Jozy Altidore’s switch from AZ Alkmaar to Sunderland represents a step up in competitors, however it may additionally lead to isolation, and frustration, for the 23-year-old American ahead.
BY
Blake Thomsen
Posted
July 10, 2013
12:41 PM
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AFTER A WILDLY SUCCESSFUL two years with the Dutch Eredivisie aspect AZ Alkmaar, Jozy Altidore will as soon as once more attempt his luck within the English Premier League following his July switch to Sunderland.
Altidore has grown as an individual and a participant since struggling at Hull Metropolis 4 years in the past, and he will likely be keen to point out English followers simply how far he has come. Nevertheless, Sunderland’s model of play could not go well with the 23-year-old New Jersey native, which may complicate this otherwise-promising swap.
As most U.S. followers know, Altidore thrives on service within the field. He’s not a real goal striker, he’s not significantly quick, and he’s not essentially the most technically gifted ahead—a minimum of not but. However he’s a deadly finisher when he receives the ball in harmful positions.
Altidore demonstrated as a lot by scoring 4 targets in his final 4 video games with the U.S. nationwide group—all from passes obtained inside the realm. He has scored dozens of comparable targets for AZ over the previous two seasons as nicely. However when left remoted up entrance with little help—as he was for a lot of his prolonged worldwide scoring drought and through his time at Hull Metropolis—Altidore has confirmed to be moderately unusual.
That is the place Sunderland’s system and Altidore’s strengths could also be at odds. Amongst EPL groups, Sunderland performed the second-fewest passes within the remaining third final season, suggesting that it 1) depends too closely on lengthy balls to begin assaults and a couple of) struggles to retain possession within the attacking zone. Unsurprisingly, the Black Cats struggled mightily to create possibilities as nicely, making a league-worst (in each classes) 7.34 possibilities per recreation and 0.74 clear-cut possibilities per recreation.
The dearth of clear-cut possibilities is especially worrying for Altidore, as these usually correspond with passes that result in open photographs in and across the center of the field—Altidore’s forte. In fact, all strikers take pleasure in these kinds of possibilities. However Altidore has demonstrated an uncanny knack for ending them off, and contemplating his struggles farther away from aim, they’re uniquely necessary to his success.
Listed below are the probabilities created charts from Sunderland’s remaining 5 video games. The blunt ends of the traces point out the place from the place the ball was performed, whereas the arrowed ends point out the place the ball was obtained. Arrows which are significantly removed from aim are the results of both a breakaway or prolonged solo run right into a taking pictures place from the participant who obtained the cross.
Sunderland did handle to get the win towards Tim Howard and Everton, however it created a paltry 4 possibilities and solely scored because of Leighton Baines’ terrible giveaway and a tremendous solo aim from Stephane Sessegnon.
In opposition to Aston Villa’s porous again 4—the third-worst unit within the league—Sunderland did little or no to threaten Brad Guzan’s aim. The Black Cats managed to create simply three possibilities from open play contained in the Villa field. The consequence, a blowout loss to a mediocre Aston Villa group.
The next week towards Stoke Metropolis, Sunderland turned in an abject attacking show, which resulted in zero possibilities created within the field. The squad did handle to attain on a nook from a Stoke defensive error, however it was nonetheless a really poor efficiency.
In one other winnable house recreation, Sunderland but once more created little of be aware within the field, this time solely discovering the web through a fortunate deflection off a hopeful Phil Bardsley shot from the sting of the realm. In opposition to the fifth worst away protection within the league, it was an unconvincing displaying.
Sunderland’s final-day displaying at White Hart Lane was really its better of the bunch. The guests had been in a position to create some possibilities on the counter as a determined Spurs aspect pushed ahead in pursuit of the aim they wanted to remain in Champions League competition. Regardless of this, Sunderland’s attacking efficiency left a lot to be desired towards an opponent that was there for the taking.
Every of those charts for Sunderland encompasses a markedly excessive % of possibilities which are created 25+ yards from aim. This speaks to the membership’s lack of ability to interrupt down opposing defenses and its subsequent reliance on lengthy photographs. Midfielders Adam Johnson, Stephane Sessegnon, Sebastian Larsson, and Craig Gardner are all significantly adept (and prepared) long-range shooters, however solely Johnson could possibly be characterised as an above-average passer.
Which means that the logical conclusion to a lot of Sunderland’s restricted forays ahead is the lengthy shot. Consequently, Sunderland’s strikers are sometimes bypassed in favor of hopeful makes an attempt from distance. It’s an exquisite technique to look at when it’s working, reminiscent of on this surprising demolition of native rivals Newcastle.
Video: Newcastle v Sunderland Premier League Highlights 04/14/13
However the technique not often works, which is a part of the explanation Sunderland solely scored 41 targets in 38 video games final season.
Worse, this method is especially ill-suited for Altidore, who could turn out to be annoyed as he watches his teammates launch bold lengthy photographs as an alternative of taking part in the ball into his toes.
At AZ, Altidore benefitted from the unselfish, artistic play of Adam Maher and Roy Beerens. And for the U.S. he has loved the service of Graham Zusi, Fabian Johnson, and Clint Dempsey (who doesn’t get sufficient credit score for his artistic abilities). Such gifted passers are briefly provide at Sunderland, and solely Adam Johnson managed greater than three league assists final season.
For a distinction to Sunderland’s lengthy shot heavy method—and to see charts that extra intently resemble what Altidore has turn out to be accustomed to with AZ and the U.S. in latest video games—contemplate the possibility creation knowledge from the Black Cats’ remaining two opponents.
Observe the focus of possibilities both in or simply exterior the field. Newly promoted Southampton, on the street no much less, created extra possibilities than Sunderland did, and with eight out of 9 contained in the field.
Tottenham’s chart is even higher fitted to Altidore.
Even with the sensational long-range taking pictures skill of Gareth Bale—who did in the end rating his customary beautiful winner from 25 yards—Spurs nonetheless performed ball after ball into and across the field, ready for a scientific striker to complete off the probabilities. That is the kind of system by which Altidore would virtually inevitably thrive, however it’s unlikely that Sunderland will present it.
In fact, that is on no account a stone chilly assertion that Altidore will battle subsequent yr. He’s undoubtedly within the type of his life, and he’s absolutely able to reaching double-digits in targets for Sunderland no matter its model of play.
Additionally, the costly buy of Altidore could sign a shift in intent for the Black Cats. The group wouldn’t be the primary Premier League outfit to turn out to be way more attack-minded with the addition of a prolific striker. The 2012-13 variations of Swansea and West Brom come to thoughts as latest examples of this tactical adjustment, and Sunderland could possibly be planning on an identical shift in model with the addition of Altidore.
Nonetheless, on paper this isn’t the right swap for Altidore. Solely time will inform if Sunderland followers will see a participant who extra intently resembles the free-scoring Altidore of AZ Alkmaar or the annoyed Altidore of Hull Metropolis.
