AZpiration is everything --Jozy in Alkmaar

Just think of Foghorn Leghorn saying it.

 

Postcard from Europe: Altidore soaks up Dutch education

 

Martino: Mr. Leghorn we've heard you're a big fan of European football, what team do you support?

Foghorn: AZ- AZ- AZ- Alkmaar!

*rimshot*

FYI, I hear he also follows a Swiss club, too.

On a note related to Jozy. Since it is a new thread, how about a general update? What's the current status of his contract? We're coming up on the end of the season? Any transfer rumors?

 

Jozy is in the starting lineup for today's Europa match against Valencia. They're a goal up but away from home. This will be a tough test. C'mon Jozy.

 

And the parts that didn't make the cut.

 

Was my post moved? It was a game recap. What should go in this thread then?

A recap of my recap: Jozy was terrible. I've watched games where he plays great, but this game was really bad. He didn't come to the ball quick enough, layed off by booting the ball randomly backwards many times and was at least one step behind the Spanish side.

 

Valencia were simply a different class. From CB to striker AZ were second to every ball, and devoid of ideas when they had possession. Jozy played pretty much as you described, but had no service and no support and might as well have been playing alone as well as alone up top. He wasn't good, but no worse than the rest of the team.

 

I included that in my original post too...yeah his whole team was a step behind. I thought he was perhaps a step and a half, certainly in the bottom half of his team, but you're right, he wasn't the main terrible guy on his team. I agreed with the announcer when he announced that a goal never seemed likely, which if jozy was messi RVP or maybe even Dempsey probably wouldn't be the case.

I just hope Jozy uses this to learn how tournaments ramp up and how to dig in and play at that very high level.
Also I tuned out a bit when Benschop came on since it was decided, so I hope Jozy keeps his playing time.

 

I hope the whole team uses this to learn. It's not all on Jozy. And despite his age, you could make the argument that Jozy has more senior-level international tournament experience than most of his teammates.

It was just a poor performance. Tons of games may have caught up with them or maybe it was just a bad performance. I think Jozy will keep playing. He's the team's leading scorer.

 

Thanks.

I've mainly followed europa so I don't know about fatigue. I didn't see his name on a google news search, so maybe reports will come in about Verbeek or Altidore post game.

So now back to trying to capture the league title.

 

I really think the creeping depth problem they've had all season is finally catching up to them. It also didn't help that a couple of the playmakers are in production slumps.

 

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICKaVAbACek"]Metallica - Creeping Death [Live] (San Diego '92) - YouTube[/ame]

 

Huge week for AZ, at they host Twente on Wednesday and travel to Eindhoven on Sunday. With 6 games left (also a big game at Feyenoord on the 29th)

4 or especially 6 points would go a long way to locking up 2nd place. That said, AZ look to have the toughest run-in (maybe Twente), but it is all in their hands. Wow, Ajax have won 8 in a row...

 

All I can say is Jozy is a bust.

 

For who?

 

Must be for Twente

 

2 Jolazos today

 

Okay

 

2 great goals for Jozy. He was then subbed off for Benschop who pretty much sucked.

 

Might as well keep track of the Eredivisie goal-scoring chart the same way we're doing for Dempsey in the Premier League.

1. Dost (Heerenveen) - 25
2. De Jong (Twente)/Malki (Roda) - 21
4. Guidetti (Feyenoord) - 19
5. Mertens (PSV) - 18
6. Toivonen (PSV) - 16
7. Altidore (AZ Alkmaar)/Matavz (PSV) - 13

He moves a spot higher up the list if you exclude penalties.

 

After he scored the second goal, I knew he was going to get subbed out. Verbeek is a good (albeit peculiar) manager when it comes to his decisions, and i can't say that i always agree or understand them. That being said, the league position and AZ's run in the Europa league speak for themselves. I think I always fall into the bad habit of expecting managers to try to build a team around Jozy/play to his strengths, but here he is just another player. Which is probably best for his career anyways. Keep it up Jozy!

 

Guidetti (F'noord) is the guy he jumps - he has 7 from the spot