HULL CITY: There's even more to come
HULL City striker Jozy Altidore has promised to keep his red-hot run of form going after finally finding his feet in the Premier League.
The 20-year-old striker grabbed his first league goal in English football as the Tigers eased their relegation fears with a 2-1 win over Manchester City.
-
Jozy Altidore celebrates his first Premier League goal in 2-1 win over Man City
Altidore's sweet strike capped a fine individual performance and provided evidence that a frustrating loan from Spanish side Villarreal is coming good.
The US star admits his first year in the Premier League has been a baptism of fire, but hopes he has now turned the corner.
"The speed and the pace is huge," he said. "I feel like I'm finally getting there and hopefully I can keep it going."
"It takes time to adjust, especially when you are a young player. It is not really the style which has been hard to come to terms with, more that it is a very fast league, you have to read it and understand it."
Despite enjoying an encouraging start to his City career – including a goal against Southend in his first start – Altidore went 17 top-flight games without a goal.
Ending his wait with a memorable strike to help sink the world's richest club, the rookie insists the barren spell had not been playing on his mind.
"The main goal all along has been to keep Hull City in the Premier League and you have to do that by any means," he said.
"Not scoring in the Premier League was not playing on my mind. I hadn't really been thinking about it.
"It is a challenge to play here and you have to keep it in perspective."
Altidore's goal and a George Boateng strike were enough to see the Tigers find their first win of 2010 on Saturday and climb clear of the relegation zone.
Taking four points from Chelsea and Manchester City inside the last week, Phil Brown's men have given their survival hopes a huge shot in the arm.
Now, Altidore believes new levels of confidence are bringing precious returns.
"It was one of our better team performances," he said. "We started well and that allowed a lot of individuals to show off their skills. It gives us confidence.
"It was another hard game. I don't think either Manchester City or Chelsea were easy games but we put in 100 per cent effort.
"We wanted to attack them through the centre. Having two big guys up front, we thought we could cause them problems and we did."
A crucial period of games continues with a trip to Blackburn Rovers on Wednesday night, before facing West Ham.
Keen to avoid complacency, Altidore stressed City cannot take their foot off the pedal.
He added: "We have shown we can stay here but that is not enough. We have to keep putting in the performances week-in and week-out. That will give us a chance."
101 Comments
View all
by Mark, Hull
Tuesday, February 09 2010, 7:51PM
“James and Jez, have you been going to City long enough to have experienced proper football crowds, or just arrived with your rugs and thermos flasks at the KC? No wonder it is hard getting an atosphere going with people lie you in the stadium. Banter and insults are part of the game.Anything to put the opposition off and help your club. Or do you go to enthuse about the opposition players, sitting there quietly and tutting at any chavs, as you call them, who have the temerity to stand up and sing?
As for being like Liverpool fans, they have some of the most foul-mouthed, vicious fans going. All this stuff about their marvellous fans is one of the big myths of football. Ask the european cities which have been pillaged by them over the years or listen to some of the chants when they play the likes of Man Utd.”
by dl, east hull
Tuesday, February 09 2010, 5:29PM
“Terry King, Germany - Terry my mate has always supported Man Ure and in his opinion Fergie hasn't been a good manager - just a lucky one, so it appears you can't please all the people all of the time ( or some of the people at any time Terry!)”
by Ric, Glasgow
Tuesday, February 09 2010, 1:00PM
“Bob Hull 11.03.Some people in Hull must be easily offended these days!!.As a poster pointed out yesterday,some people have commitments ie;work etc. I personally have had to leave matches early(5-10 minutes in some cases) to get to the railway station to catch a train,simply because the price of that train was £40 or £50 cheaper than the following one.It doesn't constitute bad manners or a lack of support,it constitutes common sense& prudence sometimes.”
by SuitedandBooted, Hull
Tuesday, February 09 2010, 12:53PM
“To all those whinging about the Bridge baiting, go and cry somewhere else cos none of you deserve to be on the terraces. Why don't you try cricket or egg chasing or some other mediocre minority sport?”
by Brian Mead, Perth, Australia.
Tuesday, February 09 2010, 12:37PM
“Well done to Hull.
The relegation battle is engrossing. With further time / years in the Premier League - Hull FC will earn credibilty and be able to attract more class players and sponsorship. The strong team spirit shows through and should lead to further wins during the rest of the season.”
by Bob, Hull
Tuesday, February 09 2010, 11:03AM
“James, Ellerby - have a sense of humour will you? If you don't like the chanting, don't join in. I found people leaving before full-time more offensive. Wayne Bridge is not an injured party. Get real. If you don't like people of all classes, don't go to football matches. I would object to racist or homophobic chanting because that's offensive and discriminatory, but footballers' seedy sex lives are ripe for terrace humour.
Well done to Jozy and George (and the rest of the team). Great display on Saturday. We beat the richest club in the world! Onwards and upwards.”
by Gazamundo, Leeds
Tuesday, February 09 2010, 9:29AM
“Did I or did I not clearly state that the main language of Brazil is Portugese? This isnt open to debate so why are people questionning this? I arent some kind of buffoon and I myself was surprised that Geo predominantly speaks Spanish but that is what he does. Maybe it's because of his time at Barca or a family reason - I dont know and am purely guessing but he does speak Spanish in and around the City camp.”
by Mummys boys, suburbia
Tuesday, February 09 2010, 8:46AM
“Left Back."nothing wrong with Hymers?".I suppose it does help to keep the rest of us where we belong and help keep us from realistically achievig a proportionate share of top jobs and influence.
We now live in different times and the priveleged classes bandying around demeaning labels(safely and anonimously)such as chavs will need to stop.
Before you abuse,critcise and accuse ,walk a mile in my shoes.
PS.if you guys thought the abuse of well paid footballers was harsh wait until the Pope arrives on his visit to England.To be responsible for the deaths of millions due to out moded rules will no longer be accepted.Would it be chavish to convert poor and vulnerable people to your religion and then terrify them into not using contraception in an AIDS ridden area.
I may have drifted a little off piste here but ....”
by Mr Moral, On the High Ground
Tuesday, February 09 2010, 2:23AM
“What has JT done wrong i ask ? It takes 2 to tango surely ? Rio is also a bad choice of capt.
Turner got greedy and did want to leave city. Just ask him. He could see what was goin on. City got 6 million for Turner. 2
million knocked off McShanes fee and 4 million(with 1.2m to brentford). This deal now look very good value for Hull City. Turner is shocking up there but shows how bad they were last season in sunderland.
Fraizer Campbell will be lucky if he gets a fizzy pop league club next season. Now 4th in line now that Benjani is there. Whats the view like from the cheap seats FC ? U T T”
by Tony The Tiger, in a roon thats cold
Tuesday, February 09 2010, 1:38AM
“I feel sorry ghilas....
I mean he had all the hall marks to causing defenders trouble.... if he had as much time to settle in as Jozy, I'm sure Ghlas wouldve been the same...
For the life of me I have no idea why PB likes 4-5-1... and yes tactcally , he does seem short off the mark...but why hasnt brian horton stepped in more, or is he as inept as PB...
BH gets alot of credit, backroom staff this, backroom staff that... stop singing your praises and help PB when he's made a stupid mistake...
AP ... again.... praised for bringing stabiltiy into city.... which is fine..... but did you know he failed to be one of the dragons on dragons den....
ok the last commet was a lie....
I personally like PB and his cheshire cat smile... i get glory from PB as he cant believe his luck.... a person winging it like no tomorrow... and i say run with it.... you may baffle all the critics.....
and to a point he's still a preimiership manager, managing a priemier league side....
come city lets wing it to victory”