The real star of the U.S. win over Mexico

2009-02-18T18:45:51-05:00

2009-02-16T12:40:19-05:00

2009-02-18T18:45:51-05:00

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donttread22

West Chester 711169

8 On the link to this article it says, "Sacha Kljestan quietly had his best performance ever against Mexico." right under your name. In your recent article that was published in SI about Team USA you wrote, "Kljestan, who plays for MLS's Chivas USA, also contributed on both sides of the ball--though he was nowhere near as electrifying as in his hat-trick performance in a January friendly against Sweden." So could you please get your opinions straight? I know in this article you say Mexico was ONE OF his greatest performances ever, and it may not be your fault that the link says what it says, but in any case, please make sure you're not confusing your own readers. 4391973

2009-02-16T15:55:35-05:00

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rhuss: Stop Counter!

Chicago 531538

3 I thought Dempsey looked awful against Mexico. Not ever in good position, and lost a lot of challenges. I am hoping he can get on the same page as the rest come 2010. Beasley is still odd to me- he always looks all right with the MNT, but for whatever reason can't get much PT with Rangers. I think it should be Dempsy and Beasley out wide with Donovan and Adu as a central attacking mids. Play Sasha and Bradley as holding mids, and figure out who plays up front- split time between Altidore, Ching (who impressed me against Mexico, but I usually don't like too much), and Cooper. I think having two attack-minded wingers in Beasley and Dempsy brings more creativity out wide and forces the defense to collapse. The US has always had decent attack-minded outside defenders who aren't afraid to run up and play out wide (I thought Hejduk did a great job in the Mexico match). With guys like Altidore, Ching, or Cooper holding that back line strong- it should create opportunities for Beasley, Dempsy, Adu and Donovan to really press up- meanwhile you have a solid center mid in Bradley, and a guy who is getting better at his defense, and is used to pushing up and scoring in Kljestan. 4358037

2009-02-17T18:57:22-05:00

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Wytefang

Minneapolis 21258

I thought Dempsey looked awful against Mexico.

7 Are you kidding? He was one of the bright spots. He attacked with attitude and flair, something this US team is going to need at the WC if they're going to have any chance against the more notable defenses. My only gripe with Dempsey is that he's learned to dive a lot from his time in the EPL (unfortunately). He did it a bit too much in the Mexico game. Save that stuff for the Italian & Argentinians. Let them play the classless style of soccer. Other than that, I was not terribly impressed with Sasha at all - he looked lost and confused during the match and he turned the ball over (notably) several times. For all the hype surrounding this player, I wasn't terribly impressed. Michael Bradley, even had he NOT scored the two goals, looked like a dynamo, all over the field breaking things up and making some nifty incisive through balls. 4376193

2009-02-17T15:54:09-05:00

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D-Wreck

Bloomington 416251

6 I agree. This article totally ignores two very dangerous back passes, one of which nearly cost the US a goal, and the two times he simply plowed forward with the ball, head down, and was stripped of the ball. I don't think he did a "horrible" job, I leave that description for the way Heath Pearce played, but I wouldn't call SKs play the key to victory--though Pardo was shut down and everyone did a great job getting back on defense in the midfield--the Mexican team couldn't connect two passes in a row anywhere on the field it seemed like. And no, i did not expect SK to score two goals again--heck I was surprised when he scored them during the Sweden game--who knew? 4373151

2009-02-17T12:33:30-05:00

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Pawn

479687

5 how to all the giveaways fit into this argument??? 4368728

2009-02-16T20:27:53-05:00

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yanksyanksyanksss

Fredericksburg 605531

4 Always appreciate your astute analysis Freedman. Too much of the critiques of Kljestan after the Mexico match were by people who did not consider that Bradley had asked him to play a different role, like you said. You would have have to pay pretty close attention to see the positives he brought. He wasn't a offensive creative juggernaught in that game, but he really helped render Mexico's mids ineffective which is just important 4360756

2009-02-16T15:55:35-05:00

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rhuss: Stop Counter!

