We have two DP's, one we traded for... When the time comes, don't you think we should use one of them for Altidore? It's assumed we're going to eventually lose him, while at the same time we're contemplating a DP to replace Reyna. I know we'd all like to have Altidore, plus our two DP slots, but that's a luxury we can't have in perpetuity. So why look abroad for that "sexy" name when we already have him on the roster, and we're currently getting on the cheap? When the time comes, I think we should pay him what he's worth, if he'll take it. It would be beneficial for us to have this Team USA headliner wearing a Red Bull jersey as long as possible. I think he'll even sell tickets, if the so-called "Eurosnobs" in the city appreciate quality like they say they do.
Well, you wouldn't pay him DP money if he's leaving, that wouldn't make any sense. You'd pay it to entice him to stay, that's the point. You know, like a long-term contract, not a one-year deal. That's what clubs do if they have a "franchise player." If he wants to leave regardless of money, then my question is moot. That's okay, too. If he wants the European experience, then I wish all the best for him. But if he's not up to our standards, if that's the reason, then sure, let him go, and look for a real star to pay DP money for. I'm not against that. Maybe there's some 36-year-old somewhere available that will make all the Eurosnobs in the city foam in the mouth. But if you think Altidore is becoming a real star, then why not at least try this idea...was my thought.
This is correct. If the opportunity is there after this season to sign Jozy to a contract similar to what Donovan and Johnson got, spending the Reyna DP slot in the process, then there is no reason not to do so - especially if it's the difference between holding on to him for another two or three years or selling him to the likes of Reading.
What in hell you will win with that, he want to go, he want the experience of playing in the big leagues and the spotlight and money is coming with it, but isn't the money by self that make him and other look and go to Europe.... ¡is the experience stupid!
I can think of three reasons... 1) Keeping him here will stunt his international growth. The kid needs the experience of being abroad and playing in one of the best leagues in the world. 2) The paycheck won't be enough. If he's good and has so much potential, then that potential could very well come with a seasonal salary of over 1.5 mil, which is what Juan Pablo "The Messiah" Angel is earning. 3) Reading! My god! Truly the dregs of the Premiership. Give me . . a break . . please. God forbid the kid doesn't live up to our standards in his club selection. He's not Pato, contrary to what some people think. Furthermore, he's American, which is as bad a handicap as any when you're just getting to the European stage.
I have to agree with Nebraska on some points. If we can hold on to Altidore for as long as we can using DP money he wont want to leave. If he wants to leave then, we shouldn't keep him here. Remember the kid is 18, if we pay him DP money he can still go to Europe in 4 years... I am hoping his stock will go up higher this season, I want him to become the best striker in MLS for the season. Then sell him to Arsenal ! You know Wenger loves them relatively "unknown" youngsters. He gets a kick out of making them huge football stars.
he's gonna beast in his int'l games this year whether it be friendlies or olympic related. everyone around the world is going to take not (they already have really). he's gone after this mls season without a doubt. We all love the kid - i have an altidore jersey - but keeping him in the mls isn't gonna help him much longer. he's not DOMINANT in the mls, but I'd rather him learn the world's game in a stronger competition pool. When World Cup 2010 rolls around Altidore will be a beast among little boys. ok maybe an exaggeration... in any case we should scout DP's other than altidore.
I'm not going to argue yea or nay over the Premiership's ability to develop young players, but I will say this: Jozy's "international growth" will be so low on the list of RBNY's priorities as to be an infintessimally small factor in when/where he's transferred. It's a non-starter. If Jozy was 24 I'd agree with you, but he'll be 19 at the time of this theoretical three year contract worth somewhere from $1-1.5 million a year. While it's not a given he'd accept, it's not exactly a given that he'd turn it down, either. Especially if the most noteworthy bidder for his services is... No slight on Reading - they're a great story, have played some decent soccer the past couple of years and they've got a fantastic stadium. But they're not about to pony up $10 million for anyone, let alone a teenaged Yank, and I'd be pretty pissed if we sold him for less than that given how weak the dollar is and how Jozy's got every chance to shine on the Olympic stage this summer. Reading's style is paying €40k for the likes of Kevin Doyle, not seven or eight figures for one of the leading scorers in the U-20 World Cup. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure the most they've ever paid for a player is £1 for Lita. That's about 1/8th what I'd hope to see for Jozy. Financially they are. I wish the kid nothing but success no matter what shirt he's wearing, but it's more RBFO I'm thinking about here. They have to do right by us when it comes to Jozy. They have to make an effort to keep him here, keep him happy, keep him scoring goals. If they run him off the way our most recent star teenager was run off - you remember him, kid by the name of Bradley - and come away with nothing but $70k again, that'll be just about enough to get me to throw in the towel. Not a legit comparison since they're different types of players, but it's worth noting that Jozy's been a consistent goalscorer everywhere he's been. Those types of players don't come cheap on the international market. That's not a good enough reason to give him away for 50 cents on the dollar, no matter how eager you are to do so. Which brings me to a question... why are you so eager to see Jozy leave? If he keeps progressing the way he has been and becomes a 15-20 goal scorer this year, and we have the chance to use our second DP slot to keep him, why in god's name would you want to see him leave? Watching this kid progress has been one of the few unsullied joys of being a fan of this franchise. I would love - love! - to see him here into the start of the next decade. Can't for the life of me figure out why a fan of this team would feel otherwise.
