I have followed Jozy's career since he left us. He was ratshit at Bursaspor (1 goal in 9) but he has not only found his level in the Eredivisie but he has knuckled down and done some yards on improving his game. He was hopeless with his head and left foot when he played for us (and Bursaspor) but he can use either foot now and his heading has improved out of sight. He would be great in the NpChampionship (imo) but I think he would be well held in the EPL. Again just my opinion. Az Alkmaar have just signed another Striker so maybe he could be on the move.
If we are looking at signing an american striker than I know the one we should get. He was one of the big signings for LA in the off season and is only 18 years old. I have watched him every game he has been in this season and he is going to be one hell of a striker. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_McBean
It's a bit harsh on his heading ability with us. The times I remember the ball going to his head it was almost always followed a second or so later by the referee's whistle to give us a freekick or penalty and then give a yellow card to the opposition defender.
Yeah but he only scored one goal so his overall game must have been ****. The thing that annoyed me that season was that Altidore and JVoH were clearly our best strike partnership and yet every time they had a good game together it was followed by a game we lost and then PB would try to 'shore up the midfield' the next game and that meant dropping one of them. But Fathi gets chosen over Elmo for Egypt doesn't he? So that proves that the international pecking order isn't necessarily representative of ability. Pretty sure we almost signed him from Man U while he was on loan at Crewe.
Not sure one example proves anything, but I do agree with you. Still, Johnson has 7 less caps than Altidore and has one more goal than he does. That also doesnt prove anything either as the teams they played may have been of different quality. Johnson only had 2 goals in the championship which probably indicates that Altidore is the better striker. I will say this, Klinsmann thinks that Johnson is better and that is probably good enough of a vote. Still Klinsmann may not be much of a judge of character as the most consistent and prolific US striker doesnt even make the team. Altidore hardly ever looks like much of a threat when I see him play for the US. It is very much how I remember him playing for us back in the PL. He looks big and strong and does nothing with it.
FFS this has got to be the most ludicrous comment on a pretty stupid thread. McBean couldn't even carry Jozy's jock and I'm a long-time Galaxy watcher. Jozy was banging goals in for fun with the Red Bulls at 16 in the MLS. When he went to Europe as a teenager he commanded the highest transfer fee ever for an American player. He's been the US National teams first choice as a striker for four years and in the World Cup. Eddie Johnson is his backup not the starter and he was truly crap with Fulham...thats why he's now with the Sounders. Jozy is still only 23. He's scored 30 goals so far this season in the Dutch Eredivisie (First Division)...a record for any American player in Europe. If you watched highlights of his goals some of them are spectacular...international quality. He can now score with either foot, is great in the air, is a big unit and has speed to burn. He was 19 with us and still caused Terry all kinds of trouble and other Prem CHs with little MF support. As someone correctly said, Van Persie would have had trouble scoring goals with the lack of support Jozy received when playing for us. I'd take him over half the strikers in the Prem any day. For us, now we have a real midfield, he would be phenomenal. !!! As Roo, who has followed his career closely as I have done, and sees a massive improvement since he left us, the fact that AZ have signed another striker shows that they are prepared to lose him to a much bigger club in the summer. Unfortunately it won't be us.
Altidore is hardly the number one Canada so perhaps you should actually watch the US team play. Here are the recent games going back to June. Out of 13 games Altidore has only started in 4 of them. He was on the bench for just about all of them and came on as a sub in quite a few of the ones he didnt start. But that list is not in any way showing that Altidore is the number one. Yes for years Altidore has been the number one, but Klinsmann doesnt rate him and as Bradley is no longer the coach the past is the past and Altidore is no longer the clear cut number one. June 8, 2012 U.S. Men vs. Antigua & Barbuda * Gomez June 12, 2012 U.S. Men vs. Guatemala * Gomez Aug. 15, 2012 U.S. Men vs. Mexico Gomez Sep. 7, 2012 U.S. Men vs. Jamaica * Altidore Sep. 11, 2012 U.S. Men vs. Jamaica * Gomez Oct. 12, 2012 U.S. Men vs. Antigua & Barbuda Johnson Oct. 16, 2012 U.S. Men vs. Guatemala * 3-1 W Johnson Nov. 14, 2012 U.S. Men vs. Russia - Altidore Jan. 29, 2013 U.S. Men vs. Canada Johnson Feb. 6, 2013 U.S. Men vs. Honduras * Johnson March 22, 2013 U.S. Men vs. Costa Rica * Altidore March 26, 2013 U.S. Men vs. Mexico * Altidore Also have you even seen Mcbean play? Dude is 18 and has only played in 6 games. I think he will be good, would I want him starting on our team? **** no. But is he someone for the future? Yes and you would have to be an idiot not to see that, LA isnt a poor team if they think he is going to be good chances are he will be. LA would just go buy a striker if they didnt think he was going to be good, you dont have their payroll with the designated players and then sign a worthless 18 year old and put him up top with Keane.
