For those of you that made the stupid remarks about him being fat & lazy all over again. Here is the real reason why he wasn't up to par in the last two national team matches. http://www.soccer365.com/EUROPEAN_NEWS/Rest_of_Europe/page_109_47034.shtml Quote "The free spirit also admitted to working the three most recent U.S. friendlies with the knock." So there's your answer.
Let the excuses continue. If he get's it fixed, then he'll be allowed another batch of games gecause he'll be "recovering" , if he doesn't then it will always be there as an excuse.
http://www.soccer365.com/EUROPEAN_NEWS/Rest_of_Europe/page_109_47034.shtml It's not a sports hernia yet. Its just a groin problem and it can be cleared up in a month's time. And don't start with the "this is the real reason". There are numerous reasons. Mathis has been off his game ever since coming back from his ACL injury. And his work ethic is very questionable. He didn't have this injury in the whole of 2002, and he was off his game then. And the remarks are not stupid. They're true. I like Mathis and have no problem with him as a person or player, but he hasn't been doing what he needs to be doing IMO. He was fat and lazy in those games, so how is that a stupid remark?
Wait a second, you don't think Mathis deserves a spot with the national team? He might not be starter capable in my eyes, but your post is absurd.
Re: Re: Mathis has a Sports Hernia I agree, except for when he came back earlier than expected to be one of our best players in the Gold Cup last year, Being man of the match in tough friendlies away against Ireland and Germany, goals galore, and scoring a great goal in the one game Sir Bruce let him play in full in a WC match. Other than that, though, I agree.
Re: Re: Mathis has a Sports Hernia Rob Stone said before the Argentina game that he saw him in practice and that he was in great shape. Bruce Arena says that he has been focused and is getting back into shape. Do you think Bruce would play him if he was fat and out of shape?
If he was hurt in the three friendlies, why did he play? It's not as if his position on the team in in jeopardy... Wade Barrett and Troy Dayak had similar injuries. Troy tried to play his way through it, but he couldn't. Now, the injuries and severity may not exactly be the same, but it's one of those injuries that need to be watched closely. Also, I would expect him to be out more than a month...
Re: Re: Re: Mathis has a Sports Hernia Well first off Mathis played in two games in the Gold Cup if I remember right coming in as a sub in both, I think against El Salvador and Costa Rica if I'm correct...might have appeared in the the Canada game too, not entirely sure about that but he was far from one of our better players, he barely even played a role in the tournament. And he was definitely not man of the match against Ireland, if anyone was, then it was Reyna or Pope who both had great games on a horrible pitch. Germany I will conceed to Mathis but of course if I remember right Reyna, JOB, and McBride weren't there. And if Mathis would've been in better shape he prolly would've had a bigger role on the team during the WC, but he performed his role quite well there. I think I said my peace...
Sounds to me like Clint just pushed himself a little too hard trying to get back in form and strained his groin and lower abdominal. You can do this easily when you are a little out of shape and then go through some pretty serious training. Sounds like Clint doesn't really think it is anything... basically just some soreness. Seriously, as chubby as he is I am not surprised that he picked up this kind of injury in camp. To me this is a sign that he is at least giving it 100%. Hopefully it won't be another setback. As far as being in "great shape" as Rob Stone reported... Just watch the Canada game when Clint takes his shirt off. He is flabby and has a gut. I am sure he was in better shape before the Argentina game, but I wouldn't say "great" and after watching the game I would say "poor," knock or not. Same for Jamaica. The real issue is that we all want Clint to get back to where he was during the WCQ's. There can be no argument that he has let himself go a little since he tore his ACL in 2001. I am talking about his weight and corresponding fitness level. He is not a naturally stocky guy.
It's true that being even slightly overweight and out of shape can make an athlete more prone to injury. Mathis would seem to be a poster boy for that right now. When he's thin, with a six-pack and still gets injured playing Argentina, I'll cry then. Till then, get better, Clint, and get in shape -- if we need you even when you're off your game, think how much we could use you fit and healthy. Also, could they just replace "free spirit" with "beer drinker" in the article?
