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Altidore suffers ankle sprain

Jozy Altidore (JohnToddISI)

Photo by John Todd/ISIphotos.com

U.S. national team striker Jozy Altidore has suffered a mild ankle sprain in training on Wednesday. According to U.S. Soccer, Altidore is listed as day-to-day after x-rays came back negative on the injury. The injury does not

Altidore will undergo a fitness on Friday to determine his availability for Saturday's friendly vs. Australia. If Altidore is unable to play on Saturday vs. Australia, which forward would you like to see get the start? Edson Buddle, Herculez Gomez or Robbie Findley?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. PEOPLE!
    1. Mild ankle sprain.
    2. The replacement chatter I saw early on is asinine. Brian Ching is not fast enough. Period. He’s not fast enough. NOT FAST. ENOUGH. Let it go.
    3. Stop second guessing B. Bradley’s every move. If Altidore has been starting previously it’s because he’s worthy compared to the others. If Altidore can’t perform well enough because of this ankle he won’t play. Assuming that Bradley is not competent enough to handle this player selection situation for the Australia friendly and for the England game is asinine.

    Thank you, now pay me 2 cents.

    I know you can barely afford it, but do it, because you just learned something.

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  2. I agree completely. For the last two months, Buddle has consistently demonstrated how well he and Donovan work together. For the last year Josy has demonstrated that he can’t score against the very people we will be playing against next week. We should be very comfortable starting Buddle with either Findley or Gomez, bringing the other in when and if necessary. The back line, of course, is an entirely different story.

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  3. *facepalm

    What are you thinking? ARE you thinking?

    Jozy is our best chance to score goals- especially against world class defenders where his elite physical attributes can create chances. See Spain game.

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  4. I fail to see a problem here! While Altidore is a great prospect, he has not fully matured to the extent that he is a consistent goal scorer. His time at Hull was productive only for learning what NOT to do.Admittedly he can be a handful for some teams, but I doubt after watching (as much as it hurts) several Hull games, The English and most likely Algeria and Slovenia know how to defend him (hint: it would not entail double coverage)

    Why not give them in-form strikers in Buddle and Gomez. Why not set up a speedy front end to the US team. Buddle does not have blazing speed, but he is fast and with the exception of Rio Ferdinand, faster than all the English backs. Pair him with Findley and you FEEL-THE-NEED-FOR-SPEED.

    Then have Gomez come off the bench to add that goal-sniffing ability of his.

    This is a blessing in disguise. I don not think it should be Plan B either.

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  5. For me.. I think the Dempsey experiment at forward with Altidore (or the closest Altidore type) is over. The dynamic was very flat against Turkey.

    I would like this team to line up as close the June 12 lineup as possible. This 100% gel time. And solidify subs time. Not experiment.

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  6. I agree.. for me right now. But when I was 20. Anything but a serious sprain healed in a week. Assuming mild means mild.. He’ll be fine for June 12. Against Australia will be interesting.

    wally pip? if anyone gets that reference..

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  7. I definitely agree. Judging by the Davies omission the US staff will not clear him on Saturday unless they’re positive he’s healed enough to be at or near 100%. June 12th is the game that counts.

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  8. well maybe another striker or someone can play mid and defender.

    The homer in me would take Chabala over Bornstein. Heck take Tim Ream or Omar Gonzales in order to give an up an comer an ideal what it is like to be on WC squad. Really just take anyone other than JB.

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  9. If you, as an adult (I assume), don’t have better control of your bowels than that, I’d suggest you don’t watch the World Cup at all. Or at least be sure to watch it in the privacy of your own home.

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  10. i agree with your point about the caps but bornstein has played well on the national team at points. no other MLS backs have really proved themselves on the national team, i mean just look at the gold cup. jay heaps and pearce did not look very good.

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  11. *ouch* well ya cant blame u cuz Jozy has yet to produce. i do like the Buddle/Gomez pairing.

    if Jozy isnt 100%, lets go with Gomez! in the World Cup it’s all about being in FORM. look at *MILITO* the freakin best striker in the world right now. u know argentina is ready. we need people in form, and jozy better heal quickly and score quickly

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  12. +1. But if its really just a mild ankle sprain he should play again in less than a week. Remember athletes heal faster than the average person. I sprained my ankle (mild) and I was good after 5 days plus the usa has one of the best medical staff if not the best

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  13. which brings up a question. How is determined that JB was the best that MLS can give? and Please don’t say caps count, to me in means nothing if those caps the player played bad.

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  14. Newsflash homie, you still have to get into a position to finish that chance off. Also, did you see his move in the first half to set up Deuce? Pure class. He may have “underachieved” at Hull, but he’s fu*king 20 years old, and he was on probably the worst side in the Premier League. Who had a really good year for them? Nobody, that’s why they got relegated.

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  15. Because it’s the FREAKING WORLD CUP man!!! I’d rush my hotel wake up caller to the ER if he had a hang-nail a week before just to make sure he could still dial!

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  16. If they go with the starters it will likely be what they did at the end of the Turkey game when they subbed out Altidore. Findley and Donovan up top Dempsey and Holden on the outside. That pairing seemed to work pretty good.

