I'm curious as to why this red card has such a reaction. The point is that the season was lost long ago. Zambrano's stupid tactics, and inability to create a team spirit are what have brought down the team. Not the actions of Mathis. I remember Nick's comments as to what kind of superstar gets injured all the time. That really made me laugh, because the innane fool was basically stating that Mathis wanted the knee injury. I don't think we can blame Mathis for his form. He's been playing (when in the game) somewhat well. The fact is that he has had two knee surgeries in the past year. I always use the example of Del Piero as a player who took a very long time to come back to form. He took a lot of criticism, but finally he seems to be getting back into the top echelon of strikers in the world. Same with Mathis. I really feel that on Thursday he showed a lot of things. He took on people (which everyone bit(hes about here). He struck a good free kick. Faria's best chance of the game came from a brilliant ball from Mathis. Mathis had that great volley. Mathis was involved! I don't know where people say he had a bad game. Because he didn't score 3 goals? Lets be realistic. Mathis has to play in the playoffs. We will not make the playoffs..so it doesn't even matter what happens. If anything...Zambrano should be fired soon, because 1 win in 8 games is in no way possible solely the player's fault.
You know if Mathis was practicing and actually trying one might forgive his "form" but the fact is that he is lazy and his bad "form" is directly attributed to his lack of professionalism and willingness to get better. Maybe he has lost confidence in his coach and doesnt give a rats ass, maybe thats just the way he is. But either ways he's really not trying.
OZ needs a whipping boy to deflect criticism from his poor management of this team. Clint is down, so why not kick him? Great OZ. Clint's red card gets all the attention and understandably can't get ignored. Why there is no white-hot Metro fury at Allegria's unpunished challenge from behind into the legs of one of our stars who is returning from injury still surprises me. I like the idea of the OZ suspension for the playoffs. For MLS conspiracy theorists: Metro/League/Refs are in a conspiracy to have the Metro not make the playoffs because the Metro have no place to host them. Hmmmmmmmm. ;-)
All I'm saying is that Mathis on Thursday showed me qualities in his game that have seemed to have been lost for the past 6 months. He took on people. He seems to be in better shape then he was before his second surgery. I'm saying that because he was definately running around more, and trying to defend. Now...in my view I would rather trust the mercurial Mathis over the morally bankrupt Zambrano. OZ is the one who pocketed money from players. OZ is the one who uses tactics that defy logic. OZ is the coach of the team that has won 1 game in the 8 past tries. OZ out.
stott may be the only ref that would've given a red....another, in light of the tackle from behind and all, may have given a yellow.... be that as it may....our season sucks not because of mathis...its because of the coach.... mathis was away at the wc then was out for a while with another knee injury.....mathis is not the problem, i believe our record is better when he plays anyway.... oz is a friggin idiot....what he trying to say....we would've done better if mathis didn't have a temper? jeez...the friggin team is 11-14-2 and still might make the playoffs, which is a joke in and of itself... if mathis didn't score the goal against dc, we prob. would be eliminated.....if oz played our best players game in and out, and knew how to control the egos and create unity and team spirit, we would have clinched the division 4-5 games ago....for god's sake, columbus, the leader in our division has a .500 record (11-11-5).... oz was handed arguably the most talented metro side at the beginning of the season...then we got diallo and williams.......we've lost 7 of our last 8 games, and if anyone thinks its because of mathis....you're the ones who need to lay off the crack.... someone explain why addo isn't given a chance while chrono has been given a second, third, etc. chance as a starter? why does davis explode on the scene, then get rewarded with a seat on the bench to make way for moore or lisi? why does a player, with speed and promise like akwari, have to watch helplessly while chrono gets beat by a semi speedy forward from the opposition? why? because mathis isn't fit and has a temper. yup, that's the reason. i'm curious if meola is told to seek professional help....when he was here....he seemed to yell at everyone, including the ball kids.....
Cant argue with that. I think if we got rid of OZ AND NICK first. Maybe they're will be a change of attitude in ALL the players. Players will be playing to their capabilities and not left to rot. If the bitchiness still continues then no doubt get rid of them.
maybe so I'm gonna have to call bulls*** here. If your superstar is acting like an ass, and he's untouchable, the one thing you can't expect the coach to do is "create a team spirit."
Superdave... I might agree with your statement, except for the fact that Clint hasn't played for half of the season. He was away for the WC, and his second knee injury. If it is true that the Metros have a better record with a Mathis that is not near 100%, then OZ has no argument. Mathis only has 3 red cards in his career. Should he chill with all the moaning? Of course. As should most players in MLS.
Arsene Wenger & Patrick Vieira vs. Octavio Zambrano & Clint Mathis. Unless there is really something serious re: Mathis' personal welfare, perhaps OZ could take some notes from Wenger on who to handle/protect his players.