I have just read that Clint Mathis is trying out for a few clubs in Europe. I am a bit concerned about him going to The Glasgow Rangers. Yes Rangers are a top club in Scotland but their is really no competition their other than Celtic and the rivalry is the longest in sports history. I have read that Rangers are in a bit of financial trouble and that means having problems signing quality players. The quality of play I think is less than that of the MLS. In the MLS you have a great diversity in the teams that can take the title each year, that is not the case in Scotland. Every year it is the same old story Celtic or Rangers playing for the CIS Cup, Scottish Cup, or League Cup. I do know that next year the top team will be seeded in the Champions League and their is always the UEFA Cup. Assistant Coach Mo Johnstone who played for both Celtic and Rangers (which I hear is a big no no) and Claudio Reyna who played for Rangers and is now with Sunderland, he should take into consideration what they have to say. If Clint is looking for greener pastures then I think he should look to the English First Division. With his talent he could single handedly bring a club into the Premier League and make a great impact. Anyone of the top ten teams in the first division could use him. Sunderland who right now are in 5th place could use a man like Clint. I think Clint could learn a great deal from the experience of a Club and International coach like Mick McCarthy. Even West Ham who are in 9th place need a pure goal scorer like Clint. I hope someone can forward this to him,Mo or Claudio to inform him of my thoughts. In the end if Clint thinks he has grown to big for the MLS that's fine, It would be better for Clint to move on if he is not happy. All the best to the MetroStars an lets bring some silver wear to N.Y. NYFootSoilder
MATHIS Well my friend youve picked out a good few points butyou must remember it was Rangers who made Claudio Reyna a big star and if Mathis was to join Rangers he would be playing european football as Rangers were told today they would be seeded for the next round of the UEFA cup and Rangers are no small club playing for us at the moment we have Ronald De Boer (former AJAX and barcelona), Shota Arveladze (former AJAX) peter Lovenkrands one of the fastest wingers in the world Stefan Klos (european cup winner with bourussia dortmund) now heres my question Brian McBride came to rangers and celtic and failed to impress what maks you automatically think mathis is good enough for Rangers?
Correction: McBride never went to Rangers. Advocaat watched McBride several times in 2000, but dropped interest mainly because 1) a deal could not be completed before the Champions League registration deadline, and 2) Tore Andre Flo became available. I can find no record of Celtic ever being interested in McBride, and especially not a trial. Many of us here tend to know exactly where American players have had trials in Europe. As for why we think Mathis is good enough for Rangers: he's the most lethal finisher in the history of US soccer. And McBride wasn't signed because his competition was Tore Andre Flo (he may not be that good today, but back in 2000 he had an excellent international reputation, and had done very well at the 1998 World Cup), while Mathis' competition at the striker position is Egil Ostenstad and Michael Mols. I don't consider Steven Thompson to be competition because Thompson is more of a target forward, and even then Mathis is probably better. Rangers generally had much better forwards in 2000 than today.
Why not the EPL Surely, if Mathis can make it with Rangers, he can play for Leicester (had a tryout-- no?), or Wolverhampton. That is the best option for him, I'd think. Who else is having trouble scoring goals? Everton? Blackburn?
It looks like McBride will be going to Blackburn, unless MLS screws it up again. http://www.soccer365.com/US_NEWS/Americans_Abroad/page_93_62672.shtml
First Divdion I thought that First Dividion must be a mistake. Since noone else brought it up am I missing something.
WRONG Brian McBride visited the Murray park Facillity and trained with the team for two days after failling to impress Advocaat he then spent a further two days at parkhead where again he failed to prove himself to Martin O'neil at celtic with his fitness the club. Mo Johnston has called Mathis the new Ally Mccoist thatll be good enough for David murray to put the cash up for the buy MARK MY WORDS MATHIS WILL SIGN FOR RANGERS! rangers are also making a swoop for Dundee's Caballero, Nemzadze and Ravanelli after Dundee went into administration this week the players were realesed
Re: First Divdion Me too. But I like how it sounds. 'A crowd of 18,000? That's real first dividon in my book!' Really top shlef.' So I voted for it. But really... ? Kevin D.
Advocaat wouldn't be the first manager to fail to spot talent. Patrick Vieira was rejected by Shanghai Zhongyuan (now known as Inter Shanghai) in 1995, with their manager saying he wasn't good enough. Vieira signed for Arsenal a year later.
I like Mathis to Middlesborough. Although I've never been a big fan, I think that he could succeed there. Mendieta would give him plenty of opportunities to show what he can do and they really need someone up front. Like McBride he'll shine surrounded by EPL talent. Does he have a tryout lined up with them?
Go with the Foxes Why is hardly anyone saying he should got to Leicester? There the team he worked out with.They could use another forward and Micky Adams is one of the best young coaches in England.There playing real well at the moment,with him im sure they can be an upper middle team.Great move for him,go to the Foxes!!!!
i dont think he realy has anything to think about. Rangers should be the only team being considered by him. He will be guaranteed european football every year, which none of the othere english clubs mentioned can give. He will be playing in front of 50,000 people every week, which none of the english sides mentioned can guarantee. He was in the newspaper here today saying how impressed he has been with Auchenhow, rangers training complex, which is one of the best in europe. None of the other english teams can boast this either. And most important of all, he will be playing for one of the most famous teams in the world, The Rangers Football Club. WATP
I think it will be good for Clint... this will give him a chance to regain his form if he joins Rangers.. then who knows... English football might come knocking at his door.
maybe, but there is only reall 5 teams worth leaving ibrox for in EPL. Just look at reyna since he left. Sunderland got relegated, and now he cant get a game for man city, who are pretty crap. Barry Ferguson, who had all he could want at Ibrox, but he left because he wanted to better himself, and now the so called "bigger club" are facing relegation. As so many players have said, the only way is down after leaving ibrox.
Don't know if anyone posted this yet. http://soccer365.com/US_NEWS/Americans_Abroad/page_93_62829.shtml I want to win a contract with Rangers,” he declared to the club website. “I hope I can do enough this week to convince the manager that I can do a job for him.” I also like the ad at the bottom to be the first to get a Mathis Rangers jersey if he signs... I thought that was amusing.
Work permit? Perhaps someone can share their EPL work permit acumen. Will Mathis qualify? This always seems problematic. He did not get into to all the games at S. Korea '02.
Work permit? Perhaps someone can share their EPL work permit acumen. Will Mathis qualify? This always seems problematic. He did not get into to all the games at S. Korea '02.
I don't know what the rules are with respect to the work permit but I think Mathis would be a lock - he's got enough caps and has been a regular on the national side for years. He's contract with MLS has run out hasn't it? This means that whoever signs him is not paying any transfer fee, right? If that's correct it obviously makes him that much more attractive. If it's down to Rangers, Leicester, or Saints I guess it will depend on what he really wants. There's no denying the atmosphere at Ibrox is great. Old Firm matches are fantastic. While the quality of the rest of the SPL isn't necessarily that great, there is the lure of the CHAMPION'S LEAGUE, which he certainly won't get at Leicester or with Southhampton. On the other hand the prem is obviously a much better league and a tougher test, but playing there might be better for him in terms of his own development.
From that soccer365 article: ”Mo Johnston, who was the assistant coach at New York, has spoken glowingly of the club and recommended me to Alex McLeish,” said Mathis. “This is a real chance for me and I hope to grab it.” OH NO! He didn't say "NJ" or "NY/NJ," but referred to the Metros as New York! No wonder so many fools booed and insulted him when he was down...