Roker report : This morning see's a new name linked to the club, and it's finally a striker as Graeme Anderson of the Sunderland Echo reveals that one of the club's top striking target's this summer is USA international Jozy Altidore. Having been teased that we were trailing a striker from the Dutch League, a handful of names were speculated by fans, including our selves here at Roker Report who thought it may well be Alfred Finnbogason or Wilfried Bony. Neither of those have been mentioned for a while in the mainstream media having previously been connected to the club. Now it emerges that Altidore is the target. Altidore has had a somewhat hit and miss career. Having made a great breakthrough at New York Red Bulls, the striker moved to Spain for a somewhat unproductive spell with Villarreal and later Xerez. Some may remember him for a loan spell at Hull City last time they were in the Premier League, specifically as he was sent off for violent conduct against Sunderland in a barney that saw Alan Hutton also sent off. However his career has finally got over the initial stumbles and he has flourished at AZ Alkmaar in Holland, netting 15 goals in 34 games during his first season followed by 23 in 33 last time out. Perhaps the striker has finally turned a corner. It's speculated that Sunderland would need to fork out around somewhere around the £4-7m mark for the striker, who'd instantly be a top choice alongside Steven Fletcher. As for whether or not he'd make a good foil for Fletcher, I think he would. With pace, power and size he's always had the potential, which only now at the age of 23 does he seem to be living up to. He also seems to tick all the boxes for a Sunderland signing this summer. Hungry, something to prove, young and with potential sell-on value. This fresh link is certainly one to keep an eye on over the next few weeks.
How can you judge him from his time at Hull? He was around 19 year old with hardly any pro experience and playing for one of the worst teams in the league. He's got 15 and 23 league goals in his two season in Holland. Luis Suarez in his first two years at Ajax got 17 and 22
Also, he has a better record than Lukaku and Benteke did (in a better league too) before they moved to the Prem and look how they did.
I find it hard to accept that a young player is being written off by some fans before we even bid for the lad, ****ing hell man
To be fair to the lads who are less than excited (I include myself here) this isnt the sort of signing or link that will get most fans juices flowing tbh. He hasnt got any kind of pedigree thant would suggest he could adapt or score goalas in English game whereas for the same sort of money, a lad like Charlie Austin certainly does. I know where my £4m or £5m would be going this morning if it were mine. I firmly predict that this lad will be a huge flop if we sign him and a pretty expensive one at that.
Cest the guy has got a lot more pedigree than Charlie Austin. He is 23 years old and has played 60 international games, and this isn't for Tahali or San Marino, it's the US who have been getting stronger and stronger, always at major competitions and have some pretty good strikers to boot. 17 goals in 60 internationals certainty isn't flop material. He's big and strong and not dissimilar to Lukakau or Benteke as mentioned before, his record is well better than when they came over. He's unfortunately carrying the burden of being a name that was meant to be the next big thing at a really young age and when it didn't happen people have written him off much like Freddy Adu. If we're talking 5m it sounds like an absolute steal to me when you consider everything including state side fanfare. even if he sticks around for one season bags 15 goals liverpoool will probably come in and pay double what we paid for him. think we've got to accept we ain't going to be going out and buying big names at all this summer. 5m, even if he flops, doesn't sound expensive to me at all. a la danny graham.
Thing is we signed Wickham who got goals in the English game and he has rubbish for us. Their are plenty of players who we have missed out on who came from weaker leagues, Ibrahimovich, Suarez, Van Persie. Those 3 were quite good. We have to do something MON almost took us down he was a total flop. Steve Bruce is the only manager since Reid who has done anything with this club. Two of his most successful signings were Sess and Gyan who came from supposed weaker leagues. Also remember Reid signed the likes of Swartz and Roy who turned out to be great players for us.
He was the bloke that headbutted Alan Hutton and got a straight red. This might refresh people's memory of him at Hull. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bf95D9yUwI4
There are always exceptions to the rule. Suarez, Van Nistelrooy, Romario, Ronaldo (de Lima) yes. Each of them having a ridiculous conversion rate in the Eredivisie. Those three players also bagged goal after goal in every other league they played in, whereas Altidore has played in a few countries and been shockingly poor, apart from in the US and Holland, both countries leagues having reputations for being defensively inept in this sport. I don't think it's totally fair of me to write him off, he was obviously a bit younger at Hull. Everyone deserves a second chance but looking at the way his career was spiralling into a soft dog **** paté, I think he'd do well to stay put anyway. There's normally one high profile flop, exported from the Eredivisie every season with the tag of "the next ____ (Insert legend)" - Luuk De Jong for last season and I'd expect this seasons to be Wilfred Bony. Also JimJam Yes you can. One of his international team mates Eddie Johnson has a similar number of caps and he couldn't score for Fulham or even Preston! He was and by all accounts still is, a total gimp in front of goal. The US national team probably play around double the fixtures of the English side, caps simply mean very little in comparison. I wouldn't even talk about him in the same sentence as Benteke or Lukaku, both are naturally gifted players. If Altidore makes it, it will be through sheer hard work and determination, not his natural ability in my opinion.
I know **** all about him. I see points on both sides. But I'm going to sit on the fence, watch with interest and put all my trust in the two men hired who on their little fingers know more about young players then all of us put together. If we signed by our logic we'd either never sign a young player through fear of signing a flop, or sign any potential young player in sight. I'm bemused with these players tbh but for the first time in my life I trust our football club 100% in player recruitment. I'm really enjoying the ride.
I loved him when he played for us, he worked none stop for the team but was missing the killer instinct which he seems to have found. I'd gladly have him back.
The guy is a beast! Although by the look of the goal keeping in those clips, the trick to scoring 20+ goals in Holland is just to hit the target! Shocking keeping on at least half. My initial thoughts on seeing the story were - "**** right off" On reflection he could be very interesting and good business for £5m to £8m
Have seen him often, and have followed his career. Completely different player than the one who you saw at Hull. Has grown up in so many ways...and has prospered under Verbeek and Klinsmann. Strong, powerful and brave are good descriptions of his present game. Hard worker who would prosper under Paulo. Also, his finishing touches have improved massively from his time at Hull. Canny signing, hope it happens. Check out this story from the New York Times. He's turning into a highly motivated beast. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/20/s...energizes-us-soccer-team.html?ref=soccer&_r=0
