After a red-hot start to the season, Jozy Altidore had lost his starting role for AZ Alkmaar and was mired in a bit of a scoring slump.

At the very least, that slump is now over.

Altidore scored twice in a four-minute span as a substitute in AZ's 6-0 rout of ADO Den Haag on Wednesday to break a two-month scoring drought.

Rumours aplenty this Premiership weekend. One of them is that Mick McCarthy, the current Wolves manager, is set to be sacked if Wolves lose against Aston Villa on the weekend. This is despite utterances to the opposite from the Wolves chairman. Who ought to be believed? The rumour mongerers or the chairman of the club who will make such a decision?

Ep.21 Swan-upmanship by Off The Post on Mixcloud Much like Thierry Henry and Paul Scholes (and Jason Euell), the OTP Podcast is back in its rightful place – that place being, of course, one of ignorance, bias and second hand stats. This week the Pod are full of praise for Swansea's dismantling of Arsenal, Alex [.

By Chris Wright

You may remember, not so very long ago, when the KNVB Cup match between Ajax and Alkmaar had to be abandoned after just 38 minutes when Alkmaar 'keeper Esteban Alvarado was red-carded (it was later rescinded) for knocking a drunken pitch-invader on his arse and then belting the living daylights out of the 19-year old hoodlum as he sprawled on the turf.

The Dutch pitch invader who attempted to kick AZ Alkmaar goalie Esteban Alvarado before finding himself on the receiving end of a couple of kicks from Alvarado has been sent to prison for six months. The incident made headlines not only for the nature of the attack, but also because Alvarado was sent-off [.

In this week's review of the footballing action, we congratulate Manchester United, wonder about Luis Suarez and look on in shock at the Dutch Cup.

Common sense has prevailed.

The Dutch football federation has rescinded the red card given to AZ Alkmaar goalkeeper Esteban Alvarado in the aftermath of Wednesday's pitch invasion during a cup game against Ajax.

The goalkeeper was the target of a fan who ran onto the field right at the player in the 36th minute of the match.

AZ Alkmaar goalkeeper Esteban Alvarado was sent-off for kicking a fan during a feisty Dutch Cup tie against Ajax with AZ boss Gertjan Verbeek also ordering his men to abandon the match! 'Simply shocking' ran the backpage headlines across the Dutch peninsula and for good reason. In what can only be described as an explosive [.

Video: Goalkeeper sent off for fighting fan

Sensational scenes at Dutch cup game between Ajax and Alkmaar

View the full story here: The Mirror

A news article on 2011-12-21 21:39:18 from: The Mirror

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

Jozy Altidore played the duration of Alkmaar's make-up game against Excelsior Rotterdam on Wednesday night, but was unable to spark the team to victory in a stale, scoreless draw.

Name: Michel Vonk In his 1990s prime for: Manchester City and Sheffield United Lowdown: Michel Vonk, a Dutch centre back, joined Manchester City during the summer before the inaugural Premier League season for a fee of £500,000 from AZ Alkmaar, becoming one of only eleven foreigners to appear on the first day off the new [.

Liverpool are rumoured to be interested in Fulham player Mouusa Dembele as Kenny Dalglish continues to mould his squad.
Dembele has been a revelation in the Premier League since his move from AZ Alkmaar in 2010 and has continued to win praises for his ability to turn games around in Fulham's favour and has settled under new manager Martin Jol, however reports are suggesting that Liverpool are prepared to make a January approach for the Belgian international who operates as an attacking midfielder for Fulham and is a player that interests Dalglish.

AZ Alkmaar will look to hold on to first place in the Eredivisie on Sunday while Helmond Sport will host a depleted Fortuna on Friday night.

