A friend of mine sent me an email yesterday, consisting of a simple question:


Was the Jozy Altidore signing simply a Phil Brown PR move? He had the crowd cheering USA! USA! in his first game and hardly anything since.


My initial reaction to the question, before I attempted to intelligently respond to his suggestion, was "Huh. I hadn't thought of that."


As disheartening as it may be if true, it's certainly possible; Altidore hasn't exactly burned up the EPL since arriving at Hull. He's been a late game sub and an occasional starter, but his overall impact has been minimal, and there should even be some question as to whether moving to Hull was the right thing for his development. How much of that is on Jozy (attitude, effort, etc.) and how much can be chalked up to Brown knowing from the outset that the young American wouldn't be a major part of his plans is impossible to know.


I don't think I agree with the implication that Brown brought in Jozy just to create a little buzz, though. Brown's job was going to be difficult enough without spending money on an unproven player if he didn't think that Altidore had something to offer the squad. My gut tells me that Jozy's lack of impact has more to do with an adjustment period than anything else, though that leads to the obvious question of his short-term future; will Altidore remain with Hull in January, or return to Villareal where his playing time might will be at an even higher premium?


At the time of Altidore's loan announcement, I was hopeful yet wary. Seeing another American in the Premier League was of course exciting for us, but the potential pitfalls were obvious. If Altidore didn't see playing time, or if he couldn't adjust quickly to the rigors of top-flight English football, the potential for wasting a crucial time in his development was high. We now have a few months of evidence with which to judge Jozy's time in England, and it would be difficult to call it a success. I'm not sure it was the wrong move for the American at the time, but it clearly has not worked out the way so many of us hoped.


Hull is in trouble, their manager is in trouble, and the World Cup is a scant seven months away. As I've suggested in the past, a manager holding on for dear life, whether he was integral in signing a particular youngster or not, isn't likely to rely on unproven players. The addition of Dutchman Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink to Hull's roster only pushes Altidore further down the pecking order, and barring inury, Jozy is dealing with an even tougher fight for first team time.


Phil Brown is an enigmatic guy, suicide counselor or not, so my friend's suggestions is interesting. Putting it past Brown to make a move for an exciting young American, who had just tasted international success at the Confederations Cup. would be naive. Maybe it's the optimist in me that wants to believe that the Hull manager truly did believe that Altidore could help his team. Maybe I overrate Jozy as a player.


I'm curious what you make of the suggestion; is it possible Phil Brown brought in Jozy Altidore just to make a splash, without really intending to use him in any meaningful way?