Chicago 531538

2009-02-16T14:40:12-05:00

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Buck Feckham

Philadelphia 85930

2 Kljestan has been an interesting watch. I think it will be interesting to see how he plays out up to 2010, because he has a lot of potential if he is able to step it up on defense and play both ways. Of course going abroad has to be mentioned. I kinda see him a lot like Clint Dempsey, but with less swagger and a more awkward goal celebration. Dempsey was always going at people in the MLS and now with Fulham he really has improved his defensive game. I think Sasha is going to beeat a heavy load offensively at Chivas, so we will just have to see how he improves on the other side of the ball. 4357048

2009-02-16T13:37:05-05:00

virginiamac

Asbury 551965

1 I have always loved Sasha's range, and feel for the game. The blogs are all over him. Looking for Flores or Adu. Before the Olympics I said that if we had to choose between Sasha and Adu in the middle , I would always take Sasha. I am even more convinced now. Michael and Sasha provide size, range,and great two way capabilites. They both can defend , attack and recover quickly and with great coverage.I believe that without inujries they will quickly grow if they already aren't into our best midfield combo ever primarily because of their combined strong all around games. 4356079

<div class="photo_container image_right"> <div class="photo"><a title="Sacha Kljestan, Pavel Pardo" href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009_images/sacha-kljestan.jpg"><img title="Sacha Kljestan, Pavel Pardo" src="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009_images/sacha-kljestan.jpg" alt="Double Click to select a Photo" width="298" height="272" /></a></div> <div class="photo_attributes" style="text-align:right;">Sacha Kljestan (16) helped neutralize Mexico's Pável Pardo. David E. Klutho/SI</div> </div> All right, quit the Samson jokes: Sacha Kljestan's hair was not the source of all his powers. It's funny how many accounts from last week's U.S.-Mexico game I've read that complain of how "ineffective" the newly shorn Kljestan was. My best explanation is that those people must have been expecting some sort of repeat of his electrifying hat trick in last month's friendly against Sweden. Personally, I think Kljestan put in one of the most remarkable performances of his national-team career against Mexico for this reason: Bob Bradley asked him to do things he never has to do, and he did them beautifully. I spoke with Kljestan by phone on Saturday from Guadalajara, where he rejoined Chivas USA's training camp late last week after jetting from Ohio straight to Mexico. The 23-year-old explained that before the match, Bradley sat him and fellow center midfielder Michael Bradley down and explained to them that the game would run through them, that their primary mission was to shut down Mexican holding midfielder Pável Pardo. Now, the younger Bradley scored the goals and made the highlight reels in the 2-0 win. But that the Mexican midfield was rendered almost completely ineffective is a testament to the number he and Kljestan did on Pardo, arguably the most important member of El Tri. Remember that Kljestan's role at Chivas USA is that of a playmaking central mid, one at which he excels. "Under Bob, I had to learn to be more of a box-to-box midfielder and help the team in more ways than one," he said. "He knows that I'm good with passing and moving forward, but he's always stressing to me to work on my defense and get better doing the little things that help your team win games." No, this wasn't Mexico at its finest. But the fact that Bradley trusts his young charges in such important games -- at the most important positions on the field -- is a huge confidence-booster for American up-and-comers. Under Bradley, a record number of players have received their first national-team caps. With the World Cup on the horizon, that's exactly what the U.S. needs: a deep pool of talented players who can contribute in any role they're given, regardless of how well a game is going. Kljestan, Michael Bradley and a ton of other young Americans are going to be a huge part of the push to South Africa 2010. (Check out my story in this week's Sports Illustrated for more on this.) What do you think? Which young national-team players excite you most? http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/459/8/thumb/freedman_jonah.jpg 15 CA

Jonah Freedman

San Francisco 4618 50621