Photos by ISIphotos.com
By FRANCO PANIZO
TAMPA, Fla.– Sacha Kljestan and Marvell Wynne have been given several chances to impress with the U.S. national team over the past year, but their inability to make the most of those opportunities likely means they will both be playing for their World Cup lives when the U.S. men's national team hosts El Salvador in Tampa on Wednesday.
Kljestan and Wynne are both on the outside looking in as far as the World Cup roster is concerned, but a big match against El Salvador could earn the players a spot in the national team's friendly vs. the Netherlands in Amsterdam on March 3, meaning one more chance to state a case for a place on the U.S. World Cup roster.
"It's huge, because we all want to play in that game against Holland," said Kljestan. "We all know how important that is, especially leading up to the World Cup. All of us here know that a lot of guys from Europe are going to get called in, and there's going to be a few of us from here that are going to go."
Kljestan is trying to regain the form he showed with the national team in the fall of 2008, when he displayed creativity with his passing and put forth a good string of performances in the Olympics and in World Cup qualifiers.
A hat-trick performance against Sweden in a 3-2 friendly win in January 2009 put a stamp on Kljestan's impressive form, but the Chivas USA midfielder has struggled to replicate that ever since, making the friendly against El Salvador that much more important.
For Wynne, the match against the Catrachos provides an equal opportunity at redemption. Wynne looked less than convincing at right back in the Americans' 3-1 defeat to Honduras last month, getting caught out of position several times. But a good rebound game versus El Salvador could earn the Toronto FC player a spot in the friendly against the Netherlands.
Wynne has not had the type of quality performances Kljestan has had for the senior national team, but he has had his moments. Wynne looked promising in the 2008 Olympics, impressing with his world-class speed, ability to get up and down the flank and by proving to be a capable defender. He also played well in the U.S.-Sweden friendly, helping setup Kljestan's second goal when he won the U.S. a penalty kick.
Those type of performances are what Wynne is surely hoping for when he goes up against El Salvador in a game that could determine his World Cup fate.
"Give [head coach Bob Bradley] a hard decision on who to bring to the World Cup," Wynne said on what he wants to do with the El Salvador game. "I really want to be there. I want to show that I can use some of my strengths to the U.S.'s advantage. I can be a presence in the back, I'm comfortable with the line; I just want to come out and play my best game."
Wynne and Kljestan both flew to South Africa for the Confederations Cup last summer, but to return there for the World Cup, the pair of MLS players will need to live up their potential. The last chance to do that could come on Wednesday.
"I want to play in the World Cup more than anything," said Kljestan. "Obviously the game on Wednesday sets the tone for that."
Simple fact of the matter is that Neither Sacha or Wynne should be in the Neitherlands match or SA based on a single games performance. If they do well in the El Salvador match, that means what exactly? They’re 50/50 in games this year. Not enough to warrent a call to the Netherlands friendly.
In the case of Wynne there are a number of players who are as good or better in the player pool, as well as a number of up and comming prospects. Would hopefully expect this to be one of the last USMNT matches he ever makes the 18 for.
As for Sacha…if he works hard with Chivas and regains his form/confidence then he has the potential to be a contributor and maybe a roll player in the 2014 WCQ and WC, but his lack of consistancy and other viable options for the squad in June, he should only be called in to help the players practice and prepair for SA. And not be considered for a slot in the 23 headed to SA.
Just my 2 cents
Perhaps Franco is wrong and Bradley is not looking at them for SA, please.
And you think spending few years at MLS instead will improve his skills or change the outcome that you’ve mentioned?
Going to Arsenal or Real’s youth academy not only allows him to get world class training and instructions, but it will also give him more exposure to European scouts and etc.
Not to mention, (star) MLS players are headed to second tier of Bundesliga, Scandinavia, Scotland, or Championship anyway.
