Paolo Di Canio’s summer overhaul of the Sunderland first-team squad continued on Tuesday afternoon with the acquisition of Jozy Altidore from Dutch outfit AZ Alkmaar. The 23-year-old arrives at Wearside on a four-year contract and is the Black Cats’ eighth signing over the close-season, with more new faces still expected to follow:
The transfer ends a lengthy chase for the US international’s signature, with Sunderland seeing off the challenge of a number of suitors, including Italian side Lazio, to bring Altidore to the Stadium of Light. Speaking to the club’s official website, the forward was delighted to return to the English top-flight, having previously plied his trade with Hull back in 2009/10:
“Anybody that knows anything about football knows the Premier League is the full package, it’s the biggest league in the world. I’m thrilled to be here, and I’m looking forward to getting adjusted as quickly as possible. It’s a fantastic club, and I’m really excited about the season. I hope the fans like what I do on the pitch.”
The History
Altidore’s career began as a 16-year-old back in 2006 with the New York Red Bulls. Over the course of a couple of years, he produced 15 goals and four assists in 37 MLS appearances before signing for Spanish club Villarreal in June 2008. His time in Spain was disastrous, though. Altidore managed a single goal from nine appearances and was sent out on loan on three occasions, with temporary stints at Xerez, Hull and Bursaspor harvesting just two goals and eight assists from a combined total of 40 league matches.
A move to Alkmaar in the summer of 2011 proved the making of Altidore. His first season in Holland produced 16 goals and three assists from 34 league games before he stepped up another level last year, with an impressive 31 goals and seven assists from 39 domestic matches. Despite his relatively young age, Altidore has already turned out for the US national side 60 times, finding the net on 17 occasions.
The Prospects
Clearly, Di Canio’s relentless summer recruitment policy is indicative of a lack of faith in the squad inherited from Martin O’Neill – the Italian’s thoughts on his rebuilding program highlight just what he expects from his side next season:
“We are going to build a very, very good team with a very good work ethic. That will be crucial on the field – we are going to face the opponents, we are going to challenge the opponents. All the individuals wearing the shirt need to make the fans proud because this is the minimum that we can do because we have a big privilege to wear the shirt. My team and the players I select will always have to wear this shirt with honour, dignity and respect, otherwise they can’t play under me.”
Having also criticised the fitness levels of players under the previous regime, Di Canio has already introduced a summer boot camp with double training sessions in order to ensure his charges are capable of implementing a high energy pressing game. Indeed, the Black Cats strolled to a 13-1 friendly win over a local XI on Wednesday evening, with Altidore climbing off the bench to notch on his debut.
In all likelihood, Sunderland – providing Di Canio keeps the dressing room on his side – could be a far different proposition next time around, with a new style of play and numerous new signings for Fantasy managers to consider. While the influx of new players currently casts question marks over several starting positions in the Sunderland first-team, the situation up front seems fairly straightforward. Di Canio looks set to pair Altidore with Steven Fletcher up top for the season ahead, in an attempt to address the dire scoring record that saw the Black Cats find the net just 41 times last term – a record superior to just two clubs, Stoke (34) and QPR (30). A front two suggests Stephane Sessegnon will either be forced to the flank or, as suggested by previous reports, sold on as Di Canio restructures his side. Elsewhere up top, Danny Graham and Connor Wickham seem set to be forced further onto the periphery as a result of the new boy’s arrival.
Many will perhaps be sceptical of Altidore’s impact, given that he produced a single goal in 28 appearances for Hull but bearing in mind he was just 20-years-old at the time, playing for a team near the foot of the table, his lack of impact is a little understandable. His phenomenal record for Alkmaar last term bodes well for his potential and speaks volumes for his development, with the US international boasting the height, pace and physique required to flourish alongside Fletcher.
Priced at just 6.3 in the Sky Sports game, Altidore should come in around 6.5 to 7.5 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL) and could prove a decent mid-price option, though there’s no doubt his arrival will boost Fletcher’s goal potential. Given that the Scot notched 11 times in 28 matches in his debut season in a struggling Sunderland side, he may still remain the main man for Di Canio’s side, with his predatory instincts benefitting from a more physical presence alongside him this time round.
With a home game against Fulham and trip to Palace in the opening three matches, Di Canio’s side are handed the chance to hit the ground running early on. If Altidore is quick out the blocks, he could well make a persuasive case for inclusion in our three man frontlines but the downside is that the first few months look tricky overall for the Black Cats, with a schedule over the opening 19 Gameweeks rated third most difficult of any side by our ticker. From Gameweek 4 onwards, Sunderland face Arsenal, Liverpool, United, City, Chelsea and Spurs across six of seven home games – a run that is perhaps enough to deter most from investing in Sunderland’s main assets until the fixtures smile a little kinder later in the season.
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