An assistant coach from Newcastle United attended the New York Red Bulls’ 1-0 playoff loss to the New England Revolution in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Saturday night.
It turns out that Newcastle United have been scouting young Red Bull’s striker Jozy Altidore, according to sources.
Altidore turned 18 years old yesterday (November 6th), which means he would be free to join an English Premiership side in January. Jose currently plays for the American Under-20 side, and had an excellent Under-20 world cup in Canada, where Jozy was their top scorer with 4 goals.
Jozy Altidore – impressive for NY Red Bulls this season
Josmer (Jozy) Altidore was born in Livingston, New Jersey and currently plays for the New York Red Bulls of the US Major League Soccer. His hometown is Boca Raton, Florida. Jozy is a powerful looking young forward, standing 6’ 1†tall and has played for the Red Bulls 29 times scoring 12 goals.
He has been a member of the Under-17 United States national team and was part of the U.S. squad at the 2005 FIFA U-17 World Championship. Jozy has also played for the American U-20 team in their successful qualification for the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada last summer. That’s the tournament in which young David Edgar captained the host nation – Canada. Other players who Newcastle are said to be interested in, and who also played in that tournament in Canada last summer, include Real Madrid’s 20 year-old Polish left back Krzysztof Krol, who we also profiled on this site.
We will profile young players who Newcastle are said to be interested in and Jozy is the 4th such player following Krol, Ajax Amsterdam 21 year-old defender Urby Emanuelson and Wesley Ngo Baheng, an 18 year old striker from Le Havre, who we believe will sign for Newcastle in January.
During the group stage of the U-20 World Cup, Altidore scored 3 goals, helping the Americans to advance at the top of their group D. He scored two goals in the Americans’ 2-1 win over Brazil and in the quarterfinals scored a goal in the first half against Austria. With 4 goals to his credit, he was the leading goal scorer for the Americans in the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
Altidore seems to be a typical youngster that Chairman Chris Mort has said Newcastle would bring into the club. The plan is to finish their development at the Tyneside club, but to capture players young, before they have become big stars. He is one of a growing number of impressive young Americans who are now getting into football, having been able to see the opportunities that the Premier league provides.
We’ll have to see what happens with young Jozy, but he looks like an impressive young talent and is the type of physical player Sam Allardyce is known to like.
Comments welcome.
29 comments so far
jaypro
Nov 7, 2007 at 7:36 PM
Comment #1Jozy had 9 goals this season while partnered with Juan Pablo Angel up top. This after missing significant time with his club to play in the U-20 WC.
Bill f
Nov 7, 2007 at 8:12 PM
Comment #2The few times I have seen him he’s looked good but will he fit in the EPL. One for our American cousins to answer.
wsq
Nov 7, 2007 at 8:47 PM
Comment #3I wish i had this sorta physique when i was 18!
adam
Nov 7, 2007 at 8:48 PM
Comment #4we get him on a free, so wouldnt hurt to give him a short term contract for him to prove himself to us.
Tom_Toon
Nov 7, 2007 at 9:01 PM
Comment #5Wow, if this is true great news and i generally dont rate half the youngsters we have been linked with but Jozy is a great player people in the USa and generally around the world rate him much more than Adu.
Mike
Nov 7, 2007 at 9:16 PM
Comment #6adam,
he’s still under contract for a few more years. the reason he is “free” to move to england now is that unless you have an EU passport you can’t move to europe until you are 18.
Tom_Toon
Nov 7, 2007 at 9:33 PM
Comment #7Many of the maericans are saying he is amazingly strong for a 18 year old and would be the perfect replacement for viduka. They are saying it would be hard for him to get a work permit, but there is this thing called the exceptional tal;ent rule which Jozy would apparently qualify for as he scored 4 goals ni the u-20 world cup. Apparently Newcastle were scouting Eddie Johnson not Altidore, why do we want another Martins who is half as good, that is also what the americans are saying. Apparently Eddie Johnson is a smokescreen for Altidore. A american journalist also saw our scout talking with Alitdore after the match and shaking hand.
Heres the link for you:
http://njmg.typepad.com/sbi/2007/10/newcastle-unite.html
Tom_Toon
Nov 7, 2007 at 9:42 PM
Comment #8Nothing but bad thing about Eddie Johnson from american fans, nothing but good thing about Altidore from american fans.
SW
Nov 7, 2007 at 9:49 PM
Comment #9I’m a Yank (actually i’m Dutch, but I lived there for 24 years)…anyway, Jozy is an undoubted talent. In many ways he reminds me of Oba- strong, fast, nose for goal. However, he’s not a technically accomplished player. By that I don’t mean he’s got the chops for one-on-ones a la Robinho. Granted, he’s still young and has years to develop this aspect of his game. He does move well off the ball though and his first touch is better than most Yanks playing professionally.
I think his speed is his best asset, then his predatory instincts. His WC wasn’t full of spectacular goals, rather they were real poacher efforts- if memory serves.
jaypro
Nov 7, 2007 at 10:10 PM
Comment #10He’s very strong ,has quick feet, can hold the ball up and pass or turn and create space for his shot and he’s got enough pace to run at defenders and cause problems for teams trying to hold a high line. He played out on the wing a bit this season although not his best position still managed to cause problems and score goals. He still has a year left on his contract so it’s going to take some cash to pry him loose.
Brisbane Mag
Nov 7, 2007 at 10:11 PM
Comment #11We appear to be looking at good young talent and this will benefit the squad over the long term. We need to strengthen the first team squad and need to replace several players with guys wjo will fit into the squad now.
