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Johannsson scores in AZ’s first game back from winter break

Aron Johannsson AZ Alkmaar 1 (Getty Images)

By FRANCO PANIZO

Not even the winter break is enough to cool down Aron Johannsson.

Playing in AZ Alkmaar’s first game since Dec. 21, Johannsson got back on the scoresheet in the club’s 3-0 victory over NAC Breda on Saturday. The U.S. Men’s National Team forward found the back of the net mere moments from halftime, getting on the end of a cross from the left flank before heading a ball that ricocheted off his body but still rolled past the goal line after kissing the inside of the post.

Johannsson’s goal, which gave AZ a 2-0 lead, gives him 19 across all competitions this season. He also now has 12 in league play, which makes him the third-highest scorer in the Eredivisie behind SC Heerenveen’s Alfredh Finnbogason (17) and Feyenoord’s Graziano Pelle (13).

Here is the goal:


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What do you think of Johannsson’s latest goal? How many more will he score by season’s end? Starting to think every U.S. forward should go to AZ?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

    • I like the Bundesliga and the Dutch league as destinations for American players. One thing they tend to get there is direct feedback, which they might not get as much of in another league. I remember Josy having to sit out some games for AZ because the coach thought he needed to improve specific aspects of his game. Not saying they do not get that in England, but the Dutch and Germans tend to be very direct, and I think a lot of American players benefit from that.

      Reply
    • True, Jozy can’t carry bottom clubs in EPL, maybe mid Serie A, La Liga or Bundesliga.
      Or a top Portuguese or Dutch club.

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      • Service, service ,service. If he was playing for a team with a decent attacking and holding midfield, he would be scoring at least a goal every other, or every third game.
        He signed on with a shambolic, disorganized struggling team that is barely now showing some signs of getting their midfield play pointed in the right direction.
        Many of you remarked in earlier posts that over the period of his drought with the USMNT, it was more about how the team played (lone striker up top) and the paucity of midfield service into the box that caused him to go through long spells without a goal.
        Be patient – this is not the finished product, he will yet delight and excite, attain, fulfill and exceed our expectations.

  1. Sadly, Jozy made the wrong career choice and Jozy is on downward spiral.

    While Kevin Bacon continue correct route, maybe Serie A or La Liga is his next choice.

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    • One bad season does not a downward spiral make. Lots of players have an off season because they go to a team, league or country that simply does not work for them. Then they move and voila it’s like it never ever happened. I’m not saying hat’s the case here. Jozy and his whole team are in a bad spot because now but it is quite clear that the team is figuring stuff out and getting the results they’ll need to save themselves.

      This is still the same Jozy that was successful just a few months ago in the dutch league, tore it up for us in qualifying and scored a hat-trick on Edin Dzeko’s team on their home soil. He is a striker (and Lord knows how those guys can often go through bad stretches even under the best of conditions) on a team that was poorly put together but they are figuring it out – sadly that process is taking some time but in reality it was always going to require some time.

      Fans do what they do – we cheer and boo, laugh and cry and talk smack (and nonsense on a blog) and sometimes take it too far in the sad cases of violence. We want the instant gratification that we think we so very much deserve – because we bought a ticket, merchandise or were born on the right or wrong side of the street. Our actions do not have to make one bit of sense but it results in the the passion that fuels the engine that makes any sport successful enough to become a powerful business. I get that. But Gus, JK and all the guys who have been there and done that know what it takes. They have seen these things before and all can personally share with you their stories of how they have gone through such problems. And in their cases, people who knew better and understood more about the game than the few camera angles that we see watching on a TV or the full 90 min we experience while at the stadium. That is why a guy like Jozy still starts and that is why a guy like Jozy will very soon have many of us eating crow…again…about his career, a career that we have all earned out PhD’s from.

      Reply
      • Crap sorry I meant to say…

        “And in their cases, people who knew better and understood more about the game (more than the few camera angles that we see watching on a TV or the full 90 min we experience while at the stadium) understood that bad times come and go and worked with them and helped them through it all.”

      • Fans also tend to apologize for players instead of acknowledging their flaws. It’s always someone else on the team, the manager, the atmosphere, the “anti-American bias”, or some other reason.

