Leeds United set to sign US striker?

Your information lists your club affiliation as D.C. United, and you claim not to know MLS' own Clint Mathis? Maybe you watched the World Cup this summer... In the group match between Korea and the U.S., he scored one of the best goals in the whole tournament.

He'd be a fine addition to any Premiership team -- for what it's worth, Bayern Munich has been tracking him closely for almost 18 months (the only reason he didn't move last summer was because teams in Europe wouldn't meet MLS' asking price before the World Cup). I expect that he'd be adding a spark of the bench to begin with, entering around the 60 minute mark of games in which his club needed a goal.

He's a free agent December 2003, but they'd need to pay a hefty transfer fee to get him this January when the transfer window re-opens. He's undoubtedly talented (lethal finisher, excellent vision), but he's a bit too much of a party-animal for some U.S. fans of the game (dedication to fitness has been questioned). Just a bit of background...

 

Leeds already have too many quality Strikers. Becuase of this, the manager sold Robbie Keane (One of the most talented strikers in the EPL) to Spurs. It would be stupid bringing in another striker just after selling one. Especially because Leeds are already top heavy with strikers. We already have Smith, Kewel, Viduka, Fowler and Bridges. All top quality Strikers (although Kewel is actually a midfielder). There just isn't room for any more.

If Leeds are to improve, I think we need to sort out the midfield.

 

they're looking for someone who they think can be great to combine w/ other players not only individualy talented, talented players are all over the place in England.

 

That may be true. But Venables got rid of Robbie Keane because we had too many strikers. If another striker came in he might end up rotting in the reserves or making the odd Worthington Cup appearance. The strikers available play very well within the team already. Viduka, Smith and Kewel combine very well with other players. Bridges and Fowler are brilliant goal scorers (especially Fowler, but he is injured at the moment). The problem is that we don't have many goals coming from midfield. For example, Barmby was missing easy chances against Everton at the weekend. Even I could have scored one of those chances.

Teams like Arsenal, ManU and Liverpool produce goals from everywhere, they don't rely on just their strikers.

 

Just to add a bit of flavor... Clint is capable of slotting comfortably behind two strikers, essentially providing offense out of the midfield. You are NOT, however, going to get Edgar Davids/Roy Keane sort of two-way play out of him!

 

techieman70
BigSoccer Newbie
Team: DC United
Location: Oslo, Finland
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1





Hmmm ok. Why do I believe this is not true?

 

But they could get a Roy Keane-like temper tantrum.

 

Oslo Finland to start with. Didn't think they had any oslo's outside of norway.

 

Check his second post: he's accusing another likely sock-puppet of being a troll.

https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=22426

it's down a ways.

My Irony-filter is melting down. Better go offline for awhile.

 

Apparently they are actaully thinking of signing a Scandanavian player. They have been looking at a player in Sweden and two Norwegian players. I think they are all midfielders.

http://www.leedsunited.com/lufcnews.asp?article=117369

 

I think it would be well worth the investment just to see how who would get sent off more often, Smith or Mathis?

 

I really like Leeds so don't take this the wrong way. Look at all the goals Leeds have been scoring this year, or a lack there of. Maybe these strikers need to have an American thrown in front of them to light a spark. What are we, like 13th in the league.

 

Maybe. But I think we really need to sort out the midfield. Smithy seems to be doing the work of a midfielder becuase our midfield goes missing to many times. Apart from Bowyer (and Kewel, who usually plays upfront anyway), we don't actually have that many decent players in midfield. Buying another striker would still leave us with a dodgy midfield that can't provide any decent support for the guys up front.

 

#Sunderland bought Reyna, and Look whats happened to them.

 

Yeah, and if Sunderland would have bought Mathis as well as Reyna, they'd be far better off right now.

When mentally ready, Clint Mathis can score on anyone, at ANY FREAKIN' level. Mathis is as good as there is finishing chances. He's a killer, and there ain't many of 'em out there.

 

Yeah, I mean, now they have absolutely no chance to stay up now that their best and most creative player by far is now out for nearly the entire season.

Real Madrid bought Ronaldo, and look what's happened to them.

 

Er.. I don't think you get sarcasm do you? Sunderland are currently doing the relegation dance and always hang around the bottom of the Premiership. If that's the best example of what buying an American does to a team then I would say thanks but no thanks.

 

There's been talk of Viduka leaving recently so maybe they are looking for a cheap replacement. They could sell Viduka for 4 or 5 million and buy clint for 2 million and make a nice chunk of change.

Leeds have said that they need to get their finances in order so this might be a good move for them.

 

Yeah, exactly...that's why Sunderland in nearing relegation. It has nothing to do with their dearth of talent everywhere else.

Back on Leeds, it seems like Kewell is a lot more effective as a midfielder playing the wing. Bet they wish Robbie Fowler would get back.

 

I do agree about the midfield. Dodgy may be putting it nicely. I haven't got to watch many matches this season but what happened to Seth Johnson? Last season after Leeds got a hold of him they thought he was going to be a superstar. They really need to fee up some room and let Dacourt and Batty go. If this team finishes in the bottom half of the table there should be massive
restructuring in the offseason

 

I really hope you meant that to be funny, because if not it's an incredibly stupid statement. Reyna has been the only Sunderland player doing anything at all. Sunderland were in a relegation battle last season when they signed Reyna and he was the main reason they avoided the drop.

 

yeah but reyna and sunderland haven't done anything this year.

i think it's close to the situation at mancherster city, where their playmaker Ali Benarbia helped them out last year by gaining promotion, but they really struggled this season. they pulled him 2 games ago and they have one the last two. i wouldn't be suprised to see sunderland get some points out of their next matches with paul thirlwell playing center mid.

 

Reyna is a very safe midfielder...He controls the game well but isnt really an offensive threat. The problem is Sunderland sign far too many average forwards for far too much money...Flor and Stewart...That and Phillips hasnt produced since Sunderland's second season after thier promotion. McCann could be good but is often injured. Overall, their team is in massive trouble.

 

I guess I'll indulge in this troll thread. I don't think there is any room for Mathis up front for Leeds unless he hits top form, meshes well with the midfield, and the other strikers start to slump. Does anyone really rate Mathis as well as Kewell, Smith, Viduka, or Fowler? Or Bridges? Honestly, Mathis has a lot of potential, but he would have his work cut out for him if he was ever to try and get in the team ahead of those players. And he would have to get much more fit and consistent to compete for a spot in Leeds' midfield as well. This is no knock on Mathis, it's just that Leeds is not an easy team to break in to .Robbie Keane found that out just a very short while ago. In my opinion, Leeds coming in for Mathis is not entirely out of the question, but it would be a very peculiar move, especially given the team's needs at the moment.