I have to say all the talk about goals doesn't necessarily mean he's the best striker. It can allude to the fact that he's the striker that is in the best "form". I do think that based on movement, link up play, & target play that Fletcher is a little superior to Altidore. However, Fletcher is more adjusted to the type of game that is being played in the Prem. Altidore was starting to adjust to the EPL under Di Canio's system (more suited to Altidore, with a 2 person front line), when Di Canio was axed. Now Altidore is not only left still adjusting to the Prem (albeit a slow adjustment to the speed of play) but he's also left adjusting to Poyet's system (1 lone striker). Saying one player is better than the other is generic and vague. You have to be more specific in what makes that player better: Better for the team, better for the goals scored, better hold up play, etc....
How is peralta better than aron right now? In 2014 with 9 appearances only 1 goal and still at 0 in liga mx. If we are talking about right now it's Gio and Aron.
Their production has been nearly identical, the W/L with them starting and appearing nearly the same. I would say the team has looked its best the last few games (Hull nothwithstanding) without Fletch, but I think that is as much a function of Poyet's direction finally paying some small dividends as anything else. Jozy's hold-up play, however, is head and shoulders above Fletch's. I don't think Fletch has the upside Jozy does, but I think they're pretty similar level of players at the end of the day. Jozy could get a bit more out of the game with the right cast of characters in my opinion, but you gots to play with the team that brung you, as my grandma used to say.
I completely disagree with you. I think Altidore is better than Fletcher at all those things that you think Fletcher is better at. Fletcher is the better goal scorer though.
I agree that they're fairly level. I haven't seen a recent game of Jozy's since Kidderminster - and he was extremely poor. He has so much potential, he's just lacking confidence at the moment. Over the past few weeks, prior to Kidderminster, his touch was terrible, he was wandering around the pitch seemingly uninterested. It was extremely disparaging. I equate Fletcher a little more towards Wondolowki's mold of a finisher in the box. Being a finisher isn't necessarily Jozy's biggest asset IMO. I feel he's a lot more athletic than Flectcher a little more physical and able to score goals off the run. He just needs to get into a groove and develop, unfortunately as time keeps ticking without results you start to ponder how long he'll be at Sunderland. Is Poyet sticking with him because he's the best option and in the summer they will splurge for someone or does Poyet really believe he'll come good shortly?
I agree with you however it depends on what Altidore you have that day. If it's the Altidore in the EPL now, he's struggling and the only thing I can't fault is his efforts. If it's the Altidore of the USMNT in recent games, he's been stellar. However, it's a matter of how do we get the USMNT Altidore to perform in EPL? I'm not trying to be negative but he's struggled, he's admitted, Poyet has mentioned it. It may finally be coming to an end with reports coming out today that Fletcher is in the lineup against Arsenal. Fletcher has struggled with an achilles injury this season. Here's Poyet quotes from today: ‘Maybe he is playing a different way for the national team. I went to see him against Scotland and I didn’t see any difference. It was 0-0. ‘Look, I had a good record with Chelsea and a rubbish record with Uruguay. I was the same player, same boots, same everything, but it didn’t work for me. Maybe this is the opposite case. I understand why. ‘We are all different. I always put the same player, which I think is key. Steven Pienaar. I absolutely love him from Everton. He went to Spurs and it didn’t work. He went back and he was unbelievable. Can he only play for Everton? No, come on, but it didn’t work for him. Why? Who knows. You don’t know. It’s the way you play, the way he understands the players around him.' Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...-just-seven-times-73-games.html#ixzz2tzY1VY1S Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
Here's Poyet's view of Fletcher. Take note that he mentions his link up play: ‘There’s no doubt about not seeing the best from him because he was not training properly. Credit to him that he was able to go on the bench and play. ‘There was a warm up last month when everybody asked me where he was during the game and he was warming up in the dressing room on the bike, to come out and play 20 minutes because it was better for him not to run outside. ‘I think that Fletch is going to be one one of the players who will benefit most from playing up front because of his game. His game is link play, getting in the box, link, not only playing just in there. Different styles, then you get the manager coming in and playing only one and then you’ve got a problem. It’s not his problem, it’s me, but it’s important for him as well.' Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...-just-seven-times-73-games.html#ixzz2tzYCw9X7 Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
More like rebound play. Fletcher is a specialist scoring goals from a ball mishandled by the keepers.
