Altidore - plank!


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I just finished watching the full match online and I can honestly state Jozy was arguably the best Sunderland player on the pitch with the exception of Westwood who made some great saves to block Walcott on multiple occasions.

Yes, there were at least 3 occasions when Altidore first touch/possession looked clumsy, but for the most part, he had a good match...He did his job by making himself a threat throughout the match and with better luck, could had gotten 2 goals.

I actually believed he played much better then Fletcher and looked like the only guy that could score a goal out there...Fletcher had 2 magical moment when he got on the ball and showed glimpse of class, but that was about it..He was invisible for the most part...

I just don't know what match people who claimed Jozy played poorly, was watching...If he was poor, then Fletcher was poorer because he didnt even put a shot on goal.
 
With Wickham it's different, there doesn't appear to be any consistent game plan. His style is very random and changes through the game and from game to game. I think he's had too many different "masters" since he came here and ever changing instructions have left him confused and lacking any real direction.
I haven't changed my view since first seeing him play. He could've developed a "back to the defender" type game like quinny to use his big frame more. If someone asked me what his style was i honestly couldn't answer. It appears to be run around a lot and hope for the best. I don't think it's all his fault either, far from it.

I think that's what he's always been though. At Ipswich he was a rampaging left wing/forward type of player, but due to size and supposed strength everyone has always expected him to mature into a centre forward, where he's played for the young England sides. The biggest improvement in his game came last season when I would imagine O'neill was working on him as a typical back to goal centre foward and the lad was beginning to link up better and use his body better. The problem for me is that he's not had regular games in the role to achieve it and that's going to be a problem here as he simply doesn't deserve or warrant them.
 
I think that's what he's always been though. At Ipswich he was a rampaging left wing/forward type of player, but due to size and supposed strength everyone has always expected him to mature into a centre forward, where he's played for the young England sides. The biggest improvement in his game came last season when I would imagine O'neill was working on him as a typical back to goal centre foward and the lad was beginning to link up better and use his body better. The problem for me is that he's not had regular games in the role to achieve it and that's going to be a problem here as he simply doesn't deserve or warrant them.

i want him to do well but until someone sits him down and says "when we have the ball do this" and when "they have the ball do that" he'll be running around in circles forever.
ive got no problem with him doing a bit of rampaging or the odd dribble but its his interactions and link-up play with team mates that are the big problem. he needs to have a basic function and reason to be on the pitch in terms of the team structure.
if he can hold down a simple basic role all of the rampaging can come along with time. he seems to be trying to do a bit of everything and achieving very little.
i'd be happy for him now just to get a defender on his big back, receive the ball and lay it off to one of our players. if he could at least do that for the time being it would buy him time on the pitch to really develop. i'm not knocking him as i don't think the majority is his fault. i don't think he's been given enough structured guidance.
 
Decent post and most of it is true.
The main thing about Altidore is he has a style to his game and you can actually see what he's trying to do in general play. He may not always do it but at least you can see what he's trying to achieve. His team mates should be able to improve as they get more of a steady consistent understanding.

With Wickham it's different, there doesn't appear to be any consistent game plan. His style is very random and changes through the game and from game to game. I think he's had too many different "masters" since he came here and ever changing instructions have left him confused and lacking any real direction.
I haven't changed my view since first seeing him play. He could've developed a "back to the defender" type game like quinny to use his big frame more. If someone asked me what his style was i honestly couldn't answer. It appears to be run around a lot and hope for the best. I don't think it's all his fault either, far from it.

A decent summary of both Altidore and Wickham.

I think we saw flashes today that Altidore will cause centre backs problems. With decent service a fully fit pairing of him and Fletcher could well work.

On the other hand, Wickham to me looks like a fish out of water. Within 5 minutes of him coming on there were two instances where he was chasing a high ball in an attacking position. In both cases his marker knew exactly where the ball was, but Wickham didn't have a clue. Shades of Kevin Kyle.

I don't know if he'll ever develop into a top level striker, and the managerial changes since he came here can't have helped him, but he looks like a classic case of a young kid who should have learnt his trade in the championship, ideally under a decent manager, before trying to step up.

I feel sorry for the bairn but at the moment all I can see is a physique like a brick shit house and very little else.
 
Whickham gives a lot more, but he's probably not being paid as much as the US piece of 4 x 2

Im not sure bout Altidore yet.....don't think he's going to get goals, but he is a million times the player that Wickham will ever be. The lad is no good at all, Don't think Ive seen a player with a physique like his be nudged off the ball so easily...probably not even Championship class
 
A decent summary of both Altidore and Wickham.

I think we saw flashes today that Altidore will cause centre backs problems. With decent service a fully fit pairing of him and Fletcher could well work.

On the other hand, Wickham to me looks like a fish out of water. Within 5 minutes of him coming on there were two instances where he was chasing a high ball in an attacking position. In both cases his marker knew exactly where the ball was, but Wickham didn't have a clue. Shades of Kevin Kyle.

I don't know if he'll ever develop into a top level striker, and the managerial changes since he came here can't have helped him, but he looks like a classic case of a young kid who should have learnt his trade in the championship, ideally under a decent manager, before trying to step up.

I feel sorry for the bairn but at the moment all I can see is a physique like a brick shit house and very little else.

the one significant thing ive noticed about wickham is he doesn't seal his opponent off first before trying to get the ball. he just tries to escape or run away from the man leaving a gap for the defender to move into and intercept.
the first rule for an attacker is to look for the defender, make contact, seal off and then move into the space created with the defender 180 degrees sealed off with your body. you really don't need much space if the defender is blocked off. wickham tries to avoid contact and although he finds more space it isn't really his so he's never in control of the situation.
its basic attacking in most sports. good attackers don't need much space, but they need it to be "their space".

i hope someone starts to give wickham structured guidance as the premier league is a hard and unforgiving place to learn your basic trade.
 
Jozy needs the ball played into his feet. Despite his size and strength he's not going to win a lot of headers against EPL center backs. I'm not sure why, maybe he just doesn't judge the flight of the ball that well or time his jumps well. If you try to force him to play like a traditional big English route 1 CF he'll frustrate you and you'll wonder what PDC ever saw in him. He'll never be mistaken for Kenwyne Jones or Benteke in the air, that's for sure.

He loves drifting out wide left and making runs in from there, like you saw with the "goal" yesterday. Look at his goals at AZ and you'll see so many came from out left. Play the ball to his feet and he will score goals, improve the link up play and help create goals for others. I don't think he'll ever score 15+ in a season, but he'll contribute a lot to the team. He could be great for Fletcher and vice versa as they get used to each other's styles of play.

Part of the reason he has struggled for consistency so far is that he is getting used to his teammates and they are getting used to him.(As I'm sure part is due to getting used to the higher level and different style in England) Once they figure out each other's tendencies things should get better. The lack of preseason games probably contributed to that lack of understanding.
 
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