Altidore's stock keeps rising

So it's a day after watching Jozy Altidore record his first two-goal game as a pro and couldn't help but think about the recent trend of young American players making the move to Europe and the realization that Altidore will leave MLS far sooner than I ever expected.

As recently as five months ago I would scoff at people who suggested that Altidore was going to leave MLS early. Not because I didn't think he was good enough, but because he had stated repeatedly that he was in no rush to leave and because I didn't see the Red Bulls parting with a true jewel of a prospect who could be be perfect to feature when the Red Bulls' new stadium opened.

Now that Red Bull Park is almost two years away, and Altidore's stock is rising faster than any other player in MLS, it is growing increasingly unlikely that he will ever play a minute in Red Bull Park.

Will European teams really line up to make big bids for Altidore? You can bet on it. He's only 17 (will turn 18 in November), has shown good finishing ability and is a beast from a physical standpoint. He's about 6 feet tall and growing and also boasts a personality that will make him easy for any team to market.

Could Altidore be that young American forward who goes overseas and makes the type of impact that will lead European teams to stop looking at the USA as a place to find goalkeepers, defenders and defensive midfielders? It is very possible.

I know what some Red Bulls fans are thinking. "Just great, we finally have a young superstar field player to root for and watch grow and he's ready to leave after his first full season." Yes, it will be disappointing but it really is better for MLS when more players, particularly young players, go abroad and find success. This will increase the league's reputation and will lead to more players considering MLS as a legitimate stepping stone to Europe. That goes for Americans as well as foreign prospects.

Will Altidore leave? No one knows for sure but it is looking more and more likely. That said, Red Bulls fans should enjoy Altidore while they still have him.

Comments

[Istvan from Budapest]

The key is for MLS to get a transfer fee for Jozy. It would be a shame for his to leave without MLS cashing in.

[Haig]

What's the new rule for transfer fees in MLS? That the selling team keeps 75%? Does that mean that if Jozy moves for $4 million, RBNY can use $3 million for transfer fees and to defray the salary cap?

If so, hell yes, sell him. With Reyna's cap number taking up over 18% of the team's salary budget, RBNY is going to need a lot of help with money to keep from getting clobbered by being too top-heavy.

[Yusef]

Where would you like him to go and where do you see him ending up?

[Nick]

Jozy is an amazing talent and I hope he does amazing things in Europe, but on a more selfish note I would love it if he stayed in the U.S. I think if the MLS could keep the top American talent in America the MLS would be one of the top leagues in the world. Imagine if the MLS kept home-grown talent like the English or Italian system does. Few English/Italian players play outside of their countries and their leagues really benefit from it. Imagine McBride, Bocanegra, Beasley, Convey, Hahnemen(who was amazing against my MUFC this weekend), Howard, DeMerit and all of the other guys you don't hear as much about playing all across Europe playing in their native league. I know there are a million reasons why this isn't the case (money, prestige, level of play), but those reasons would diminish as more quality entered the league.

So at the end of that rant, good luck to Jozy in whatever he does, I just wish his dream was to have an amazing MLS and be a part of that instead of moving off to Europe.

[Mr. Fish]

He's got to go in order to improve. Hopefully he'll stay the season in NY and help with the playoff push.

[Brad]

It's nice to hear that Jozy might make the jump. The last thing we need for the National Team is an Eddie Johnson situation, where we hype him up only to have him rest on his laurels and not improve. For Jozy to truly increase his skills, he needs to go overseas and learn the international game. Waiting around here, getting a big payday, being a star, and putting up numbers is not the same as proving yourself in a European league and it's great that he's striving for that instead of taking the easy way out.

[tmc]

Do any of you RBNY fans (or Ives) know if Jozy speaks any French (thinking maybe because of his Haitian heritage)?

This could be helpful to him in terms of his options/ability to adjust when he does head overseas.

[BoB]

It will be a sad day to see Jozy leave the MLS but hopefully he'll make it big over in Europe if he does go. I just hope he's not riding the pine somewhere because I could see him becoming a really outstanding player.

Hopefully it happens sooner rather than later though, I'd love to see him light it up and get some US caps. Although I'm not an RBNY fan so I won't quite feel the pain you guys will.

[smokarz]

Jozy needs to go so i don't have to see another minute of EJ in a nat jersey. wishing him well.

[Jeff]

Nick,

The contention will be that most/all of those american players would not have become great if they had not moved to Europe.

