Photo by ISIphotos.com
U.S. national team striker Jozy Altidore has been granted a UK work permit, clearing the way for him to make the move to English club Hull City on loan.
Altidore did not automatically qualify for a UK work permit because he had not appeared in 75 percent of the United States A matches over the past two years, but his appeal was successful, likely due to the fact that he had appeared in all 10 of the U.S. team's A matches this year prior to the Gold Cup.
The work permit approval paves the way for Altidore to make his debut for Hull City against Chelsea on Saturday in the EPL season opener.
What do you think of this news? Can you see Altidore starting and playing well for Hull? Still think he should have gone somewhere else? Are you hoping he starts for the United States on Wednesday?
Share your thoughts below.
Garbra-Start paying these players…Hull sucks!
@Posted by: James | August 11, 2009 at 03:01 PM
So you’d prefer he stick in a place where he will do what he will only do what he is already good at which is the most base level football out there? I’d kinda like him to develop technically as a player. Can you imagine how much Donovan and Deuce would benefit if they had a striker who had some ability to pass very well from the top when he is under too much pressure to turn and shoot? We are missing that big time.
Jozy is OK at it now but he still needs a lot of work in that regards.
I guess if you just want him to continue to learn how to just use 100% brute force football all day then yeah I guess your dream has come true. He needs to be in a CL club.
P.S. Yes, I would be shocked if any of those clubs made it to CL because EVERY YEAR. Spurs are supposed to be the one to ‘crack the big 4’ and every year there is another club that is gonna shake things up and every year it remains the same.
What has Man City REALLY done? They have improved but not enough. Let’s face it. Prestige counts for a lot. Kaka turned down a ton more money to play for a club with a massive reputation. (arguably the biggest club in the world) Man City will improve but are they automatic CL caliber? I wouldn’t get too excited. The big 4 are still loaded for bear and will have the edge in any bidding war. I mean if ManU and Man City are bidding on the same player which one do you think is gonna win that battle 99% of the time? I LOATHE Man U and I would sign for them before City in a heartbeat due to the history and legacy of the club alone.
@Posted by: EA Scott | August 10, 2009 at 12:44 PM
I think you need to read what you wrote again, and take a peek at where Jozy is playing. 🙂
He isn’t at a club that is even half as good as Fulham (or the others you mentioned). Most of his playing time in the Prem is gonna involve sitting 11 behind the ball and praying for a counter. He will learn how to be Brian Ching not Drogba.
I’m not saying starting is bad. It’s preferable to what he was doing. However, my hope is that he will be able to do great and return a starter…at Villareal next year so he is with a club that isn’t praying for it’s life week in and week out. Also, at a club that values possession football not route one punt and pray BS that 90% of the Prem employs as their ‘tactics’.
One last note folks, the only ‘best league in the world’ is Champions league. It is honestly the only place you get stern tests week in and week out. So the non-sense about the Prem or La Liga being better is a but off base. I mean there is a reason there has been a greater and greater push to making Champions League ‘THE’ European league and the domestic leagues the ‘minor’ leagues.
It is the only venue where you have to be fluent in and capable of adapting to any style of football. If Jozy is at a club that is not Champions League bound, then he isn’t in the best league in the world. Getting shelled by ManU, Liverpool, Arsenal & Chelsea 8 times a year isn’t going to go very far to develop who he is as a player. (or anyone for that matter)
It used to be true that there was a huge drop-off between teh Big Four and the rest of the league, but I’m not sure that is true any more. Would anyone be shocked if Man City, Spurs, or Everton qualified for the Champions League.
The EPL is all about power and speed. Jozy is a big strong guy with a lot of pace. In Spain, they rely more on technique. Obviously Jozy is not yet a polished player, so I could see how he might struggle in La Liga. In the EPL his raw athleticism should allow him to be successful.
The bottom line here is that Jozy was playing for the Red Bulls a short while ago, was not playing at all recently, and he has now been handed a ticket to start in the EPL against some of the best players and teams in the world having just scored against Spain. Jozy now has to prove himself on the field, period. He has to work hard, finish the chances he gets, and create whatever he can. If he does, he won’t be at Hull for very long, for all of the right reasons.
Good news!
Jeez… He’s going to play, and he’s going to play quite a bit. And once a player gets to Jozy’s level, he needs playing time to develop. At any top-level club, where the rich are impossibly rich, Jozy would only see a game or two. And at that point, how do you quantify that a player has “developed” when he can’t even play in a game? Enough “development” to start him next year in the World Cup?
I’m viewing this as hold-up forward boot camp. I think it will be good for his long-term development… though I’ll be a bit worried if Hull ending up picking up the option to buy.
Ives,
I heard on ESPN Deportes Radio that ESPN had officially landed the rights to broadcast two EPL games. The first one will be Hull-Chelsea on Saturday, August 15.
Looks like Hull are grabbing Stephen Hunt from Reading. Say what you will, but he’s a 28 year-old Irish International that can attack. He’ll help with those services people seem to be worrying about. That will help. Hull look to sign an Algerian international too. He’s another striker that plays for Celta Vigo. His name is Kamel Ghilas. He should add some attack and push Jozy to be better. Both Rovers and Bolton wanted him, but it looks like Hull might land him. These aren’t Kaka or Rooney, but they’re solid signing for a team looking to avoid relegation. Jozy will be just fine and Hull very well could avoid relegation. Doubters need to quit acting like the sky is falling. Also, quit with the crappy commentary about “development” of players. Jozy will be fine because the competition is good and he WANTS to improve. It’s more about the player’s attitude than anything else.
Go On, Big Guy!!!
You guys think the EPL has the biggest talent drop?
Spain had a HUGE talent drop last year after Barcelona and Real Madrid. This next year will be even larger.