My Thoughts on Jozy to Sunderland

ESPN's Marc Stein broke the news Friday afternoon that AZ Alkmaar and USMNT striker Jozy Altidore would complete a transfer to English Premier League club Sunderland AFC by Monday. Before the transfer window opened, many USMNT fans had big dreams of where the country's top striker would land after two great seasons in Holland. Clubs like Schalke, Lazio, Everton, and others had been speculated about. In the end, Jozy will end up going to Sunderland. A team that staved off relegation by 3 points. On the surface it looks like a mediocre move. But contrary to early popular opinion, I believe Sunderland, under new manager Paolo Di Canio are primed for a breakout season.

This is not Jozy's first stint in the English Premier League. In 2009, Jozy was loaned to Hull City from Spanish side Villarreal. His first trip to England's top flight was a forgettable one to say the least. He and the club struggled mightily and we're second to bottom of the table come season's end. Jozy only managed one league goal. That Hull team did not have Premier League talent on it to support Jozy. While Jozy himself had not come into his own yet as a player. 2009 would be his first true full season in Europe after spending much of the previous season on the bench and in exile at Villarreal.

If the 2013 version of Jozy Altidore saw tape of the 2009 version he'd probably laugh and wonder who that player was. He has grown so much as a player and as a professional since that time. He garnered much criticism for his work ethic off the field in his younger days. It wasn't until moving to AZ Alkmaar, under the tutelage of Gertjan Verbeek that Jozy was really pushed to work as hard as possible to be a professional athlete. In his years at AZ he transformed himself into a star and prolific goal scorer. Improving drastically in every facet of the game, Jozy is ready for his return to the league that used to laugh at him.

The 2013-14 Sunderland squad has very good potential with the likes of Adam Johnsson, Sebastian Larsson, Steven Fletcher, and Stephane Sessegnon in attack to support Jozy. Di Canio has also brought in others to help the cause, such as, CB Modibo Diakite from Lazio and CDM Cabral from Basel. While Sunderland aren't a Champions League side, I don't think they are the near-relegation side that showed themselves last campaign. I expect a full season under Di Canio will propel the Black Cats to the top half of the table.