[Chicago Millonario]

While I love seeing young American prospects doing well and making the move overseas, I kinda would like to see RBNY at least give him a respectable offer to stay. The allure of European football may be too great, but at least it would show respect.

Personally, I hope he goes anywhere but England. I love the EPL or whatever it is now, and lots of Yanks are doing well there, but we need more guys in Spain.

[Matt]

Jozy should get over to Europe before he tears up his knee on that God-awful field turf at Giants Stadium. As a RBNY fan I'd be sad to see him go, but I'd wish him all the best. You would hope he would command a much higher transfer fee than Adu - greater success at club level, size/strength, the fact that he's a striker.

[Kinney]

He should go if he wants to go. He needs to improve. I wonder if Derby County want a better forward than EJ? I guess the dreaded visa would be a problem, maybe Bob Bradley could put in another word.

[jay]

ives,

don't you think that somewhere down the road we have to keep our players? its probably decades from now at best, but isn't the ultimate goal to be the best league in the world, the place the best players want to play? how will that ever happen if we are resigned to our best talent leaving? i think our attitude should be to keep our most prominent players if possible...

[Brad]

Matt, speaking of Adu, I just read an article that he was named in the 19 players for Benfica's Champions League game tomorrow against FC Copenhagen. Said he might come in as a substitute. Coach said he has only had 7 days of training but has 'enormous potential'. Might have to catch that one on the Internets.

[Sean]

I think if the right offer from a big European club comes this off-season, Jozy will be gone. The second a Celtic or Ajax is interested, he'll have stars in his eyes.

[Joamiq]

Stay one more year Jozy, please :(

[Brad]

Any DC fans on here? I'm thinking about getting MLS tickets and trying to see where the best place to get tickets is? The Mezzanine is the most expensive, but is that the best place to sit? Let me know if you get a chance. Just trying to figure out whether to get tickets or not. Thanks!

[Warren]

I just want to see him play as often as possible, against the highest-quality players he can oppose. If that means staying in MLS, go for it. If it means overseas, sucks, but ok. But I want him to play, not sit on a bench or get limited minutes as a sub.

[ct]

The real problem is the tug of war between what's best for MLS and what's best for the national team (and maybe the individual).

Clearly it would be best for MLS to keep Jozy. I would also say it's pretty clear that it would be best for the USMNT if he goes.

Things are further complicated by the fact that US Soccer and the MLS are in bed so much.

Still, at this moment i think it's clearly best if he goes.

[tmc]

Brad: Here's a quick RFK guide, and I haven't looked at the prices for the MLS cup.

http://dcunited.mlsnet.com/t103/stadium/seating_map/

The detached seats on the left hand side of the picture are the "loud" side, where the Barra Brava and the Screaming Eagles make lots of noise.

Those blue mezzanine seats will give you a good view of the whole field, but they are not covered, which you may want to take into consideration on account of the time of the year of the MLS cup.

I'd look on the opposite side of the field from the loud side ("quiet side" to DCU fans), and stay away from the 100 level because you will have to stand a lot because there is no real elevation from field level there.

Best bet would be to make a good price call and find something in the 200 or 300 level on the right hand side. The "VIP" sections are that for a reason. Maybe go down in price and head a section over in the 200 or 300 level on that side. 200 level will be exposed to the elements, 300 level will give you a nice roof over your head.

Enjoy the game if you make it down here.

[inkedAG]

I agree with most posters. Sad to see him go, but wish him the best!

[Chrisnj]

As much as I would like to see the MLS develop into a league that can compete with the EPL, the Serie A, the La Liga, etc. - it, unfortunately, will never happen. We need to see the MLS as to what it is, a breeding ground for young talent. Most countries see their leagues in the same way. If we want a top quality national team, we need to see our younger players move overseas (where they are not constantly bombarded with the rhetoric of soccer is not going to make it here in the US) and develop into world class professionals. The MLS cannot do this for them right now.

[Brad]

TMC, thanks for all the insight. I ended up getting seats in Section 305. I've never been to an MLS game before and figured since I only live 3 hours away, I should probably take advantage of being able to travel to the MLS Cup. So, thanks a lot. It really helped. Plus, it saved me some cash as I was going to get Mezzanine tix.

[degerron]

I think in a few years MLS will be able to compete with Euro leagues for American players to stay in MLS. I stay that with the thinking that in a few years MLS teams will be more willing to offer DP money for American players and a team like a DCU or Houston who go to Champions Cup, Sudamerica, and even Superliga on a regular basis will be able offer both $ and international glory some players are looking for.