I think that 1) the Kiddermeister game was not as poor as many remember for Jozy. His first 20 mins were good - he had a very decent nearpost run that he flicked to the far post and was cleared off the line. And his chest-down in traffic help lead to the goal. Yeah it was Kidderminster and yeah that last 60 of the game was frustrating, (But Borini or Ba or someone blew a golden chance after Jozy ran down a ball late in the game so it was not that poor an outing for JA) And Jozy has been quite a bit better than that since. Hull, with the early sending off, was a poor match for S'land in general, but they ran rampant over Newcastle with Jozy playing very well. Poyet has both said he really appreciates Jozy's work rate and hold-up play, but has also admitted that he needs goals. My guess is that S'land will try to bring in more strikers, esp if Scocco or Wicks don't start paying immediate dividends. But if they stay up and if Jozy continues to work as hard has he has, draw defenders, make space for Adam and Borini and perhaps Scocco or Wickham, he will get another kick at the can next season. It is unlikely they would be able to get near what they paid for him and proven scorers aren't cheap, so do you dole more money for a question mark, or, if Jozy can continue to contribute, do you try to cash in on a year investing in acclimation? My guess is the latter - but that is only if they stay up, of course.
He is very good with his head, he is a good poacher, he also knows how to run onto a ball off a CD (he just isn't "epl" fast for that kind of thing.) He is a decent garbage man and can be a "link up" player, but he is not a "hold up" player. He does not play back to goal anywhere near as well as Jozy. It's just not his game. Jozy has more all-around tools, but Fletch is more likely to poke or nod a ball in the net from a broken play or hopeful counter - which is something S'land could use now and again. That said, an achillies for a guy like Fletch can be really niggling and unless S'land's fortunes change quite a bit I think Jozy will get games, scocco will his change to prove himself as well. I would not be surprised to see more Borini up in a 2 or in a SS role if Gia can get Poyet's confidence.
Current season = Apertura 2013 + Clausura 2014 The way the Mexican league is structured is a bit weird. This current season, Peralta has 13 goals & 4 assists for Santos. With the NT team, 6 goals & 0 assists. AJ may be a little worse or equal to Peralta's club performance but what Peralta does to separate himself is his NT performance. He was the most significant figure for Mexico in the past year. He elevates his game when he puts on the Mexico jersey. So, if you combine both club + NT performance, you have to give to Peralta. And like I said earlier, if you want to go back to 2012 or 2013, Peralta has been balling for both club and NT ever since too. In your criteria, your sample size is small. Only including play from January 2014 and right now seems, disingenuous. While mine, includes a full season of club play and a year's worth of NT play.
Not when you post something so dumb. There is absolutely nothing baffling about my use of the word "significantly" in that context, other than your mind is unable to grasp the possibility that no everyone drinks the Premier League Koolaid.
While I agree that Peralta is in better form (full soccer year) statistically they are the same, Johnson has 14 goals and 3 assists for club. Peralta did get the benefit of playing New Zealand where he scored 5 goals. With out Zussi and Johannson, Peralta would only have 1 goal in the current year with the NT (he was instrumental on getting Mexico the Gold medal 2 summers ago).
What the fvck? Premier League Koolaid? Do you even remember what you were talking about? Please point out to me and the other people that have called you out, when did the EPL and Koolaid come into this conversation. Here is what started people calling you out, plese point out the EPL.
Bumped for Joel Campbell accuracy................................... Nice goal against ManU yesterday.
So very worth repeating, for the benefit of US fans, given our inferiority complex re: MLS and American players.
Cool - The thing is the difference in styles, I think. Jozy is more likely to come back into a more SS/AM kind of spot, with is back to the goal, get the ball, shield and touch wide to middies joining the fray (this is what he did in the Newcastle win so well that got him good mention.) Fletch is more likely to move laterally or into seams - as you point out - and run with the ball deeper while middies catch up.
Didn't want to create a new Jozy thread but want to look at what he needs to do to remain viable to USMNT. I think he must force his way out of Sunderland if they are not already trying to move him. Where (league or team wise) would be best? Maybe Italy or back to Spain.
Based on his form from the EPL and what all others did in place once he got hurt, it would appear he could stick his thumb up his ass and do nothing for a while before anyone catches him.