Jozy Altidore's loan move to Spanish second division leaders Deportivo Xerez is now official, a source close to Altidore confirmed on Friday.
Altidore joined his new club today for the start of a half-season loan that should afford him the opportunity for much more playing time than he has been receiving with Villarreal.
So why would Villarreal loan Altidore out to Xerez and not a bigger club like Everton? It's pretty simple really. Villarreal have long-term plans for Altidore to be a part of its club. Keeping him in Spain will allow Altidore to continue his assimilation to the culture, and will also allow Villarreal to keep close tabs on his progress. He is also joining a club that is currently in first place in the second division so he won't be expected to come in and carry the team. Xerez is also coached by respected former Barcelona player Esteban Vigo.
For those wondering, Xerez returns to action on Sunday to face Alicante CF, which currently sits second from bottom in the Segunda standings.
What do you think of the move? Like it? Hate it? Are you frantically trying to find out how to watch Xerez games online?
Share your thoughts below.
Good move, he needs the time.
He who shall not be named (rossi) was loaned all over before breaking into the first team.
Q – What’s got two legs, knows everything and no patience?
A – An American Soccer fan
This is part of the development of players Jozy’s age the world over all the time. It doesn’t spell the end of his time at Villareal or mean his career isn’t still on the rise. Be patient. He’s not going to win the 2010 World Cup for us any way. Relax.
“We need more technically gifted players on our roster. Going to england would have been a disaster in terms of development.”
I am so sick of this stereotypical, typecasting of the Premiership (as a punt and run league). Maybe that would have been an adequate description 7-10 years ago, but today the league is home to some of the most technically gifted players in the world. It would not have been a disaster for his development…not that I am knocking this potential loan move, but such a response is cliched and outdated…
carry the team?? c’mon.. he’s never carried a team in his life, can these great expectations stop for an unproven player whose transfer fee was paid solely on potential and not achievement
Hmmm. I read an article posted this afternoon on Marca (that would be Spain’s afternoon time, not EST) that quoted a Villarreal exec saying it was pretty unlikely.
http://www.marca.com/2009/01/30/futbol/equipos/villarreal/1233318955.html
It’s a good loan if he gets more time on the field and a bad loan if he doesn’t.
In most of the Spanish-speaking world Xerez or Jerez is pronounced “heh-ress” with the accent on the second syllable. It is a common word as (someone explained above) it the Spanish word for sherry (which is an English attempt to say Xerez). There’s lots of regional accents and dialects within Spain so it’s possible it’s pronounced differently in Xerez than it is in Villarreal.
playing on a team thats fighting for promotion is only a good thing very few americans know what that is like and jozy should develop nicely in Spain. We need more technically gifted players on our roster. Going to england would have been a disaster in terms of development.
playing on a team thats fighting for promotion is only a good thing very few americans know what that is like and jozy should develop nicely in Spain. We need more technically gifted players on our roster. Going to england would have been a disater in terms of development.
X factor. My boy will play now and I bet he’ll score plenty of goals then maybe gets scooped up by another team in Europe and becomes world class. That’s my prediction!
According to the Xerez wiki page, they list Gino Padula as one of their famous past players. Cool!!
the kind of move young freddy should have pursued….
Xerex has two primary scorers, Antonito (31 yrs old) and Momo (26). They have scored well, 11 and 9, respectively but neither are hot commodities. I assume they want coverage for the stretch drive. It is entirely possible that Altidore won’t start but he should see plenty of the pitch as a sub.
Regards,
This is great. If Altidore can get continious playing time, this is a good thing!
Ives please clarify this post and last post. Was Xerez trying to buy Jozy instead of just a loan deal and the transfer fell through? Did Villareal want to sell him but Jozy and Pelligreni wouldn’t allow?
This is really wonderful, glad to see him hopefully get some PT now.
Is Xerez’s kit sponsor Xerox? Wouldn’t that be cool…
True there are no guarantees, so time will tell if this was a good move…
Altidore and the coach had a problem with a full transfer not the loan deal.
Quakes fan,
Sure he wasn’t guaranteed a first XI spot at Everton, but how do we necessarily know that is guaranteed one at Xerez?
Milkshake of despair,
The US doesn’t have to worry about Xerez “releasing him”…the game is on a scheduled FIFA international date and the team is required to allow him to play if he is called into the squad.
just want the kid to get some PT. that is all
Well I think is a good move cause now he can earn a spot in the starting line up and work hard to move this club to the first division. Having someone close to Barcelona is way much better cause if this coach like what he see from Altidore can be a stepin stone to go back to Villareal and be a start player or go to Barcelona. Remember almost all Barcelona ex player are like Family.
just want the kid to get some PT. that is all
This is great. Still alittle confused if Jozy and his coach at Villareal are happy about it, though.
milkshake of despair – International dates have to be recognized. If Bradley calls him (which he will), he’ll come.
