I've translated and posted that kicker report on: http://www.hannover96.biz/ Maybe next week against Freiburg, Mathis on the bench? What do you think?
Well, we could say something that involved the word butt. Given what seemed to be dissatisfaction with Clint from the coach, it's not surprizing.
Benching mathis isn't going to change anything... forgive me while i switch into yank apologist mode here, but Hannovers forwards couldn't hit the broad side of a barn from the inside. Bdaric? Give me a break. hannover should have bought a striker instead of Xavier...
As much as I like Clint, and he really is one of my favorite US players, I think this may be something he needs to raise his game. He needs to understand that at his best, he is a valuable player at this level. However, at less than top form, there are plenty of guys around Europe's fringes that can do what he does. We tend to get defensive about our guys from time to time, but the reality of top level leagues is that competition is fierce, and if you go a few weeks without playing your best, there is always someone waiting to take your spot. Clint has to prove not only that he has the ability to contribute and be a force at top level, but that he can and will do so on a weekly basis. If he can't, his career in Europe will be spotty and likely over too soon. If he can, we end up with the Clint many people have hoped for all along.
The difference is, now if Clint doesn't get his ass out of this slump soon, he will be replaced without a second thought. At Metros, he could coast along unpunished.
yeah but having seen him play a few times for hannover (tho not last sunday), i'd have to agree with Deuter that the team's problem has not been Mathis; it's been that nobody on the receiving end of his exceptional passing is able to put the frickin' ball in the net. Brdaric sucks and so does Idrissou. And again, having seen how deep Lienen has him playing, I'd have to guess that Mathis' scoring drought has at least as much to do with the coaching change as it does with any slump. Few players playing that deeply could be relied upon to score regularly.
If Clint is in a slump, does that mean that his german contractor finally got the basement bar in his townhouse completed?
Classic, The basement work is done in Germany, but due to some redtape government holdup about not having a bar in a residential neighborhood the keggarotr and smokes machine are being held. They are directly to blame for his resent slump, not the coaches or anything else. It is the strict zoning laws. No, I agree with benching Mathis or maybe changing his position in the lineup.
They need to play clint as a striker for a few games... just to see what happens. DeGuzman has lots of energy and presence... leave him in the central midfield. Hannover is not equipped well enough in the personell department. There are always going to be holes somewhere. Under Ragnick when they were playing with three forwards pratcially every game Hannover scored... Hannover could not play defense either. Now they seem to be taking care of the defense better but their strikers can't shoot. (shrugs) This is what happens when you invest so much hope that one man, whose name is not Ronaldino, Zidane, or Henry, can single handedly save your team.
Clint may OK this week- simply because 3 players are off on national team assignments, and 3 other ones are missing training so far (missed this Tuesday). Who knows what happens...but the 3 playing likely miss Tues, Wed, Thurs training- not the best time to do big switches, but who knows...
Wasn't this the guy you were claiming was "tearing up the Bundesliga"? And now he's ok merely because players are off?
He was tearing up the BL.... Most players run into rough patches due to formation, lack of form, etc. at some point. For that to happen to a player in his first year in new league, not unusual. Anyone will tell you that this coach (Lienen) is death for creative player types. Geez, your pretty English captain had splinters in his ass at one point last season.....I guess that means he sucks
None of them who is playing international can be substituted in an offensive part. The only one, who can do this, are Krupnikovic and But...
Well, Krupi didn't make the team again, so its between But and Clint. (per your reasoning). I saw that Lienen was happy w/the entire team's practice this week (vs. the past week and/or game), so maybe that's a tip on no changes? Guess we will see. I do think (given the quality of the opposition- Stuttgart/Bremen- if I were Lienen and had doubts about Clint....I'd let him start at Freiburg, but show improvement. If not, pull him at halftime, and give But a run-out for rest of Freiburg and next week's home game). We'll see... Clint due, way due for a goal or an assist..
Yesterday while practicing But got the green shirt. Usually a sign from Lienen, that he is in the starting-lineup. And Mathis had to play in the B-Team...!
A well-placed ham sandwich could alter a shot or deflect a ball that crucial amount, as long as it wasn't off-side.