I have only seen Altidore in play on International level (had no idea he was only 25), although his size/strength will help to create havoc in the box, out-muscle defenders and he will also be a threat on the set pieces. Looks like he has some great pace too.
Would you care to list some of those injuries? As far as I can tell, his only injuries were during the 2011 gold cup, and before the last WC.
I find it very ironic that Altidore supposedly has to match the numbers that a never injured Defoe would have scored (even though Defoe actually is injury prone, and would never actually score that many goals), yet Altidore won't be able to because he's supposedly injury prone, when in fact he isn't
There was also the ankle injury in the lead-up to the 2010 World Cup. His toe in 2009 when he was with Villarreal. The ankle injury in 2008 with the Red Bulls. The calf problems in 2007, and the groin problems in 2006. The guy is made of glass!
Apart from his brief spell in the Dutch leagues, he's often been injured. And that isn't typically something that goes away as one ages!
Perhaps I'm being pessimistic ... but it's not hard to see how this could likely go.
I agree that Altidore shouldn't be held to the production of an injury free Defoe, but I'm hoping he good for at least 10.
My only concern is if he only produces 10, I think we would have got the same production from Gilberto and then used the load of Garber bucks we would have got from the Red bulls and probably the league for allowing Altidore to go to red bulls to sign some decent wingers and a second/third stud cb. Just seems like we could have benefited more that way. Guess only time will tell now if the FO made the right call.
The most tangible advantage of Altidore over Gilberto is long term. The intention with Gilberto was always for him to use MLS as a stepping stone in his career, which means he'd be here for one or two more seasons. Altidore is a player that could conceivably be here for the next 5+ seasons
He missed games at Sunderland with a hamstring both in 2013, and later in 2014, long after the World Cup which he also had hamstring problems.
Sure, he could suddenly not get injured frequently. I'd put more money on a poor season, Giovinco underwhelming and running back to Europe after underestimating the physicality and travel in MLS, and Vanny/Bez being shown the door before year-end.
It's the same plot every season isn't it?
Last edited by nfitz; 02-08-2015 at 10:32 PM. Reason: typo - 2014 not 2013 oops
Okay from that perspective it does make sense.
Here a supposition though, what if you keep Gilberto and he clicks for two years and wins the golden boot one or twice bagging 30/40 over that time period.
Your then in a better position than with the Altidore acquisition, because you can sell Gilberto for a bigger fee, then either address the striker need then, or already have a replacement on hand ready to step in.
It can go both ways really, I really hope Altidore thrives for us in the now and in the future for years to come. I just think that with the clubs history of giving up on players that "aren't" good enough that then go on to be serviceable parts or stalwarts in other sides has me longing for a little more roster cohesion when we do bring in quality that doesn't necessary adapt in the short to mid term.
Jozy leaves US game due to hamstring soreness.
Lol.
If he does have hamstring issues, then there might be some reason for concern. But it also depends on the case. Some players have hamstring issues where they'll miss a game here and there throughout the season, but nothing major. Do you know how long he was out for each time?
I would tend to blame that on effing Klinnsman overworking them all.
He's got a month to get better.
The same one as the World Cup? Sounds recurring..
I still have serious questions about our defense. We've made a lot of high-profile additions at the top, but our defense has historically been a massive problem. Having a bunch of amazing goal scorers isn't going to matter if opponents can keep us penned in our own end, or go up a goal on us all the time, and then sit back and absorb pressure from us the rest of the match.
“Heroism breaks its heart, and idealism its back, on the intransigence of the credulous and the mediocre, manipulated by the cynical and the corrupt.” ~Christopher Hitchens
I think with perquis in the defence now we're better off than last year, and by all accounts that I've come across the French kid has a chance to be a real stud.
And hagglund ain't that bad either and is a beast in the air, he should have had like 8 goals last year.
Sometimes a good is offense is the best defense to take the pressure off the defensive players, it makes the other team respect us pushing forward.
Last year it was obvious we were anemic going forward when Defoe and Gilberto were not clicking, our wingers were useless and nobody really took us seriously going forward, it put more pressure on our D.
I still think we need 1-2 more high IQ players, I just couldn't stand how one dimensional our team was going forward last year.
I wouldn't count anymore high IQ players coming in now, and one thing to consider is we have a coach with a better coaching IQ who seems adaptable(at least that's what I took away from the article JK posted after the original Giovinco presser) who isn't going to train the side into the ground, in some mistaken notion that continual back breaking training is a sure fire way to success.
Aparently is was his "other" hamstring and not the one he hurt in the WC.
This good, yes?
What, today? I didn't even know the US was playing. Good grief!
How many hamstrings does he have? He did one in 2011, and then one in 2013, and then 2014. And now 2015? I can't see any way this is good. Perhaps my 6 goals was overly optimistic!
maybe he left as a precaution.
LOL!
I agree with this 100 per cent. Taking this guy over Gilberto will be the worst mistake TFC has ever made. (and there have been many). I think Gilberto suits Giovinco so much better, and Gilberto will score more goals wherever he ends up than Altidore will for TFC