Red Bulls trade for Clint Mathis

The Red Bulls have acquired former MetroStars standout Clint Mathis from the Colorado Rapids in exchange for a partial allocation.

Yes, Clint is coming back. Let the fun begin. You can only imagine what he has in store for all that free Red Bull he will have access to.

The trade is a bit of a shocker but considering how cheaply Colorado was willing to unload Mathis for, and the team's dire need for forward help, it makes some sense. The very real question is whether Mathis still has the wheels to really contribute up front, something that sources throughout the league have serious questions about. One thing is certain, Mathis is excited to be coming back to New York (Way more excited than when he left the first time, which is illustrated above. The pic, courtesy of a friend of SBI, is the infamous Mathis "attacks" a fan moment where Mathis approached a heckler and had to be restrained by teammates (including Mark Lisi and hairless Tim Regan here).)

"He's pumped to be coming back to New York," said a source close to Mathis. "And to be playing for a good coach."

So how cheaply is Mathis coming? According to one source, Real Salt Lake is still paying a portion of Mathis' salary. How much is still unclear. Mathis made $410,000 last season, the seventh highest salary in MLS. Unless the Red Bulls were able to have Colorado pick up a good-sized portion of Mathis' contract then the deal could force the Red Bulls to part ways with some other players in order to fit a second designated player under its salary cap this summer (which doesn't make much sense). If the Red Bulls are paying more than $150,00 to $180,000 then this deal becomes a serious gamble. Even at $150,000 to $180,000 Mathis must be regarded as a risky acquisition.

One person who I think may have helped this happen is Claudio Reyna. The Red Bulls captain is good friends with Mathis and may have helped convinced Bruce Arena that the current Red Bulls set-up would be the right environment for Mathis to recapture his old form in. We will soon find out of this is true.

Where will Mathis play? He is certainly not suited to play as a target forward in a 4-5-1 or 4-3-3 but he could be a good fit as a central midfielder in a 4-5-1, playing alongside Reyna, with Dema Kovalenko playing a defensive midfield role. This would help ease the club's defensive issues because it would free up Seth Stammler to play in central defense, where he has looked solid in pre-season. Mathis can also play as a withdrawn forward in a 4-4-2.

Can he still score goals? Mathis only netted two goals in 25 appearances for Colorado last season. In 2005 he scored three goals to go with four assists for Real Salt Lake. That's five goals and five assists over two seasons, not exactly lighting the world on fire.

However, Mathis' best seasons in MLS were in New York and being reunited with Reyna and Arena can't hurt. Yes, he has lost a step or two, but he just might have some magic left in those boots. 

Comments

[Todd R]

Might not be a total disaster if we don't give up a DP slot or too much money. Definitely will add to the drama, which will be entertaining.

[Train]

Is it sad that this makes me happy?

[SF]

Uh, what year is it?

[Diarra]

WOOOOW. This is insane

[Kahlva]

How much does he make? Where does this put us with the salary cap?
(i.e. can we still sign another DP?)

Red Bulls 2007...where Bruce Arena's old players come to die...

[Nic]

Mathis is one of the few American players that can (or could) produce something really special. That being said, he's a total nut job. I can't wait to see how this turns out!

[Nic]

Mathis is one of the few American players that can (or could) produce something really special. That being said, he's a total nut job. I can't wait to see how this turns out!

[Allen]

The good news is that Clint has lost weight since last year. The better news is that my speculation based off some Rapids FO comments back during the Hunter Freeman trade turned out to be a good guess.

[Tony M]

Man, I glanced at the date to make sure this wasn't April 1st....

[Jack Daniels]

Bruce better get a lock for his liquor cabinet....

[Go Metro]

I like Clint. He could be good, but he'll never be as good as he thinks he is.

[locolos]

This has made my freaking day!!!! and has made the season ticket a true investment worth it's weight in gold. Let the entertainment begin!

[Tim]

This is not the year 2000, 2001 or 2002.

[ag nigrin]

Actually Ives Clint played very well the end of last season for the Rapids showing more than just glimpses of his former self...he just didn't score many goals...i would be curious to see how many assists he got last year. I have mixed feelings about this move especially if it means no DP by June... but Mathis will be helpful taking free kicks for sure and if he is whipped into shape by BA (and wears his mohawk again) he will help us up front for sure... but he has to keep his red neck temper in check... and he has to be a team player and limit the booze in take...

[Nathanhj]

What did/does Red Bull see that RSL and Rapids fans, front offices, coaches, ball boys and girls, random stray dogs, and echo-locating bats missed.

Oh and me. Me and my small soccer brain, which is pretty much boggled by this trade.

Tell me he isn't going to start...

[Eric Styles]

Clint ain't the problem. I'm worried that Rob Stone will refer to a Beckham cross as a serve.

[go]

This is Steve Jolley 2.0- I give Mathis a year before he retires from the sport- it seems a stint with the cancer of a club that is RB makes most people want to quit soccer- look at Lisi, Jolley, Youri, Meola- Clint will be joining them in a year

[Joamiq]

Wait... what?

Clint has nothing left. Maybe when he doesn't produce he can be cut and that cap space can be used to sign a DP.

[anon]

Good luck cutting him for cap space. I'm guessing his contract is guaranteed.

NYRB look to have a potentially dominant midfield. If they can control games, Cletus can probably stand up top and finish. We all know he has the ability somewhere in him. This will be a true test for Arena. Get Mathis focused and this could actually work (most of us are rightfully doubters).

As a signing that prevents a 2nd DP this is questionable. As a replacement for Wolyniec - I like it. Maybe RSL is still on the hook for part of his cap amount.

Stammler may be the move to improve the central defense. I give it all a chance of working.

[Mike]

go=idiot

Jolley, Meola and Youri were all about a hundred years old and would have retired whether it was metro or not. Lisi had injuries that stopped him from playing once again the team wouldnt matter. seriously, think before you type.

[Mike V.]

For anyone who thinks Bruce would make this move at the cost of a second DP there is no way he would be that stupid. Obviously this move was made for very little and will not affect the signing of a DP or Bruce would not have done it.

[go2]

Mike, open your corporate sellout mind for 1 second, and realize that bad luck seems to follow the cancer of a club that is RBNY. If you want to find a reason to quit the sport, join the disease that is RB.

When Arena gets fired in a Year, he will be forced to retire, and will have trouble getting a job as a volunteer soccer coach for 3rd graders.

[go2]

Mike, open your corporate sellout mind for 1 second, and realize that bad luck seems to follow the cancer of a club that is RBNY. If you want to find a reason to quit the sport, join the disease that is RB.

When Arena gets fired in a Year, he will be forced to retire, and will have trouble getting a job as a volunteer soccer coach for 3rd graders.