Adu era starts, even if he doesn’t

Freddy says he’s ready.

Now it’s D.C. United coach Peter Nowak’s call whether he starts 14-year-old forward Freddy Adu in today’s nationally televised season opener against the defending Major League Soccer champion San Jose Earthquakes at RFK Stadium.

“Every player wants to start, but it’s up to the coach,” Adu said yesterday after practice on the eve of his much-anticipated professional debut. “We’ll all find out tomorrow who’s starting and who’s not, but whatever happens I’m going to be ready to go.”

Nowak, who also is making his professional coaching debut, needs Adu to be ready, because the teenager was his best attacking player in the preseason.

“This is a process for all of us, for Freddy, too,” Nowak said. “It doesn’t really matter how many minutes he’s going to play, if he’s going to start or come in later in the game, or if he’s not going to play, it’s a new experience for all of us. I haven’t told [the players] my lineup. I’m going to put everything on the blackboard tomorrow two hours before the game.”

Nowak is under considerable pressure to start Adu. RFK is already sold out (24,603 capacity), and a media contingent of 250 will descend on East Capitol Street to witness the sport’s newest and freshest star.

Most importantly, however, MLS cannot afford to hear millions of clicks from people changing channels once they see Adu is not starting. His presence gives the league a real chance of being accepted by mainstream sports fans. And for a league that has struggled with minuscule television ratings, a significant boost in viewership could mean new sponsors jumping aboard.

It’s not as if Adu hasn’t earned the right to start. In nine preseason games, United managed five goals. Adu was involved in two in four preseason appearances.

“Of course, [fans are] coming to see something different, and if they don’t get it they might be a bit upset but it’s not going to take away the focus of what we want to do,” United captain Ryan Nelsen said. “All I’m worried about is whatever the score is on Saturday and how the boys are playing. There’s 20 guys out there, not one.”

Nowak inherits a team that barely made the playoffs last season and was quickly sent home after getting swept in two games by the Chicago Fire. Against the Fire, United failed to score.

Goal scoring could be a problem again for the club. United acquired forward Jaime Moreno from the MetroStars to help solve the problem. However, Moreno has struggled with injuries the past three seasons, and MLS’ fifth-leading all-time scorer (194 points) has watched his production plummet. Moreno, who is coming off back surgery, played in 11 games last season with the MetroStars and scored two goals.

Adu is the other new addition up top. With forward Santino Quaranta (groin), forward Thiago Martins (knee) and forward/midfielder Eliseo Quintanilla (broken leg) out and their returns uncertain, it will be imperative for Adu to produce sooner rather than later.

“I feel that I fit in great with the guys,” Adu said. “It was a little different when I first joined them because I was a little nervous and I wasn’t doing the same things I was accustomed. The first couple practices I felt a little out of place, but as time went on the guys made me feel very comfortable and now I know my role. My role is to be really the same person and the same player I’ve been with the U.S. Under-17s.”

Another questionable area for Nowak is in his central midfield. Gone is exquisite playmaker Marco Etcheverry, who retired from MLS and is playing for Bolivar in his native Bolivia.

Nowak prefers to play a 3-5-2 formation and may not use a true playmaker in that alignment, opting to attack by committee. United has plenty of assets in its midfield with Dema Kovalenko, Earnie Stewart, Bobby Convey, promising second-year man Brian Carroll, surprising rookie Joshua Gros, and veteran Ben Olsen.

United’s real strength may lie In the back. Defenders Nelsen, Mike Petke, Brandon Prideaux, Bryan Namoff and David Stokes — along with superb goalkeepers Doug Warren and Nick Rimando — form arguably the best unit in the league.

One thing Nowak has instilled is discipline. Gone are the carefree days under former coach Ray Hudson. All players must walk, or run, from their RFK locker room to the practice fields nearly a half-mile away.

“Peter coming in has helped everybody with discipline and keeping people accountable for things,” Convey said. “It’s just been a little bit more professional off the field. It’s been about the players and not about anything else. We have no excuses. This year it’s all about winning.”