It’s a good move in terms of PT, but I (selfishly) would like to see him play for Real Zaragoza…
I have the same question as RK….why does a first place team need him? Did they lose their main striker? Being a first place teams is worrisome, we dont need another bench to sit on.
We need help from our SBI Spanish mafia.
Ives, or anyone else, do you know anything about the forward situation at xerez? Is Altidore expected to start? Who will he be competing with for minutes?
I think its a great move. It will allow him to get valuable playing time (hopefully) and stay familiar with the spanish system.
Evrton currently have NO strikers, so saying he wasn’t going to play for the Toffee’s is not really true. Moyes takes short term loan players all the time. IMHO, he’s done in Valencia. They’ll move on.
This move only works if he is getting TONS of playing time. The team is in first place so it seems odd that they would negotiate a loan for a teenage striker. And of course I’m always skeptical of US players’ European transfers after Adu, Bradley, Edu, etc.
I still would have liked to see Altidore at Everton. Cahill is only starting at striker because they have no one else, if they had a healthy true striker, that player would be on the pitch. I think Jozy has proven that he can rise to the occasion and that’s why I don’t think the move would have affected him as much as they worried about.
Altidore has proven to be a big time scorer: two goals against Brazil, goal in very little time with Villareal, go ahead score against the Netherlands, and of course the beautiful goal against Mexico in his first start for the national team.
Even though I’m disappointed that the deal to Everton didn’t work, if Altidore gets plenty of playing time with Xerez, then there is absolutely nothing wrong with this move.
I like it. The guys needs as much PT as possible going into 2010.
Andrew,
Agreed. But the fact is, he was getting nothing where he was. I’ll take the possibility of “Some” over the certainty of “None” any day.
Sounds like good news to me! I hope he gets more playing time. Let’s see where he is in 6 months, maybe he’ll need another loan.
None of us know enough about Xerez; why does a first-place team need him?
I like it.
Worse case would be he actuallyu transfers there. But, with them likely to be promoted, Jozy would be back in La Liga next year.
He needs to play – period.
Eh
A loan to Everton did not guarantee playing time, he still most likely would be sitting on the bench. He’s still super young and this should give him a chance to play on a team that is fighting for promotion. I don’t see this as a bad thing at all.
Faux Fur and Soccer Shirts: its great news as long as he doesnt sit on the bench there as well.. he needs to be playing!
I’m amazed that anyone can find a negative in this situation. This is great news.
I know the Segundo Division is a reputable league and many La Liga clubs “farm” out their talent to clubs in that division but I’m skeptical of this loan. I don’t know why though. Maybe because the Everton loan was out there but Villarreal passed. I guess my thought was that Jozy would move on loan to a top division side. But ultimately this is going to benefit Jozy so I guess I can’t complain.
The X is pronounced like the SH in sherry (Xerez is the home of sherry).
tommy- exactly my thoughts.. will he be starting this sunday???
Dang it! Now I have to buy a PC so I can watch the games. I’ll have to save $ by cutting off my GolTV until he’s back to Villreal
Any idea of how to watch the games?
I would guess Villareal has the option to have him returned at any point.
Great move, I am assuming he will start ASAP.
One less reason to have GolTV.
I don’t like it; neither Jozy nor Pelligrini wanted it. Jozy also had a chance to make the CL roster.
I’m guessing this guarantees that Villarreal sign Oliveira.
Spencer, I don’t think Everton were willing to negotiate a 6 month loan like this. This is great keeping him in Spain and getting him playing time then back to Villareal when the season ends.
How do you pronounce it?
Should have let him go to Everton
Anything that gets him on the pitch works for me. The competition isn’t the same but being exposed to the Spanish style of play is what will benefit him.
Who are Xerex?…….My new favorite Spanish team of course.
I’m optimistic at this point. He’s had some time to work with Villarreal and learn the system and training. Now it’s time for 6 months of action. Assuming he sees the field, this will give him an opportunity build on what he’s learned and come back to Villarreal and fight for a spot. Best of luck to Jozy!
What does this say of his chances of being released for the Mexico game?
Ives- I cant say how enthusiastic I am about this. Altidore has so much potential, and needs to be playing.
so much for that no loan thing they said a few weeks ago