Metros record with Mathis this year. 7-6-1 Metros record without Mathis this year. 4-9-1 without This is overwhelming proof in my mind that OZ is a moron. Not only is Mathis not playing well, but we win with him. He definately didn't cause us the season.
Oh no, read the threads, Mathis "buried" the Metro this year. You don't understand, we were supposed to be 14-0 when Mathis played.
Too Right!! I couldn't agree more. No matter how much they balyhoo other big MLS names — and even though he's from Conyers, Georgia and I'm from Greenwich Village — there'll always be a place in my heart for Clint Mathis. OZ is scum and he and MLS have soundly mistreated an ailing star. Just look at what the News quotes him as saying to-day: I came out of the World Cup, and everything was flipped around," Mathis says. "Suddenly, I'm supposed to have a personality that's tough to deal with. People think I don't care. I care so much. I just don't show it in words." http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more_sports/story/21555p-20447c.html What a guy! The author of the story was totally right to point out that Arena never really gave him credit for his magnificent goal in US v. Korea (we'd never have made it without that). All Bruce could do was complain about Cletus' fitness. Brat.
Re: Too Right!! A little revisionist, aren't we? Complaints about Mathis' fitness were stated before game one, not after the Korean game. Secondly, his goal wasn't the almighty savior of a goal you're making it out to be. I'd say Friedel's penalty save meant a lot more. And there were many other performances by other players that got us as far as we did. I love the guy, too, and I don't want him playing anywhere else (and I'm not saying OZ didn't f up this year), but anyone who thinks Mathis didn't have a sub-par year for both us and the Nats is blind.
He had a poor season,why argue a fact? His stupidity in DC is a major reason why we are where we are ok.
Re: Re: Too Right!! I didn't mean to give the impresion that fitness complaints started with that match or that his goal (though it was the only US goal of the match) was somehow the greatest ever. My point was that it was very good. It was a "right-touch-left-shot" as Jeff Bradley called in the ESPN mag. Without it, we would have lost to Korea and been left with Portugal. I like the mohawk and the HUGE underbite. Clint's a great player and a good guy and he deserves more credit. As for OZ record, past success doesn't make you great in the present. Clearly the man decided to drive us into the ground this season. Regardless, WHO THE *************** GIVES A DAMN about his past record when he makes such suicidal coaching decisions as taking off all our best forwards and puting a defender in the offensive third when we're tied, and a man down in a crucial late season match against an arch rival?? If he was so great before, he should have had the foresight to retire long before he became the weaseling, arrogant twit that he is to-day... "Sports psychologist" indeed...
Metrotard, give me a break. OZ was given a team in 2000 that was this close to the MLS Cup. For me at least, that was probably the best side in MLS this year. We played potent and beautiful soccer. A little tinkering and we were there. What happens instead? We have been ripped apart. I can only blame OZ for the current state of the team. All the changes. All the personel moves must have been approved by him. No one else. Now, sure Friedel was brilliant in the game. I think the point is, that the goal was the most difficult goal scored by an American in World Cup play ever. It took so much skill. I'll quote Ray Hudson after the goal, "majestic touch" That's all that has to be said. No one else could have put that in. In the scheme of things, I think the point in that match, was huge. Instead of going into the final match against Poland with 3 points, we had 4. Big difference.
My point basically is no one is exempt from criticism this year, from the coach on down to that A-League goalie we signed for the last game (okay, went a little far there). I think the blame lays on everyone. Should OZ go? I'm not convinced just yet. But there are some players who should definitely be shown the door. Mathis, Faria, Williams, and Howard being the only ones I want to hold.
Precisley why I voted Mathis for Metro MVP of the 2002 season at www.metrostars.com Sure, Howard is the obvious choice but he's already got over 40% of the vote and Mathis needs votes, if nothing more than, to show the MFO that it's paramount to both the team and the fans that Clint appear on next year's MetroStars roster. All this talk of wholesale changes in the wake of failing to reach the postseason should not--I repeat, NOT--include Clint Mathis.
Re: Re: Why anti-Mathis banter should completely stop. I just went and checked: Currently, JOLLEY has MORE votes than MATHIS. Puh-leez! Go vote Mathis fer chrissakes!