Funny how everyone is deriding this post by Franco but it’s gotten almost 100 comments already–which means it’s a pretty successful post, right?
yeah all those skills that allow them to be 4th every year, get beat down like a boy band when they play the big boys and AND play in the championship, hmm i can only wonder why he turned that down.
Dude….Simek came in to deal with a left winger that had suffered a head collision with our right back. Of course he’s going to do better.
I do agree that Simek should get a look, but this is really the wrong spot to be talking about it since this is the El Salvador game and not something like the Netherlands game or Turkey game.
Here we go again, Klejstain went on that trial and no one knows how he performed, NO ONE, yet we can hear all day about how Stuart Holden did, MLS didn’t stunt Kljestian, Sascha did, before he went to trial the deal was said to be done, after wards and even after the sweden game all of the sudden, he’s not worth the paltry 2.3 million US dollars MLS asked for him, and thats THEIR fault. What a JOKE! I keep hearing people say this but he messed it up not them, and if you think well he was over priced BS they bought the South Korean guy without even trialing him, just so they could improve their brand in south Korea. Its funny how much you guys bash the guy to even think he would make it at celtic is laughable and they knew it too once he got there.
Haha, whoever wrote this headline was probably just trying to get a reaction from us.
I’m a die-hard ChivasUSA STF, but Sacha needs to try to make the WC squad by kicking ass for the goats.
I don’t see him making the WC roster, to be honest. He does not deserve it. Plain and simple.
He’s had more chances than he deserves.
At CUSA, he can regain his form with “the right attitude”, which he hasn’t shown.
Now we have a new coach and he’s not in camp.
I think Kljestan and Wynne share crazy potential. You don’t get a look from Celtic for no reason. In my honest opinion, Kljestan was screwed over by MLS when they didn’t let him go to Celtic, although maybe the price wasn’t good enough. I think it’s just a coincidence that he played poorly against better competition(Mexico) because it was right after MLS turned down Celtic’s offer. The real question is what will get his confidence and sharpness back. When Kljestan was in good form, he was a Kaka-Pirlo mix. He could sit in deep positions and help the team, but at the same time, he understands how to time his runs out of midfield extremely well. He had really good skill on the ball and field vision. His defensive work rate also fit in to the team well. The issue was that he had some pretty bad giveaways. Going to Celtic would have developed his skill and passing and teach him how to deal with more physical guys. His confidence just isn’t there right now.
As far as Wynne goes, I think it’s pretty simple. All the athleticism, none of the soccer IQ. I don’t really know how he’ll get it but If he does develop the technical and tactical ability he’d be Charlie Davies on defense. Maybe going to Sweden would do him some good, because Hammarby took the time to develop Charlie’s skill, finishing, soccer IQ, and confidence.
Hejduk has more heart then any of these young kids coming up other then maybe Davies…i would be very happy if he was on that plane to SA even if he was just there to cheer lead.
lol, “Bulldozer” I like it!
I think Sacha should be viewed as more of holding midfield substitute. He’s very balanced as a player and wins balls in the air. However, he’s just not quick enough to take guys on one-on-one at the international level. However, inside of a team concept he’s a decent player.
Please, one game will do and should do nothing for either of these players. Time and again they’ve been given chances of more talented youngsters or just as talented vets. I’d rather see both on the bench tomorrow but Bob loves his MLS players and loves his Sascha like a son so we should see both given 90 minutes while someone like Pontius will be looking for 5 minutes, off the bench, with the only hope for a touch being a sprint to catch up with Casey’s first touch control as Casey is seen huffing and puffing at a meter an hour trying to catch up to it as well. In my household, Casey is known as the “Bulldozer” as he plows through opponents.
Secondly, the more important time period of these fringe players is the league games, not just national games. You have to play well all season or for matches at a time, not just a hat trick against Sweden’s C team a year ago…
I disagree. I think Sasha has the more difficult task. Torres, Feilhaber, LD, Clark, Holden, Edu, Adu, Beasley, Dempsey, and Bradley are ahead of him (argument could be made against Adu, or even Edu).
