I can understand that due to injury and the operation that maybe his pace has slowed down a bit, but his free kicks are no longer something spectacular as they used to be. Everytime he used to set up for a free there was a definite excitement because he was the one guy that you knew would at least be knocking it off the crossbar. But now, his frees just seem to harmlessly go straight into the wall. I'm surprised because I figured that with the time and space his ability wouldn't suffer so much from the injuries and stuff. Or am I high?
Too many brewskis maybe. Every aspect of Clint's game is off by a lot right now. He should never take a corner kick or free kick once Geuvera comes back.
Free kicks are not the same as corner kicks. On corner kicks why would you want a guy who is pretty good in the air as Mathis is taking your teams corner kicks? I want him on the end of a corner not taking them. Anybody agree with me on this? Next, what's happened to him on freekicks? My guess is not enough time doing them in practice. Richie
I been taking a lot of corners and freekicks in my time, and it is not something you forget, once you know it you got it. For Mathis is total lack of confidence and anxiety, I think if he would get a few good games a few goals scored he could be BACK
He was taking the corner kicks becuase other than him.... who would? When Guevara comes back I bet he'll take them.
It is a lot easier to find a guy to take corners then it is to find a guy who can score with his head under defensive pressure. To be good at corners you need to practice those also. As in any skill, skill shelf life is very short and you need constant practice to maintain them. Richie
I have found that guys who are really dangerous when taking freekicks are always taking freekicks and trying to hit corners at team practices and when they are not with the team. They might go to a field that has a goal and put up a net, and bring a bag of balls and try to hit corners around and over the top. They may even try to hit one on the ground with the idea if some one spots a wall player jumps really high and early. Then the next one goes under the wall, and under that player. They might even shoot at the head of a wall player. Then the next one over that player to see if he ducks or stands side ways to avoid the ball. You also see guys like this go on to the field during half time at others games and take freekicks. The best takers do them all the time.
I don't know why so many people are so surprised by his left foot. For a while when I saw him play with the Galaxy, and at first with the Metros I always thought he was left footed. He seems to be as good with both feet. As for the free kicks, didn't he just mess up one where he hit it into the wall? I thought it was miskicked. Anyway, when's the last time he's scored off of a free kick? Can knee injuries really affect your free kicking abilities? I know Del Piero isn't nearly as good as he once was at the free kick after he blew his knee out.
Mathis probably just needs some more practice with the free kicks. You will always lose your touch if you don't practice consistantly.
You know I didn't take notice of it when he took it if he was trying to go under the wall. It is not something you do off the cuff. You have to know what that player in the wall did before on the last free kick or what he has done in the past. You need someone watching the wall somewhere. It could even be a guy on the bench looking for that to let you know when you can beat a guy in the wall doing that. If you really take notice you will see that a lot of guys leaves his feet and leaves it early. So an on the ground free kick can work. Keeper expects the wall to stop the shot in the wall. He is not looking for a shot under the wall. For you guys with good memories. Remember when KC beat Chicago for the mls cup? After KC was leading 1-0 Preke tried it. He attempted to shoot under Ante Razov. Razov has this habit of jumping very high and early. If I recall right the ball got through the wall, but Preke did not have enough on the ball to surprise Thorton. It would have been a beautiful goal a smart goal. Richie