Jozy vs Chicharito

Rich and I have been hoping like all U.S. fans that Jozy Altidore would start to find his way into the lineup for Villarreal -- the club who signed him from the states a couple years back -- or another big club in Europe somewhere.

His tenure with Hull City last season was not spectacular as he really struggled to score goals. But that was more an issue of the service he was getting from the team that was relegated with a sub par, below average and overall shitty midfield.

Anyway Jozy has gotten a little time with the Yellow Submarine and started today in their Europa League match alongside fellow American-born turned turncoat Italian international Guiseppe Rossi. Rossi scored in the match, Altidore apparently missed a pair of good chances.

Now I don't mean to put down Altidore, and he's had to face a lot of pressure at an early age (he's not even 21 yet), but as we've stated before it appears Mexico's Javier Hernandez or El Chicharito has passed the American in terms of development.

Chicharito opened his Champions League account yesterday with a huge away goal at current La Liga leaders Valencia in a 1-0 Manchester United win. Chich also appears to be Alex Ferguson's go-to guy for goals off the bench as he was the first player called upon during the match and has played that role to perfection a couple of times already.

I think it won't be long before Chich assumes a primary role up front for Man U, maybe perhaps in place of a guy like Berbatov later this season or next year. Regardless he is playing for perhaps the best manager in terms of developing young talent in the world -- see Cristiano Ronaldo, see Wayne Rooney, see Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, and on down the line.

Meanwhile Altidore is struggling to find a club where he break through into the starting lineup on a regular basis because he has struggled to bury goals. I love Jozy's potential and his athleticism is something you normally see out of NFL running backs, but at some point he needs to deliver the goods.