Jozy gutted

JOZY Altidore admits it was a “huge disappointment” to be left out of the Sunderland squad for the Capital One Cup final.

But the American striker has vowed to put the set-back behind him and battle to earn a recall to the Sunderland starting XI for the relegation run-in.

Altidore had featured in 32 of Sunderland’s 35 games prior to the Wembley showdown against Manchester City last weekend, but the 24-year-old paid the ultimate price for a poor display at Arsenal eight days earlier, as Gus Poyet decided not to include him either in the starting XI or on the bench.

But the £6million summer signing says he has not taken the snub personally and has had to accept Poyet’s decision on the chin.

“To not be able to play in a final like that was a big disappointment for me,” Altidore told MLSsoccer.com.

“But the gaffer felt that there were people who deserved to be there more than I did.

“But hey, this is life and I have to move on and get better.

“It’s nothing personal; you can’t look at it that way. I need to get my head down and work hard.”

When asked whether he expected another opportunity before the end of the season, Altidore added: “I would think so, but you have to work for it.

“At Sunderland right now it’s difficult. It’s a difficult team to play for and we’re not playing as well as anybody at the club would like.

“But we need to put our heads down and keep fighting so I can get back in the team and hopefully get my place on the plane to Brazil (for the summer’s World Cup).”

USA boss Jurgen Klinsmann’s faith in Altidore has not dimmed, with the former AZ Alkmaar man chosen to lead the line in Wednesday night’s friendly defeat to the Ukraine.

And Altidore admits he feels more comfortable on the international stage than at club level at the moment after netting eight times for his country during 2013.

“I feel like the players know my strengths more and it’s where I’m most comfortable, sure,” he said.

“I’ve been faring better with the national team over the past year and I want to keep that going because it means a lot to me to play well for my country.”

 

He needs to start finding the net then, can see him starting on sunday

 

that would do for starters

 

yeah it helps internationally, when he faces the likes of jamaica he's ****e i'd be more worried in the QF, if i was playing than jozy

 

I think it was Dr Poyet psychological mind game. Its worked on Johnson and Borini.

Remember it was only a few months ago that Borini's agent wanted him out as he couldn't get a game and Poyet said he didn't know how to fit him into the team. He's probably the main man now.

I think he thought Jozy needed a jolt to see how he reacts. Could be a masterstroke, time will tell.

 

Genius

 

Sadly I think even if he was wired up to a pylon it wouldn't make much of a difference.

 

It wouldn't surprise me if Altidore doesn't play for sunderland ever again. if I was him I wouldn't play for poyet.

 

Why wouldn't you play for Poyet again? Altidore has openly stated that he understands as Poyet explained things to him and the reasoning - he didn't just leave him out without telling him why Baz - he's not Di Canio. He explained his decision and I agreed completely with it.

I actually like what Altidore is saying in that he knows he has to work his way back into the side - if he works hard and looks the part then great.

Up to now though, him never playing for us again is not a massive loss to the side IMO

 

I understand why he got dropped but to drop him from the bench to was a joke pal. what has scocco done in the cup run to get a place on the bench? people need to watch our cup run again to see how much Altidore was involved in our goals.

If I was Altidore I would of told him to f**k off sorry.

 

Why is it such a big deal, the bloke needs dropping to development games and re build his confidence from scratch, we've tried giving him 1st team game time and it hasn't worked. We can write off 5 million or try a new tack. At the moment ultimately, what's right for SAFC comes before what's right for Jozy Altidore. Jozy has made it abundantly clear he knows this and he accepts it. If we had a player here with your attitude not only would you not get a game, you'd be out the door first window if I were Gus.

 

So you wouldn't be piss off if you got dropped from the cup final & been replace buy a player who hasn't done **** all in the cup run?

 

No, my place wasn't earned and it was explained to me. I'd be very disappointed just like Jozy has admitted. Not everybody are angry mindless thugs, not everybody's natural response is anger.

 

How did Scocco earn his place on the bench then?

 

He's probably impressed in training, at a guess. Or maybe Gus wanted another non-target man option on the bench what with the big clumsy city cb's. He was the best replacement available if borini needed to come off that would enable us to play to the same game plan.

 

Too right I'd be pissed off but there's a difference in being pissed off because you feel entitled and being pissed off because your form all season has been awful and the decision was justified.
Altidore has shown glimpses of ability in the cup but this was a game against the champions-elect not some lower league opposition. Connor Wickham did more in the cup run and he was sent out on loan on the eve of the final.
Altidore needs to work hard to find some form and confidence in front of goal. A cup final is not the place to be looking. Perhaps a few outings for the reserves...

 

Altidore did more in the cup run than both Fletcher & Scocco & to get left out of the cup final was a joke in my opinion. the lads confidence will be gone & it wouldn't surprise me if Altidore doesn't play for sunderland again.

 

Go watch the cup run back & you will see Altidore doing more than Wickham, Fletcher & Scocco.

 

He's shown some good form in the league cup, maybe if we'd played every cup game one after the other, week by week your point would have some credibility, but his recent form has been poor and he didn't suit the tactics on the day.

 

So was he poor against Stoke & Newcastle then?