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  17. Guys, also remember that the dude is just 20 years old and an elite-level athlete … meaning, his recovery time is likely FAR shorter than ours … and heck, even I’d be 100% w/in a week of a minor ankle sprain … not that my 100% would impress anyone of course – I’m just saying.

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  18. Buddle up top, Demps on the right wing, Lando in mid paired with Torres. Maybe Beasley on the left wing, but only to test him. Bradley in a withdrawn role in front of the backs to help cover any back going forward. Boca, Demerit, Goodson, and Spector at the back. I dont know who, if any, should attack down the wing. What do you think and whats plan b? How does Australia attack? Italy just got beat by Mexico 2-1. So defense against offense as an option to beat any opponent just went out the window. Their cb scored their lone goal!

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  19. If it is such a mild sprain why would he be rushed to the ER. I think that he definately won’t be playing in the 1st match against England. I have had a lot of ankle injuries from soccer and basketball and they can take awhile to heal, let alone be 100%.

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  20. The thing about Jozy is that he has the potential to have a breakout World Cup. The atmosphere, coupled with his talent, and playing among guys that can bring out the best in his game could be a recipe for great things. I’m concerned about the back four too, but I think that if the U.S. is going to shock the world, Altidore must be great.

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  21. I remember the Bill Simmons interview with Landon where he asks him why he’s so good at PKs just a few days before he skied his shot at the MLS Cup. I will forever be suspicious of this talk.

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  22. Please BB leave the midield alone and use the opportunity of Altidore’s sprain to try out a new pairing up front –Gomez – Findley or Gomez – Buddle. Let Donovan. Torres, Bradley, and Dempsey actually play in the same positions two games in a row !!! I know that sounds like heresy but try it, THEY might actually like it.
    Also little less hysteria. I like Jozy too but he hasn’t been the indispensable man on the field only in our dreams and hopes.

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  23. ——————Gomez——————

    —————–Beasley—————–

    Donovan—–Bradley—–Edu——-Dempsey

    Bocanegra—-Demerit—–Gooch——-Dolo

    —————–Howard——————

    I call it “The Baquito Factor”.

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  24. What I found interesting about the video that you mentioned is that BBradley did not do much instructing. However when he did shout instructions 90% of what he said was “come on Johnny!” whenever Bornstein was involved in a play.

    very interesting to see the love affair in action, rather than just guessing that it is taking place based off team selection.

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  25. I saw that earlier today as well, immediately thought to myself, that was awkward, I hope nobody… nah, they wouldn’t show us an injury right? then went on with my day. Now I see this. Doh! At least it is just a minor sprain.

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  26. If Dwight Freeney can play in the Super Bowl after doing as much damage as possible with it still being classified a strain, I think Altidore will be fine for June 12. I agree that they won’t risk him, though, and there’s really no point, Altidore has played enough games with Dempsey/Donovan/Holden and has been in training for a month now (basically) with the other forwards. Missing one friendly won’t be a setback for him, whereas the USA may gain from having other players gain the game experience with the first team. I definitely would rather have everyone healthy, but as long as he’s 100% for the England game, there are some positives to be found.

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  27. Ive made this comment before, but this occasion warrants another. What is so Super-Human about Landon Donovan? The guy is NEVER injured! Truly amazing.

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  28. This tune up is still a 6 sub affair right? Well hell, play the first 45 with Jozy, Onyewu and Boca on the bench of you’re all so nervous about injury. Heck, give Holden and Beasely some minutes as well. After watching how they thoroughly roughed up Denmark I’d keep as many of my starters off the field as possible. Last thing we need is an injury to Dempsey or Donovan because of a careless elbow or late tackle.

    Nontheless. part of this tournament is getting through with scrapes. He’s day to day but I’m sure we’ll see him on the pitch before the Nats come home.

    1st half:
    Buddle Findley
    Beasely Edu Bradley Holden
    Boca Goodson DeMerit Spector
    Hahnemann

    2nd half:
    Jozy Findley
    Donovan Torres Bradley Demspey
    Boca Gooch DeMerit Cherundolo
    Howard

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  29. If they x-rayed it, it was to look for structural damage to the bones. X-rays don’t really show you anything as far as muscles or ligaments/tendons go. An MRI would be needed to evaluate those parts.

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  30. Not worried. He definitely shouldn’t play on Saturday regardless of his fitness.

    From the looks of these proposed lineups, a lot of you guys are going to be disappointed. I expect 2, maybe 3 projected starters to play and those will be subbed out early in the 2nd half, if not at halftime. I fully expect to see Buddle and Gomez partnered up top, Bornstein will play, most likely alongside Goodson and Gooch. Dempsey and Donovan will not play, and Bradley will most likely sit out as well.

    A result over Australia would be nice, but you don’t under any circumstances risk further injuries in a meaningless game heading into the World Cup. Use this game to sort out your subs and get your backups some minutes in case they need to play when the tournament begins.

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  31. Or some people need to work on reading comprehension. It’s changed now, but it said, “If Altidore is unable to play on Saturday vs. Australia, which seems unlikely at this point…” Key words being unable and unlikely. If he really did intend to phrase it that way, it would hint that he should be available to play.

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  32. I know it’s PROBABLY minor but this has RUINED my day. Damn you, Jozy!

    Patiently awaiting news that Rooney’s groin injury has flared up . . . .

    Reply

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