Coming back from an ACL is no picnic. It leads to other injuries due to overcompensating for the weak knee. While on one level the injury is "healed" in 6 months to a year, it's really an 18- 24 mo. process. Mathis will be ok by qualifying.
go easy He's coming back from an ACL, has a minor injury, and despite his off-season spare tire still had a goal and an assist.
A recovery period that is made longer and more severe if you dont rehab aggresively and work hard to get back in shape. All I want is to see an in shape Mathis take the field for the US. You have to look at him and wonder if that hes putting the time and effort needed to get there. An out of shape Mathis just isnt good enough.
Mathis to have surgery Miss up to four weeks because of the hernia. man... between him and Reyna... http://soccernet.espn.go.com/headlinenews?id=259078&cc=5901
Re: Re: Re: Mathis has a Sports Hernia Germany is the only one I agree with. One ripping shot from 40 yards out doesn't make you the best performer of the match in the Ireland game. He wasn't bad, but not great. What are you talking about one game in full in the WC? He played most if not all of Poland if I remember correctly. Did you see him before his injury? He was a totally different player. He's not as involved in games now. Now he just has those moments of brilliance. Go back and put in a tape of him pre-ACL injury, and I think you'd agree that compared to that standard, he's been off his game. Not that he's performed badly, its just that he's an amazing player and he can do better. Not that I expect him to be at his very best after such an injury, but I'm tired of people always jumping to his defense. Yeah he's still producing stat wise, but the other part of his game that is missing is the part I'm being critical of. I don't expect his very best right now, but I think its fair to say he's off his old game. And I did hear Rob Stone say that he looked great in practice, but my fat and lazy comment was about the game. Anyone think he didn't look fat and lazy in that game? I know Bruce has reason to play him. But I don't think its stupid to say he looked fat and lazy in that game.
I actually had this same type hernia (inguinal) when I was in college. I actually waited about 4 or 5 months to have it fixed so as to not miss too much school. It's just really uncomfortable until you get it fixed. Hernias of this type are usually due to one part genetics and one part, picking up something too heavy the wrong way. The surgery is outpatient and he should be back up too full speed in a few weeks. Of course not match fit but able to play. I doubt this has anything to do with fitness. In fact his being an athlete probably made it more likely not less likely that the hernia would happen.
Sounds like the USSF should hire Long Duk Dong to push Clint's lawn mowing machine so that his Hi-eena doesn't act up...
Re: Re: Re: Re: Mathis has a Sports Hernia My biggest beef on the USMNT boards is that he played poorly in MLS to save himself for the World Cup, and you boneheads don't freaking appreciate it. Fact is, he played mag-fu(kin-nificently when he came off that injury in the Spring of '02, and everyone just freakin' forgets it. He basically sacrificed his club career to save himself for the US and the world cup, and most of you on these boards just buy into the hype about him being out of shape etc. Some of you just need to learn how to read between the lines.
Re: Re: Re: Re: Mathis has a Sports Hernia ITA. Mathis was never slim, but before ACL, he's robust, energetic and having bursts of speed to give opposing defenders problems. He still played well at times after ACL, but he's not the same YET. Hopefully, this is the last setback before he recovers fully.
Isn't this "story" on Soccer365 basically the same story from northjersey.com? Does Soccer365 write it's own stories or just take stories from elsewhere? It might not be bad site to go to if it just pulls together all the days stories? It might save me some surfing time.
jerzy... go to the MLS: News and Analysis forum. Everyday, jmeisson posts a thread with all soccer related stories involving the US and MLS.... its an absolute necessity for me. here's todays link
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Mathis has a Sports Hernia When I saw him in Cary, and he was visibly, um, chunky, was he "saving himself" then???