It's not has Mathis lost it.. It's why is he still playing? [R]

[RevsRule]

I think it's time to stop asking if Clint has lost it. He answers that question almost everytime he steps on the field for the nats. Yes, it was another stinker for Sir Clint. Did almost nothing except catch an elbow in all the time he was in there. I just don't know how many times he has to prove that what ever he once had is gone. I would rather see Razov then Clint.

[Femfa]

I would by no means say Clint is done, but I think Ante has earned a chance.

[Richie]

Mathis- it looked like Arena wanted him to play like Mcbride, and redirect long balls. Mathis game is not the same as McBride.

Mathis with the Metrostars is starting to take on people again.

He did not touch the ball enough in this game. I want him to come to the ball, so he can get more touches. I don't want him comming to the ball and back passing to someone further back.

I want him to touch the ball and turn with the ball and try and take people on off the dribble. Beating people one v one creates space for team mates.

I have the feeling Arena has not seen Mathis play in the last couple of games. His support players has to tell Mathis comming to the ball if it is clear for him to turn instead of making the back pass.

He was not used right in this game in my oppionion.

[Metrogo]

He was brilliant. Give me a break.

[whip]

Originally posted by Femfa
I would by no means say Clint is done, but I think Ante has earned a chance.

USA TEAM is evolving and there is no place for the weak the slow and the old...Clint Mathis did his job, thank you Clint.... may be is time for you to move on

[Metrogo]

He shows so much more skill on the ball than any US player ever, save perhaps Tab Ramos, and he did again today. It's amazing what a facile understanding of the game some of you have.

[whip]

Originally posted by Metrogo
He shows so much more skill on the ball than any US player ever, save perhaps Tab Ramos, and he did again today. It's amazing what a facile understanding of the game some of you have.

There is nothing to rationalize, DMB and Donovan are setting the pace and it seems that Clint Mathis was not keeping up with it, Is really amazing the way reality could be percibe...

[Deuteriumoxide]

While he is definitely not as fast as Donovon or Beasley I think that Clint has them beat in the vision department. He sees plays before they happen. His vision is second only to Claudio Reyna on the National Team in my opinion.

Speed Speed Speed. Somebody has to put the speed players in a position where they can use it.

Besides who else has shown the ability to take free kicks?

[Metrogo]

DMB had a good game today for sure, against a slow, weak opponent. He looked like a boy in the confed cup, against more athletic opposition. To remotely suggest that Beasely is "setting the pace" ahead of MAthis is really selling this country short. We do have real soccer talent, instinct, and vision. Donovan is one of those players, Clint MAthis is another. Beasely has not proven it yet. I am glad to say that the bad old days of US soccer are over, when our player were speedy but little else. Beasely, though he had a good game today, and had a WC that I admit come out of nowhere, still has not proven himself remotely in such a consistent manner, either for club or country. You, however, seem to think that speed is enough. It is not, whip.

[lurking]

Originally posted by Metrogo
DMB had a good game today for sure, against a slow, weak opponent. He looked like a boy in the confed cup, against more athletic opposition.

And Mathis looked like a statue. A sitter missing statue btw. I still have the jury still being out on Mathis, but to complain about DMBs confed cup performance while giving Mathis a free pass is silly.

[NorCalStunna]

Mathis may not have the pace like a DMB or Landon, but at least he has the balls to take some shots. Yeah, I know Donovan scored and Mathis didnt, but those outside shots from Mathis can be lethal. When the younger guys start doing this like Mathis, then we can replace him...

[superdave]

Mathis ripped some great shots from distance. Yeah, they didn't go in, but a) they could have and b) by taking those, he forces the GK to stay back, which opens up space behind the defense for runners.

[MLSNHTOWN]

Originally posted by Metrogo
He shows so much more skill on the ball than any US player ever, save perhaps Tab Ramos, and he did again today. It's amazing what a facile understanding of the game some of you have.