Mathis has been a great player. Even if he's not at his best, the MetroStars are a better team with him than without him. But if your franchise player brings you a record of 7-6-1, that's not so great. Of course, if everyone else is terrible, you can't blame him. Certainly the rest of the team did not play their best. But this was not a case of Clint putting on amazing performances when he suited up and the rest of the team tanking it. This was a case of Clint having a subpar season, although still having an overall positive effect on his team. And in the end, he picked up a phenomenally stupid red card which took him out of two crucial games to make the playoffs. I have previously said Metro should keep Clint next season, with the recognition that he'll probably be in Europe the season after that (certainly the case if he becomes a dominant scorer again). I still think that. I don't like seeing people "bash" Clint, but it's not inappropriate to be a bit disappointed that he didn't have a much better season either.
Re: Re: Re: Why anti-Mathis banter should completely stop. Why shouldn't he???? Jolley was more valuable this year than Mathis....
Re: Re: Why anti-Mathis banter should completely stop. So, you think a guy who was PRESENT for less than half the games during the season deserves MVP vote. Are you kidding me? Beyond the fact he wasn't here physically half the season, mentally he was gone when he was here. The guy is incredible when he wants to play, but his image has blinded most people these last 14 months. And yes, I am including WWC Qualifiers. Thinking back, I can only say that the guy played 3 to 4 quality games for this team this past season. Howard and Jolley are really your only options in with the MVP vote. They are the only two guys who played every game with passion, while using their head when the team wasn't playing well(sorry Rodrigo).
Mathis is a phenomenal player with tremendous talent. And he also had a lousy season. 1. Arena did give him his due. When you look at how the other strikers and creative mids contributed on the National side AND that from your team after the WC, it's pretty obvious that he wasn't in top shape and that guys like McBride and Donovan and Wolff brought their "A" games to South Korea. You can be a fan of Mathis and still believe that the other guys were "hotter" or better choices to start at that time. 2. He does need to see a sport psych. But having said that, its truly unforgiveable that OZ would say this publicly. If an executive said that at a townhall meeting about an employee, that person would and could sue their keister off. That's just irresponsible, dumb, counterproductive idiocy by OZ. And the foul against Alegria was dumb. The foul in the WC warmup stage against Ecuador was equally dumb. Arena said it at the time--Mathis was starting to get a reputation as someone who would lose his cool--teams could provoke him easily--not something you want from a key player on your team. And in a WC year, he didn't show up ready and then seemed to coast through much of the post-WC MLS season. 3. Trade Faria for Wolff to pair with Mathis? I don't think so. In his entire MLS career, Wolff has never finished an MLS season, averages less than half the games played (b/c of injuries), has never led his team in goals scored. He is a talented, inconsistent, fast, skilled, streaky, injury-prone forward. 4. Play Faria as the finisher/garbage man and Mathis up top as the playmaking forward. Yep--I know they haven't meshed well in the past. But Faria tries hard and will work. And if Mathis can't mesh with Faria than that's a sad commentary on his ability as a player. But Andy Williams at playmaking mid and get some hard working, hard running people to surround that trio. You'll have yourselves a fine attack. Conclusion: Mathis is a fine player with the kind of creativity and menace we want to see more in American attackers. But having potential and possibility and some glimmers of great play do not make you immune from criticism.
Mathis has proved that he can be one of the best if not the best American player since Tab Ramos. He has also shown that the notoriety can affect him and it shows up on the pitch as it has this season. But, there is no way you give up on him because of 1 poor season (poor for Clint that is). He needs at least one more season to see if he can get his a$$ together and perform the way we all know he's capable of performing. I am sure that the lack of interest from Europe after this season will force him to re-examine himself and that his ambition to go to Europe will be a strong catalyst in recreating the Mathis we all knwo next season. To dump him would be a huge mistake for Metro but we also know all too well that Metro make those each and every season.
Both Twellman and Donovan left Europe to find regular playing time and success here. Until he gets a call that MLS cares to answer - or until that time when he can answer the call for himself - Clint needs to dig in and reclaim his position as the light of the league. Only good will follow that. Bitterness and dissappointment need to be buried with the past; he needs to enjoy his time with Metro and in MLS. It's like sex -- 90% mental.
Re: Re: Too Right!! for us, no doubt. For the nats? In his 10 international starts this year, 12 appearances altogether, Mathis scored six goals. Coming off ACL surgery. I dont think there has ever been a U.S. player with a more impressive international strike rate than Mathis had in 2002. Those are good numbers for anyone.