Wynne, really, it is just Cherendolo and Spector. You could argue that Bornstein and Castillo are also in the competition since RB seems to be dependent on who is playing LB. But, still, that is 4 vs. 10.
Midfield is by the far the most stacked position in the USMNT. I’m not going to count Jones or Williams and I don’t think we’ll see Orozco as a serious option at fullback.
Haha…Sacha Kljestan. This is a practical joke that you keep trying to shove this guy down our throats, right Ives? You and Bradley in on it together?
Let’s say after April Fool’s you guys finally put it to rest, because it certainly has run its course.
Last tournament we won. Gold Cup 07. Our right back, Simek. And he’s only 25. GET ON IT BB. Thus dies the international career of Marvell Wynne. I agree with one of the posts above. Since MLS rejected Sacha’s move he’s been trash. The hat trick was against a C team. The only reserve match our guys won i think…
7pm, ESPN Classic. Furthermore, I think you’re wrong, at least about Kljestan
You are spot on here… just like the fat kid always gets stuck in goal.
We’ve played the best in MLS. 5-0L, 3-1L, I’m sick of the trend. It’s hurts our rankings and my respect for the league
I agree. I don’t know much about Wynne as a person but it is very frustrating to see someone with that kind of athletic ability (something most of us would kill for) who can’t do the fundamentals such as dribble and trap. Every time he was around the ball in the Honduras debacle was so awkward it was painful to watch. To me it shows a lack of effort. I hope he figures it out before 2014. If he does he would be a terror.
i’d take spector at left before I’d let Bornstein start. As fischy says, it’s how you perform on the feild, and he hasn’t done that well enough against opposition out of CONCACAF, especially not away from home.
If Marvel Wynne makes the roster, we have some serious problems. He is strong and fast but lacks any sort of technical skill… wait, sounds like most of the MLS player pool.
I’m not joking here, but I can cross the ball better than that guy.
Sascha I am so-so on… You know he’s on the plane because of his ties with Bob Bradley.
If Bradley is going to take some guys from MLS to the Netherlands game, over giving guys in Europe like Adu a chance, he is an idiot! -Dirk
Does anyone know what channel and what time the game against El Salvador will be played? Furthermore, I think both of the above mentioned players are not Nats’ material.
orozco is not a full time RB he is a CB. Daniel Williams is number 3 and simek is good at 4 and alston and franklin and possibily 2 more RBs r better than wynne
Wynne has only one tool: speed. Everything else is awful.
As was said above, Wynne can get smarter and learn fundamentals, but Cherundolo won’t get taller. If he has been relying on his athletic ability to overcome his lack of tactical/technical skills, seeing what is truly world class might get him jumpstarted. (this is high risk/high gain, low risk/low gain argument, so actual facts don’t really help unless you know BB’s risk profile)
I am not saying it will work, but is stuff like this important to the decision making process for BB going into 2010. The last three guys aren’t going to play unless disaster strikes. Do I optimize for 2010 or do I work on 2014 at the same time?
Similar argument, different names. Hahnemann (or however he spells it) or Perkins. Neither one will play, so do I reward Hahnemann for playing better now or groom Perkins for 2014-2018.
Wynne is it going to be the final call up?
Jeez. I hope Wynn or Klejstian don’t read SBI.
Um, to be fair, this is what was stated in paragraph #2:
“Kljestan and Wynne are both on the outside looking in as far as the World Cup roster is concerned. . .”
I think Franco get’s that these guys probably won’t be going anywhere, unless they step up huge between now and May. Thus, a piece explaining that.
Correction: “For Wynne, the match against the Catrachos provides an equal opportunity at redemption.”
Honduras are the Catrachos. El Salvador are Los Cuscatlecos. Should read: “For Wynne, the match against Los Cuscatlecos provides an equal opportunity at redemption.”
He has the touch of an elephant.
