After soliciting for suggestions for my next post, my being full of writing energy but missing an area of focus, I was asked to present an argument for whether Jozy Altidore should return to MLS.


But I'm not going to, yet. Instead, I'm going to first do what I usually do; take a specific issue and step back to take a more general view, hoping to either draw conclusions or raise relevant questions that might not seem obvious on the surface.


I suppose it's a good thing that Major League Soccer provides young American players with a safety net. Not getting enough playing time abroad? Well come on home, young man, and we'll find a spot for you! Sure, the competition isn't as good (generally), you probably won't make as much, and there's no real fame to be gained by being a footballer in a country that puts the sport about as high as BMX racing and stuff that happens in an "octagon", but hey, what else are you going to do? It's a World Cup year, remember?


There's a large segment of the American soccer community that reacts, for lack of a better word, violently the moment a young player hits a rough spot in Europe. The calls for an MLS return are loud and impassioned, usually based on the idea that the player in question would find themselves on the field here rather than rotting on the bench there. But, would it really be what's best for them? Is throwing in the towel the right move? How would that affect the player's psychological makeup and development in the long run?


Unfortunately, no one really knows, and the basic truth that playing is always better than not playing carries a lot of weight.


None of this is to say that certain players might not be better off back in MLS. It's truly up to the player and comes down to the state of their career; for some, MLS would be a step back, a last ditch resort, and an admission that their career is on life support. Not because MLS is a terrible place to play, but because they've invested so much to making it in Europe that the only mental effect possible is a destructive one.


On occasion, "coming home" is absolutely the right move. Sometimes, when a player is either out of options, finds the going too difficult in Europe, or simply wants to be a part of a burgeoning league in the country he's from, Major League Soccer is an attractive landing spot. But there needs to be less calls for Americans to return to the US and the warm bosom of MLS and more push for those players to show resolve.


Back to the specific. Jozy Altidore is going through a rough patch at Hull, not helped by the recent tragedy in Haiti, and finds himself without consistent playing time less than six months before the World Cup. His club is acquiring more talent, players who will make it even more difficult for Altidore to get on the pitch. This has some asking if Jozy might not be better off back at home, where playing time is guaranteed and his World Cup form can better be maintained.


In essence, people are saying Jozy should quit.


I'm just not a fan of that. Whether it would help the fortunes of the National Team or not, saying that because Jozy finds himself in a less-than-perfect situation dictates a step back from his goals is ludicrous. Last time I checked, Americans were known as stubborn go-getters, intent on making things go our way until there is absolutely no hope.


Okay, so I'm exaggerating, and there should always be pragmatic considerations; but ducking out at the first sign (or second perhaps, depends on how you count) of trouble will do him no good. He needs to stick it out, fight for a spot, and build a mental strength that will serve him well throughout his career. We know he has the ability.