Jozy Altidore has yet to score a goal so far this season, but that doesn’t seem to be too much of a problem for the Toronto FC striker or his head coach.
The US international has zero goals in seven regular season contests this year, causing some consternation among certain Toronto fans and media members. While he hasn’t hit the back of the net, Altidore is doing plenty of work up top, registering a pair of assists, drawing a penalty and holding the ball up well for TFC, who are currently in second in the East despite playing eight of their nine matches on the road.
Toronto head coach Greg Vanney noted Altidore’s contributions on Tuesday, telling Sportset 590 The FAN’s TFC Pitchside show that he thinks the Designated Player – who missed the first two games of the season due to injury – is competing well and he predicted that Altidore will start hitting the back of the net soon.
“All I ask of Jozy and all he needs to do is to keep competing the way he’s competing, be strong and hold the ball up, be physical and be present and get himself into goal-scoring chances,” Vanney said. “And he’s so technically good, that it will start to fall. Just like a shooter in basketball where they have their games where they’re off. Just keep shooting because they will start to fall and when they start to fall, they will fall in numbers.
“Right now they’re just not falling for him. But the team keeps winning and he keeps doing all the other things he needs to do to help us win games and I’m 100 percent supportive and convinced that they’re going to start dropping for him and when they do, he’ll have the last laugh in the grand scheme of things.”
Altidore, who had 13 goals and no assists in 25 league appearances for Toronto last year, noted TFC’s strong 4-3-2 record when asked about his goalless start after their 1-0 win against FC Dallas on Saturday.
“I think I did well last season,” he told media at BMO Field. “I had a slow start this season in terms of injury. But I’m here to win. It’s one thing to come here and score goals and lose. So would you rather that? I didn’t think so."
Vanney also spoke about his club's strong start on Tuesday, calling his team contenders for the Supporters’ Shield. With 14 points, TFC are currently in seventh-place in the Shield standings. That number is a touch deceiving, however, as TFC’s 1.56 points per game mark is fourth-best in MLS. More notably, eight of Toronto’s nine matches have thus far come on the road, meaning 16 of their remaining 25 regular season contests will be played at the friendlier confines of BMO Field.
Those factors, together with a stingy defense that has allowed a league-low seven goals, make Toronto a legitimate threat for the Shield, according to Vanney.
“It’s a goal of ours and I believe we are [candidates for the Supporters’ Shield],” he said. “I think if we continue to defend and stay committed to the defending side, as we have through these first nine games – and right now we’re the best defending team in the league – if we can continue to do that and stay focused on those things, then I think it has to put us in the discussion for Supporters' Shield as the season progresses.
“It is a conversation that happens daily with our group. We will be there at the end and we will be part of that discussion. Ultimately we have to make plays and win games, but I believe we have the team that can do it.”
