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Ramsey Report: Jozy Altidore’s Maturation
Goal.com’s Allen Ramsey kicks off his new weekly column with a look at the progress Jozy Altidore has made in the last month.
Feb 11, 2010 3:35:00 AM
By Allen Ramsey
There’s a theory in English football that it takes a striker a full year to adjust to playing in the EPL. Going by history, the statement rings true in all but a few special cases (Fernando Torres and Ruud van Nistelroy come to mind). At the bigger clubs this often leads to players being brought in and used sparingly until they find their footing, or until injuries force the manager’s hand.
For Jozy Altidore that was never going to happen.
When Altidore was brought to Hull City last summer it was apparent that Phil Brown planned on using him from the start. At a club like Hull, when they shell out the type of wage packet it takes to sign a players that came to Europe on a record transfer that player is expected to be on the field. Even a twitter slip up early in the season – discussing team matters in public is a quick way to the pine in England- didn’t do much to keep the youngster off the pitch.
But like with any high level professional sport, the EPL is a “What have you done for me lately?” type of league, and as the January transfer window rolled around Altidore and Hull City were struggling.
Brown made his move, bringing in Egyptian star Amir Zaki, possibly to try and stop the bleeding, or possibly to try and spark a fire under his young striker. Whatever Brown’s motive, it worked.
Since returning from compassionate leave, Altidore has been one of Hull’s best players, and the team has responded with its best run of form since November with only one loss from their last four.
Even in the loss against Blackburn on Wednesday, Brown showed his faith in Altidore, choosing to leave him on and withdraw Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink rather than the American when the club went down to ten men just before the break.
Altidore’s growth as a player has been easy to spot. In recent matches he’s figured out how to use his large frame to hold off defenders while still looking to release the ball. He’s taken far fewer ill-advised shots. Most importantly, his workrate has become that of an everyday EPL forward rather than that of a bit part player.
The improved play was rewarded on the weekend with Altidore’s first goal in the league which was possibly the best example of Altidore’s growth. The early season version of Altidore may have lashed at the ball- if he found himself in that position at all- opting to go for power rather than placement. But the 2010 version took the more effective route, calmly curling a low shot into the corner.
Along with the on-field maturation, Jozy is saying all the right things off the pitch as well.
"It was great to score, but the most important part was getting a win against what a lot of people consider to be a powerful team," Altidore told the Hull’s website after his goal against Manchester City. "Hopefully, there will be more goals to come for me, but this isn't a personal thing here at Hull. It's a team effort to stay in the Premier League and it's more important that the team do well than anything else.”
Hull’s battle to stay in the English top flight will be tough. The club is just one point clear of the bottom three, and all three teams below them have at least on game in hand on the Tigers, and relegation battles are never ideal. But for Altidore, the situation is not the worst one possible.
For the next two months every match is vital, every point precious. The grind will be brutal, but for a young player looking to make his mark, there is no better way than become a club’s savior in its time of need.
For the latest news and updates from Goal.com, follow our Twitter account!
For Jozy Altidore that was never going to happen.
When Altidore was brought to Hull City last summer it was apparent that Phil Brown planned on using him from the start. At a club like Hull, when they shell out the type of wage packet it takes to sign a players that came to Europe on a record transfer that player is expected to be on the field. Even a twitter slip up early in the season – discussing team matters in public is a quick way to the pine in England- didn’t do much to keep the youngster off the pitch.
But like with any high level professional sport, the EPL is a “What have you done for me lately?” type of league, and as the January transfer window rolled around Altidore and Hull City were struggling.
Brown made his move, bringing in Egyptian star Amir Zaki, possibly to try and stop the bleeding, or possibly to try and spark a fire under his young striker. Whatever Brown’s motive, it worked.
Since returning from compassionate leave, Altidore has been one of Hull’s best players, and the team has responded with its best run of form since November with only one loss from their last four.
Even in the loss against Blackburn on Wednesday, Brown showed his faith in Altidore, choosing to leave him on and withdraw Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink rather than the American when the club went down to ten men just before the break.
Altidore’s growth as a player has been easy to spot. In recent matches he’s figured out how to use his large frame to hold off defenders while still looking to release the ball. He’s taken far fewer ill-advised shots. Most importantly, his workrate has become that of an everyday EPL forward rather than that of a bit part player.
The improved play was rewarded on the weekend with Altidore’s first goal in the league which was possibly the best example of Altidore’s growth. The early season version of Altidore may have lashed at the ball- if he found himself in that position at all- opting to go for power rather than placement. But the 2010 version took the more effective route, calmly curling a low shot into the corner.
Along with the on-field maturation, Jozy is saying all the right things off the pitch as well.
"It was great to score, but the most important part was getting a win against what a lot of people consider to be a powerful team," Altidore told the Hull’s website after his goal against Manchester City. "Hopefully, there will be more goals to come for me, but this isn't a personal thing here at Hull. It's a team effort to stay in the Premier League and it's more important that the team do well than anything else.”
Hull’s battle to stay in the English top flight will be tough. The club is just one point clear of the bottom three, and all three teams below them have at least on game in hand on the Tigers, and relegation battles are never ideal. But for Altidore, the situation is not the worst one possible.
For the next two months every match is vital, every point precious. The grind will be brutal, but for a young player looking to make his mark, there is no better way than become a club’s savior in its time of need.
For the latest news and updates from Goal.com, follow our Twitter account!
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