We must balance buying for the future with ensuring the first team squad of today is good enough. At this time, it’s not……..
jmduncan
Nov 7, 2007 at 10:21 PM
Comment #12At last! A solid American talent being scouted by NUFC. I desperately hope that we sign Jozy. I have had the opportunity to see him play in person many times here in the U.S., and he is the real deal. At this point in his career, I see many similarities in his playing style to Clint Dempsey, although I believe that in about 2 years Altidore will be superior to Dempsey in every aspect of his game. Altidore WILL be the best U.S. outfield player ever to play profesional football. As for Johnson, Eddie’s not such a bad player, just inconsistent, but when he is on top of his game he is extremely dangerous. EJ has the most pace of any player on the U.S. national team, whatever that’s worth. Take it from an ill-informed American football fan, aquiring Altidore on a free would be a coup.
jaypro
Nov 7, 2007 at 10:22 PM
Comment #13http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmExheyGwKs
Check that out and look for his game against the Galaxy where he had a brace.
Matt
Nov 7, 2007 at 10:59 PM
Comment #14Ok this is a long long bow to draw, but in Fifa 08 in management mode Altidore ends up being an absolute superstar.
Keep Oba
Nov 7, 2007 at 11:13 PM
Comment #15Jozy is THE best young American talent. Yes Freddy Adu is more technical but he is much smaller. Jozy is not small (at least 6’1 and 175lbs…sports doctors say he will probably be about 6’3) and is already much bigger than Oba. In fact I think they could eventually work very well together and their speed and powerful shots. Plus getting people from MLS is pretty cheap since you dont go through the teams you go through the league to get them.
Just think of this…would you rather see Jozy flying up the pitch knowing he will be on the upside of his career or someone like Ameobi clunking around?
1000% for it!
Keep Oba
Nov 7, 2007 at 11:15 PM
Comment #16Also..look how Portsmouth’s front lines look with their speedy, tough, players with powerful shots.
Leo
Nov 7, 2007 at 11:23 PM
Comment #17exactly keep oba, i totally agree, we need to be looking at these sorts of players, strong and quick and tall… he seems perfect… and only head good things so far…
Tom_Toon
Nov 7, 2007 at 11:26 PM
Comment #18@Matt, no point in even mentionaing things like that and also they had to make him a superstar as he is one of the Americas Ambassadors for the game along with Ochoa.
AdamJD2
Nov 8, 2007 at 12:28 AM
Comment #19Jozy is a great investment for Newcastle! They get him now and train him, he could do very well in the EPL. McBride did well and Dempsey is doing well. I think Altidore has the talent to do the same…plus he’s young, cheap, and trainable. I’m all for it.
Hadrian
Nov 8, 2007 at 1:41 AM
Comment #20lad looks great , but where are all the gifted young midfielders we are scouting? and what about the here and now , everywhere you go people harping on about how world class our front line is , and they are right!!! wouldnt cost much to build this team for the now aswell as the future . wanna see some tanks on some lawns ffs !
jaypro
Nov 8, 2007 at 2:16 AM
Comment #21Agreed we need some mid fielders with pace for the present.
Hilly
Nov 8, 2007 at 4:04 AM
Comment #22I’ve seen Jozy play over here and he is, as most people have mentioned, a great talent. The Prem is a tough nut to crack for any striker, but I think given time, Jozy would adjust very well. I think it’s unfair to compare him to Adu. Freddy’s career has been horribly mismanaged, but seems to be getting back on track now. Jozy is on a much better track and could be the star that the US need to bring some prominence and wins to our national team.
ToonKing
Nov 8, 2007 at 2:49 PM
Comment #23I’ve only seen Jozy once or twice during the U-20’s tournament amd he seemed pretty good. I’m all for getting young blood in and that is the way to take the club forward.
+he can speak english…………….well not proper english but none the less 🙂
Bill f
Nov 8, 2007 at 3:28 PM
Comment #24Weren’t we getting a young defender from the MLS as well. Looks like Sam is keeping a good watch on football out there. (It’s not soccer it is and always has been football)
Jaypro
Nov 8, 2007 at 4:15 PM
Comment #25Bill F you don’t watch Soccer AM I take it. 🙂
Matt
Nov 8, 2007 at 11:57 PM
Comment #26Tom_toon.. did not know about the whole ambassador thingy..
other fifa superstars:
Nauer (GK)
Barragan (RB)
Thiago Heleno (CB)
(Marcelo(LB)
de Guzman (CM)
Sahin (CM)
M.Johnson (CM)
Lulinha (CAM)
Carlos Eduardo (ST)
Marcelo Morano (ST)
Alexandre Pato (ST)
john
Nov 9, 2007 at 12:01 AM
Comment #27i live in the states and everybody has rave reviews of this guy, my main concern is if we could sign him, im sure many other teams are looking at him. We arnt exactly the most desible premiership club at the moment and im unsure of the 1st team oppurtunities he might get. But hopefully we can pull it off like i said ive herd alot about this guy.we definetly need to SPEND in the transfer window
Bill f
Nov 9, 2007 at 12:16 AM
Comment #28Jaypro, do you mean football AM. Well actually no, is it on one of the pay TV channels. As yet I only get simple terrestrial.
And what the Americans call football is in fact Rugby. Its quite amusing but an American lady notable was watching the recent world cup and was horrified to see that the players were not wearing armour. Thought it was brutal.
brett
Nov 9, 2007 at 1:50 AM
Comment #29Sign him up along with Keywane Jones and get rid of Ameobi and Owen for 12 million