RSL: Mathis says nobody's job is safe at this point

[DadOf8]

RSL: Mathis says nobody's job is safe at this point
By Michael C. Lewis
The Salt Lake Tribune

Another change: RSL's lineup will shift once more after Wednesday's poor effort. Mathis was among the regulars who were benched for lack of effort at halftime of an exhibition against Universidad Catolica at Rice-Eccles Stadium on Wednesday and he watched a group of mostly reserves energetically score three goals in the final 16 minutes to escape with a 3-2 victory.
But the Chilean opponent was not at full strength - it fielded a team of mostly reserves - and RSL knows that the level of competition will go up when it meets the Galaxy, who still have not lost at home and expect to have midfielder Landon Donovan back from his duty with the national team.
With that in mind, coach John Ellinger plans to reward midfielder Kenny Cutler with his first start, after the rookie played well and scored a goal against Catolica. The coach also plans to keep using the 4-4-2 formation with which he experimented against Catolica, presumably with Mathis and veteran Dante Washington up top again and Jason Kreis as an attacking midfielder.
But Ellinger has hinted at further lineup changes, and Mathis acknowledged that nobody should presume his job is safe when a team is playing as poorly as RSL has been. The team has lost three shutouts in a row and not scored in 321 minutes overall, and has not won in five games on the road - a streak that includes an ongoing scoreless stretch of 331 minutes.
"I told John myself, if he wants to take me out, take me out, if that's going to help the team win and do a better job," Mathis said. "I've got no problem stepping off. That's the one good thing we do have here. We don't have individuals who are going to piss and moan and worry about if they're playing or not - as long as we put the right team out there to win."
Ellinger has been straining to cope with an assortment of injuries and absences over the past couple of weeks, but expects to have defender Eddie Pope back from his service with the U.S. national team.
Midfielder


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Leslie Fitzpatrick and defender Marlon Rojas won't be available, however, and defender Rusty Pierce is out with a hamstring injury. Fitzpatrick and Rojas are returning from national-team duty for their native Trinidad & Tobago, and will be given the weekend to recuperate - though neither of them played in either of the national team's games last week.
Ellinger said he was as disappointed as he had been all season with the first half against Catolica, and said he and the team "had a little meeting" Thursday "and addressed some issues and hopefully some things will sort themselves out on the weekend." Asked what issues were discussed, Ellinger said "internal issues, let's just say."
Whatever they were, exactly, it's clear they are part of a growing frustration among a team that appeared to have perhaps turned a corner a couple of weeks ago.
Instead?
They still seem to be scrambling after 11 games, and nobody seems quite sure how to remedy the problem with three of the next four games on the road. "If I knew the answer, John probably wouldn't have a job," Mathis joked.
mcl [at] sltrib.com

Scoring woes
* Clint Mathis, a prolific scorer, has yet to tally a goal this season.
* Mathis was benched Wednesday in an exhibition match for lack of production.
* Real Salt Lake has lost three shutouts in a row and not scored in 321 minutes overall.

[alianza]

Especially his...

[DadOf8]

Yep, don't look now Clint, but I think Jaime Watson just took your job.