Commentary
U.S. Positional Rankings: Striker Altidore fends off challengers, for now
- by Ridge Mahoney @ridgemax, Jan 24, 2013
By Ridge Mahoney
He's been inconsistent for the national team, and his touches still need work, but the former MetroStar has climbed atop the ladder of U.S. strikers by
scoring like crazy in the Netherlands.
All strikers go through maddening scoreless droughts, and perhaps no U.S. player in recent history has maddened fans more than Jozy
Altidore.
“Lazy,” “slow,” and “ponderous” are among the descriptors used. Those supposed flaws haven’t impaired him much in the Dutch
League, and thus he’s No. 1 among a list of players arbitrarily assigned to this category. In general terms, a striker often plays furthest forward among the attackers and/or serves as the focal
point – if not necessarily the preferred target – when the ball gets across the halfway line.
Classifying these players as strikers, and others as forwards (in Wednesday’s edition), is not to declare they can’t be deployed
together. Herculez Gomez is adept at piercing runs with or without a partner up top, and Alan Gordon has shown an ability in San Jose to play paired another
striker-type (Steven Lenhart) or a forward (Chris Wondolowski) or both of them. But a combination of Altidore (striker) and Clint Dempsey (forward) seems to make the most sense.
The
rankings will be updated later in the year. They are based on national team performances, future prospects, and club form, among other factors.
Soccer
America's Top 6 U.S. Strikers
1. Jozy Altidore (AZ), 52 caps.
2. Terrence Boyd (Rapid Vienna), 7.
3. Herculez Gomez
(Santos), 19.
4T. Alan Gordon (San Jose Earthquakes), 1.
4T. Will Bruin (Houston Dynamo), 0.
6. Kenny Cooper (New York Red Bulls),
10.
Also considered: C.J. Sapong (Sporting Kansas City), 2.
He still frustrates many U.S. fans, as well as Coach Jurgen Klinsmann, yet
Altidore’s scoring rate since moving to the Netherlands has explained, somewhat, the insistence of former national team coach Bob Bradley to play him as much as possible. By
hitting 29 goals in 52 games for AZ, he’s proven he can consistently hit the net in a good league. Confidence borne of club success should boost his national team performances and sharpen his
touch and movement in tight spaces.
His strike rate of 13 goals in 52 U.S. matches is solid but he didn’t score in seven appearances last year, triggering louder howls of protest. In
the Hexagonal he can truly confirm a place in the starting lineup. Goals are the first barometer of evaluating a striker, but if he’s causing problems and the Americans are scoring, how many he
gets isn’t all that important. He needs to tie up defenders, deliver good balls to teammates, dominate in the air, and take a few cracks on frame. If he opens up spaces that Dempsey exploits,
all is well.
Boyd is off to a great start in Austria, with nine goals in 17 matches. He can play as a target man, and his ball that set up Michael Orozco Fiscal for the goal that beat
Mexico in Azteca Stadium last August suggests he’s learning some box savvy as well. He could give Klinsmann a very enticing option if his goalscoring form continues, and at 22 (in February)
there’s vast room for improvement.
A rather tepid Apertura season for Gomez (four goals in 12 games) drops him behind Boyd for the time being, but he’s already scored once in
the 2013 Clausura and his experience playing against Hexagonal opponents is sure to be utilized by Klinsmann. Two of his three goals last year came in qualifiers, and the other was against Brazil.
This is his first Hexagonal, yet at age 30, he’ll be counted on for poise under pressure. He can run down balls over the top and slice through back lines on the dribble or in pursuit.
If the debut of Gordon was surprising, his assist during an 18-minute substitute appearance against Antigua & Barbuda was astounding. As one of the better big men (6-foot-3) in MLS, Gordon is
also an experienced veteran who takes commitment to team very personally, and he’s nimbler than he looks at first glance. Only six players topped his total of 13 goals last year.
In
his second pro season, Bruin placed just behind Gordon by scoring 12 goals, and lit up the postseason by netting four more. He’s shown a knack for timing his runs well, is quick over the first
few yards, and doesn’t back away from the physical duels. Klinsmann has given opportunities to talented, eager, young players, and the Dynamo man certainly qualifies in those areas.
Another big man, Cooper, topped everybody except Chris Wondolowski by scoring 18 goals but Klinsmann never called, which extends his run of exclusion that dates back to a sub appearance in the 2009
Hexagonal finale against Costa Rica at RFK Stadium. His last U.S. goal came in the ’09 Gold Cup semifinal against Honduras; might he get a recall for the same tournament this summer?
Sapong scored nine MLS goals and debuted for the U.S. last year after winning MLS Rookie of the Year honors in 2011. He was excluded from the January camp this time around.
U.S. Positional Rankings:
Forwards
Attacking Midfielders
Holding Midfielders
Left Midfielders
Right Midfielders
Left Backs
Center Backs
Right Backs
Goalkeepers
Hey Mahoney, it's obvious that you haven't seen Barcelona play; that's the type of football we need in America: intricate embroidery, delicate-filigree, cerebral, enormously entertaining and goal-making football. The troglodytic game played by most teams in the world --including here in this good old USA-- must be canned and replaced by the Barcelona style, where, furthermore, the stone-age idea of a striker doesn't exist, where all attack...and all defend, including Messi, Iniesta, Xavi, Pedro, Fábregas, and Busquets.
I agree with cooper being overdue for a call. could there be a reason why klinsmann is avoiding the call? here is a long shot but worth a try.. call matt taylor for a camp. klinsmann should actually remember him.
IS Austria league better than Mexico's?? I don't think so. Not even close. Actually, Mexican league is better than Dutch league, in my opinion. So Gomez is scoring goals in a better league and has performed better in his few caps. It's common sense Ridge. Maybe you should use it when making these lists.
I think Mahoney is a little off base here with this. Typically, JK goes with the 4-2-3-1, which generally means there is little distinction between fowards and strikers. Dempsey is usually in the middle of that group of three attacking mids, so really the rest of the "forwards" listed should be grouped with the strikers. Now, as far as that list goes, it is obvious that Klinsmann favors Gomez, and probably Boyd, to Altidore. Klinsmann wants alot of movement and hustle from his player up top, and Altidore simply doesn't do that. Yes, Jozy has a strong shot and can occasionally hold up play from his spot, but he doesn't work the channels or get into the positions he needs to in JK's scheme. In any case, Gomez is clearly the top option right now for the striker/forward on the national team - not Altidore.
I think Luis is a tad over the top on his evaluation of the Mexican league. It's certainly better than Austria, but I don't think it's better than the Dutch league yet. Having said that, I agree with James that at this time, Gomez looks to be Klinsi's first choice at striker over Altidore. Whether this continues depends on their performances going forward. Altidore is obviously the future; people forget how young he is because he's been on the radar for the past 4 years. He's only 2 years older than Boyd who is definitely a "project" yet. For Gomez the future is now given his age. This is his one world cup shot. Right now, I'd start him over Altidore as JK does, but I imagine he won't hesitate to change that if results aren't forthcoming.
Albert, the argument could be made that they are pretty close. Mexican is more competitive than the Dutch league where it's usually the same teams making the final.
Cooper for a NT callup? Are u serious?