Clint Mathis

[utah_heretic]

Originally Posted by DadOf8

Heretic, I hope you didn't misunderstand me. I feel the same way as you, that people are calling for his head too soon. I think at the end of the season Elinger might look at his numbers and make a decision then whether to keep him on the team or cut him. I like the energy that he brings to each game, other players feed off that. Even if he's not scoring goals, he's out there making things happen and I like that about him. I like that he's out there giving the refs a hard time, who ever said their job should be easy? It bothers me when I go to games and I hear fans around me saying things like, "Mathis is a hot head, all he does is argue with the refs." and "Mathis is only good at getting yellow cards." In my opinion, Mathis is our best player, he's just in a slump.

No, I think you and I are on the same page re: Mathis...

I appologize for using your quote to support my rant...you were just the most recent person in a long list to use the words "getting rid of" Mathis. I didn't really mean to unleash all that when I started that response, but I let my sense of frustration over several of the previous posts get the better of me. It just seems like throwing the baby out with the bathwater to me.

[Stucki]

I know someone already brought this up, but we are starting to sound either like Jazz fans wanting to trad Borchardt to the Heat for Shaq or BYU football fans to whom the back-up quarterback is the most popular player.

I know it is fun to play general manager, but nothing is really going to come from it, except considerable angst.

[DadOf8]

Originally Posted by mrstucki

I know someone already brought this up, but we are starting to sound either like Jazz fans wanting to trad Borchardt to the Heat for Shaq or BYU football fans to whom the back-up quarterback is the most popular player.

I know it is fun to play general manager, but nothing is really going to come from it, except considerable angst.

I say trade Mathis for Ronaldo and Kreiss for Juninho Pernambucano. And my favorite player is Sergio Flores, why don't they ever play him for cryin' out loud? Judas Priest, he's fetchin' great!

[the Bardguy]

Originally Posted by Old Ska

...and if I were the betting type...

Which I hope that you're not!

[dysko]

Originally Posted by DadOf8

I say trade Mathis for Ronaldo and Kreiss for Juninho Pernambucano. And my favorite player is Sergio Flores, why don't they ever play him for cryin' out loud? Judas Priest, he's fetchin' great!

They don't play him because they have taken a great talent and switched Serg from offense to defense. They are giving him time to get comfortable thinking like a defender.

[Stucki]

Originally Posted by dysko

They don't play him because they have taken a great talent and switched Serg from offense to defense. They are giving him time to get comfortable thinking like a defender.

I they thinking it would be good to have a flank defender that can make a run and maybe score, or at least get a good cross in?

[DadOf8]

I just posted this about Mathis to my blog. I think it's appropriate to share it here too:

Clint Mathis was in yellow peril against San Jose last Saturday and I guess he said something to the ref and got another yellow card which made him ineligible for last night's game vs. The Los Angeles Galaxatives, er, I mean Galaxy.

Coach John Elinger started 19 year old rookie sensation, Jaime Watson in Clint Mathis' place. Also, making his first start at forward was Chris Brown. L.A. went up early by scoring a goal in the 22nd minute (I think it was the 22nd minute) of a goal from Naldo da Conceicao. RSL continued to be scoreless throughout the half including the 35th minute which broke the record for the most consecutive minutes in MLS without a goal breaking D.C. United's record from three years ago. Fans in the crowd threw black streamers to show their distaste with the dubious acheivement.

In the second half, Real Salt Lake attacked and attacked. Ultimately, Jaime Watson was able to score the equalizer in the 55th minute. Now, many fans are calling for Elinger to bench Mathis permenantly and start Watson. I think that Watson did earn a starting spot in the rotation, but should it be at the expense of Mathis? Mathis is our highest paid player. I read somewhere that he makes $400,000 a year (nothing compared to NBA, MLB, and NFL players). So, is it really wise that we should bench our highest paid player in favor of a 19 year old shooting star? I think not. First of all, all players get in slumps. Even the great Pele went through slumps. In the long run we're only doing ourselves a disservice if we bench Mathis.

Mathis is also the team captain. Many fans say that he's a head case because he's always upset with the refs and saying stuff to them. This is the captain's job. He needs to be in the ref's ear. The fans definitely let the ref hear it all game long, so should the team captain. I've heard people say that Mathis is a head case and that he needs a psychiatrist. I've heard people say that he has never got along with a coach. First of all, I need solid evidence that Mathis is a head case. Show me the proof. His antics on the field do not make him a head case. I don't see him or read about him doing any Rodmanesque activities off the pitch. I've heard him in radio interviews and he's a very thoughtful individual. He loves the game of soccer and he wants his team to win. If my team were losing you can bet your hat that I'd be in the ref's ear letting him hear it.

Clint Mathis is a leader. Jaime Watson looks up to him and I'm sure he wants to play better when he's playing in Clint's spot. Mathis is a playmaker and has created scoring opportunites for his teammates. I remember our first home game against Colorado where he kicked in the ball from the corner and this was headed into the goal by Brian Dunseth.

The problem with fans in Utah is that when their team starts to lose they have to find a person to blame it on. Some cases in point are BYU and Gary Croton. The Utah Jazz and Mark Eaton. The Utah Jazz and Greg Ostertag. RSL's problem is not Clint Mathis. Fans are using Mathis as a scapegoat for RSL's problems because they see him as a high paid player that should be scoring goals every match. I'm sorry, but not even Landon Donovan scores every match (last night is a good example of this). Clint Mathis will eventually score a goal and once he does, the proverbial floodgates will open. Instead of calling for Mathis' head, we should be out there encouraging him to do his best. We are lucky and blessed to have players like Clint Mathis, Jason Kreiss, and Eddie Pope playing for us. Just for the record, Jason Kreiss hasn't scored a goal for RSL in quite some time either, yet I don't hear RSL fans calling for his head. It's just because he's doesn't yell at the refs as much. But I do see Kreiss yelling at the refs. In fact, he's gotten a few yellows for it too.

Utah fans are fickle, that's the prolem. It's very bothersome. Instead of calling for a player to be benched, fans should be encouraging that player to play better.

:signgrrrr

[Stucki]

Um, Kreis is the captain.

[montgjules]

Originally Posted by DadOf8

The problem with fans in Utah is that when their team starts to lose they have to find a person to blame it on. Some cases in point are BYU and Gary Croton. The Utah Jazz and Mark Eaton. The Utah Jazz and Greg Ostertag. RSL's problem is not Clint Mathis. Fans are using Mathis as a scapegoat for RSL's problems because they see him as a high paid player that should be scoring goals every match. I'm sorry, but not even Landon Donovan scores every match (last night is a good example of this). Clint Mathis will eventually score a goal and once he does, the proverbial floodgates will open. Instead of calling for Mathis' head, we should be out there encouraging him to do his best. We are lucky and blessed to have players like Clint Mathis, Jason Kreiss, and Eddie Pope playing for us. Just for the record, Jason Kreiss hasn't scored a goal for RSL in quite some time either, yet I don't hear RSL fans calling for his head. It's just because he's doesn't yell at the refs as much. But I do see Kreiss yelling at the refs. In fact, he's gotten a few yellows for it too.

Utah fans are fickle, that's the prolem. It's very bothersome. Instead of calling for a player to be benched, fans should be encouraging that player to play better.

:signgrrrr

Enough scapegoating! Amen!

[montgjules]

Originally Posted by mrstucki

Um, Kreis is the captain.

p.s. It's true.