Jozy and the Footycats: Altidore at Sunderland

you are correct. Both the organization (both di canio, poyet, and upper management) and fans were relatively respectful towards jozy. I believe this directly attributable to the professionalism exhibited by jozy. It was reported jozy continued to work hard and try to stay positive. I root against them bc I generally do not enjoy the style of play and simply have never felt warmly about Sunderland, even back in k Phillip/ Quinn days. In fact, I believe the overall style contributed directly to the lack of service / confidence from jozys teammates .

 

Because no one ever went from MLS to europe or because Jozy specifically is banned from trans-Euro football?

The problem, were he to score 25 goals this year, would not be going to Europe. It would be going to Europe for a price he and TFC/MLS likes.

But if Jozy scores like that - and especially if he scores for the US as well - and he wants to go back to Europe and is willing to take the pay cut, he will have plenty of options.

 

I think a lot of clubs will see his history at Sunderland as the norm. I don't know. We'll see. Not much precendent of players going back to Europe after coming back to MLS.

 

@bungadiri, soon without a pot to pith in.

 

I went to Catholic high school (I know hard to beleive right?) We had this really cool priest that taught biology. When frog time came around, everyone's a bit squeemish and nervous about the pithing. Fr. grabs this frog non-chalantly and piths him as he's talking. He must have been wiggling this needle in poor froggys head for 5 minutes before a kid pipes up "Father, I think he's dead now".

 

Not a lot, but if you score goals regularly, whether you're Montero or Defoe or Demps or Bradley WP, if you can make the money work someone will take a risk on you if you're scoring, or even just playing well in MLS. Euro offers come in regularly for the top players - according to many MLS GMs, it's just usually they're crappy offers.

I think that Jozy's problem - assuming he does return to scoring - won't be getting an offer, but will be finding a deal he and MLS like. But there's a lot of soccer to be played before something like that happens.

 

Newcastle would be my vote as well - that was a great game for him and S'land all around. Sadly, it was one of the few.

 

No team that could have Bob as a coach could ever afford the 4m+ Toronto is going to be paying Jozy.

 

While introducing Jozy as a Toronto FC fan, I would demand they play "Send in the Clowns." in the background.

"Isn't it bliss, don't you approve
One who keeps tearing around - and one who can't move
But where are the clowns - send in the clowns"

 

Good article.

 

The exchanges on SMB have been epic:

"What a shame Jozy is leaving. I really wanted the lad to become a legend here..."
"But he did!"

 

yup and I think it is a good bet he gets those points. The guy bakes a 10 layer cake, then proceeds to urinate in it half eaten.

 

Bob not even good enough for Toronto? Harsh.

 

I mean in Europe. American coach in Europe. With a sad end to his outing with Egypt. And a decent-but-nothing-great record with Stabaek. Don't see him coaching Benfica or Ajax any time soon.

 

Which is pretty silly. Gus Poyet gets chances. Di Cano gets chances. Roy Keane. Christ.

Bradley had success in MLS, as the US coach, and with Egypt when it was under seige. Yet, he can't get a sniff at a top club, why? Because of his tactics? And compared to Poyet those tactics are worse why? You can't tell me that Bradley couldn't do a better or as good a job as Lambert, Pardew, Martinez, Bruce, Redknapp, Hughes, Pochettino, Allardyce, or even Brendan Rodgers. Did any of those managers beat Spain? Why are they so special - because they've been around the league a long time? Please. You put the round ball in the net. Any of you who don't think Bradley deserves a shot are flat out wrong and ignorant.

 

I think Bob is a decent coach, good even. The IFFHS used to have him among the Top 40 time and again. Buck for buck, he's a better deal than Klinsmann, IMO. But:

a) to have a shot in Europe, an American has to really ace the test --player or coach;
b) Bob failed to do great, so far.

So, no matter how good we know he is, I don't think it's likely he'll be coaching any team that could afford Jozy any time soon. Further: maybe Bob is like Antaeus, only at his best when in contact with the motherland. We've had our share of players like that.

 

All I'm saying is this is bullshit. I mean, Joe Kinnear got repeated chances and it's unclear as to whether he even cared.

Even if a US-born coach won the World Cup, I don't think he'd get any offers from a top 20 club. Yet Klinnsman gets offers from all sorts of top clubs. Why? Because he was a good striker?

 

Bob is a legend with most Egyptians. He is widely respected there.

 

Couldn't agree more.

The bias again Americans in soccer is hard to prove when it comes to players, but with managers its much more obvious.

 

If Jozy were to light up MLS, still show well as our NT top striker and have a good Copa America, I could see options presenting themselves in 2016. And he'd be 27, entering his prime at that point. That's actually not a bad time to consider giving it a last go overseas if it strikes his interest.

Not the EPL though. Will all come down to what he wants. I wouldn't be surprised if both Mix and Jozy end up back in Europe, or they both stay in MLS permanently.

 

The problem is that MLS is like the Hotel California: you can check-out any time you like, but you can never leave.

I can see Jozy settling in a comfortable 14-goals a season, fighting weight gain (he can go up quick, as the Sunderland fans noticed), and frankly checking out from time to time. The opposite of Bradley, who came all hyper, trying to do the job of three men with Toronto, and doing none of them particularly well.

Mix is a different specimen. He grew into the game in Europe. That's always a plus for Euro clubs. And depends how much he'll be getting in NY. He's the one who's not as trapped.

 

...yes? It's shitty but it's reality.

 

You can't blame the Europeans. Let us switch it around, we are an American Football nation, would an NFL football team hire a German, Spanish or English football coach because he was the best coach in their country and give him a chance. Nope, why..... because there are many options here, there is assistant coaches, there is college coaches, etc. Same goes for them. It is just business.

 

Are you kidding me? Good lord...