re: Hopefully that's the last of Altidore

quote:

---

He doesn't seem to produce when it counts the most.

---

I mean, the off year Gold Cup is largely worthless, but he did score in the semi final & final this past year.

He was also our catalyst during that winstreak we had in the hex last cycle, think he scored in like 5 straight games.

Jozy Altidore = Olivier Giroud

That's the best comparison I have in terms of output/how good he actually is.

quote:

---

Jozy has gotten his goals but I can't think of time when we really needed a goal and Jozy came through. He doesn't seem to produce when it counts the most

---

2 goal and an assist against Panama on Friday. Can't say we didn't really need that win. 2 goals in 3 games in the last Gold Cup. 3 goals in the last 2 games to get us into the hex. 2 of those being on the last day against T&T and we needed a result. 6 total goals in that stage of qualifying.

Would have been nice if someone besides him and Pulisic stepped up for a change.

I like Jozy, and the attacking trio of him, Pulisic, and Wood looked really good against Panama. He really is the most consistent high level striker we have. He may not still be starting by 2022, but he will, and should be involved.

I was merely thinking on the line of, if you look at just their overall stats you'd think their pretty great (Just the USMNT for Jozy).

But when it comes to actually producing consistently they leave something lacking.

quote:

---

Third leading scorer of all time by age 27, and on pace to surpass Dempsey's tally for goals and assists.

---

I love how people keep bringing up that he's the "third leading scorer." He plays on a team that didn't qualify for the world cup this year, for a program that's only made it out of the knockout round one time in its history (before 1990 doesn't count). Yes, he's one of the best our team has had at that position for the last decade, but that doesn't mean he is an outstanding player in the soccer world as a whole. We need better players and to stop using records set by slightly above average soccer players as some sort of way to accept an average to slightly above average level of play. If you play for a historically average team, records don't mean that much.

quote:

---

Yes, he's one of the best our team has had at that position for the last decade, but that doesn't mean he is an outstanding player in the soccer world as a whole. We need better players and to stop using records set by slightly above average soccer players as some sort of way to accept an average to slightly above average level of play.

---

You're arguing two unrelated points as equivalent. The first point shows that we don't have better options, so we shouldn't be excited about the idea of that option not being used. The second point is being argued by literally no one except maybe Bruce. Any US soccer fan knows our roster is not elite. The Jozy defense is that we have no one better. If you're saying, "it can't be worse!" then be careful what you wish for.

quote:

---

Even you can't think he played well last night....he was unbelievably bad in possession.

---

I don't think anyone played well last night (outside of maybe Yedlin). I also don't think it was a good idea to play the same 11 on a waterlogged so soon after another must win game.

Maybe we are just talking about two different things.

quote:

---

The first point shows that we don't have better options, so we shouldn't be excited about the idea of that option not being used.

---

I don't agree with people who say Altidore shouldn't be starting on the current squad. That's not what the OP said. The OP, like many others I assume, is looking to the future of the program in hopes that better players will come along than Alitdore before the next WCQ.

The "Jozy defense" I'm referring to is when people say he is not very good (as a soccer player) such as the statement in the OP and someone defends him by saying "but he scored lots of goals for the U.S.!" I can say he's not very good and also say he should be starting, because like you said, he's the best we have. I'm not saying "it can't be worse", but am saying "we should expect better."