Darren Mattocks - Maudib?

[Mosiah]

Come to the press conference.

[USAF]

I was somewhat surprised that Mattocks was played in this game & moreso that he started. He started the season well & was praised by coaching staff & media for his play. He got injured about 3 weeks ago & on his recent return before the JAMAICA game was used as a substitute.
I hope he's not going to be like Fuller & others who perform for club BUT look ordinary for country.

[Karl]

Maudib you have been one of the most vocal for the inclusion of Mattocks, what is your opinion of his performances to date in a Reggae Boyz shirt?
I have not been impressed with his progress, his running off the ball and lack of footballing intelligence worry me. He haven't progress for 3 seasons.

You are on point!
...and that lack of footballing intelligence is killing our local tremendous bunch of TALENTED players.

The problem: The teachers/coaches!
The solution: teach the teachers/coaches...and our young TALENTED kids.

[Karl]

I was somewhat surprised that Mattocks was played in this game & moreso that he started. He started the season well & was praised by coaching staff & media for his play. He got injured about 3 weeks ago & on his recent return before the JAMAICA game was used as a substitute.
I hope he's not going to be like Fuller & others who perform for club BUT look ordinary for country.

Mattocks is getting praise from the US experts...but one must understand that the TEAM play in MLS is downright awful. So a player not as awful as those around him becomes 'a star'. Point is Mattocks has been less awful than those around him. ...do not get me wrong he is an immensely talented youngster - fast, good shot - but he, like all around him has not a clue on TEAMplay. Teach him TEAMplay and he would truly be a star. Without TEAMplay (tactical knowledge applied in sensible manner coupled with hard work) he shall be just like the immensely talented Fuller, Shelton and a host of other locals. Great when in 2nd class teams and games waste when in high quality teams or playing against teams higher than 2nd rate.

The ability to move across ground in 'bullet-like' fashion and have the ball do your bidding can get you only so far if that speed across ground and use of ball is often just mere silly series of acts.

[USAF]

That's interesting, since I see posters heaping praise on young Seaton who plays in USL Pro (because he can't make DC United) while Mattocks is a starter in the MLS.

[Karl]

That's interesting, since I see posters heaping praise on young Seaton who plays in USL Pro (because he can't make DC United) while Mattocks is a starter in the MLS.

Here is the play - Young Seaton made one brilliant play and all his ordinary or worse plays are forgotten by 'the fanatics'. The true lovers of 'the game' recognize him for what he currently is - loads of talent...but as Dunny says, wanting in football intelligence.

There is a slim margin between being lucky to escape an 8 - 0 humiliation - (the score was 2 -1 to our opponents) - and our turning the tables on that same TEAM such as they were. .,..and that difference is applying commonsense and hard work to our athletic ability and our technical skills such as they were.

Just imagine if those same set of ReggaeBoyz passed and moved/moved and passed continuously...and worked at setting up each other on goal - No self in TEAM! - and worked hard...only?

What if each player's focus was on supporting to the maximum and defending to the maximum on effort and with applying commonsense?

What if they were taught football using comparable methods as in/on academic subjects? ...thinking through 'the why' and 'wherefore' of each action and series of actions? What if there was the understanding that the game is a 'war game'...a chess match? ...a thinking on each step and also many steps ahead?

Look we have the talent! TALENT ABOUNDS!
...but our teachers? Damn? Either they are not best suited to be teachers (coaches) or even as they may be talented at teaching they are just not enthused...not interested in putting in the effort to learn 'the subject matter'...and thus wanting on knowledge to impart?

We will never be able to consistently walk with the USA and Mexico if our schoolboy/schoolgirl teams and our Parish and NPL teams do not have teachers who insist on the players thinking on the 'subject matter'...understanding the concepts and applying same.

In the USA all the teams from babes through USA National TEAMs have had the players 'thinking on' structure, sharing of the ball, movement and passing...working at making the whole better. There is a commonsense (no 'frills'...OK, few attempts at 'frills'...), simple, passing and moving/moving and passing with tremendous input of effort. Klinsmann recognizes that the pool of adult players he has has tremendous lack of technical skills when compared with the South Americans and the top European teams...but he has individuals who can be molded into very efficient TEAM...passers and movers...doing CONTINUOUSLY the simple things, e.g. beating or going by opposition by passing around same...not trying silly individual nonsense (rarely trying silly individual nonsense).

