Mathis!!!

Mathis circa 2002, yes. Mathis as he started off at Hannover, certainly. Mathis as he sleep-walked through his play since: no.
Clint Mathis could have been the man everyone feared in a US lineup (as it stands, we don't have anyone like that). But he chose to pout. Players don't make national teams by not producing.
Now, I blame lienen for a lot of his problems (probably illogically), but I accept he could have made teh choice to overcome that situation, and he decided not to.

 

When Mathis was dangerous and scoring and creating in his prime, Arena told him (in public quotes at least) that he needed to take better care of himself and get serious about staying in shape for his profession. From what it looks like from here, he didn't. And when that edge that makes the difference between being USMNT quality and not was lost, he hasn't figured out how to get it back. He just doesn't belong on the team at this point and may never again. In response to your question...both Adu and Dempsey have had much better quality play over the last year than Clint. As a result, I would take either of them over Clint. (And, by the way, neither of them might make the team!)

 

sadly, this is about right.

 

1. Cunningham (who fits the formula for a player who can come in against a compact defense protecting a goal, have the physique so you can't muscle him off the ball, and the quickness, technical ability and selfishness to create a chance against the run of play or despite the defense).

2. Herculez Gomez (when in doubt, put a "hot" player on your bench--so much of goal scoring is about confidence).

3. Freddy Adu. No, not b/c he's got a lot of talent. He's easy to dispossess, get's muscled off the ball and doesn't have credibility when he goes down. Freddy Adu improved probably 60% this year over last year. Most young players might improve 10-15%. He's make another huge jump by the start of this season. And another huge jump next season. When you judge Adu now you have to project how much better he'll be in 6 months. And by that standard, he may be one of the best 6 American attackers on the planet--maybe.

4. Edson Buddle. All the arguments you might make for Mathis apply even more so for Buddle. Both have had 2 years of mediocre play. But both have skill. Both can be terrible for a game and than make a great play or two. But....
--Buddle's success has been more recent
--Buddle is younger and isn't as far out-of-shape as Mathis
--Buddle is quicker
--Buddle is faster
--Buddle is taller and can get up better and is more of a threat to score off a header (which against a compact defense means he has a chance of getting ahead on the ball)

5. Santino Quaranta. Uh...he's a right midfielder, right? Except that Quaranta has been a striker/goal scorer most of his youth career and as a pro (started out as midfielder who scored goals). Always had the rep of being someone who responded to physical play well (Arena felt he was better than DMB and Donovan in this regard and also criticized Mathis in this area), a good goal sense and a great dribbler. So why didn't he show any of that this past season you ask? Last season was Quaranta's first season on the field in 3 years. It was the first season he's had since he was 16 where he played at least half the season. He's rusty and raw and as he gets more comfortable on the field, we may just see a player who was regarded as an equal to Eddie Johnson as a youth player.

6. Giuseppe Rossi. Yes, I know, right now he prefers Italy over the USA. And yes, Arena said the right thing, that he's not going to beg for Rossi. But Rossi won't get selected for the Azzurri and your question was who I'd rather have on the bench--to name just one person. No question I'd take Rossi 100 times out of 100 over Mathis.

7. Taylor Twellman. I'm not sure that Twellman will ever make it at the international level. But so much of goal scoring is about being confident and that comes when you're "hot." Twellman is about as "hot" as anyone in MLS (well, other than Gomez). If we were desperate for a goal, pushing everyone forward and I wanted to camp someone in front of goal to get in the way of the keeper, chase every ball, pressure defenders, follow shots in, give up his body on every opportunity, Twellman would be at the top of my list.

8. Clint Dempsey. If the USA plays a 442 then he not only doesn't start, he probably doesn't make the team: he's not an A-mid yet and not an international caliber D-mid or withdrawn forward. But he has skills, goes for goal well and makes things happen.

9. Jovan Kirovski. Yes, even Jovan. He's taller than Mathis, more versatile and right now just as good.

Hey, I'd rather have Josh Wolff (who isn't a likely starter) or Brian Ching (also not a likely starter) or even Jason Kreis come in off the bench.

Mathis was good once. But since then he's gotten older, slower, less skilled, less confident and bottom line, ain't producing even at a club level. Arena gave him a year of chances to get back in shape by playing on the field. He's burned his bridges. Let him earn his way back on by producing at the club level. Until then, guys like Twellman or Gomez who's produced in MLS or players like Adu and Dempsey and Quaranta (who've shown more promise recently) are ahead of him in the pecking order.

 

Enough already!!! Cletus' best days are over. End of discussion.

 

i think Mathis is now busy recording his first country western album... no time for WC.

 

Jeff Agoos....that is how much faith I have in Clint at this point.

