Is Sacha Kjlestan a moden day Samson?

[peledre]

Not only was he himself unrecognizable last night after cutting off his hair, but his play looked nothing like the Kjlestan that we've seen the last year. What happened?

[appoo]

He got better and learned to play a 2-way game. He wasn't as sharp as you'd like making a great pass, but in general he was pretty damn accurate and was excellent in maintaining possesion. That was a pretty good Reyna on a good day impression he gave

[cc-atl]

Big difference between playing a friendly against the Swedish B team and playing against Mexico in a WCQ.

We absolutely have seen Sacha improve over the past year but he still has a way to go. But is people thought he had already developed into one of our better players I think they significantly overestmated him. With that being said he was not horrible yesterday and I think he remains the 1st choice partner for Bradley in the midfield. Although Edu, Torres, Clark, etc are all still in the mix.

Many people likely overestimated him based on the Sweden game and the Olympics and it is likely just as many may underestimate him after the game last night.

[FC Tallavana]

He got better and learned to play a 2-way game. He wasn't as sharp as you'd like making a great pass, but in general he was pretty damn accurate and was excellent in maintaining possesion. That was a pretty good Reyna on a good day impression he gave

I just don't get this. I thought Sacha was pretty damn bad.

[Nutmeg]

I thought he's played better matches, but he was all over the place, had tons of touches, was an effective outlet to his teammates, and did a lot of work that allowed Bradley to get forward. This was really his first big time game in this type of environment, and he was part of a midfield that dominated Mexico. And he's still unafraid to try things any other player not named Freddy on the US Team won't try.

[bigredfutbol]

I confess that I may be one of those who thought he was closer to being the finished product than he probably is. At first I was disappointed in him last night, but after awhile I realized he wasn't having as bad a game as I thought, he just wasn't having the impact I perhaps unfairly expected him to have.

[Scotty]

He wasn't playing against the Swedish C team.

[StillKickin]

He gave the ball away too many times, but he was trying things, I'll give him that. I think he'll get better and better. But he's clearly got a ways to go.

[dmoff11]

His 72nd minute giveaway led directly to a dangerous Mexican shot that went wide. He is a giveaway machine. Give me Ricardo Clark over him any day.

[HouseHead78]

He was ok, did have some careless giveaways. His plusses outweigh his minuses, in my view, and this is the kind of game that he needs to play in and learn from to get better.

[Blustar]

He was Ok, nothing special. I think that going forward, it's hard to say where his best position will be. He has a great motor but is not as good as say Freddy, with the final pass.

I used to think that Edu would compete with Sacha for this position but I think that Edu might be better off as a center back. SO Gooch and Bocanegra will be his main competitors.

Now I think Freddy will need to supplant Beasley or Dempsey and I really see Beasley as the weak link here. He will be useful but as time goes on I fully expect Adu to start taking minutes from Beasley.

Last night's games shows why we never advance far in the WC. Offensively we're are very pedestrian. We can't rely on a lucky goal and expect to win consistently.

[miked9]

. But people thought he had already developed into one of our better players I think they significantly overestmated him...
Many people likely overestimated him based on the Sweden game and the Olympics and it is likely just as many may underestimate him after the game last night.

Overreactions on bigsoccer? Naw....

I agree, he was okay but not stellar. Few players really shine against their first significant competition (remember Gooch in Azteca). Sacha will be better for the experience, and continue to battle for a spot.

[peledre]

Personally I thought Dempsey had one of the worst performances for the US last night. Harkesy did make the point that his service was shit all game, but he seemed to have the Eddie Johnsons last night, always receiving the ball in a shit part of the field with his back to goal.

You guys might have a point about increased expectations with resepect to Sacha, he just didn't do anything to stand out last night.

[FC Funkotron]

Personally I thought Dempsey had one of the worst performances for the US last night. Harkesy did make the point that his service was shit all game, but he seemed to have the Eddie Johnsons last night, always receiving the ball in a shit part of the field with his back to goal.

You guys might have a point about increased expectations with resepect to Sacha, he just didn't do anything to stand out last night.

Although he faded in the second half, I thought he had a really good game. At least in terms of holding possession, he was a good outlet to give the ball to. He also had a few give-and-goes on the right hand side that had promise.

Anyways, different views.

[alocksley]

I know a lot of you don't want to hear this, but Kljestan is not ready for this level of competition. His workrate and willingness to stick in tough tackles in midfield is admirable, but he just doesn't have the composure on the ball needed to settle the midfield the way it needs to be settled.

I think Torres needs to be given a shot at this role, which he performs so well for Pachuca. This would allow Bradley to get forward as well.

[Stogey23]

He wasn't playing against the Swedish C team.

Exactly, the Swedish C team can score. :)

[HouseHead78]

exactly, the swedish c team can score. :)

burn! :)

[Swazicar]

I just don't get this. I thought Sacha was pretty damn bad.

I was close to this on first viewing. But after reading some contrary comments last night I decided to re-watch the match, in part for the lyricism of the Spanish commentary (and to let the IPA wear off before going to bed).

On second viewing, I thought he actually was quite good defensively and as on outlet when the U.S. first gained possession in its end. And even though he didn't connect very often, I liked that he tried to challenge Mexico's defense with attempted passes upfield.

So, I'd give him a 6+. Can't say whether he'd have played better with the hair.

[MLSNHTOWN]

My .02 cents....

Defensively, I thought he was awesome. He was tracking back, intercepting passes, etc. He was better than Bradley defensively by leaps and bounds IMHO. He also linked well from the defense to other mids generally.

That being said, he had way too many turnovers. I know he tries the high risk/high reward type of passes and I have no problem with any of those that he tried and lost the ball. He just had too many of the other kind of turnovers that aren't representative of his game.

IMHO he wasn't himself the first 10-20 minutes (first WCQ v. Mexico, etc.), settled down, and still played great defensively. Just offensively, he had an off night.

I think if he starts with Bradley/Clark/Edu than the US is better off than two of Bradley/Clark/Edu.

Adu is probably his most direct competition right now and I don't know exactly how Torres fits into the group (probably more competition for kljestan).

[DaMa]

His 72nd minute giveaway led directly to a dangerous Mexican shot that went wide. He is a giveaway machine. Give me Ricardo Clark over him any day.

Rico was a total giveaway machine when he came in the match as well. Even worse as you are bringing him on to kill it. Turned the ball over every time he touched it.

That being said, while I like Klejstan, and perhaps gave him too much credit for how far he's come, it was pretty clear last night that he still has a way to go before he can claim an automatic start. Nutmeg has insisted he did yoeman's work backtracking to free up Bradley on defense. That's good. But that's still just half the game... and arguably not the half we are most concerned about. I love his willingness to push the attack and particularly to go to goal, but the passing just flat has to be crisper. I get the feeling we will be seeing a Torres/Bradley test pretty soon.