As many pundits on the USMNT going into the World Cup will agree, the backline is the biggest question mark and concern. Immediately behind that is the Jozy Altidore goal drought, for both club and country. As the starting #9 up top, Altidore will play as big a role in the Yanks’ success or failure this summer. He has historically been an emotional player, and even when he is playing well, if he hasn’t been finishing his chances, he hasn’t had that edge that made him an absolute beast in the Hex.
This past summer, Jozy Altidore transferred from AZ Alkmaar in the Netherlands to EPL bottom table team Sunderland. Altidore was the centerpiece of the Black Cat attacking additions. The club started off terribly, taking only one point in the first five matches. Paolo Di Canio was sacked, Gus Poyet came in to save the club from relegation, and Altidore fell down the forward depth chart in the process. In early April the American was sent down the the Under-21 squad. Altidore finished the campaign for the year with several decent sub performances and even earned a penalty call against Chelsea. Sunderland avoided relegation, but Altidore’s future with the club remains uncertain.
Personally, I would like to see him stay at Sunderland next year. Much of his lack of success this year was due to circumstance rather than his own play. Poyet started giving him a chance in the later stages of the season. If Sunderland can make some changes in the midfield, Altidore will get more service, and he has proved that when given chances, he finishes them (see 31 goals in 41 caps his last year at AZ and 8 goals in 12 international caps in 2013). Playing in England will be good for him in the long run. Unless the NYCFC DP rumors are true, it’s the best option for his career in my mind.
Jozy Altidore hasn’t scored for the US since October 11, 2013 against Jamaica. His only goal with Sunderland this year was last August in a League Cup match against MK Dons (insert old man voice “never heard of ’em”). Altidore has always been an emotional striker by US standards. He’s no European Diva. He hasn’t burned his house down like Mario Balotelli. But unlike Clint Dempsey, Brian McBride, or Landon Donovan, Altidore’s confidence and by extension his form is predicated mostly on whether he’s scoring or not. I don’t mean to bring the guy down. I love Altidore, but this mental hump is the only thing preventing him from being a regular starter in the EPL. He has the potential to be the USMNT all time leading scorer if he can get over this mental hump.
He can hold up well, he can pass well, win free kicks, even get an assist. He can do all that, but if he’s not scoring, he just isn’t the same. I thought he had a great game against Turkey. He showed lots of effort, he looks 90 minutes fit, he helped put pressure on the backline to relieve the backline at times. His hold up play was marvelous. If having a crap year in England did him any good, it took his hold up play to a new level, something the USMNT will desperately need at times in Brazil. He did everything but score. But you could see the frustration on his face. You could see it affect his play in the second half. There’s just something missing about him. He is going to get a chance to score in the group stage; when that time comes, he will have to bury that scoring chance. A frustrated Altidore who is second guessing himself might miss where last year’s Altidore would score.
The USA plays Nigeria on Saturday. That will be Jozy Altidore’s last chance before the World Cup match against Ghana. If he doesn’t score against Nigeria or early on in the Ghana match, I believe he will sink further into the pit he is stuck in. He could freak out mentally. Then with a chance to equalize in stoppage time against Portugal, he might his shot set up by Michael Bradley or Dempsey.
I don’t mean to be a Debby Downer, but I’ve been watching Altidore for years. This is what I see. He just needs to get a goal. It doesn’t need to be a golaso, it just needs to go in the net. Then, the weight of the world from this past year at Sunderland will be off his shoulder. The questions from the media about when he will score will cease. And Taylor Twellman will stop bringing up his sulking demeanor. We’ll see that energetic smile with pearly white teeth. He’ll climb out of the pit he’s trapped in, ‘Dark Knight Rises’ style. He’ll have pep in his step again. He’ll play free. He’ll play happy. And in the 92nd minute, he’ll bury that chance against Portugal and run towards the corner flag like a little kid playing in AYSO happy as can be.
And the camera will pan to Ronaldo, in utter disgust, because that washed up never-was who couldn’t start for Sunderland just scored the equalizer at the death.
Jozy Altidore needs to score against Nigeria or early on in the Ghana match for the USMNT attack to be able to score their way out of the Group of Death. You can do it, Jozy, I believe in you.
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