By RYAN TOLMICH
The New York Red Bulls may be finally making progress on the major offseason addition that fans have been requesting.
Reports from Goal USA state that the Red Bulls are in discussions to acquire Anderlecht’s Sacha Kljestan. The 29-year-old midfielder, who was linked to the LA Galaxy last season, has made 49 appearances for the U.S. Men’s National Team.
A move to the Red Bulls would reunite Kljestan with former Chivas USA teammate Jesse Marsch, who was appointed Red Bulls head coach Wednesday morning following the departure of Mike Petke.
In total, Kljestan has made 121 appearances for Anderlecht and scored 17 goals.
—-
What do you make of a potential Klejestan move? How would you expect the Red Bulls to line up next season should the deal go through?
Share your thoughts below.
Ditching Petke and bringing in this pedophile? Red Bull is the best. What a joke.
Kljestan is a good player, but I’m not sure how well he fits RBNY. With Dax and Alexander, what they need is a true attacking midfielder, and Kljestan is not really that. Playing all three of them would likely result in a crowded central midfield and not enough of a link to BWP.
Kljestan could play in place of Alexander, but that would require some major CB upgrades first. Speaking of which, why are we hearing about the Red Bulls being linked to attacking players and not defensive ones? Is Ali Curtis’ “vision” a 2-5-3 or something?
2-5-3 lol
yes thats in Appendix L14 in the 300 page business plan
Kljestan isn’t DP material, especially for YNC market: not big enough name (not even a USNT regular), not in Top Five league or even a Top Ten, not 20 goals or 15 assists a season, and returning to MLS is a failure. Kljestan deserve $500k (maybe a bit a more), but MLS DP rules have such a low bar: any failure from Belgium could be a DP, or any transfer around 100k (which is nothing, Today’s soccer market).
There are a lot of MLS rules I don’t like. For starters, the salary cap and all this “DP” business. However, is it really any worse than what transpires in La Liga or the Prem? Instead of league front office making all those player decisions, you have ultra-wealthy tycoons and oligarchs throwing money at the worlds top talent. MLS might have a mysterious allocation system, but it’s no more shady than what Europe’s top clubs do.
King Googley eye…. If Sacha signed with the Galaxy it couldn’t have been as a DP because donovan hadn’t retired yet and they had all 3 DP slots full. So they still would have been able to get Gerrard.
Gerrrard + Kliestjan > LIFE
abtheba33: It wouldn’t have worked like that. The only way Kljestan could have gone to Galaxy is on a loan for the remainder of the Belgian season. But no way would he agree to a short-term loan, so there would have been an agreement to sign him as soon as the MLS window opened; i.e., loan-with-the-intent-to-buy. Kljestan undoubtedly was asking for salary above the DP minimum. Thus, LAG would have been set for signing him as their DP and wouldn’t have been considering or able to get Gerrard.
Just think: if MLS hadn’t MLSed so hard when LAG tried to get Kljestache several months ago, then LAG wouldn’t have been in a position to acquire Gerrard.
Both are great acquisitions for an MLS team, but Gerrard > Kljestache.
I believe Gordon is in the Galaxy front office now. Galaxy tried to get Sasha back in August and MLS scotched the deal. To this day no one’s gotten a clear reason why. At least if he’s at NYRB he can go relive his glory days at Seton Hall.
I’m surprised at all the hate. Klestjan is not Thierry Henry, but he was a good MLS player who now comes back after a great European experience. He’s an offensive midfielder on a team that struggled at that position. He’s a low end DP but he’s young enough to give you 3-4 good years, especially given the way he plays. I personally would see him as Mix’s equal, except perhaps in hair quality. He’s not going to take over and carry RBNY to the Cup, but he’s a good piece on a team that already has some good pieces. Add in a couple more quality players and they should be good again.
Meanwhile, I get that Petke is beloved for his NY roots, but he never demonstrated amazing coaching chops. Marsch on paper is at least his equal, and if Petke didn’t get along with management, then things weren’t going to work out if he stayed. I think they’ll be ok. I’d rather root for Klestjan and Altidore than Lampard–I know that.
Great, another buddy of Ali Curtis, just like Marsch. This is what I’m paying for when I pay for my season tickets? A team full of people who know Ali Curtis? Sure hope Ali is friends with Ronaldo or Messi.
If Messi or Ronaldo came to MLS tomorrow everyone on this site would say they were over the hill.
Great signing as non-DP, but as a DP = another wasteful signing!
I like Sacha but I think you’re def right that this is probably another cheap-out from NYRB. I am not sure what BWP’s salary # is yet but my guess would be somewhere in the 600-800k range (this would resresent about a doubling of his 2014 range, and would put him on par with Wondo, who is probably the closest comp in terms of statistical achievement/age)… Sacha will likely be in the same ballpark.
This is not really good enough for a team in NY metro, as far as I’m concerned, particularly as I have a strong suspicion they will ditch Cahill and add another sub $1mm guy. But at this point, I’m not really sure what NYRB are up to… some of it feels like a sale and some just feels like a cost-reduction.
Chivas career stats for Kljestan 114 games played 15 goals and 33 assists. To anybody who says he is an amazing playmaker what are you talking about? These stats are above average but nothing special.
Mls is becoming a joke, just making rules as they go along and changing the playoff format every year. I’m losing interest in the league more and more every year.
MLS finally had a real silly season with rumors and players coming in and out and you are complaining. Mls will never be normal and I’m fine with that as long as they give me competitive soccer with good stadiums and good players I’m good.
I agree.
