Despite not scoring a goal yet this season, Vancouver Whitecaps forward Darren Mattocks is a happy man these days. [url=http://

Despite not scoring a goal yet this season, Vancouver Whitecaps forward Darren Mattocks is a happy man these days. Cheap Yeezy 350 v2 Zebra . "He is in a good place – his work rate has been fantastic and when centre forwards work that hard they will get their rewards and his are coming," head coach Carl Robinson told me. The 23-year-old Mattocks has started all four games for the Whitecaps so far, coming off in both home victories, but when he has been withdrawn he has been a very active, lively member of the bench, cheering a team on that he finally feels a part of. He told me: "We are playing really well, we just have to keep working on things, improving, making space for each other, do the simple things right and then getting the results. "The simple things in soccer will make the biggest difference – everything else will then fall into place. The cohesion in the group right now is really good, we added not only some fantastic players but fantastic people...fun, loving guys and thats helped contribute to our success." As Mattocks tells me about the winter additions he nods his head over towards Robinson in a way of recognition for what the Welshman was able to do before a ball was even kicked this season. It is easy to see the relationship between coach and player is an important one. Happy Mattocks + Happy Robinson = A focused player on the field. When Robinson was given the job in December many saw his adoption of Mattocks as a negative storyline, with some expecting the Whitecaps to trade the inconsistent striker. Robinson disagreed. He went to work on how to get the best out of the Jamaican immediately. "He was one of the first phone calls I made, after I got the job. I know he has fantastic attributes, he lost his way a bit last year and I knew confidence was a problem with him because I saw in training what he can be, but didnt see it enough on a regular basis in games. If you are not playing, as a young player, if you are not handled correctly then you dont develop. I told him I would help him with this, I said it wont be easy but it was important for me to make his base stronger so he understands that he has support in different situations." Robinsons Mattocks Project was not exclusively about the player himself. "I spoke to (Portland boss) Caleb Porter at the draft and he knew a bit about Darrens background and how he dealt with Darren when he was with him at Akron and I used that and philosophy and have taken his advice and it seems to be working. I have to say, he has come back with a renewed attitude and we are seeing the results." Mattocks acknowledges he is different this season and doesnt think twice as to why. "For him to take time for me, it says a lot for you as a player, of course, but also as a person because Carl knew me outside of soccer and thats really important. If you want to get more out of a player, perhaps some coaches take it for granted not knowing more about players outside of soccer, but Carl got to know me that way and thats translated now into our relationship back into soccer as well. Its a big confidence booster to know the coach has got your back, and is willing to play you game in, game out. We have a really good relationship." When asked if that is what he lacked in 2013, Mattocks refuses to be drawn on last season and his issues with then-coach Martin Rennie, saying: "I mean, I wouldnt say it wasnt there – just some things were missing last year and Carl has taken care of that and helped me focus more on my game." Despite playing sparingly under Rennie last year, the thing most people will remember Mattocks for last year was that interview he did in Jamaica where he certainly didnt help the image of himself or his club. Five months on, Mattocks says he has long since forgotten about it, saying: "I am an honest person, you know, it came out the wrong way and I take full responsibility for what I did, but its long gone and I have looked past it. I have learned from it, it will never happen again and I just need to keep looking forward." The Jamaican did admit that he prayed about the situation and leaned on his relationship with God afterwards. "Faith is the biggest thing for me. I have always put God first in everything, good and bad. There are times when people go through some trials and tribulations but I genuinely believe that if you have faith in God and you are a strong believer, everything else will take care of itself." During the off-season, Mattocks, who says he never goes out to party, spent a lot of down time with a small support group he trusts, including his girlfriend, mom and two elder brothers. However, he didnt need time away from the game. "I love soccer, I watch all the leagues but the Premier League is very big in Jamaica – they love it there – as a boy growing up there you dream of playing in the Premier League and hopefully, one day, I can play there but I dont want to get too far ahead of myself, for now I want to help this league grow and do my best for Vancouver." Mattocks doesnt hesitate when asked about his favourite player, almost breaking away from his quiet tone to shout Steven Gerrard. "My favourite team is Liverpool. Gerrard is a fantastic leader and role model and I try to emulate him on the field as much as I can. Its been a great season, amazing and hopefully we can get the title, we have a pretty good chance." We talk more about the Premier League and when we talk about when Robinson was playing at that level, his eyes widen in awe of his new mentor. "Hes a lucky guy eh? Thats why he is really good as a manager because he is played there and in MLS and as a young coach he is really fantastic, I know he is going to be a really good coach for a long time." As well as helping Mattocks to one day reach another level, Robinson has helped him get his passion back for the game. "Firstly, I have to be grateful to God for giving me this opportunity and I need to thank God for giving me this talent but, to be honest, it is a fantastic feeling to play professional soccer game in, game out, it is great. "I tell my girlfriend all of the time I just dont think I