Prediction: Will Mathis Go To Germany?

[MarioKempes]

If I were a betting man, I'd say no. I think his international career is almost over. I hope I'm wrong.

[scaryice]

The way I see it, assuming everyone's healthy, there are 15 locks:

keller
howard

pope
bocanegra
cherundolo
onyewu
gibbs

donovan
beasley
reyna
o'brien
mastroeni
lewis

mcbride
johnson

Of course, given the injury history of some of these players, there will probably be more spots available. He's got a tough road ahead, and he needs to play better in MLS. At this moment I would guess no.

[Serie Zed]

Almost no chance.

[Heathens '87]

I still am at a loss at to why anyone would put O'Brien on a "lock" list for a trip to Germany. He's not seen a US pitch since 2002, has barely played for a club, was let go by Ajax, and we have no clue about his fitness or form.

He's a complete unknown..........

Regarding Mathis, there'd have to be a number of injuries to bring him back into consideration. Highly unlikely...

[aaronbrown]

I still am at a loss at to why anyone would put O'Brien on a "lock" list for a trip to Germany. He's not seen a US pitch since 2002, has barely played for a club, was let go by Ajax, and we have no clue about his fitness or form.

He's a complete unknown..........

Regarding Mathis, there'd have to be a number of injuries to bring him back into consideration. Highly unlikely...

He played in 2003.

[BWMcTell]

Depends on if he can get tickets.

[CbR]

alot can happen now till next summer. Gun to my head i say no, but who knows, hopefully he revitalizes his career b/c i dont see anyone else on this team who can put a ball on frame from set pieces like he can.

[nobody]

Very doubtful at this point.

He needs to step it up in MLS to have a shot. From what I've seen of him at Salt Lake, he's been decent with bright moments, but that's not going to get him back in the squad. He's going to have to start oputing up the numbers and dominating games from time to time at least to get back in the picture.

[Brownswan]

Regarding Mathis, there'd have to be a number of injuries to bring him back into consideration. Highly unlikely...

I think McBride is borderline. True, he ended the EPL season with a flourish, but I sense that could be a last hurrah. A lot depends on next season, although some players are simply fixed in Arena's mind -- Convey, for example. Injuries are bound to occur between now and '06, and it's hard to imagine O'Brien, for example, returning to match shape for MLS, let alone Holland and the international stage.

Cletus needs a banner year, and bad luck has to hit some other players, so I'd think the odds are against him. But, as they say, the ball is round.

[geordienation]

The real question is: what position does he play?

Is he a striker? Is he a midfielder? Is he inbetween?

-- He's behind Johnson, McBride and probably Wolff as a striker. He doesn't displace Donovan, Beasley or even Lewis as a midfielder.

Who would you leave off of the field now instead of him?

I just don't think that the system that Arena runs is compatible with Mathis. It's a shame. He's a unique talent, but I think unless the team is built around him (and that won't and shouldn't happen), he's not a national team player.

If he fits into Arena's system, it's probably as the free player that Stewart used to play. But Stewart covered a lot more ground than Mathis ever will. I think in Arena's eyes, that's the kiss of death.

[SirFozzie]

No Dempsey as a lock?

[Autogolazo]

Let's look at attacking midfielders ahead of him on the depth chart, because no matter what he plays at RSL, he won't be in the forward pool.

Donovan, Beasley, Lewis, Dempsey, then Ralston, Gaven, possibly Noonan on the fence. I'm sure I'm forgetting someone.

With 23 slots for Germany, 3 for keepers, 4 (at minimum) for strikers, probably 8 defenders and 8 midfielders.

Mastro, Claudio and Zavag/Simms at least for the d/holding-mid positions. Don, Beas, Lewis, Dempsey if healthy. JOB? So Mathis would have to hope for injuries, to outplay Gaven, Adu et. al. (Martino is off the radar at this point), and to hope for still more injuries.

Plus, we know Bruce still has reservations about Clint's mental prep. And we know he wasn't even called up for the home qualifier in Salt Lake.

In a word, NO.

[tab5g]

how many goals must Mathis score for the USMNT in the next year and/or how many injuries must occur to other attacking players for Mathis to make the roster?

i say at least a total of 5, maybe 6.

and i just don't see Mathis getting enough opportunities to score those goals, or scoring them, nor do i see such a rash of injuries sidelining the players currently in front of him.

but at this point, who knows?

or, if the choice comes down to who does BA take to fill out one of the last spots on the roster: Mathis, Klien, or Twellman; I'm guessing BA could find it in his heart to take the guy who scored against S.Korea in June '02.

perhaps in another completely unlikely situation, the US qualifies, but loses most of their Gold Cup matches, and their final 3 WCQ's, as well as some friendlies in early '06, and John Ellinger is named to replace Arena and he decides to take as many RSL players as he can, including Mathis.

[ugaaccountant]

I still am at a loss at to why anyone would put O'Brien on a "lock" list for a trip to Germany. He's not seen a US pitch since 2002, has barely played for a club, was let go by Ajax, and we have no clue about his fitness or form.

He's a complete unknown..........

Regarding Mathis, there'd have to be a number of injuries to bring him back into consideration. Highly unlikely...

You do realize he's in camp right now, I assure you Arena still very much has him in his plans.

[CCSC_STRIKER20]

One would think Wolff would be a lock for the WC in Germany...right? He has been playing quite a bit, and who besides Mcbride and EJ are ahead of him???

[sidefootsitter]

Depends on if he can get tickets. He'll be playing for RSL, tickets or not.

Which is a shame because he would probably look better on the right than Steve Ralston. But Steve is a consumate pro. Clint is a crotch-grabbing goofball.

[Red Card]

It looks to me like Dempsey pushed Mathis out of the #3 attacking mid position, behind Donovan and Reyna. Dempsey is really good and once he gets the feel of it, he's going to be terrific. Besides also being a "Clint", he also went to college (Furman) in the state of South Carolina.

As for being a forward, Mathis is behind EJ, McB, Ching, and Wolff. And if there is a need for a replacement, then Twellman will be considered before Mathis.

Then there is the well-known issue of Mathis not having self-discipline, both on and off the field. That is something that Arena does not like.

So unless Arena wants an 80th minute crotch grabbing sub to score a goal, Clint will be watching the games on tv with a beer in one hand and chips in the other.

Btw, the game-winning goal Clint set up with the dipper that hit the crossbar and settled to EJ, was imho one of the nicest US goals this year. You never know how Clint is going to make a goal, but he finds a way when he is surrounded by a good cast. Unfortunately, on an expansion team, he will not be starring too often.

[K.P.]

There is room for Clint, because obviously there's some leeway with the 8th midfielder spot. And I can see the thought process boiling down to:

a. "Bring Adu, for late minute speed, and hopefully an Owen-esque spark late in the game."

b. "Bring Mathis, for the ability to break a tie with a late free kick."

But personally, I don't see Mathis making it.

[dysko]

a. "Bring Adu, for late minute speed, and hopefully an Owen-esque spark late in the game."


I don't think Mathis will make it, but do you people really believe that Adu will be on the WC squad?

[K.P.]

I don't think Mathis will make it, but do you people really believe that Adu will be on the WC squad?

I don't know. But it's doesn't seem as unlikely to me today as it did when people started floating the idea last year.