Understanding it takes time, generations even, to build a proper talent pipeline, MLS has been around long enough that Bush League, make-it-up-as-you-go administration and on-field dross (from players and refs) shouldn’t be tolerated. Granted, I’m a recovering Rapids season ticket holder, and, like many others, lost interest in the league a long time ago. I have no doubt you could comb the rec leagues and find 11 guys that could/would stomp our local MLS franchise.
BBB
Not sure if your joking or serious. If your joking then haha, if not then I’m sorry for you because you don’t understand how things work in this world. Because if you expect MLS to be some version of a decent European league 20yrs in when half of that time they were trying to just survive then there’s nothing I can do for you.
MLS is better than ever — I don’t know how anybody who watched would argue that these were not the most exciting and compelling playoffs they have ever held… seriously, what year was better, or even close?
You need to realize If you want to follow MLS, the first thing you should do is not waste your time learning the rules related to premium/high-value players, such as allocation order, etc…. it is an open secret that they are contrived facades meant to give the league a plausible explanation in the event the single-entity structure is ever challenged legally. Just accept it, because that’s now it NEEDS to be right now.
I’m not sure why this would turn you off so much… this is true in any top league in the world. When it comes to the transfer of top players, rules are modified or our outright broken regularly…. you’ll only see more of it in UEFA as the ridiculous Financial “Fair Play” is implemented. There is no such thing as “normal” in organized professional soccer. Just look at the product on the field and ask yourself if it makes you happy… that’s the core reason you are interested in the game, isn’t it?
I think its a good idea to bring all that experience to our league and establish yourself before 30 rather than fade out of the starting 11 with Anderlecht. As usual he is going to be heavily analysed and criticized but as we all know most of the USMNT regulars/returnees haven’t been dominating the pitch in any sense on the word, some of which have looked below average. Come back, show everyone what you are all about and join a good team with quality players……
Why would kljiestan not go through the allocation order??? He’s a US national team player and he played in MLS before. I get the whole Dempsey Bradley thing but Kljiestan doesnt fall under that category. I don’t underatand it??? He should fall under the same category as Mo Edu and philly had to Trade Jeff parke to DC to get the top spot in the allocation rankings. As a union fan… IF the red bulls get to bypass the allocation order I’m gonna be pissed at the league.
I WILL DECIDE IF THE ALLOCATION ORDER IS RELEVANT
NEVER QUESTION ME
I AM THE DARK LORR
I AND I ALONE MAKE THE RULES!
Don’t care.
Another one returning to MLS???
Will the last USMNT playing in Europe please turn off the lights on the way out?!
Relax. This guy wasn’t even in our world cup squad.
still in shock. SK is a nice addition to the NYRB. just hopefully not as a DP.
Definitely a DP.
C’mon back Sacha, you and your Dad can prove all these critics wrong.
Did his Dad say something?
His Dad is the one that makes all the behind the scenes decisions.
Isnt that Mix’s father your thinking of?
No ‘Mix’ up here, I’m talking about Sacha’s Dad.
I think you’ve got Cooper (they killed Kenny) Mixx’ed up.
yeah that’s Mix
Wait, Mix is Kljestan’s father?
Roxburgh and Petke are gone, replaced by a coach with one year’s head experience who had a losing record and missed the playoffs (they were plucky but they were still losers…..even someone who understands how to motivate players to overachieve may not know how to man manage to regular wins in a situation where more than random upsets are expected……Moyes, ahem). Henry, Olave, Sene, Convey, Eckersley, Kimura, and Sekagya are gone and I’ll be interested how long Luyindula stays. Even if they aren’t selling, it feels hollowed out and can’t possibly be the same attractiveness of destination.
This is only a good deal if he and BWP can combine for at least 25-30 goals and 10-15 assists between them. I’m fine with it, if there’s more to come. #InPetkeWeTrust
You’d be leaving out Henry’s role in BWP’s success as well as vastly over-rating what Kljestan offers. 16 G in 5 seasons for Chivas.
You must not read the news. It looks like #InPetkeNoMore
So NYRB may get Kljestan and are in the running for Altidore? How is that possible? Is there yet another rule regarding USMNT players?
Don’t you know that NYRB and LA can do what ever they want? No caps for them
Which explains why Michael Bradley and Clint Dempsey are playing for NYRB and LA Galaxy, right?
What a lame, tired and ultimately incorrect claim. The Galaxy tried to sign the same player just a few months ago and got shot down. I guess they hit their cap for Klejstand brothers (Gordon Klejstan is on the books as a talent evaluator).
If smaller-market teams want to sign premium DP’s, they should go out and try to do so… I have scarcely even heard of this. Probably, they don’t even want to. Teams like RSL, Colorado, and San Jose seem perfectly content with their $400-$600k DPs, because that’s what their revenue and profit structure supports.
I wonder if his hot girlfriend likes his pedo-stache?
She married him, so it’s probably okay with her.
We already had his brother, Gordon… its rare that the other brother ends up here. (see Digao, Jim Rooney, Sam Forko, BWP, etc… ) Except in the case of the Klinger brothers…
Unless MLS makes up another rule, of course.
He’s a horrible player
No, he’s not.
Don’t be rude. He’s only horrible when he’s wearing a USMNT kit.
I’m not sure I’d want a player that plays in a pink jersey.
So you won’t take anyone from Palermo?
Horrible is a strong word. He has been mediocre with the last few times he has played for the U.S and unfortunately you have to have a big game when you get your chances and he hasn’t done that despite playing well for the top club in Belgium, Andrelecht, and he has had some decent games in the Champions League which is nothing to sneeze at. I don’t think there is another American player who make that statement.