from espn soccer - http://espn.go.com/soccer/news/2002/0917/1433136.html it looks like all that press with zambrano's concerns for mathis turned into something. should be interesting to see how this plays out.
Good for him if he actually goes through with it. He needs it. It's been painful to watch him playing for the Metrostars and remembering all those pre-WC posts about how he was supposed to be our best player. Clint is in danger of being piled in the "wasted talent" athletic slag heap with Sean Kemp, Ryan Leaf, Mark Fidrych and others if he doesn't get something turned around.
Zambrano should keep his mouth shut. Frankly, it's a little strange, some things should be kept within the team, better yet, between the coach and the player. The way Zambrano goes babbling to the press about it, you'd think the guy was trying to avert attention from something. Namely the poor results of his team.
The Metrostars have been on ESPN a number of times post-World Cup, both pre- and post- Mathis injury. If you had taped those games and watched them in succession, what you would see is a clear picture of a player unraveling. Timing may be one thing, but Zambrano just said what was visibly obvious.
Agree 100%. Sounds like Zambrano is playing CYA. What Z said may well be true, but he need not go blabbering about it to the media.
Better to "blab" to the media than do nothing while he wastes all his talent acting like a fool. This may be the only way Zambrano has left. His comments suggest he's spent the better part of 5 years trying to work with the guy. In any event, Clint needs a wake up call.
Zambrano is an ass for saying this in publice. No way in hell Clint needs counseling. Players get pissed off, especially when they are losing. They may also get pissed off if they think their coach is doing a crappy job. If all players who get red-carded and then yell at the ref had to go get counseling, we'd never get any soccer played. All the players would be out discussing their feelings and getting validated and all that crap.
And yet, every other player on the field for the MetroStars managed to make it through last Saturday's game without stomping on an opposing player. (Although I suppose if Diallo played more, he might have done it.) It almost makes you think that Clint needs to figure out how to control his temper to some degree. That said, Zambrano should not have gone public with this. You're completely and utterly clueless as to what a sports psychologist does.
Northside, you're missing the point. If you saw the Thursday game, you know Clint was 7 kinds of lucky not to get a 2nd yellow in that game. According to OZ, and alluded to by Clint, coach and player talked about controlling temper...and then Mathis goes and retaliates and gets sent off!!!
Or maybe it was a reflex to a nasty challenge from behind. How many times has his temper hurt his team?
I did not get to see the game, thanks to the vagaries of the digital shootout package, but from what I have read what happened doesn't seem that far removed from stuff that happens every weekend in leagues all over the world. What makes this different is that the coach is telling the media his player needs to go see a shrink. I don't know - I just wish I had seen the darn game and OZ wouldn't be blabbing this out to anyone with a by-line. It can't be helping the Metros cause.
How ridiculous. What you would see is below par Metrostars play post WC. Far, far too much is being made out of it. Zambrano is fighting for Zambrano's life right now. If Metrostars don't make the playoffs, his career could be over. While I'm disappointed with Mathis' Metrostars performance, let's not forget that Metrostars have played far better with him in the lineup. We're not talking one or two games, but basically 1/2 a season with and 1/2 a season without. Without him, the team is one of the worst in MLS history. Beyond atrocious. 1 pt per game. With him, they are the best team in the East by far. Now, I don't like this type of reasoning, but to act like he's responsible for the Metrostars problems is absurd. Just absurd and anyone taking Zambrano seriously is gullible to the nth degree. Moreover, it is worth noting that Mathis has clearly stated that he wants to leave MLS as soon as possible. He is not happy in MLS. I don't blame him. He is one player that should be in Europe. Mathis plays better with better competition. He could just as easily score against Real Madrid than DC United.
I heard about this yesterday on the radio and I don't know what to believe, so i'll go w/ my longstanding belief that what happens in the lockeroom stays in the lockeroom. I think a coach should call his player out in public only if all other options have been exhausted. ps a sports psychologist mainly works on improving an athletes self esteem or maximizing on his/her sucessful attributes. I considered it 4 a career once upon a time. You have to wonder about a guy that shaved his hair into a mohawk just because he was bored.
Whether you guys like it or not, expect more of this kind of thing as MLS matures and becomes more established. Stuff like this only gets written and printed if people actually care and there is demand for it. Also, the success of the national team has put guys like Clint in the spotlight, so it you're going to "blame" anyone, don't blame Zambrano, blame Bruce and the rest of the guys for getting us to the quarters.
My local paper even ran this story! I hope Mathis doesn't come out of this as a calm, passive player. I can see him apologizing and talking things out from now on.
OZ can say whatever he wants...it's a free country. But isn't NY/NJ something like 18-1-2 when Mathis scores? Mathis can't score if he's suspended...
In the Dallas game on TV, Clint was more than distracted with the referee. At one point near the end of the first half there was a sequence where a foul was called and Mathis argued with the referee while the referee set the wall, while the ball was put into play and on the ensuing corner kick. I heard Tim Howard distinctly yell at Clint to shut up and mark someone and watched while he continued to argue with the ref instead of covering somebody on the corner kick. He was not in the game at all. I admit I havent' been able to watch every minute of every Metros game on TV, but what I have seen post-WC was plenty of evidence that Clint's head was not on straight. Zambrano going public, whether right or wrong, to me is just a clear sign that he's fed up with more than one isolated incident. And one that was observable over time.
His head hasn't been on straight for some time: USA at Honduras in WCQ: Mathis fouls someone at midfield and bitches to ref about the call. Meantime, the Catrachos take the ball immediately down the field and score a goal...
Jeezus - if Clint Mathis needs a psychologist, then Roy Keane needs a whole ARMY of shrinks working 24-7 and analyzing samples of his brain tissue. Sir Alex thinks he's perfectly fine, BTW. Mathis isn't even in the minor leagues of nutty footballers.
Maybe I missed this, but is Mathis going to see a sports psychologist because of his temper or training habits or both? If for any, it's a good investment of time. Why get all in a wad about OZ making this public. OZ can say what he wants.