I'm not in a hurry for him to go. Of course I'd love him to keep scoring goals for us, but I think we can all agree that the MLS is not a realistic end all be all for him and his career. There are bigger things to think about. It's not just about the money, it's not just about the style of play, it's not just about the environment in which one is living and playing - it's about all of those things together. I can't imagine the kid will be happy here earning whatever he's earning if he can be abroad, in new surroundings, playing in stadium filled to capacity, broadening his horizons not only as an athlete, but also as a human being. I think we all see big things for the kid, and if he can go abroad and max out his potential, then I'm all for that. I'm not for him staying here and scoring goals for the benefit of us or for the club.
So you're not in a hurry to see him go, and you'd love to see him keep scoring goals for us, but you're not for him staying here and scoring goals for us. Look, you don't make any sense on this subject. As such:
It's actually not a bad idea, but I have to say I don't think he's worth DP money yet. Not that I don't think he will be one day, but there is a world of difference between Angel and Jozy. I love the kid, and wish the best for him, and all that other stuff, blah blah. But our team only gets 1 or 2 players to spend DP money on, and we need more than a kid with all the potential in the world in return for using the spot. He needs to go make DP money where he isn't the only one of two on the team doing so. He can only do that in Europe. When he's polished up, playing better defensively up top, and used to playing at a much faster pace, then bring the kid back for the DP spot. To me, a DP is more than just talent for the money. A DP has to bring leadership and mentoring to the rest of the team, especially if we're going to start developing players rather than just buying a field product. (Which we have to do to have an upper hand on anyone else here in MLS.) And don't waste my time trying to compare him to Reyna, and I won't waste yours comparing him to Beckham, Angel or Blanco. PS: There should be no argument for whether or not Jozy career is better off. We fans love Jozy, and want the best for him, but I'm hoping RBNY is a bit more selfish and team focused when offering up DP contracts. Jozy and his agent can be responsible for Jozy's career. RBNY has to focus on fielding the best team they can.
Sublicon I can agree with you to a degree, but its that sort of mentality that keeps quality away from the MLS. Why cant we ever just keep one quality player, then maybe people would start noticing MLS and taking it more seriously. Plus Jozy is only 18 he has more than enough time to get us the Cup and then play in Europe
We are keeping him one more year and that is enough....... to keep him here would be very selfish of red bull as a whole. The kid has talent to revolutionize the game in america and in my opinion we should've sold him this winter but I wont mind having him this year, ill tell u that. We will get a huge transfer from Jozy when we sell him, could be anywhere from 5-10 million depending on how he does this year. Why not use that money to bring in another DP and continuing to fund our academy?? The academy is going to be the key to the future in MLS. There will be other Josmer Altidores in the future, trust me.
Let's try this again... Any fan of this club, including myself, would love to have Jozy here. We love him, he's Jozy. Understood so far? Okay...*gold star* Now, given that we love Jozy, and as functional human beings can perhaps get past our unrealistic and/or selfish wants as spectators, we go as far as say we want what's best for Jozy. Still with me? Okay...*another gold star* Next, we're soccer fans in America, we follow this team . . so we're no doubt aware that MLS is not considered "the greatest league in the world." And furthermore, I think as realistic individuals we could go as far as to say we're probably low on the totem pole of "the greatest leagues in the world" for several reasons including but not limited to the level of play and average salary. I know I lost you, but I'll go on anyway... Typically, players that are developed in this league (Jozy Altidore, for example) (yes, I know he trained in the camp in Brandenton, FL, but thats not what put him on the map), know that if their talent level is high, opportunities will open . . namely, opportunities abroad . . namely, opportunities in Europe. In Jozy's case, we've seen interest from England and Spain. At some point, he's going to be looking at those opportunities, and I think we can venture to guess that if the pay is higher and the potential to upgrade one's prowess as soccer player is greater, the boy is gonna go for it. Now, let me just ask . . have I blown your mind with anything here so far? Or are we on the same wavelength? Good. Lets be clear: Jozy is going away...far far away. I'm able to get past my own wants as a spectator (as mentioned above), and can accept that fact. One thing that actually helps me through this whole ordeal of Jozy moving on to bigger and better things, is that whatever he does over there, we can fervently pray that his experience will help his international game. In that, I am comforted. Now... Wrong...what is keeping quality away from the MLS is the fact that players can't get paid the wage that is deserved by talented athletes. The market in the US for soccer is improving, but profits are not yet such that these guys are making any more than I am, and I'm talentless - believe me! Once that is improved and/or fixed, the field product isn't going to be what it is abroad. World-class players won't have much incentive to come to America to play and talented young players like Jozy won't have any incentive to stay. You guys are acting like you don't understand these painfully obvious facts because it serves your argument for the moment I guess, but wake up, please.
You still don't make any sense, and moving the goalposts doesn't help your argument at all. Everyone here understands that Jozy's going to be leaving some day. Metro fans would like for that some day to be as far aways as possible. You'd like for that some day to be as soon as a half-decent offer for him comes in, regardless of price. If you claim to be a Metro fan, your point of view makes no sense at all. By the way, a little digging shows that he's under contract until 2011. So I'm reasonably comfortable in my assumption that RBFO is going to get way, way more for him than whatever Reading can offer. **gold star**
seriously if this kid is getting bids from major euro clubs why waste your money? especially when he has all these international games coming up to showcase himself, it seems like a true waste of cash. i'm all for mls progressing as a league but you cant say that a fresh young skilled talent with such potential like jozy is really going to be kept here by a DP spot. i'm sure adu will have some nice things to say, as a most likely prefers playing with benfica than "rael salt lake." there isnt enough reason for him to stay, why would he?