of the field, that's where I'm at my best. I touch the ball more, I create more. I score more. During my MLS career, I've scored almost all my goals either playing second forward or attacking midfielder and got pretty much all my assists from that position, too," said Adu, who played at D.C. United for three years before RSL acquired him in an offseason trade. "It's just where I'm more effective. For some reason, ever since I've been in MLS I've never really gotten a chance to play at that position on a consistent basis."

Assuming Adu hasn't already played his last match in a Real Salt Lake uniform, he probably won't get that opportunity to shine in the middle anytime soon. RSL coach Jason Kreis has indicated numerous times he doesn't believe attacking midfield is Adu's natural position right now.

Adu's inconsistency is a big part of it.

"He has sparks and moments of absolute brilliance, and then he has moments where he switches off, and so there's a whole lot for him to learn, and I would hope and think he knows that," said Kreis, who added he'd like to be the coach who helps him reach that level.

In reality, John Ellinger was supposed to be that coach. When the trade was finalized to bring Adu to Real Salt Lake last winter, there were glowing endorsements from Adu about how comfortable he would be playing for his former Under-17 U.S. National Team coach, and Ellinger reciprocated those comments by declaring he would utilize Adu where he's most comfortable.

It never panned out that way. Even the coach who was supposed to bring out the best in Adu didn't feel comfortable starting him in the middle. In the four games prior to Ellinger's ouster, Adu played left midfield. And that's where he remained once Kreis took over.

So what does Kreis think about Adu's public disapproval of his current position?

"I'm not asking all the players to agree with every opinion I have. ... There's really no right opinion or wrong opinion, there's my opinion and others, and mine is the one that's going to matter at the end of the day," said Kreis. "As long as he respects my opinion and gives me an honest effort when and where I put him on, that's going to be the most important factor. If he begins to think his opinion is more important than mine, then we're going to have a problem."

It hasn't been a problem so far, but if Adu doesn't perform well at the Under-20 World Cup, there's a good chance Adu might come moping back to Utah, which can't be a good thing for a team facing an uphill battle the rest of the year.

That scenario might be what ultimately makes Adu enticing to European clubs.

"He won't be able to go to Europe unless he plays well here, contributing week in and week out," Kreis said. "A team in Europe isn't going to be interested in a player who can't cut it at this level."

If he shines against the top youth players in the world, however, you can bet European teams will forgive him for his 2007 struggles with Real Salt Lake.

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E-mail: jedward@desnews.com