Altidore to be a key piece for U.S.
Young star's stock continues to rise as he impresses in U.S. camp
By Greg Daurio / MLSnet.com Staff
Jozy Altidore is perhaps the most promising player in U.S. soccer at the moment.
CARSON, Calif. -- If one were to identify the face of U.S. soccer at the moment, the general consensus would be LA Galaxy forward Landon Donovan. If a poll were to be taken to identify the best young player in U.S. soccer, most would answer former D.C. United and Real Salt Lake player Freddy Adu. But if people were to ask to identify the most promising player in U.S. soccer, Jozy Altidore of the New York Red Bulls would be at the top of everyone's list.
Altidore burst onto the scene at the tail end of the 2006 MLS season, at age 16 becoming the youngest player in MLS history to score a playoff goal. He backed that up in 2007 by not only staying out of the shadow of Juan Pablo Angel, but becoming the perfect offensive compliment to a player many considered the top player in the league.
A successful tournament at the FIFA U-20 World Cup last summer has had the youngster linked with transfer moves to Real Madrid, and Altidore closed out the year by being featured on the cover of EA Sports "FIFA 2008." Not too shabby for a kid that just turned 18 at the beginning of the month.
Altidore is currently in camp with the U.S. national team as they prepare for a friendly against Sweden this Saturday at The Home Depot Center. It would be easy for a teenager to buy into the hype and carry a big head into his second full national team camp. But Altidore has been his typical soft-spoken and humble self, using the opportunity as learning experience and chance to get better as a player.
"Anytime you get a chance to play with the best players in the league, guys like Landon (Donovan), E.J. (Eddie Johnson), Jimmy Conrad, it's a good experience," said Altidore. "I've been very happy with my experience so far."
Altidore has been a staple with the youth national teams, but is a newcomer with the senior side. The jump from the U-20 level has been a massive one for Altidore, as it is for every player making the jump.
"It's a lot more physical. The game is faster," said Altidore. "At the U-20 level you're playing with guys your own age. Those guys don't see things the same way these guys do so it's a little different. But at the same time, you still have to compete and bring the right intensity and the right mentality."
To no one's surprise, Altidore has made mistakes in training. Luckily for him, veterans like Donovan have taken him under their wing to help bring him along.
"They (the veterans) have all been very helpful in the whole process and helped me put together things that I haven't learned on the levels before this," said Altidore. "It's been nice of them to really take me under their wing as a whole, from the training to the coaching staff, they've all been great to me so far." Possibly the best thing to come out of the camp for Altidore is the fact that playing with the best players in the league is teaching him what areas of his game need the most improvement. It's a lesson that isn't going unnoticed.
"I think my movement has to get better. I've been able to get away with being less mobile before," said Altidore. "At this level, it gets seen when you're mobility is lacking a little bit. I have to be on my toes more and that is something I'm going to learn as I go through the process."