...hence Donovan dropped...and (my guess) Dempsey to rarely see the playing pitch and there is great likelihood he is replaced before the World Cup (...convenient injury?). - They have an inflated sense of ability as footballers and have dropped the attributes that made them good quality. Those attributes were 'fast feet' and minds - loads of doing the simple passing and moving and GOING BACK ON PROVIDING DEFENSIVE PRESENCE...coupled with hard work.

Donovan gives little effort and tries to beat when formerly he would pass - use a TEAMmate and his speed across ground - to get by the opponent and get into threatening positions and score goals. He also rarely now defends after losing the ball.

Dempsey has simply become a brukin fool!!! He does none of the other things he used to do as recently as when he was with Spurs.

We do not need any of our REGGAEBOYZ playing as do these guys - Donovan and Dempsey. First we do not have around our players TEAMmates steeped in the USA organization and who grew up in a system that applied 'brain' on the simple concept that "THE EASIEST WAY TO BEAT AN OPPONENT IS TO USE A TEAMMATE and PASS AROUND THE OPPONENT". ...and that USA drill of constantly applying same for '120 minutes of each 90 minute match'.

When our teachers/coaches impart to our talented kids the aims and objects of playing...the concepts on 'why' and 'wherefore' only then will we be able to have an educated football fan base and TOP OF THE WORLD quality players and TEAMs.

[Dunny]

You are on point!
...and that lack of footballing intelligence is killing our local tremendous bunch of TALENTED players.

The problem: The teachers/coaches!
The solution: teach the teachers/coaches...and our young TALENTED kids.

Karl, this young man have all the tools to be a good striker, what he needs to add to his game is good movement and penetrating runs. He haven't improved since he burst on the scene a few years ago. It may be that he thinks he have already made it or he doesn't listen and learn what he is being taught. Talent alone won't make it to the top, it requires hard work and dedication and also doing everything possible to improve from day to day. If I was his mentor I would be telling him to watch videos of the great strikers look at the runs they make to create space for their team. The most important thing in a strikers armoury apart from finishing is to have the ability to make good clever runs. As a defender I would love to play against Mattocks everyday of the week.

[Assasin]

Dunny don't write him off yet. He was injured and just coming back. Before that he was playing very well in the MLS with 3 goals and 3 assists and a few penalty earned for his team. His coach was singing him praise I will find a article for you. Let us see how he develops over the next 6 months or so.

Last year however was a bust year for Mattocks.

[Karl]

Karl, this young man have all the tools to be a good striker, what he needs to add to his game is good movement and penetrating runs. He haven't improved since he burst on the scene a few years ago. It may be that he thinks he have already made it or he doesn't listen and learn what he is being taught. Talent alone won't make it to the top, it requires hard work and dedication and also doing everything possible to improve from day to day. If I was his mentor I would be telling him to watch videos of the great strikers look at the runs they make to create space for their team. The most important thing in a strikers armoury apart from finishing is to have the ability to make good clever runs. As a defender I would love to play against Mattocks everyday of the week.

I am with you here...there is a little more, like playing with/using his TEAMmates...but agreed. Talent wise he has all the goods!!!

[Dunny]

Dunny don't write him off yet. He was injured and just coming back. Before that he was playing very well in the MLS with 3 goals and 3 assists and a few penalty earned for his team. His coach was singing him praise I will find a article for you. Let us see how he develops over the next 6 months or so.

Last year however was a bust year for Mattocks.

I am not writing him off just yet, however at 24 years old he can't be seen as a rookie anymore. I must say I was expecting great things from him, I am slightly disappointed to say the least. Lets hope he regains his sharpness quickly and stay healthy and work hard to fulfil is great potential.

[HL]

Karl, how many times must I tell you about your lack-of-detail postings?

Please elaborate on on what you have just said.

TIA

[Karl]

Karl, how many times must I tell you about your lack-of-detail postings?

Please elaborate on on what you have just said.

TIA

Aaaaah, HL!