It's Jozy's fault that he can only score on teams that try and attack. I saw that brute strength in action today. Cheekily losing his marker. Making a top class pass and a picture perfect chip. Brute strength.
If by weakness you mean that he doesn't create his own goals but relies upon the service of others then you may be right. He is not a player that is going to dribble around a bunch of guys while moving half the length of the pitch. He does hold up, finish, and his passing is greatly improved since moving to Holland. He is the traditional number 9, the point of the spear, and there is nothing wrong with that.
Personally, I think he'd do great in the EPL. He's strong, fast, not very 'tight' with his control, but in the EPL it's more about speed, and strength. With that said, sometimes guys at club can't equal the same form for NT. Look at Pizarro for Peru for example. Amazing career...but considered nothing for the NT.
Nothing wrong with him at all! Just not a godo fit for our NT is all I am saying. I think it's hard for people to comprehend that a guy who is playing as well as him in a decent league like Holland.... can not play as well for NT. It happens....
He is actually improving the goal creation aspect also. He has scored several goals that he did almost all the heavy lifting. We have an actual player who can score but we won't play to his strengths...in any way. F'N mess.
Very odd. As a bench warmer for VR, he managed to lead the US in scoring during the hex. Perhaps it's not the form, but rather the tactics of the team.
No offense to Altidore...but he's no messi. That's the only type of player you build your team around. It's unlucky for him, because he is having trouble conforming to how the nT plays like now. Players all over the world have to adjust when going to play for their NT, and some just can't. Example like I said was Pizarro. Altidore is at a team that fits him perfect, with players who support and help show off his best attributes...and help hide some of his weaknesses. I think he'll continue kicking ass for AZ. I wonder what is next though? It will be a delicate choice on where he goes next...because finding the right team for Altidore is what will help him the most. He's had trouble adjusting to playing styles that don't fit him to a Tee. Again, he's no Messi.
Most nations clearly suffer from this as there are few players world wide to compare to Messi. And yet most nations are able to take their talent and produce results from said players. Jozy is not a world beater by any means, but it's shocking that we can't find ways to provide him some service in or around the box
Don't disagree. I just think he needs to do a little bit to meet in the middle at adjusting his game for the NT. He's showing it finally...but still shows himself being a fish out of water for the NT. Things will click though, I no doubt he'll find a way to contribute to the nT before and during the WC. He'll get his wish of finally scoring at the WC in 2014.
Honestly, no good fits in the world for the US team. Not Messi, Klose, Dzeko, Tevez, or Balotelli. We don't feed anyone enough to actually have an ideal player. Maybe in-prime Kaka. Run the field himself and score.
It's not Jozy that's a fish out of water, it's the midfield. The lack of possession and the lack of creativity hurt us. Jozy isn't getting burned by the lack of chemistry, he's getting screwed by the fact that if it comes near dempsey, dempsey will shoot it. If it comes near anyone else, it'll be lost.
I hate him, mostly for the soul patch but he's an excellent player and a hell of a clutch finisher. Shame he broke his leg.
Isn't it wonderfull how we now downgrade one of our more promising young players, who will be moving on to a bigger league shortly, to try and defend a limited coach? Yup, he's no Messi. Gee thanks for the brilliant insight. All of a sudden we are trying to build a team around him? Really? When did this happen. Just a couple of crosses or balls to a player who has shown he can score. I guess that's building a team around him in JK's sweeping soccer style. Even an incompetent boob like Maradona had no idea how to play to Messi's strengths. He was a Messi...and look what a clueless coach can do with all that talent.
Downgrade? Nope. Altidore will keep getting his chances...but fact is, when playing for the USMNT isnt the same as playing for AZ, for many different reasons. He has to adjust, if not he will not succeed. For those complaning about service, pray donovan comes back or true wingers who can swing in crosses like Castillo get more chances in Midfield.
Dempsey scored his 20 or so goals at Fulham and now he plays for us as though he's our only hope...though riding pine at Spurs will take some air out of that balloon. Bradley scores the occasional golazzo for us, but isn't a true creative CM. Jozy's having a break out-hot streak season and carrying AZ...Klinnsman has to be taking notice. Do you seriously think he values Herc's work rate over Jozy's goals for their respective clubs? Jozy is not one dimensional and JK should mentor him more. Maybe the tactics will swing in favor of finding the goal scorer(s).
Its not rocket science. Our talent pool is not balanced. We basically have a bunch of talented puzzle pieces that don't fit together. No one has looked good at the striker position for us under klinnsy. I'd argue Jozy has looked pretty good in combinations in his goalless starts they just haven't turned into goals.
This dude is a sicko. Please Klinsmann figure something out for him, because if you can't, you should be gone.
I agree. We don't have a player with that skill set in our pool. My squad is the best imitation I can make with what we have!!
Herc, Dempsey, Agudelo among other have good scoring rates. The schemes and tactics being used are more suited to true center forwards like Boyd(1 assist and setup a goal against Russia in 170 min); Gordon(1 assist in 18 min); and worker bee goal mouth predators like Herc.
Dempsey has 12 goals and 3 assists this cycle. No issues on his side of the room. EPL is a bit higher up the European club system isn't it? Altidore played in the EPL as well.
For all these accolades, Herc has only 3 goals. Not some awesome strike rate. One was a free kick that should have been saved. His goal in Jamaica, could have been Jozy's as he was right behind him. He did a great job to set up the first goal vs. Guatemala in KC. Yes he works hard, but like much of the team, it isn't producing a whole lot of offense or chances.