ASN: 11 Sturdy Takes on Jozy and Combine Arriving in MLS

Why accept one scribe’s opinion on the information of the day when you may get 11 takes in a single article? Right here, ASN contributors and pals chime in on the MLS signings of Jozy Altidore and Combine Diskerud.

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January 14, 2015
3:31 PM

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Brian Sciaretta
ASN contributing editor

These strikes couldn’t have come at higher occasions for his or her respective groups. NYCFC can now lastly begin to transfer in the proper course after the Frank Lampard fiasco. Combine Diskerud is a pleasant piece so as to add to what’s shaping as much as be respectable (and well-coached) enlargement staff. For Toronto, you must like what including Altidore brings. Michael Bradley will likely be in higher form after foot surgical procedure repaired a nerve subject that plagued him for many of 2014. Altidore will change Defoe and he ought to begin greater than 17 video games and rating greater than 11 targets—Defoe’s 2014 totals. As for the U.S. nationwide staff, it may well solely assist each gamers from the place they have been in 2014. Diskerud is now in a greater league and may have increased expectations. For Altidore, rotting on Sunderland’s bench wasn’t doing him or the nationwide staff any favors.

John Godfrey
ASN editor in chief

Diskerud’s transfer to NYCFC is nothing however optimistic: He’ll now be dealing with higher competitors and play alongside gifted teammates within the largest metropolis in America—a metropolis that may worship his exploits, each on the sphere and off. Good soccer transfer, nice enterprise resolution. (Is there a New York Put up again web page in his future? I believe so.) If Altidore certainly lands in Toronto, he is not going to obtain U.S. nationwide staff adulation from his residence followers, and he will likely be toiling for a sad-sack franchise that has severe personnel points and has by no means made the playoffs. Final season Bradley usually seemed like he needed to be anyplace however Ontario; I fear that we’ll see the identical expression on Altidore’s face in 2015.

John D. Halloran
ASN contributor
Since Clint Dempsey returned to Main League Soccer in 2013, it has solely been a matter of time till different high-profile People adopted swimsuit. Subsequent got here Bradley, and now Diskerud and Altidore. And realizing they are going to be making rather more cash and getting nearly assured enjoying time, who can blame them? Simply have a look at the English Premier League for loads of examples of overpaid (and maybe overrated) home stars. Regardless of Jurgen Klinsmann’s greatest efforts to encourage his costs to play overseas, the grass has really grow to be greener on this aspect of the pond.

Noah Davis
ASN Deputy Editor

I get why Klinsmann could be upset however I freaking love every little thing about these strikes. Diskerud has the persona to grow to be the kind of cult determine this iteration of the U.S. Soccer staff desperately wants, and he can choose the mind of NYCFC technical director Claudio Reyna to, you recognize, truly discover ways to play. As for Altidore, he clearly wanted a change and a beginning spot at TFC with Bradley is not the worst choice. And he is solely 25 so if he has a pair robust seasons he may nonetheless find yourself on that Champions League-level membership Klinsmann so desperately desires for him.

Maura Gladys
Kick TV contributor, soccer author
Congratulations, New York Metropolis! You’re about to have the most effective NYC sports activities celeb since Joe Namath! Okay….Perhaps that’s a stretch. However there’s actual potential for Diskerud to carve out a singular, outstanding area in New York Metropolis, particularly if the staff will get off to a robust begin. His transfer softens the blow of the botched Lampard transfer and in addition opens up a possibility for Combine to say himself because the man in New York’s midfield. He’s younger, he’s assured, he’s bought wonderful hair. What else do you want?

Brooke Tunstall
ASN contributing editor

On the finish of the day, it’s a enterprise and a job. These guys, particularly those that didn’t go to school, have such a small window to make as a lot cash as doable that they should take the gig that pays the most effective. If that’s MLS, then take it. All of us need MLS to get higher so any infusion of expertise is an efficient factor, as is the willingness to spend, although it’d be good in the event that they paid the lower-tier gamers extra. As for the nationwide staff—it is going to survive. I imply, it’s not just like the U.S. was going to win the World Cup with Jozy and Combine in Europe so I’d slightly see the home league enhance.

