Poor Jozy. The 24-year-old American striker looked to be the Truth as recently as July 2013, when he transferred to English side Sunderland and effectively cemented a starting place on the USMNT after scoring 23 goals in just 21 league games for Dutch side AZ Alkmaar the season prior. But now, he is some shit.
In 35 Premier League matches since joining the Black Cats, Altidore has scored one more goal than I have, and two more in League Cup play against children and bums. This is not a good return for any player playing nearly any position at any level. Thusly, his ass has been on the bench where he belongs. He doesn't like this. It's cold in England. It rains a lot. The locker room banter is likely constant and the women likely scarce.
Altidore's been so bad, and has played so little actual soccer, that he's worried that that he could lose his spot in the USMNT starting lineup, even though there is not much competition to speak of. So Altidore, fairly, wants out, and he spoke about it. Per Soccer By Ives:
"I thought I've done everything I could this season to come in as fit as possible with the injury and try to make an impact when I've played," said Altidore before the U.S.'s training session on Wednesday. "But like I said this four years I want to be part of the national team. Jurgen makes his message very clear, nobody is different, so if it doesn't turn around then in January I'll be looking to start elsewhere and make sure that I'm in his plans."
That's life sometimes. Surely, though, someone will take a a flier on this guy, right? Isn't this what MLS is for? No matter what, though, he'll always have that Bosnia game.
Photo Credit: Getty