Beginning of the 2013 season Darren Mattocks was asked what his personal goals for the upcoming Vancouver Whitecaps season where?
After thinking about the question for a few seconds he responded by saying 20 goals.
After 39 goals in 47 appearances for Akron under current Portland Timbers head coach and seven MLS goals in his rookie season, the number of 20 was high ambition. One thing you can say is Mattocks doesn’t lack confidence and is a little bit cocky from time to time. With him being named one of the best MLS players under the age of 24 the past two season, he has a lot of people within the MLS thinking he is a future superstar.
The 2013 MLS season was a struggle for the young striker. He finished the season with only three goals in a Whitecaps jersey. He was showed limited minutes by then head gaffer Martin Rennie. He was often criticized about being the last player to show up at practice and being the first player to leave. Not staying after practice to work on the technical aspects of his game with the coaching staff and other young players on the Whitecaps roster.
In the offseason many Whitecaps supporters where calling for Mattocks to be traded from the club. They where saying his lack of discipline, willingness to not work as a team player and his poor attitude as a cancer in the Whitecaps locker room.
Darren Mattocks really alienated himself from Whitecaps fans when on Nov. 5, 2013, he spouted off on Jamaican television about how he was the reason the Caps made the playoffs his rookie season. He also mentioned that Rennie didn’t use him properly and that the club turned down a $1,200,000 transfer offer from a club in England, a statement that the Whitecaps head office denies.
This preseason Mattocks had some very eventful practices and games. At times his attitude was called into question and at other times his coaches praised his work ethic. In the end his hustle earned him a chance to start the season on the first team.
During the first game this season against the New York Red Bulls, Mattocks impressed. His constant pace and pursuit on the ball didn’t go unnoticed by his teammates. His hustle on an over the top pass from Kenny Miller helped setup a great goal by new Whitecap Seba Fernandez. Miller was wise enough to pull him aside during the goal celebration to praise him for making the correct play with the ball and think of the team and not individual statistics.
His on the ball hustle was the reason the Whitecaps where lucky enough to have escaped the match with Chivas USA with a 1-1 draw. He had a great run attacking the Chivas defender opened up the box for Kekuta Manneh to get his first goal of the season. The vision he is showing this season is a welcome sign for the Whitecaps.
In the third game if the season he was one of the only bright spots in the game against the New England Revolution. His attacking runs at defenders and his relentless hustle at defenders with the ball was really at times the only positive by any Whitecaps player all game long.
It’s still early in the 2014 season but from what Mattocks has shown to his fellow teammates and coaches he is ready to prove he is a leader on the pitch. He still has a lot to work on to prove he is a leader off the pitch.
You can read his other Whitecaps articles on AFTN at canadiansoccernews.com and listen to the AFTN podcast on ITunes and Stitcher.
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