Charles Boehm
soccer author

Klinsmann is a unusual kind, however he is not dumb. And being the free-market advocate that he’s, he certainly can acknowledge the straightforward realities of the financial dynamics which have drawn his gamers homeward, the place they’re extra valued each on and off the sphere. Gamers typically aren’t dumb, both: They search challenges, sure, however additionally they wish to play, and to be valued and revered—and pleased, too, if in any respect doable. Each case is completely different, however they, similar to the remainder of us, typically select the office that gives extra of those qualities.

Robert Kehoe III
soccer author
Altidore just isn’t a savant who took Europe by storm, bulldozed the EPL into submission, and declared himself king to roam the world seeking targets in lesser leagues. He is among the hardest working, persistent, devoted, often potent, and terribly unfortunate strikers the US has ever fielded. MLS wants the latter not the previous, and since Altidore’s current disappointments are there for all to see, he’ll return hungry to show his qualities at residence. If issues don’t work out for Combine at NYCFC, New York is all the time searching for the subsequent nice Scandinavian DJ.

Travis Clark
TopDrawerSoccer.com

To see the continued stream of U.S. nationwide staff gamers heading again to MLS is clearly good for the league, each on and off the sphere. The
advertising and marketing ingredient is one thing the league workplace will like to trot out in entrance of followers, even because the uneven monitor file of participant improvement makes one marvel concerning the future expertise coming by way of. It is badly wanted optimistic press for NYCFC.

As for the gamers themselves and the nationwide staff? Not nearly as good. Diskerud’s choices appear to be slightly restricted so the NYCFC transfer is
most likely the higher of the chance for the pair. However I used to be somebody who was disillusioned when Altidore left AZ Alkmaar proper earlier than a World
Cup, a league that lastly bought the most effective out of him and was serving to him develop—even when scoring targets there’s a bit simpler than most different leagues, his tactical enhancements weren’t going to occur in the identical method at Sunderland. A transfer again to the Eredivisie would’ve been good,
however he is clearly not going to get almost as a lot cash as MLS will reportedly throw at him.

Kevin Koczwara
freelance soccer author

There was as soon as a variety of hype surrounding Diskerud. He was the subsequent teenage phenom, the brand new breed of technically gifted American midfielder—however for me he has been a disappointment on the membership degree. I anticipated him to make his transfer away from Norway sooner and to a different European league, hopefully to the Netherlands or Belgium. Now he is coming to MLS and I am a bit skeptical of the transfer—principally due to how lengthy it took—but in addition intrigued as a result of now he is placing himself on show proper in entrance of the peanut gallery. I believe he’ll be shocked on the tempo of the sport and the physicality of the league at first. But when there’s one coach who can get the most effective from him, I believe it is Kreis. I believe the NYCFC coach will play to Diskerud’s strengths and the American worldwide will be taught rather a lot enjoying in New York with the likes of David Villa (if he is actually signed). Combine has loads of expertise, nevertheless it hasn’t all the time been on show. He is been hidden away in Norway. Now, he is right here and he must take care of the scrutiny of the U.S. nationwide staff followers and that added strain can solely be good. Let’s hope he does not wilt.

Austin Farrow
freelance soccer author
This would be the largest take a look at of Diskerud’s profession. It is going to even be the most important take a look at of Altidore’s profession. Each must take management roles, one thing neither has accomplished a lot of overseas. Each must show their high quality to American followers who could also be skeptical of stated high quality. I am not a proponent of bringing all People enjoying overseas to MLS. I really feel it is essential to have gamers enjoying in a number of nations for the sake of the nationwide staff however these are two gamers who wanted this transfer for my part. Although I haven’t got all of their January choices laid out on paper in entrance of me, they appear to be stable profession selections to me.