 

You lose any possible credibility with a silly statement such as this. You can guarrantee nothing!

 

You know this how?

 

I believe that Ellinger was quoted as saying this ................... something to the effect that Mathis was a bit depressed by not getting callups during the summer and that he couldn't get out of the depression for the better part of the season. Mathis is done. Period. I don't know why it's so hard for people to move on. He's been finished for a while.

 

I am starting a crusade today. You will see this again.

I would like to suggest that the United Big Soccer Members Enforcement (U BS ME) start neg repping not just for HOW people say things, but for WHAT they say.

Post #1 in this thread is a prime example of a post that adds absolutely zero to the community.

To wit:

1) Clint Mathis has been discussed ad naseum, a thread a day it seems

2) The very idea that Mathis should be considered for the NATS is beyond ridiculous at this point

3) There isn't even a real argument presented in support of the position


Yours in the Christmas spirit, Zed.

 

Agreed and repped.

 

What's a "true" BS fan? (Dumb, naive, immature, simplistic, nostalgic or all of the above) Then you are a "true" BS fan and you are showing it.





Not another one Clint. Man, are you really that lonely? The holidays are a depressing time for you?

Beer and Doritos alone just don't cut it anymore.

 

So what your saying is that you want to start neg repping people for their opinion? Sounds pretty unfair to me, people should be able to say whatever they want as long as it's in a respectful manner.

 

Clint is currently cutting his holidays short to go train at Athletes Performance, a fitness training center located in the Home Depot Center. I believe that John Obrien is there as well, and it's where the Nats will be training in a few short days.

I know I know, just imagine Bruce coming in to the training room with Jonny O and Clint side by side on treadmills, "Hey john, we're a man down want to come out and run some small side with us? Oh...no clint...I think we're all set...thanks though."

Regardless, it's what Clint should be doing...and he is doing it. Finally, if he indeed stays at Colorado he will be training and playing well above sea level and his fitness level could improve greatly.

There is no doubt that clint still has the vision, shot, and killer instinct that he had. Fitness is what's keeping him out of the picture (and his form will come back with that).

Last chance to take it seriously, buckle down, do some work, and be the guy off the bench.

 

No, that's not what I'm saying.

I'm saying that If their opinion is beyond defense, has been posted seven times in the last five days, and is NOTHING but one person's opinion, without any objective fact, it should be neg repped.

 

Well said. Clint is about as skilled a player as we have produced (I'd rate him just below Ramos in terms of talent), but the knock against him is that a) his fitness is often subpar and b) psychologically, he is somewhat of a loose cannon and also lacks hunger. I love Clint, and while I think he would be 100/1 right now (he REALLY doesn't deserve a spot on the roster on current form) if he comes back fit and starts knocking in highlight reel goals from outside the 18 in Colorado, you never know. Certainly playing in Denver WILL help his fitness. I'd say this is highly unlikely, but I think all BSers would agree -- a fit and firing Mathis gives us an element of unpredictability on the field. Plus, wouldn't it be great to have both a left (E Lewis) and right footer on the field who can score off of set pieces???

 

If Mathis had the work ethic of Frankie Hejduk, there'd be no doubt in my mind that he'd be one of the top players in the world right now. But he doesn't, so the discussion is a waste of time.

 

This is the best part of Celtus threads. All the jumping up and down about his talent, or percieved current talent, and then this.

This is huge. You don't just turn it on & off. It isn't a light switch. The guy will be 29 next year and he just realized now that he needs to get in good shape for his career during the offseason? Woops, WC is coming up, better do something.

Hey, I got my 3 Goals Of The Week. I got talent. Says it all. (snickering in the background) This really isn't a shot at Cletus. He is who he is.

It's the people posting. Quite humorous. Yup, he's gonna train now, knock in goals from all over the place early this year, and be ready for 2006.

US Soccer is way past this. Too bad our fans aren't.

If the miracle happens that would be great, but BA ain't the relying on, or waiting for the miracle type. Hell, why should we be anymore.

FWIW - I wonder how many of the Clint worshippers are Rossi disciples desperate to bring him to the promised land. I would bet it's the same crew.

 

Clint is a talented player , and was even better back in 2002. After not doing that much in the past three years, and being constantly on the decline , added with a whole lot of new , talented, and most of all , fit players coming through, I dont think Clint has a chance for next summer .

 

Agreed, genius you.

 

little do you know...clint is currently jogging 10 miles everyday knee high in the snow of the denver mountians. 10 miles sounds like nothing, but its not easy when you're carring around a huge tree log and eating nothing but wild game and berries.

The thing is that you never know, what if clint comes out next MLS season and starts ripping it up for Colorado? It'll be hard to ignore him then.