I think Mathis has lost it. [R]

[Bruce S]

I am a Clint fan, always loved his talent.If I were Arena I would be totally upset at Mathis' game. I watched the whole CC and yesterday's Metro's game and I have to say the painful truth: Mathis looks finished.It is no longer the injury, he is an average MLS player.He will score the occasional goal, but so do many other guys.But his control, his explosion..... they seem gone. I am not posting this to rag on him, but it is depressing.People age slower or faster than average.Waldo, who was a fantastic player, was basically done at 27.I am afraid Mathis has followed this.

[Martin Fischer]

I see what you are talking about, though I would say that Mathis looked like a slightly better than average MLS forward yesterday as he did make some penetrating passes and forced a couple of difficult saves from Thornton. I think that Mathis' vast talent will get him some more time to prove otherwise. But I think Arena will be carefully watching him in MLS, as well as in his international appearances.

[The Wanderer]

The guy doesn't have that explosion anymore. Those first 5 steps he used to have would jet him past just about anyone. The only way to overcome it is to get back in the gym and do specific exercises to get the explosion back. Unless he does it, the days of Clint exploding past defenders 2001 style are finished.

[Etchescary]

I have to say Mathis has lossed it also. It sad to say but his no longer has that spark or that fire under his fat belly. He use to be a dangerous player and now he plays like an average MLSer.

[RoverMax]

He needs to go to the gym and gain strength and he could probably lose a few pounds as well. Mathis is still a good player, he had a streak of 5 games less than 2 months ago when he scored a goal in each game. He isn't average, he just isn't as explosive as before.

[afgrijselijkheid]

(yawn) wah wah wah

get a new song

[banbaseball]

Originally posted by bluedaddy19
(yawn) wah wah wah

get a new song

exactly. didn't i just read all of this, i don't know, 8 months ago?

[The Wanderer]

Originally posted by bluedaddy19
(yawn) wah wah wah

get a new song

So you're saying Mathis is exactly the same player as 2001 then?

[afgrijselijkheid]

first of all, it's more like every 8 minutes banbaseball

and no i'm not saying he's the same player, i'm saying maybe we shouldn't expect the same player - look everytime the wind changes direction, certain BSer's alter their view on clint - he scores in 5 straight games: he's awesome - he doesn't handle one pass properly: he's terrible - and for the record, he is not: fat, lazy, done at 27 - ridiculous!!! too many whiny knee jerk reactions at cletus, that's what i'm saying - he is however a bit of an enigma, deal with it!

[Martin Fischer]

Originally posted by bluedaddy19
first of all, it's more like every 8 minutes banbaseball

and no i'm not saying he's the same player, i'm saying maybe we shouldn't expect the same player - look everytime the wind changes direction, certain BSer's alter their view on clint - he scores in 5 straight games: he's awesome - he doesn't handle one pass properly: he's terrible - and for the record, he is not: fat, lazy, done at 27 - ridiculous!!! too many whiny knee jerk reactions at cletus, that's what i'm saying - he is however a bit of an enigma, deal with it!

Hey Genius! Point out in my post where I make nay of the comments you claim are being made or how my post is "whiny." Or Bruce's.

There is only one "knee-jerk" post here and it is yours. One piece of advice -- actually read what you are commenting on and you won't look like such an ass.

[afgrijselijkheid]

Originally posted by Martin Fischer
Hey Genius! Point out in my post where I make nay of the comments you claim are being made or how my post is "whiny." Or Bruce's.

There is only one "knee-jerk" post here and it is yours. One piece of advice -- actually read what you are commenting on and you won't look like such an ass.

i was actually referring to ALL of the threads and whiny posts about mathis (oddly they don't show up when he scores) - do you have a guilty conscience? who said i was referring to you specifically... whiner

oh and ummmm.....

Originally posted by Bruce S
If I were Arena I would be totally upset at Mathis' game... I watched the whole CC and yesterday's Metro's game and I have to say the painful truth: Mathis looks finished.It is no longer the injury, he is an average MLS player.He will score the occasional goal, but so do many other guys...Waldo, who was a fantastic player, was basically done at 27.I am afraid Mathis has followed this.

sound familiar?

[jonny]

Mathis should be a supersub for the Men's National team..now on. He is not a 90 minute player

[MUNCUFAN]

Originally posted by Etchescary
I have to say Mathis has lossed it also. It sad to say but his no longer has that spark or that fire under his fat belly. He use to be a dangerous player and now he plays like an average MLSer.

I did not see any fat belly last night. He looks fit, he is not over weight at all.

[Bruce S]

the problem is that it ISN'T his fat belly or his knee problem.He just isn't that explosive anymore.And without that, he is quite an ordinary player.
His 5 game scoring streak included a couple of PKs.It was not so impressive as it sounded on paper. I am not ragging on Mathis, just depressed at how ordinary he now looks.

[Bruce S]

Originally posted by bluedaddy19
i was actually referring to ALL of the threads and whiny posts about mathis (oddly they don't show up when he scores) - do you have a guilty conscience? who said i was referring to you specifically... whiner

oh and ummmm.....



sound familiar?
if it bores you, skip this thread.

[Tejas]

Oddly enough, yesterday's game was the first in which I thought I saw some glimpses of the old Clint returning. I had given up on it after the CC tourney, but yesterday changed my mind. In particular I saw him make some nice forays with the ball and he was unusually mobile most of the game.

I think this thread is probably behind the curve. He has been out of form for over a year now, and it has been very clear that he wasn't playing at the same level. However, he is just now looking in better shape, and showing signs of progress, so I think we may be pleasantly surprised.

[Brownswan]

Originally posted by Tejas
Oddly enough, yesterday's game was the first in which I thought I saw some glimpses of the old Clint returning. I had given up on it after the CC tourney, but yesterday changed my mind.

MLS is not the CC. Relatively speaking, his play was fine. I wish Arena would tap Razov and let Clint stay with Metro for the rest of the season. Seems to me he needs to stay in one place and just get a steady diet of good performances in MLS and the OC before getting called back for the qualifiers -- if needed.

[BackOtheNet!]

Originally posted by Brownswan
Seems to me he needs diet of good nutrition and work with a personal trainer before getting called back for the qualifiers -- if needed.

Fixed your post.

Chicken Breast Bad - Beer Good!

[Bajoro]

No medical expert here so take this with a grain of salt. But I've noticed several NBA guys with ACL surgery who didn't return to full strength until about 18 months after the injury.

Tim Hardaway was one. Yes he was back the next season, but there was one thing missing... the explosion. Sound familiar?

Injuries affect everyone differently. So I'll reserve judgement on Mathis till next year, because this year doesn't mean that much to the USMNT in the grand scheme of things... And best of luck to Clint in the meantime.

[Hayduke]

This is just my uninformed 2 cents, but since I don't have cable TV, my only exposure to Clint has been seeing him with the NATS. Based on that, I sort of bought into the general opinion that he liked a beer a touch too much. Watching the NY/CHI game yesterday, though, he looked plenty fast. Explosive even. Maybe that's more an indictment of MLS defenders than praise of Clint. Take it for what it's worth.

I think I agree with those who say that he's a great 60th minute sub, but shouldn't start.