could do a 9 to 5 job, take nothing away from those who do it, but I am really happy with what I am doing and I am so grateful to God and I hope I continue to have success and making sure I do the small things right." Now a Jamaican international goalscorer, Mattocks dreams of making it to the 2018 World Cup in Russia but his priorities for 2014 are firmly set on the ground in Vancouver where the maturation process continues to be in effect, on and off the field, as he learns from experienced players like Jay DeMerit, Kenny Miller and Andy OBrien. "They know what it takes, they have played at the highest level and they bring their leadership and experience but, importantly, they are so humble and its a real credit to all of those guys that they want this club to grow. They are really even keel – they dont get too high or low and thats rubbing off on the young players, and it is most definitely, rubbing off on me." A smiling Mattocks leaves the interview with a spring in his step. The only thing to make him happier would be a goal to ignite his season. Oh, and a certain player lifting a certain trophy at Anfield in May. Cheap Yeezy 350 v2 Mens .com) - The Ottawa Senators will try to keep their slim playoff hopes alive when they face the Chicago Blackhawks who are trying to secure their place in the post-season. Yeezy Boost 350 v2 Core Black/White . -- Jimmie Johnson has a sixth NASCAR championship in hand and two legends within reach. http://www.yeezys350cheap.com/cheap-yeezy-boost-350-v2-semi-frozen-yellow-raw-steel-red-162.html .com) - Ryan Miller made 28 saves to record his fifth shutout of the season and second in as many nights as the Vancouver Canucks defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 3-0 on Friday.AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - The Atlanta Hawks certainly looked the part of Eastern Conference leaders for most of the first half — and that was enough to extend their winning streak and snap Detroits impressive run.Barely.Al Horford had 19 points and 16 rebounds, and the Hawks withstood a spirited rally by the Pistons on Friday night, holding on for a 106-103 victory. Atlanta has now won seven in a row and 21 of 23, while Detroit lost for the first time in eight games. The Pistons had been unbeaten since waiving high-priced forward Josh Smith last month.They had our full attention coming into the game, for sure. Theyve been playing some really great basketball, Atlantas Kyle Korver said. Youre coming up against a team like that, youve got to jump on them early.Atlanta did that, dominating the first two quarters and quieting a crowd at the Palace that was hoping to see more evidence of Detroits sudden resurgence. The Hawks led by 23 in the second quarter, but the Pistons were able to make a game of it.Detroit had a chance to tie it when Kentavious Caldwell-Pope missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer. Caldwell-Pope scored 16 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter.Our shot selection was terrible all night, especially in the first half, Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy said. There are positives to take out of this, because they didnt give up on the game, and we made some plays to get back into it. We were down 23, but we gave ourselves a shot at the end. It was a desperate shot, but we at least had that chance.The Pistons went 13 of 43 from 3-point range on a night when standout big men Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond were a combined 7 of 20 from the field.Detroit cut the lead to three on Monroes dunk with 2 seconds left, then the Hawks turned the ball over near midcourt. After a lengthy replay review, the Pistons were given 1.2 seconds on the clock, which was enough time for Caldwell-Pope to get a shot off from the right corner, but it missed badly.Caldwell-Pope was 8 of 23 from the field and 4 of 16 from 3-point range, but toward the end the Pistons seemed to have little choice but to take 3s. Drummond was sick and played only 17 minutes. He missed a dunk on Detroits firstt trip down the court in the second half, and he did not return after leaving the game with 7:51 left in the third. Yeezy 350 v2 Zebra 2019. .Detroits turnaround of late has been remarkable — the Pistons were 5-23 before their winning streak — but Atlantas sustained excellence has been one of the most impressive stories of the first half of this season. The Hawks (28-8) lead the East by three games.Atlanta went 6 of 11 from 3-point range in the second quarter, and the Hawks led 61-38 after a 10-3 run.The Pistons trailed 64-45 at halftime. They cut the lead to nine on a few occasions in the second half, and they finally got closer when Monroes free throws with 2:36 remaining made it 102-95. The Hawks missed a layup at the other end, but Monroe tried to make a quick pass, and it was stolen by DeMarre Carroll.Korvers 3-pointer pushed the lead back to 10.BALANCEPaul Millsap scored 17 points for the Hawks, who had six players in double figures. Jeff Teague had 14 points and Carroll added 13 — although it was hard to remember how well Atlanta played after the big lead nearly slipped away.Its a game of runs, Korver said. Thats why we talk so much about playing a 48-minute game, and why its been so important to us. Luckily we had enough of a lead tonight for a while that we could withstand their run, but theres definitely a lot to learn from the film.BUZZThe Pistons have gone through some dreadful seasons of late, so this recent stretch has been encouraging for Detroit fans. After the Pistons extended their winning streak to seven with victories at San Antonio and Dallas, an announced crowd of 18,859 turned out Friday. That was the teams largest home crowd since its home opener.TIP-INSHawks: Teague, who had scored at least 20 points in six straight games, was held below that mark but had 11 assists.Pistons: Detroit was the fifth team in NBA history to have a seven-game winning streak in the same season as a 13-game losing streak, according to STATS. ... Detroit set a franchise record for 3-point attempts in a game, and Caldwell-Popes 16 were the most by an NBA player this season.UP NEXTHawks: Host Washington on Sunday.Pistons: Host Brooklyn on Saturday night. ' ' '