Jozy and the Footycats: Altidore at Sunderland

So they are 3rd in possession% and short passes per game and 17th in long passes per game. They're also 3rd in key passes per game, whatever that means.

 

I wouldn't exactly say Sigthorsson has been good for Ajax. Abysmal, terrible, a flop and a disgrace to the word striker are more apt descriptions. Fans (and the club) hope he can be flogged of to some unsuspecting EPL team in January. The step up from a midtable team to a top club is huge.

Ironically, Pelle one of the few strikers in recent years who flopped at AZ, is now doing great in the EPL.

 

The French excited for an American??? what is this, the 1920's?

 

what's exactly been the problem? Not a consistent enough scorer or what?

 

Seems like a continuation of Rudi Garcia's style.

I'd be a little concerned with the current lack of goal scoring, and the expectations that might be put on him to carry the load. On the other hand, Ligue 1 is terribly defensive, so the goal output could just be a function of that.

 

Are we absolutely positive Freddy isn't playing for them?

 

It's funny to think of the butts that have sat in the chair at AZ lately. Van Gaal (who brought in Pelle, I think?) to R Koemans, to Dickie A, to Verbeek (who let Pelle go?), back to Advocaat, to van Basten to van dem Brom

 

Sigthorrson is just too limited a footballer. He can't contribute to the team's possession game or function as a targetman because he is likely to lose possession due to poor ball control. He is a good header of the ball, uses his physique well and is reliable finisher which resulted at a decent goal record at AZ but he couldn't sustain that at a higher level when he has far less space and time to work with. It's telling that he hasn't scored a goal in over a 1000 minutes in the CL.

Unlike Jozy he had the midfield support and a stronger team to work with. Just shows there is always a risk in transfers, even within leagues.

 

I thought ajax would go after jozy over Sig. Jozy had a great scoring record vs ajax

 

I'm not sure Jozy could find a more suitable team if he built one in FIFA.

 

But is he seen as a flop? Has Ajax been trying to get rid of him?

 

I think if Jozy goes to Lille he will have some big seasons there, big enough to get a lot of people off his back.

 

Lille has some awesome fans. Unlike PSG, it's not a club of snobs and plastics. And their stadium is very modern, with retractable roof, solar panels, and movable stands to allow for concerts and such. It'd be a great fit for our guy. Allez Jojo!

 

How much is Sunderland going to want for Jozy? And will Lille be willing to pay that?

 

It's unlikely Lille will buy Jozy's rights outright this January...Too risky....There's no guaranty Jozy would be able to adjust to Ligue 1, considering it's not easy to score goals there...So a loan is probably most likely.

At least, we now know that Jozy is indeed on Lille's shortlist which is good news...Now, that doesn't necessarily mean it's a done deal..They probably have a few more strikers other than Jozy on their shortlist...Jozy will also need to do better with his bench minutes at Sunderland to impress Lille and close the deal.

One important fact that has been mentioned is the fact that ligue 1 is no "gimme" for strikers and French teams tend to emphasize on defense just like in Italy....So it won't be as open as Dutch league...Jozy will still need a good first-touch and good predatory movement to score goals...

 

Yes, fans hate him and the club wanted to sell him to QPR during the summer but the transfer failed on personal terms. His replacement Milik has made a far better impression so far.

 

I am sure the language won't be an issue--I mean the guy is Haitian.

 

Understanding others shouldn't be too much of a problem, depending on his grasp of his parents' native language, but if he only speaks kreyòl and not French they probably won't understand him at all. It's like if I went to Jamaica; they would probably understand me but I would have a hard time keeping up and understanding casual conversations because of the different accents, syntax, and vocabulary.

 

The Daily Mail is "reporting" that 'Pool wants Origi in January and is willing to sweeten the pot.

 

Jozy has now lived in Spain, Netherlands as well as England. I would guess if he had any decent exposure to Haitian French/patois, he will even be able to understand and probably speak the French they got up there in Belgium.

 

A lille' early to be talking transfer and big season.

 

Yea--his castellano is awesome!

He really has stepped it up since he went to spain where he had trouble getting used to the lifestyle and language when at Villarreal.

I am sure it doesn't hurt he lives in florida too.

 

Speaks Better Spanish than allot of Latino Americans tbh Good for Him ..