Posiciones Eredivisie 2011/2012 Fecha 9
Enlace
Ps. Equipo JJ G E P GA GP DF Pts. 1 AZ Alkmaar 9 7 1 1 23 8 15 22 2 Twente 9 6 2 1 25 9 16 20 3 PSV 8 5 2 1 25 10 15 17 4 Feyenoord 9 5 2 2 20 9 11 17 5 Vitesse 9 5 2 2 16 10 6 17 6 Ajax 9 4 4 1 23 13 10 16 7 Heracles 9 3 4 2 15 13 2 13 8 Groningen 9 4 1 4 14 16 -2 13 9 RKC Waalwijk 9 4 1 4 10 13 -3 13 10 Utrecht 8 3 3 2 14 10 4 12 11 Roda JC 9 4 0 5 14 26 -12 12 12 Heerenveen 8 2 4 2 14 16 -2 10 13 NAC Breda 9 3 1 5 13 15 -2 10 14 ADO Den Haag 9 3 1 5 13 17 -4 10 15 NEC Nijmegen 9 2 1 6 7 15 -8 7 16 De Graafschap 8 1 2 5 7 19 -12 5 17 VVV Venlo 9 0 3 6 7 25 -18 3 18 Excelsior 9 0 2 7 6 22 -16 2 Gracias por tu visita Estadísticas de Fútbol

U.S. head coach Jurgen Klinsmann named a 22-player roster for the upcoming friendlies against Honduras and Ecuador. Of those, 20 players have already gotten a nod from Klinsmann in the first three matches. Read what Klinsmann had to say about his thoughts on the roster, what he hopes to see in the upcoming friendlies, and specific notes on players.

Another Europa League match day, another Jozy Altidore goal. I've honestly lost count of how many he has now with AZ Alkmaar. Can't say I've ever had that issue with an American Outsourced to Europe™ before; it's a nice problem to have.

Several of the U.S. National Team players were in action for their clubs as the group phase of the Europa League kicked off Thursday. Here's a recap:
Jozy Altidore continued his blistering scoring pace for AZ Alkmaar, netting his sixth goal in eight matches in all competitions when he fired home the opening goal in the 4-1 win against Malmo.

AZ Alkmaar will welcome sixth place Vitesse to their stadium on Saturday afternoon while Helmond Sport will host red hot FC Zwolle on Monday evening.

The US National Team walked away from friendlies against Costa Rica and Belgium with two 1-0 losses, but with Jurgen Klinsmann still kicking the tires of the program he inherited, it is the individual performances that are of greatest importance for US fans as the red, white and blue builds toward qualification for the 2014 World Cup.

by Dru Boyer As the American's abroad return to the USMNT for an international break, a couple of guys had a very solid week and one in particular may like to forget last weekend...but who hasn't been there? Player of the week honors to Jozy Altidore, who bagged a brace for AZ Alkmaar in their [...

AZ Alkmaar went on the road and continued their impressive start to the season with a victory over FC Groningen while Helmond Sport fell to red hot FC Eindhoven at home.

Bocanegra finds the back of the net for Rangers, while Jozy Altidore does the same for Alkmaar in Europa League action.

The Europa League Playoff second legs are underway today, and there are a plethora of Americans in action.

Clint Dempsey, Jozy Altidore, Carlos Bocanegra, Maurice Edu, Steve Cherundolo, Sacha Kljestan and Jonathan Spector are all on teams in action so it will be a very important day for Americans Abroad as they all look to progress to the group stages of the Europa League.

Forward Jozy Altidore is one member of the U.S. MNT player pool not on the roster for the game against Mexico. After a hamstring injury cut his Gold Cup short, Altidore made the move to AZ Alkmaar in the Dutch Eredivisie. He's been working his way back to full fitness and today he scored on his debut for the club in AZ's 3-1 win against PSV to start the season.

Their Words When we get up in the morning, we do not really want to suffer, we would like an easy day. It's not normal for a human being to suffer. But, if you want to be successful, you have to push yourself. That's where careers are made. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, speaking to The Telegraph. Other Sources Why Altidore is set to shine for AZ Alkmaar - from MLSsoccer.

