I know he has been hurt and is better but he has not played much how close is he to make an impact on the team?
I don't believe any injury is causing him to miss games right now, but rather a drop in performance. He's not getting games in Hannover (not going into that here as there are 2-3 ongoing threads discussing his situation there) and it's not looking like he'll get any playing time anytime soon. He just hasn't seemed the player he was 2 years ago when he was a delight to watch because he was always dangerous and seemed very into the game. I just haven't seen much of that Clint since 2002 and right now I think we have better options at both forward and attacking midfield.
Man i really miss the old Mathis. I miss that Mathis that dribbled a ball about 50 yards and scored a fantastic goal. Probably one of his best. The one who shut down the crowd in Honduras. The one who made Korea ssilent for a few seconds. What has happened to him???????
How close to coming back? I bet pretty close. How close to making an impact? Not close, he seriously needs to improve his form.
And for that to happen, he'd have to get some first-XI games at Hannover 96. Which with whatever reasons are happening there, doesn't look like Clint will be seeing time on the pitch anytime soon, unfortunately. Hope I'm wrong about that. Clint's still getting playing time in WCQ's in spite of his club situation, but a change in that situation would make his international place all that much better. One can only hope for a change in his current coach's mindset, or a move to another club once the transfer window opens.
Don't think you're wrong about that... he's not even in the gameday squad for Hannover today. He didn't play in the last game against Panama He played 68 minutes in the 2nd game vs El Salvador. He played 57 minutes in the first game against Panama 8 minutes as a substitute in the first El Salvador game Didn't play against Jamaica the first time. Out of 5 games, he's played a total 133 minutes. In his 2 starts, he was the first player taken out of the game. Though to be fair, I thought he was one of the better players in the first game against Panama and was amazed he was taken off. If Ching and Johnson are healthy... I think Clint's going to have a harder and harder time getting minutes if he can't get on the field for a club team.
Sounds like par for the course for Clint lately... unfortunately for him, and the hopes of him improving his form. With regard to the last match you mention, I share your opinion... I thought he was indeed one of the better players on the pitch, but having been taken off I think has done disastrous things to his morale. Not to his form as much as to his confidence. However, as you break down his minutes per match in each of the WCQ's, it would be a wonder that he's getting even that much playing time, given that he's seen as out of form and therefore out of favor at Hannover. Spot on. Because of the fact that Clint's out of form for his club side, I know he's slipping down Bruce's depth chart. Not just behind Ching and Johnson, but he's headed to slip behind a couple of others as well. A damned shame, because when Clint's on his game, he's effective, fun to watch, and highly inspiring to fans and teammates alike.
He's just so damn frustrating. You know he'll probably go to a new club, light it up, drop off in form, do something stupid, and never get a sniff at the starting XI again. And then the cycle starts all over again. A pre-World Cup Mathis would've been absolutley lethal on a national team today that is just starting to find its killer instinct.
Really, he's not "out of form" at Hannover, he's just plain out. His attitude has done far more than his injuries ever could. It appears he'll never play for Hannover again, and I believe he's not going to play so they can transfer him asafp. Actually, I wouldn't be surprised if his career is essentially over, unless he's willing to play in a second division or 2nd tier league to PROVE himself for an entire season outside of MLS. I've been a Cletus apologist, but those days are over. He's a massive dissapointment to me at this point.
I know this is going to sound crazy, but I'm making a bold prediction. Mathis will be purchased on-the-cheap by Bayern Munich during the transfer window. What Clint needs is to be on a winning side, something he's never been lucky enough to be on his entire career (besides being on the Galaxy roster, but he didn't quite come into his own until he was fighting with Zambrano and the MetroStars). Felix Magath, although hard-nosed, likes players with Mathis' intensity (see the finger-pointing-to-watch incident from the Hannover vs. Schalke match). Mathis was always on the Bayern radar and just couldn't get him at a good price from MLS - they can under the current circumstances with 96. Mathis could also do a lot to relieve the pressure on playmaker Michael Ballack by giving them an inspired, ready-to-perform on the big stage Mathis. I know, it sounds crazy, but it's a crazy world. Just remember that you heard it here first...
I, for one, will hold you to this. However, you build a good argument, and this rumor of educated guessing -- and that's what it is, just a rumor right now, folks -- would be worth keeping an eye on. Rep forthcoming from me on this one, just for having the guts to go with it...
I like this idea...but I think Donovan will be playing with BL before Clint plays with BM - and Donovan is NOT going back to Leverkusen.
Rob Stone (so consider the source) stated that Mathis and Kellar would be going to ReAL (is that lame) Salt Lake.
This guy has always had all the talent in the world but a terrible attitude. that will always be his downfall. He never seems to learn lessons either.
We can all legitimately question Clint's attitude, but I think it was the knee injury that really hurt his career. He was flying high before it, and has never been the same since.
I believe Clint's major problem is his negativity. It's disruptive and I think it's a sore point with Arena. The players want to concentrate on the GAME. not on who's NOT playing at that particular time. If Clint takes the "I" out he'll be back, he's too talented to be wasting his career. And part of taking the "I" out is getting fit.
Wait, I'm confused. Does Clint need to be on a winning side or is he going to Bayern? While a good bit of Clint's current trouble is attitudnal, he also got stuck in a bad coach change. It happens. What's too bad for Clint is he is not politic enough to lay low, put in his minutes and get a transfer, but also not quite good enough right now to grab his nuts, tell the coach to shove it and have a half dozen suitors wave checks at the board. He was not so bad at Hannover to deserve his current fate, but he was also not so good at Hannover to cop the attitude he did.