Re: [nas] USA v Korea [R]

["MrMoore" <mrmoore01@prodigy.net>]

You guys are nuts ;-).
  Mathis's natural position was midfield....it is what got him on the map
initially.
He has a deft touch, good passer, and can make incisive runs at the defense
etc.
  Saying he is not a good all around player is
nonsensical to me.  Who turned the match around in Columbus when he came on
for Reyna
in"midfield" with some decisive runs, vertical passing and a match winning
one time assist to Wolff?

 C'mon guys....do we forget already?


Jeff
----- Original Message -----
From: "PETER V GRATTON" <grattonp@unlv.edu>
Cc: "North American Soccer Mailing List" <nas@americakicks.com>
Sent: Tuesday, June 11, 2002 2:15 PM
Subject: RE: [nas] USA v Korea [R]


> Tim says it well. Mathis is a Wynalda type - pure scorer not an all around
> player. Donovan will IMHO become an attacking wing mid who can do it all.
> Both should make some good money playing soccer in Premier Leagues as long
> as Clint pays attention to his fitness. He isn't Renaldo yet. He can't
> smoke and be out of shape and still expect a big payday based on past
> glory.
>  The use of aging above average/star caliber players as subs is what has
> separated the teams who win from those who strive. the one thing that
> Arena needs to improve in IMHO opinion is subbing. I do defend his choice
> to keep Pope on the field. The drop in quality & experience if you take
> Pope out could have cost us the game. Hopefully the US now has
> strikers/scorers for a few years and now we need to get the young
> defenders International experience so the Goose types are on the bench and
> not needed for stability on the field.
>  The USA has come so far and mostly because of that struggling mess called
> MLS. Thank you to the handful of men with Big $$$ who have kept the dream
> of American High level Pro Soccer in America ALIVE. We are not there yet
> BUT we are close. Soon we will expect the US to go through to the second
> round not be pleasantly surprised. ;)
>
>   Pete Gratton
>   Dreams are FUN - Beat Mexico!
>
> On Mon, 10 Jun 2002, Timothy D. Ristorcelli wrote:
>
> > I was watching the game with some family & friends, and was asked,
before
> > any of the goals were scored, why Donovan wasn't up front again, and
which
> > player I thought was better, Mathis or Donovan.  Basically, I said
Donovan
> > is probably the better overall player.  He's better in defense, running,
> > fitness, possession, etc.  But Mathis is the better striker.  He's just
a
> > pure finisher.  He had, for the most part, 1 nice opportunity to score
and
> > put it away.  That to me is a pure striker.  Of course, seeing Mathis
finish
> > with a nice right footed trap and left footed shot helped to emphasize
what
> > I said.  Donovan, in a nearly identical chip over the top, went for the
> > one-time volley and almost completely whiffed.  Donovan's a great
player,
> > but I'd rather have Mathis' composure and knack for scoring up front.
> > Donovan did a great job at right mid and I'm glad to see him there
instead
> > of Cobi (the suggested replacement).  Don't get me wrong, I think Cobi
can
> > still play (see the last 10 mins of the Portugal game), but his best use
for
> > the team is in the last 20 mins of the game.  Donovan, on the other
hand, is
> > one of the fittest players on the roster, is extremely creative, tracks
> > back, is willing to make tackles (even if it causes a marginal foul call
and
> > gives up a FK), etc.  The US just continues to impress me more and
more..
> > We've come a long way..
> >
> > ___________________________________
> > Timothy D. Ristorcelli, MBA
> > crazo@tampabay.rr.com
> > ICQ:  1361610
> > Sam's Army: http://www.sams-army.com
> > ___________________________________
>
>
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