Real Salt Lake: Findley is still improving

Robbie Findley didn't see the field or the bench in the United States' two most recent World Cup qualifying matches, which wasn't surprising and wasn't really the point.

With the Real Salt Lake forward enjoying a solid season in Major League Soccer, U.S. National Team coach Bob Bradley believed the timing was perfect to call Findley into national team camp and see how he responded.

By all accounts, Findley said, things went well.

"Other than not making the 18(-man game day rosters), the camp went well and I looked sharp," said Findley. "I feel good."

Findley spent a week training with the U.S. National Team in Park City leading up to the qualifying match with El Salvador, and he doesn't believe the gap between himself and first-choice strikers Jozy Altidore and Charlie Davies is that big. What little gap there is, he's poised to close it soon.

Some wonder if that gap can be closed playing in MLS. Altidore and Davies are both young strikers who play overseas, and some believe that gives them a competitive advantage over MLS players when it comes to opportunities with the national team.

Real Salt Lake coach Jason Kreis doesn't necessarily agree with that notion.

"In order to get the right experience out of MLS, you have to bear some of the burden yourself as a player. You can't be looking around saying 'the players around me aren't good enough,' or 'the level's not high enough.' You have to take it upon yourself to improve every single day and be consistent in every single match," said Kreis.

That consistency can't necessarily be improved from the bench, which is why Kreis believes MLS is the perfect training ground for Findley. Judging by Kreis' comments, it might still be what Freddy Adu needs.

Since leaving Real Salt Lake for greener pastures in Europe two years ago, Adu has found playing time tough to come by and has fallen further down the U.S. depth chart. Consistent playing time is probably what he needs more than anything, something he likely won't discover anytime soon in Europe.

Consistent playing time is something Findley gets plenty of with Real Salt Lake, and it's paying off.

"For me he's improved leaps and bounds, and I see it every day in our finishing exercises we do. Some of his abilities to finish crosses have gotten a lot better. Overall his entire game has moved forward, but is it where it can be? No," said Kreis. "He still has two or three steps forward to take. When he does that, he'll be in and around that national team all the time."

Kreis singled out Findley's finishing, first touch and passing as areas he needs to continue improving. Findley believes training with the U.S. National Team will help him improve those weaknesses.

"When I go there, I take a look at the guys who've been doing it a while and been successful," said Findley. "I take away a few other things from there as well. Go in with an open mind."

Right now, though, the best thing Findley can do to improve his standing with the U.S. National Team is score some clutch goals in Real Salt Lake's playoff push.

e-mail: jedward@desnews.com