What's is significant about Clint getting the captain's armband? Is it just Arena's way of showing faith in Mathis after the world cup lashings and the bashing Metro Coach and Management have been giving Clint? Is it a sign that Arena really thinks Clint is the leader for the next 4 years? Or is it just that only 3 players could wear the armband (Mastro and Donovan) and Arena didn't want to put that much pressure (and prestige?) on Donovan at his age? Or some other reason that actually makes sense 8)
Donovan's age was probably a big part, and not wanting to put too much pressure on him. Clint is probably a vocal player as well, so the captaincy makes sense. Throw in the added benefit of Clintinho motivation now that he is the captain, and you have some explanation.
I really don't think were t the point where we can say clint is the eader for the next for years. I think it more or less kept him in check. I thiugh he played a level above eevryone else yesterday, it just made sense to have him as captain, he is the guy everyone is looking towards becuase they were all young. He was the oldest and probably one of the most experienced guys on the roster. So basically he was the most vocal guy on the roster with the most experience. -PB20
A. For the US Clint's been a true leader on the field, in his attitude, his example and his ability to dictate play. B. Bruce questioned Mathis' motivation before the World Cup. Everyone questioned it after the World Cup. Captaining an obviously talented but wayward player is one of the oldest motivating ploys in the book. I darsesay Bruce tried it with Claudio. C. It's also in Bruce's style to take advantage of the situation when the player's status has dropped in the court of public opinion. Bruce, I think, really created this whole mess by knocking Mathis down a peg before the World Cup and making Clint's professionalism a matter of public debate. Now he gets to looks like the good guy, saying " Hey Clint, I got your back. You'll always get a fair shot with me."
Yeah, what a psycho... You know, it makes me wonder if people really appreciate the value of what this player can do. On the move and with one touch, Clint takes a ball out of the air and plays an inch-perfect backheel through ball. And we've seen him do it before. There's no mention, let alone a replay, and yet the announcers rave every time Ben Olsen tumbles into opponents. Clint's history of injuries demonstrates that no player should be made indispensable. But we've finally got a guy here worth building a team around.
See? Why they even held a contest I don't know. Zach Thornton could've been there and Clint would not back down.
Umm...Noah, I meant that Clint acted like he deserved the captain's armband during the game. He stepped up and did a good job.
Yeah saroccer, I understood you and was agreeing. My remark addressed people who've bought into this theory that Clint's got big mental problems.
okay then, i misunderstood the misunderstanding... I did think he had some serious focus/self control problems after the last few MLS games but if he can keep this intensity, self control, and focus, he deserves to be captain.
Perhaps Bruce gave Clint the armband was a way to channel, and check, his firey nature. Clint plays with passion that sometimes gets out of hand -- giving him the armband makes him more accountable to his self and his teammates. It also "legitimizes," and therefore insulates, communications with the refs. I think it was a bold move by Bruce.
As most refs would tell you, the captain's armband gives you no rights, as far as the officials are concerned. It gives you responsibilities for leading your team and keeping them out of trouble. As far as Clint being captain, it's probably a responsibility he earned in camp and with past experience. He demonstrated he earned it with his hustle, ball control, and passing.
So how does this fit with Claudio throwing his captain's band at Pendergast? Anomaly? Symbolic gesture? Or is the band some kind of shock collar?
The point is that Clint has ONE red card for the National team in 3 years. It came against a team that was demonstrating the art of hacking and diving; the final straw being an elbow to Clint's face. I remember on BigSoccer him being heralded for standing up to the other team. The bottom line is that he is our best choice for captain. He is certainly on of our top 2 players (Landon is too young), is a cool MF, and isn't going to back down from anyone. His first captaincy was a huge success, he had a great game by all accounts and was highly praised by daBruce after the game. The way Clint has handled all the bullshit thrown his way since the WC (where he scored one of the best goals of the tournament, assisted on another and hit the post from an impossible angle, played almost half of all total minutes - despite being out of shape) suggests that he's not going to get suspended for three games in the middle of WCQ like other captains I can name who then went on to do the SAME effing thing at their club. Only instead of two red cards, he got three (one later rescinded). Clint doesn't need to be kept in check, he just needs to please his coach, which he is certainly doing.
"The bottom line is that he is our best choice for captain. " What does a captain do exactly? Also is a keeper or a striker good choices in general as Captains? Richie
I think this is what the captain should do. He should be a smart. (Is Mathis a smart guy? I really don't know.) He should push team mates in practice to work harder. I think that is one of his biggest jobs as captain. (Does he do that is he a serous in practice? I don't know that either) He is a leader on the field in practice, and in games. Not everybody is a leader that his players will listen to. (Will team mates listen to him? I don't know do you know?) Coach treats his players like men in practice. The captain can be a little more up close and personal, he can apply some peer pressure. (I think he can do that. Does he?) In the game he can't get to caught up in communicating instructions to team mates, and forget hir own job as a player. Games are lost like that. Dooley forgot about his own game too busy telling other what to do. (Can Mathis help with this from an up top position? I don't think so) He also can't get too caught up as a player, and not help his team mates. So there is a delicate balance here. A lot of coaches use their so called best players for this honor. They should always remember that being named captain is an honor not a right. He also has to be a starter unless he is hurt. Some think the captains band is a right to argue with the official. It isn't, he should control his team mates from doing that as well. (Can he even control himself?) A captain should be a student of the game. He should be able to see team weakness on the field, and correct that like a coach on the field. He can correct the teams spacing, if he sees big gaps or space that an opponent can attack before the attack actually happens. (Again can he do that from an up top position. I don't think so.) ---------------------------------------- Can a keeper be a captain? Plenty of coaches make their keepers their captains. I don't subscribe to that. The reasons are they are too far from the play when the ball is in their attacking half and third. They naturally think defensively, being numbers up. So that will change when his team is on attack? Don't think so. Let's say a team mate is out of control in the attacking third. Who is going to calm him down the keeper? He is going to leave his net and sprint 90 /100 up field to do that? Is he going to see and correct exposed space while his team is attacking. I think the keeper can do that, but they might not hear or listen to him because he is too far back. Even a sweeper/keeper might not be close enough to the play to do that. So he may only be able to help the team in his defensive half or third. Plus, the keeper has a lot to do just to play his own position as well. I think it is way to much to ask a keeper to do, plus he can't do it. As far as I am concerned the real extent of the keepers attacking duties begins and ends with his distributions for the most part. It definately ends when the ball is in their attacking third or even half. So do we have two captains one for the defensive half and one for the offensive half of the field in games? ---------- On the striker being captain he is too far up to see team weakness, and because of that he is in a poor position to help team mates. ----------- Can a striker or GK be a captain? Yes if it is done just to honor that player for his play. I don't believe from those positions they can help the teams game all the time. Just my opinion. How important is the captain? Have the right guy as captain he can win some games for you. They are hard to find. Richie PS flanoverseas need not respond. The salute post was terrific information don't need any more from you.
Direct quote from Arena: "He was rock solid. I think he was excited to get back into camp and to demonstrate that he's looking to be a player to be reckoned with both in the league and his international career. He took on a good attitude and was rewarded by being named the captain. He did a good job and was a good influence on our team." http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/us/news/2002/11/18/us_quotes/
And a quote from Mathis: "It was exciting. It was important for me and my career. I'm no longer the younger guy like I was for the past few years. I'm flattered to represent the country and take the field as the captain. I hope to continue in that roll and be a leader for the younger guys."