        Say what you will about his strength, skill, and potential (all of which he has plenty), he is far too disaffected and uninvolved in the team. The eyeball test shows it consistently.

        It’s not just that his first touch often lets him down or he misses a sitter now and then, but psychologically he seems to check out of the game. Even when he falls into a defensive responsibility, he does not chase off the ball the way that a striker (especially one who isn’t lighting up the score sheet) is expected to do, and for a team that relies on bunker and counter tactics, he does not bomb forward with aplomb enough either.

      • True on the apologize part – lump that into the senseless activities file.

        But my point still remains – better minds see reason to still pay and pick Jozy week-in and week-out. Better minds know much more than your ‘eye test” (whatever the heck that is). I am quite sure a fine world class striker such as yourself knows all too well about the psychology of a striker who is down on form and low on confidence so I’ll simply concede to your expertise. I am just not a big fan of kicking someone when their down – I know my apologetic sentiments are getting in the way again.

        My point still stands that while the circumstances, as they are right now, are not working in Jozy’s favor he is still a quality player with a decent future awaiting him. It’s plain common sense reasoning but call it apologetic if you will. Now if you want to go and make him something else then that is on you.

      • I still think he checks out of games because of his cardio/weight. I think the Eredivisie was good for Jozy because he stopped focusing on the physicality of the game and got to focus more on the mental and cardio aspects. You look at what leagues he spent his most time in and there is a lot of emphasis on “being physical and strong” (MLS/EPL) and less emphasis on technique. The Dutch League and La Liga (where Jozy spent a very brief loan) are the opposite, with the focus on being fast and smart. Unfortunately La Liga isn’t a place for an American prospect to learn the game right now.

      • Two good seasons in Holland does not a top striker make.
        You seem to forget Altidore also had a bad season at Stoke, Villareal, Xerez, Bursaspor….

      • way to call yourself out as someone who has absolutely no business talking about his career. you don’t even have the correct teams listed, much less an accurate depiction on his levels of success at those places.

      • On that note, even great players have lots of difficulties during their careers. Didier Drogba’s Wikipedia page gives some examples. I am not saying Jose has the talent of Didier, but if such problems are experienced by some of the best players in the world, it stands to reason other players are going to experience them. I think we Americans are too impatient when we expect only success.

      • This effecting Jozy’s finishing and performance with USNT. Reason why Jozy could waited after World Cup, for a transfer. This is twice Jozy is failing in the EPL. And striker main job is to score (I know Sunderland sucks).

    • you were probably one of those who was talking about how he could not score for the US too before he broke records for consecutive games with a goal and goals/game over that period

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      • After Sunderland? has Jozy scored for USNT? I know short time but you could see Jozy’s mental acuteness isn’t there like before.

    • AJ has more “potential”
      If I were an EPL team looking for a striker I would give AJ a chance.
      Jozy has shown he can’t cut it here.

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    • Bacon is 23. 6′ 150 lbs soaking wet.
      Jozy is 24. 6’1″ 180 lbs soaking wet.

      Jozy has always been a big boy. It wouldn’t surprise me if he struggles to keep his weight down. Even when he was 16 is was built; he had to be to survive playing in MLS back then. Bacon clearly has focused less on being strong enough to hold off defenders and more on his touch and positioning. It helps that he’s not tiny by any means but he’s going to grow a bit more naturally into his body. You can tell Bacon doesn’t lift weights like Jozy does/did.

      For those people in this thread who say Bacon has more potential. I agree. Jozy as he gets older is NOT going to get faster; he’s going to get slower as he struggles to keep his weight down. What Jozy needs to work on most is his cardio, stop lifting (he’s plenty big enough) and just run his ass off if he wants to turn up his game. If Bacon can naturally put on 20 lbs of muscle in the next 3 years, he has the potential to be a monster striker in the EPL.

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      • You are the first person that I know if to note Jozy’s size as a factor working AGAINST him. I agree: As he ages he needs to actually lose weight, which means upper body muscle. The only way to do that is intense long distance biking or running – ain’t gonna happen.

  2. Dutch League is nothing! Can score like that in English Premier League? If so, then we can say He is an “American Got Talent”

    Reply

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