Jozy Quotables

By: Steve | August 5th, 2008

By the looks of it, Jozy isn’t happy with number 12 either.

On the even of the Olympic games, the US team finished the ING tournament with no goals, 2 ties and a 1-0 loss to Cameroon. The lack of goals may be disconcerting heading into the Olympic games.

The Olympic Tournament will begin Thursday morning, bright and early. My alarm will be set.

A couple weeks back, I predicted to my friends that this would be the games that the US would medal. I have rethought that prediction a bit, and now would like to officially recant it.

Sure, this is the most talented US team ever sent to the Olympics and the 2014 World Cup Team could look fairly similar. However, it could all amount to nothing with a recycled, tactically clueless and inept coach in Peter Nowak.

I respect the guy as a player and his history, but come on, was anyone watching Toulin? That was an embarrassing showing, whether our top players were there or not. Before I get into criticizing the USSF, let me just say it would not hurt to add some new blood.

Hopefully, my previous prediction was correct and I’ll end up with egg on my face. At the very least it will be interesting to see how Nowak will react now that he HAS TO start Adu in a game.

On the eve of the Olympics, Altidore took some time to sit down and talk with USSoccer.com about the ING tournament and the upcoming Olympic tournament.

On the team’s lack of scoring at the ING Cup:
“I wouldn’t say we’re concerned about it. We used the last two games to prepare for this tournament. It’s going to be very difficult and it’s going to take a lot of work from all of us to control our destiny. We have a lot of firepower on this team and a bunch of players who have the ability to score. There are no concerns with our scoring, I think we’re going to be fine.”

I have to agree with Jozy here. The team does have a lot of fire power and you cannot put too much stock in a 4 team tournament. If anything, the games helped the team get a little closer to playing fluid attacking football, if not pouring on goals. There are just too many attacking options for the team not to score.

On his comfort level playing alongside Brian McBride:
“First of all, Brian is a great player and he’s arguably one of the best forwards to ever play for the National Team so it’s more motivation for me to step onto the field to play alongside him. So far in the two games that I’ve been fortunate enough to play with him in, it’s been a little bit of a learning curve, but at the same time I’ve definitely become comfortable with him and the way he plays and how he likes to play. I think we’re doing well as of late and I think whoever ends up playing up there alongside him is going to be successful because he’s a very easy player to play with.”

Whoever ends up playing up there alongside him? Jozy, I appreciate your modesty, but are you really thinking that you won’t start? Very professional of all, but this is one blogger you are not fooling.

However, I guess it could go back to the whole Nowak thing. Would he sit Altidore in favor of Rogers or Davies? He seems to hold a deep-seeded hatred for young, rising and hyped-up stars.
Your thoughts?

Any prediction on how many goals Jozy will have in the tournament?
My guess is 3.

USA, USA, USA!!!