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Ahead
of the upcoming MLS play-offs, First Touch chatted with soon-to-be
18-year old Red Bulls striker Jozy Altidore. He struck us as an
engaging, articulate young man with a bright future.
FT: Thanks for taking some time out to talk to us. Obviously
your current commitment is to MLS and to the Red Bulls in particular,
but at any point do you envision yourself playing in Europe?
Jozy: Maybe at some point....But it’s a process, not entirely
up to me. If at some point in the future the opportunity comes along,
I’ll take a look at it.
FT: Should things eventually go in that direction – in a
perfect world, would you have a preference for any specific European
league?
Jozy: It’s not too much about the league. I just want to go
to a club that’s known for developing players, and that’s
probably what would influence my decision. There’re a lot of
clubs out there developing players....That’s more my interest.
FT: Which of those clubs have piqued your interest, in terms
of giving younger players a chance and developing them?
Jozy: Arsenal. I think they’ve shown a strong interest in developing
players and seem to give younger players an opportunity....I think
they’ve been the best at that recently.
FT: Do you follow the European leagues much?
Jozy: Oh yeah, yeah.
FT: Do you have any specific players that you enjoy watching
in particular?
Jozy: Thierry Henry. By far the best player in the world...for me
– he’s been my favorite player since I was young (sic.).
I love watching him.
FT: Do you try to pattern your game after Henry at all?
Jozy: No...Henry has his style – you try to make your own style,
and play according to your style.
FT: Which veterans of MLS have helped your development and helped
you acclimate to the pro game?
Jozy: I’d have to say Juan Pablo [Angel]...Claudio Reyna...Clint
Mathis...those guys. I rely on them a lot, you know, throughout
the year -- teaching me little things that’ll be successful
on and off the field.
FT: What have been some of the examples of ways in which they’ve
helped you develop?
Jozy: Well Juan Pablo, you know, just shows me simple movements,
to get open. He’s one of the top strikers in the world, so
he knows – he knows his movements, where he can just find a
little space and get open. Just little things like that I think
have helped me a lot.
FT: What are your impressions of Bruce Arena, in terms of how
he compares with other managers and coaches you’ve had at this
stage of your budding career?
Jozy: He’s very smart – in terms of the way he picks players
and how he coaches. People may not understand his decisions at first,
but long-term they tend to pay off. I think he’s a very smart
guy. He’s knows a lot about the game and all the players.
FT: Do you think having a former international manager helps
integrate so many different international players and personalities?
Jozy: Oh definitely. Those guys look for that – they look for
experienced, tough managers, not the mickey mouse ones (smile).
Those kinds of managers can attract [experienced international]
players like a Juan Pablo, a Claudio....
FT: Are there any areas you think the Red Bulls can improve this
season?
Jozy: I think we need to focus on team defense. If we can address
that, I think our team can definitely improve.
FT: You seem to have taken quite a few hard knocks throughout
the season. Do you think you’ve been targeted by defenses,
or is it a league-wide issue?
Jozy: I don’t know. It’s just how they play me, and there’re
a lot of hard-nosed defenders in the league. I think it’s a
league-wide thing. So we just have to be aware of that.
FT: Do you think the referees and officials should intervene?
Jozy: Officiating can always be better. I think there’s always
room for improvement. You know, they’re doing their best.
FT: Which teams do you particularly enjoy playing against, or
are more apprehensive about playing against?
Jozy: I like playing against the Galaxy. Galaxy’s a team that
plays, you know? They’re not too worried about their signings;
they just let their play do the talking....That’s always a
fun game....
FT: Can you tell us a bit about your experiences in Haiti working
with Wyclef Jean’s charitable organization, Yele Haiti?
Jozy: That was amazing – I hope to go back and do it again.
It’s great for Haiti. The organization has put a lot toward
helping the less fortunate down there. I think he’s doing the
right thing.
FT: Where’d the nickname “Oatmeal” come from?
Jozy: (Smiles, shrugs shoulders, shakes head) I have no idea....
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