You don't seem to know much about the US team if you are not aware that Jozy is the #1 by a mile. I watch the US play in all their games televised in BC (most of them). You failed to mention that Altidore was unavailable (AZ commitments) or injured in the earlier games that Gomez started. Nothing to do with not being #1. Altidore has started the recent WC qualifiers that matter and has been the first choice striker for four years since the age of 19. And contrary to your comment Klinsmann rates him highly and he will certainly be ahead of Gomez, Johnson, and others in the next World Cup. As for McBean he cant even get invited by Ramos to the US U-20 camp...he's not even in the Top-6 (see attached). Yes I've seen him play and am not impressed. He wouldn't have a chance playing over in England. Hopefully he'll improve but Jozy was a full international and major goalscorer at his age. http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/artic...oo-low-depth-chart-make-u-20-world-cup-says-t
Altidore was on the bench for some of the Gomez games. If he was not 100% fit than I did not know that. I also watch all of the US games so I do know something about them. I also watch all of LAs games so I do know something about him. "I communicated with Jozy that I was not happy about his latest performances with us, maybe even over the last 14 months," Klinsmann said. "I think Jozy can do much, much better, and the reason why he's not coming in is mainly about the performances in Jamaica and at home, also in training. Also certain things that went on through the May-June camp.''" later klinsmann put him back in "When there's a moment where he's not getting the message then maybe you leave him out for a game or two like we did - and he got the message," Klinsmann explained. "He came back and he was really on top of it." This crap has been on ESPN and during the games since back in June and goes back and forth between Klinsmann liking him one moment and not the next. I agree with you he will be in the World Cup starting 11 but if you do not agree that he is no longer the clear cut number one than I dont think you watch all the analysis or interviews. We differ on the 18 year old. I think he will be good and playing next to Keane should help him improve. He reminds me of a younger version of lestas Wood. Dont know if you would agree with that.
I've honestly never laughed so much for a long time between you and the other yank/canada guy continue
Its a pointless argument as I really dont even care about the US team and only pay real attention to City. Something about the internet makes you want to continue an argument. I would much rather argue Hockey with Canada but that would be best for a different forum.
Just in case you hadn't noticed, Altidore hasn't played in America for five years and is the leading scorer in the Dutch First Division with 30 goals overall, playing against teams like Ajax and PSV. So what the MLS has to do with this I don't know. And FYI I've been a supporter of the Tigers and going to their games since 1948. Probably longer than you.
The only time i disliked altidore was when he attacked hutton of sunderland and got sent off, we never saw him again.. would love him to be back if we got promoted though, he's obviously matured and became a much better player.. last player to get as many goals in that league was suarez..
Those quotes from Klinsmann are almost a year old. He was trying to light a fire under Jozy and judging by his week in week out performances in the Dutch league he's obviously succeeded. If he's not the clear cut#1 I'd like to know who is....certainly not Johnson or Gomez who hardly got a look in in the last World Cup (can't remember if Johnson was even in the squad but Gomez was a flop). McBean is a work in progress...he may come good. Too early to tell. Right now he's just another SoCal blonde kid from the HS/CYSA ranks who shows promise. They crank them out like a factory down there. I coached and played for many years in Orange County 30 or so years ago...saw plenty like him.