I have wondered who was the genius who decided Wynne ought to play fullback. Maybe there’s a reason, though — like poor ball skills.
To be honest, I was thinking the same thing…his ball skills are terrible as well. And you do learn vision from practice and coaching, otherwise we would be able to determine how good someone is going to be during the first year that they play soccer. Some of it might be natural, but coaching improves vision through good positioning and honing technical abilities.
Kyle Beckerman
We do have more alternatives – Lichaj, Simek, Alston, the kid from Gemrany, et al. We have tons of right backs. Its probably the USMNT’s most stockpiled position.
Frankie Hejduk…are you serious? You guys don’t think much of American soccer do you? He’s as bad as Wynne…just older and slower.
The question is how he performs on the field, not in the pool.
Seriously….Ives, I lose more and more respect for this blog everytime you or anyone else mentions Wynne in the same breath as the US National Team. He has never “looked promising” nor “impressed” at the international level and is certainly not a “capable defender.” He is a player born 20 years too late. We no longer want, nor need, a player in our pool just because he is a good athlete. We are better than that so give us the credit we deserve.
I completely agree; Kljestan still has an outside shot to make the 23. I’m not saying he should be our first choice midfielder, (I hope he is not needed) but if injury problems continue…he is fairly versatile.
With regard to Wynne, I would contend that he might even be our 5th choice RB after…Spector, Cherundolo, Simek, and Hejduk… (I suspect in an emergency, Edu would probably be slotted at RB before Wynne would).
Those things can be learned, not taught. There’s a difference.
I think its because of the signing regulations…he wont be able to sign over seas until he’s 18. So, rather than wait a year, hes going to the MLS.
Depth chart for right back (unless Spector is on left, where he ought to be):
1. Spector
2. Cherundelo
3. Orozco
4. Never seen Simek play, but I’ll take him over Hejduk or Wynne
5. Hejduk
6. Wynne
I’ve been impressed with Wynne’s athleticism the few times I’ve seen him, and his touch has gone from trampolines for feet to moderate, but he’s simply not there yet tactically or technically. I would absolutely love to see him get there though, because with his speed and strength, the upside is enormous.
Klejstian – I’ve seen brief (and by brief, I mean maybe 1 or 2 passes a game) moments from him, plus the Sweden game, where I was like, ok, he might be legit, but, on balance, he’s not ready and when he isn’t overachieving, he’s not even close.
He’s certainly not ahead of any of the following in my book: Donovan, Dempsey, Bradley, Torres, Feilhaber, Clark, Edu, Holden, Dreadlocks guy (name escapes me), Beasley, Adu.
Wynne’s defensive mistakes could be forgiven if he was a great attacking back, but the guy looks more uncomfortable on the ball every time time he touches it. I feel like he has been on the radar for awhile and is a great athlete, but it doesnt matter how fast you are if you cant dribble, pass, trap, or play defense. So, for me, he’s shown absolutely no improvement in these areas over the past 2 years…dont send him to the netherlands or SA.
No. Sounds like a FIFA experiment to me
of course I meant “CAN’T” win a ball to save his life
“I really want to be there. I want to show that I can use some of my strengths to the U.S.’s advantage. I can be a presence in the back, I’m comfortable with the line.” – Wynne
Yeah, but you are a dog crap soccer player. I can’t believe this guy even gets a look.
Kick and run…toe bash…get embarassed and pulled out of position…run, run, run…swing and miss…run, run, run.
If he wasn’t fast, this guy would have been cut from his high school team. He’s a fast Alexi Lalas that can win a ball in the air to save his life.
Harsh…I know.
Agreed . This is the story of the week for me. I want to know what’s in his contract that made it worth it.
Does anyone else here think that Wynne should be developed as a striker? His service and positioning is so wild, and although it’s nice to have wheels on your fullback, doesn’t he have the look of someone who could take on defenders up front and give the mids a bunch of space with the threat of his world class speed?