Jozy Altidore has said that details are being finalized on a transfer to AZ Alkmaar of the Dutch Honor Division. An announcement could come next week. Former U.S. international and 2011 National Soccer Hall of Fame inductee Earnie Stewart is the Director of Football at AZ.
Signed by Villarreal in 2008 for for an MLS record fee thought to be around the $10 million mark, Altidore has had loan stints at Xerez in Spain, Hull City in the English Premier League and Bursaspor in Turkey.

Talking Turkey...

US national and Villarreal club goer Jozy Altidore is expected to don the red and black of AZ Alkmaar in the Netherland's highest division the Eredivisie. Shut out of a role up top for the Yellow Submarine, Altidore will head northward to compete under the watchful of former US national Ernie Stewart who assumed the Technical Director role at the club just last June.

Jozy Altidore has played in three different countries since leaving MLS for Europe back in 2008, and he's about to make it four.

Altidore has agreed to terms with Dutch power AZ Alkmaar for the upcoming Eredivisie season, sources told Fox Soccer on Thursday evening. Details on the move have yet to become available, but Altidore is expected to make the announcement official on Friday morning in Florida.

A few quick Tuesday notes here on the USMNT.

These two...again...

• The Daily Bob: Seems that the fallout from the Gold Cup is still unclear.

Reached via email by the NY Times, USSF president Sunil Gulati issued the following perhaps-foreboding statement on beleaguered US manager Bob Bradley:

"We'll have something to say later this week.

By FRANCO PANIZO

Chelsea is hoping to turn things around this season after a disappointing 2010-2011 campaign, and the club has turned to a 33-year-old coach to help accomplish that.

Andre Villas-Boas was named manager of Chelsea on Wednesday, making him the youngest manager in the Premier League.

County Down born Ireland U17 international Paul George capped off a wonderful individual display and season as Celtic's Under-17s lifted the Glasgow Cup for the first time in three years with a 1-0 victory over Rangers at Parkhead last week.
The Killough striker scored the only goal of the game in the 55th minute with a fine finish after being set up by Darnell Fisher.

It's Sunday once again, so there is speculation in the papers about Newcastle going after players in this summer's transfer market. Kolbeinn Sigthorsson AZ Alkmaar striker And one of the players Newcastle are linked with today, is Icelandic international striker Kolbeinn Sigthorsson. The Sunday Mirror is reporting that Newcastle chief scout Graham Carr, who [.

AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS Groningen were stunned at home by Roda JC, Excelsior added to Willem II's misery with another drubbing, while AZ Alkmaar were too strong for Heerenveen. Mads Junker grabbed a hat-trick as Groningen's impressive home record was tarnished with a 4-1 reverse at the hands of Roda JC.

AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS Groningen were stunned at home by Roda JC, Excelsior added to Willem II's misery with another drubbing, while AZ Alkmaar were too strong for Heerenveen. Mads Junker grabbed a hat-trick as Groningen's impressive home record was tarnished with a 4-1 reverse at the hands of Roda JC.

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands Ajax Amsterdam squandered a two-goal lead and missed a late penalty to draw 2-2 at Roda JC Kerkrade and lose ground on the Dutch league leaders on Sunday. PSV Eindhoven, convincing 4-0 winners at AZ Alkmaar on Saturday, are top with 50 points after 23 matches and are ahead of Twente Enschede, [.

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands Ajax Amsterdam squandered a two-goal lead and missed a late penalty to draw 2-2 at Roda JC Kerkrade and lose ground on the Dutch league leaders on Sunday. PSV Eindhoven, convincing 4-0 winners at AZ Alkmaar on Saturday, are top with 50 points after 23 matches and are ahead of Twente Enschede, [.

Dutch Eredivisie 2010/2011: The Story so far thrashings, biting and PSV Eindhoven is a post from: Just Football

The league season in the Netherlands gets back on track this week. Here's Stephen Farrell to bring you right up to speed with the Eredivisie.

With the Dutch Eredivisie set to restart again after its winter break this week, now seems a good time to round up the important events of the first half of the season.