Rating Wynne's Performance

I was going to do a team analysis, but decided to focus purely on one player...Marvel Wynne.

Plenty has been written elsewhere, analyzing the team's performance, and yet no one seems to agree on just how well Marvel Wynne actually played.

Let me preface this post, however, by explaining how I critique players. There are two ways to make an evaluation. The first, and the one most people tend to use because in general they lack soccer knowledge or lack the ability to trule "scout," is rating a player purely based on the level of play of the other team. The second, and much more effective way, is analyzing how a player's performance translates to a higher level.

With that being said, I'd have to say that everyone who is giving Wynne very high marks is using the first method. He certainly did not play badly, and I'm giving him an average score of 5 out of 10. Why? Well let's get into that.

I'll start with the good. Suprisingly, and pleasantly at that, he was relatively efficient on the ball. He had very few turnovers and his crossing, while not Beckhamesque, was much improved. He did very well to attack out of the back on a few occasions, one of which earned the US a penalty in the first half. On the defensive side of the ball, no one was even close to getting the better of him in 1 v 1 situations. His athleticism reigned supreme in all encounters.

Now with the bad, and it can be summed up with one word....naive. He is incredibly naive when it comes to his defensive positioning. Countless times, I noticed him in absolutley awful starting positions, much of the time being way to advanced on the field of play. And if it weren't for his incredibly athleticism and Sweden's rather poor performance we would have been punished more because of it.

And he was for Sweden's opening goal. His starting position was far, far to central leaving him no time to get out to the wing to close the winger down. Instead he gets half way there, making himself even more useless on the play because he can no longer defend the cross in the box. The general rule is if you can get out the quick enough to put pressure on the ball then go. If not, hold your ground to defend the cross, and if the cross come then you can make your way, tentatively, out to pressure. This was simply one occasion amongst many that a better team would certainly punish us for.

In the end, Wynne at this moment in time is much more an amazing athlete than a soccer player. He doesn't look the part when he has the ball (I'm not sure I've seen a more uncomfortable looking style) and as of yet, he doesn't have it upstairs.

Now, I certainly think he has the potential to be a mainstay at right back for the US once Cherundolo's time is done. If he can continue to develop in Toronto, and perhaps get himself to Europe (specifically Holland) then I think that potential can be realized. Unfortunately, at this moment, his liability outweighs his potential.