USA boss Jurgen Klinsmann says Jozy Altidore will emerge as a stronger character from his Sunderland goal drought. Summer signing Altidore is yet to find the net in the Premier League for Sunderland, with his only Black Cats goal coming in Augustâs Capital One Cup victory over League One MK Dons. Klinsmann was at the Stadium of Light on Sunday to watch Altidore in the flesh, although the 24-year-old was restricted to a substituteâs outing for the last 15 minutes after head coach Gus Poyet opted for Steven Fletcher as his lone striker. The two Sunderland frontmen are expected to go head-to-head on Friday night, with Scotland hosting the USA at Hampden Park. But former Germany striker Klinsmann is not concerned by Altidoreâs lean spell, particularly as the £6million arrival has been in prolific form for his country after setting a national team record of scoring in five consecutive internationals earlier this season. âWe are very satisfied with the way things are going with Jozy even with him being in a tough situation right now,â said Klinsmann. âThe Premier League started and he hasnât scored yet. Sunderland are a new club for him. Itâs a big club and the way they were playing their game, he was not getting many opportunities to score. âSo I went there myself, watched it myself and have proof of what I saw before when I watched it on TV. Itâs really difficult for Jozy, but this is also what he needs to go through. âHe has a very positive attitude and has come a long way already in his young career and will get stronger. âI told him, âYou will score your goals sooner or laterâ if you have that mentality that you develop now, if you have that drive to get through those periods where you havenât scored, which for a striker is always the most important thing. âBut he has also had a tremendous 2013 scoring goals for us in World Cup qualifying, scoring big, crucial goals for us in friendlies as well. âHeâs really matured a lot over the last year and deserves a huge compliment.â Klinsmann hopes Sunderlandâs upturn in results under Poyet will boost Altidoreâs domestic fortunes too, with the Black Cats winning three of their last four games. âNow we need to give him patience and I think the club has done that very well bringing him through that stretch,â added ex-Tottenham man Klinsmann. âHopefully for Sunderland, he starts to score more goals. âThey will produce chances and eventually he will score.â
Sure they said that about Danny Graham! Hope you';re right Jurgenm - just haven't seen much at all to tell me he'll score many goals at this level!! PLEASE prove me wrong Jozy
ouch, I wouldnt compare Aliti to Graham even if they have the same goal scoring problem. Altidore is a much better overall footballer
He scores for America regularly - and also looks a lot better player playing for them - better movement, pace and everything - he plays for us and looks lost. I wasn't comparing him to Danny Graham - just comparing what Klinsmann said to what people said about Graham. I have only seen one goalscorer on the pitch this season and that's Fletcher - Altidore (IMO) will be lucky to get 5 goals a season I'm praying that that is wishful thinking - hopefully it is just a rumour - unless he's looking for someone to replace one of the fake wall of defenders when they practice free-kicks!
You're only getting half a rumor, what's going to happen is Poyet is going to sit down with our DoF and discuss potential new signings, our players out on loan and players running out of contracts. Graham will be discussed as part of that criteria, might have no choice but have him back because if Bruce had half a brain he'd be sending him back anyway in January freeing wages to bring someone else in.
If you don't think Altidore is much better footballer than Graham then **** me you need putting down.
3rd post of the evening and you resort to put downs ITS ABOUT OPINIONS MAN! nobody is interested in the hard man act, sort it out or **** off, i give you more slack than anybody but i'm starting to get really pissed off now
I no he did but thats not my point. people bang on about Altidore has missed chances & he will not score goals. my point to music boy is name me the clear cut chances he has missed.
Who is talking about being a hard man like? it is his opinion but it's a brain dead opinion. If I'm pissing you off go talk to someone else.
too many is the answer for a player who has clearly been asked to hold the ball in a team incapable to feed off his work, jozy needs time but puts ashift in imho, no need to start giving posters **** for sharing the same opinion
Bizarrely, I tend to agree with our ginger chum on Altidore. He's a gratfer and whilst he's not always accurate with his shooting he can be a right handful for defenders with his size and strength. He's only young anarl and we're hardly creating that much up front for anybody, let alone someone finding his feet in the Prem. I think there's a lot more to come from this lad.
Altidore does put in a shift & his overall play is decent. if we get better players around him he will score & it's as simple as that.