Does Razov deserve a call up? Most would agree that he deserves a look at some point.

Did Mathis score a goal? No

Did Mathis create a couple of good breaks off of passes that very few others on the USMNT could make? Absolutely.

Like was said during the World Cup, comparing Mathis and McBride. They are two different players. That being said, Clint did great playing the target forward role (for Clint's size etc.) as far as I was concerned.

Clints vision makes him a special player. Razov doesn't have his vision, McBride doesn't have his vision, Twellman doesn't have his vision.

In my mind his form has been steadily improving. Its just a matter of time before he is back to the Clint of old in my mind.

[CbR]

they'res no other player on the team that can shoot like him. Plus mathis is the type of player that wont blow many chances in the box, he's a finisher.

Twellman's inability to perform on the international level(not tall enough to be a target man, not quick enough to create himself btw) is leaving bruce no choice but to keep mathis on the team. Twellman is just the American version of Giovanni Saverese from the metros a few years back.

[JohnR]

Originally posted by Metrogo
He shows so much more skill on the ball than any US player ever, save perhaps Tab Ramos, and he did again today. It's amazing what a facile understanding of the game some of you have.

Sorry, he ain't no Donovan. Every 5 minutes, Landon was hitting perfect flicks into space, the kind Clint does maybe once or twice a game. Take Clint's imagination, double it, and you've got Landon.

But Clint (and Reyna, when he came in) were better than the rest of the U.S. team, yes.

Clint played quite well today. He's not yet the spring '01 version of Clint, but he's pretty good nonetheless.

[Ictar]

Originally posted by JohnR
Sorry, he ain't no Donovan. Every 5 minutes, Landon was hitting perfect flicks into space, the kind Clint does maybe once or twice a game. Take Clint's imagination, double it, and you've got Landon.

No way does Landon have twice the imagination of Clint. I'd say Clint's got better imagination, because when you compare his performances at A-mid to Donovan's performance at A-mid, Clint sets up teammates better than Donovan does most of the time. Donovan's got a nice imagination, too. I'd say Reyna, Donovan and Mathis have the best on the team.

[Brownswan]

Originally posted by Metrogo
He was brilliant. Give me a break.

Shhh! Don't let that get around. Maybe Bruce will send him back to Metro while we still have Timmy with us. Unfortunately, Ante got banged up in the match with SJ; call for Twellman.

The way Clint is meshing with Guevara we could run the table, especially with Timmy 'tween the pipes. By all means, spread the word: Clint is past it. Send him back to Metro.

Please. :)

[nyfooty]

Geez -- what a tough crowd we have here. I thought Clint's passing was top-notch. If Convey and Stewart finished on those golden opportunities Mathis set them up with (which Mathis would have buried) you'd all be talking about his great vision and what a team player he is. Instead he a chain-smoking, Dorito-eating, beer swilling hick who doesn't work off of the ball.

My only complaint is that Clint isn't taking guys on the way he does for his club side -- it seems as if he is looking to pass first, shoot second. The old Clint had tunnel vision and was all about trying to score goals from anywhere (remember that friendly against Germany a few years back).

The fact is Mathis is THE best finisher we've ever had and while he's not at his WC qualifying and pre-WC form, I'm not ready to write him off just yet. His form with the Metros gets better each week, and I think he will justify his selection in the Gold Cup.

[halfnelson31]

Im a big mathis fan dont get me wrong but besides his couple near misses/perfect passes he was kinda invisible

[ramckay]

Originally posted by halfnelson31
Im a big mathis fan dont get me wrong but besides his couple near misses/perfect passes he was kinda invisible That's pretty much what I was going to say. I'm a Cletus fan, too, BTW. I'll have to go back and watch the tape again, but it seemed like he was pretty much a non-factor.

I don't think there's any risk of him getting cut from national team duty, although Razov might merit a call-up more at this point in time.

I'd like to see him hustle and create more on the run, and go for the goal a little more as well.