Chat wrap: Tommy Smyth ------------------------------ Chris (Oakdale): Tommy, can I hear your thoughts on the Metrostars' recent collapse, Clint Mathis being a non-factor and the fate of Octavio Zambrano? Thanx. Tommy Smyth: I must say that I was surprised and very disappointed for MetroStars fans with the way they have failed to qualify. It's just unacceptable that a team that has so much talent did not make the playoffs. Especially when you consider that a team that won the division had a losing record. In fact, unbelievably so, New England scored 49 goals and gave up 49 goals. Even at that, the MetroStars could not qualify. I think it's an embarassment for MetroStars fans not to have a team in the playoffs. Some of the best fans in the country have supported this team through good and bad times. I've seen the bad times myself. But I think this must go down as one of the lowest points in MetroStars history. I am not sure what has happened to Mathis' goal scoring touch, but it's certainly something they could have used. It just seems that there is a lack of chemistry between Clint and the coaching staff and maybe even on a broader range, between Clint and the MLS. I am not exactly sure what transpired over his transfer dealings but it seems to have left a sour taste in Clint's mouth. I have the greatest respect in the world for Octavio but it just seems to me that the time is right for a change.
I agree with Smyth. Once you lose a team, like OZ apparently did, it's next to impossible to get them back. The Metro can do it now or wait until they get off to a slow start next season to make the change. Now is better. The last thing this team needs is a coach who doesn't have control of his team AND a superstar player who's counting the days until he plays out his contract. Hiring a new coach will solve one of those problems.
mathis is a bum we dont need him. Pay him peanuts(its not liike we do anyways) make him eanr the peanuts. its a waste of our money to pay himm money and he dont even play. back in july when he hurt himself was just a load of ************. make him earn is 25,000
Hey maybe thats the answer. Take Smyth from the announcer booth, and put him on the field. Ray Hudson did it why not Smyth. I would love to hear, some of Smyths quotes after a loss. Mind you with the Metros , that would happen very quickly.
Hey, he's seen more soccer than most of us ever will... It's certainly not the worst suggestion for a new coach I've heard.
The problem Metrostars defenitely has nothing to do with the super star player Clint Mathis nor any player in the team. If you look at the players of other MLS teams, Metrostars has excellent players, it is the job of the couch and the managing team to maximaizing the talents/strength of their team. In soccer games, you win a game and you can also loose a game, sometimes there is a thing called "luck", but Metrostars had great season all along till two month ago, something is wrong with the couching and management, not the players. The coach and management should be held responsibl, not the players. There is a huge papulation of soccer fan in NY/NJ area, just look at Real Marid/Roma game with more than 70,000 fans showed up, it would be a shame if MLS/Metrostars could not fix the problem quickly, even from marketing point of view.
I agree with this and it's always been my view that a good couch could bring the best out of his players, and that a good couch could get results if he knows how to use what he's got. I will never understand why did they have to make so many chnages this year when the team was a MLS Cup contender last year. That was the biggest mistake , second only to the lack of enthusiasm and fighting spirit the team showed on the field, they all seemed to be depressed. Clint Mathis was a big factor for lack of enthusiasm, coused by the injury and no european contract. If they do a couching change, I just pray they do it soon and pick it wisely, preferably someone as was Carlos Queroz, who is used to youth players and understands world football.