False. Etcheverry had a chance at Real Madrid at one point in his career. He was a classic playmaker, could have had a similar impact to Zamorano, but in the midfield. Moreno was as talented as the modern Landon Donovan, but a bit better of a dribbler (and actually faster with the ball at his feet). In his prime, he could have done damage in Holland or Spain. You're in the minority with your opinion.
Better on the ball but not nearly as fast. Donovan is a classic winger, Moreno was not. Moreno could have played in Holland or a mid-table La Liga team but no higher. Donovan was able to play in England because he was fast and did OK at Everton.
Yea. Moreno was fast enough to play forward. I am not saying he could have played at a top team in spain, but he was pretty fast. In 2004 he beat (at his fastest IMO) landon donovan and everyone in MLS at a dribbling speed contest. Donovan was #2. This was Moreno with age also. Nothing on Moreno during his early 20s. Watch the goal at 1:35 and how he tourches Mexico's defense. Watch at 2:02 how he burns Jeff Agoos (made him look like he's walking) and scores with a nutmeg on Brad Freidel (USA's best keeper ever). England didn't work for him because it wasnt the EPL of now. IMO, had he gone today, it would have been a different story. But back to Jozy.
He was voted player of the month both times he was on loan at Everton so OK is an understatement. As for RVP being so much better than Dempsey, yeah he's a better player but RVP has shown over the years he's made of glass. The guy missed a lot of games for Arsenal and last year was the only year where he was healthy the whole season. No way is a guy that injury prone ever worth 29 million. Crouch sold for more than Dempsey did. But wait are you going to say that Crouch is a better player than Dempsey? If you don't want to hear about Dempsey then look at another North American player who got sold extremely low, Javier Hernandez. He was a national team player, a proven goal scorer and he was sold for 7 million pounds. Another low ball for a North American player.
^Don't get me wrong, I think Dempsey is one of the best if not the best players ever to come out of the US. He's got a creative flair that most others do/did not have. I agree with you that paying that much for RVP given his age and injury history was not very smart but it goes to show that teams that have money don't really care what they spend.
Maybe he cannot be stopped in Holland, but US bondscoach Klinsmann doesn't pick Jozy for the US NT qualifying matches. You can read about it HERE.
This website offers maybe an interesting perspective to separate decisive goals/assists from tank goals/assists. Only a small part of looking at the total player, but one step closer to putting things in context. This was from October the third, update is next week probably. Bony will go through the roof after his hattrick this weekend.
And Klinsmann is spot on with this too. Jozy has 0 goals and 1 assist for the national team this year. Jozy needs to be more consistent and maybe this'll be his wake up call
Ever since this thread was made, Jozy saw red (literally! ) against Twente and didn't get called up for the USMNT.. I blame you zane!
Jozy Altidore is doing great! He has developed a lot of important aspects of the attacking football and adopted the " Dutch School" teachings. He seems to have loss some muscle mass though, anyone else noticed this?
He is faster this year and has learned how to play one touch to a team-mate a lot better. He also gets a lot more attention from defenders this year because of his speed If AZ had a better team this year--with Rasmus Elm (midfield) and Simon Poulsen( attacking defender) of last year he would be even better but our midfield is too young and the back line is scary bad some days. They still play attacking football which is fun but defending is a real work in progress--so we play a lot of games where the opponent has scored first making it a lot tougher to penetrate. His only quality support is really Maher who is only 19. Overtoom may be a big help going forward in midfield but they are also playing Hendricksen midfieldwho is only 20 and his first year from Norway and learning on the job so Jozy is on his own a lot 16 goals so far with about 10 games left--my prediction is 22 for the year
Good analysis on AZ this season. They are performing below par after a previous good season. I hope they can keep their team together, because they have a lot of talent. Only problem is that PSV is interested in signing Maher, and Maher has already announced he wants to leave AZ to play for a bigger club.
Maher is gone--I think Viergever is gone- -and i think Jozy will be gone as well--there is just too much money to be made in the premier league in England--he fits that style
I read an ESPN article this morning saying he has clearly outgrown the Eredivisie. He's halfway through his first really good season in this league and he's already outgrown it? Kind of like how Afonso Alves killed it in the EPL after one good season here? I wish the US would stop trying so hard to overhype their players. The Eredivisie is a perfectly good place for him to be for at least another season if not more.
I agree with with BTV802--its hype and probably not the best thing for his development I would love him to stay one more year but check the last few years--anyone who gets in the 20-25 goal range in the Eredivisie leaves for a lot more $$ elsewhere if you can make some very large money--take it--for all you know one dirty tackle and your career is over--if you can make triple what he gets now--simple logic says move--you have to go--even if it means sitting on a bench no one is targeting him but I'm sure his agent is checking out the prospects
He has developed himself strongly, but nowadays a lot of clubs purchase players based on 1 good season. Especially Eredivisie-players; good example would be Luc Castaignos. Inter purchased him after 1 good season, and now he's playing crap for FC Twente.......
It is also an agent scare tactic to make as many moves as possible during a window. Dozens of Dutch kids at increasingly younger age make the move abroad, very talented kids and all fail to reach the first team of the club. Yes they can pay more money, but where is the money after that 4 year youth contract is over? Now the grown kid has not been able to make a name for himself and has no first team experience. However it's hard to make calculations for what might have happened and so these agents get away with their scare tactics and continue to use them to fill their own pockets. Besides, what are all these career ending injury cases of players not able to play pro football anymore. Even that American player Holden that must have some kind of quarrel with God is still playing pro football. I would be interested in some kind comparison between career ending injury cases and unnecessary talent fail cases that as a result of that missed out on big money. Anyway Altidore is already a bit older but I don't understand why he is not using his USA team to see if his development at AZ is taking him to the level that he can operate in different environments. Before AZ he failed at many clubs IIRC. Maybe there is an argument to make that with a transfer he can pick a club that has a support cast and plays a system that suits him and that he does not have a favorable set up at the NT. I don't know this. Anyway I want Dutch talents to stay as long as possible in Eredivisie as that is in the best interest of the Dutch NT. If I would be a USA fan, I would want the same for Altidore. Sitting on an EPL bench won't benefit the national team.
Altidore was young when he moved to Villareal which was the wrong club for him as his skills were not nearly good enough for the Spanish league. He seldom got any playing time and lost the chance to develop. He has been in and out of the US NT and I really don't think that Klinsman likes him but then Klinsman is not a very good manager anyway.