Convey is the central mid of the future [R]

[The Wanderer]

After watching the first half, I couldn't help but notice that Convey was one of the best players on the team. Sure, he got beaten a few times, but he's not really a left back.

Second half--Convey starts pushing up, and voila, he takes guys on the dribble, beats them, and he's pinching towards the center of the pitch. This was exactly why I was puzzled by Bruce's desire to move him to left back. I think he would have done a much better job than Olsen would have in the center part of the pitch. I also believe that the Bruce is going to get around to seeing this, and that Convey is the central mid of the future. Let DMB use his all out speed as the left mid, and let Convey create in the center.

[banbaseball]

Originally posted by The Wanderer
After watching the first half, I couldn't help but notice that Convey was one of the best players on the team. Sure, he got beaten a few times, but he's not really a left back.

Second half--Convey starts pushing up, and voila, he takes guys on the dribble, beats them, and he's pinching towards the center of the pitch. This was exactly why I was puzzled by Bruce's desire to move him to left back. I think he would have done a much better job than Olsen would have in the center part of the pitch. I also believe that the Bruce is going to get around to seeing this, and that Convey is the central mid of the future. Let DMB use his all out speed as the left mid, and let Convey create in the center.

concur.

[harttbeat]

we can offically say we have more depth in center-mid than left back...

[The Wanderer]

If Convey keeps playing with the same confidence he has, IMHO he's got the upper hand. Donovan is more of a withdrawn forward than he is a midfielder. He's not good at starting the attack from the center of the pitch, but he is better in the opponents final third at making plays.

Donovan is like a Baggio, Convey like a more aggressive Reyna(look at how he dribbled against Argentina today).

[kyledane]

Originally posted by The Wanderer
After watching the first half, I couldn't help but notice that Convey was one of the best players on the team. Sure, he got beaten a few times, but he's not really a left back.
I've noticed a funny dichotomy in the posts today, or I guess more like a trichotomy. About 40% of posters say that Convey looked great because of his attacking skills. About 40% (maybe less) say that he was terrible because of his poor positioning in defense. And the other 20% noticed both and say he was so-so. I'd put myself in the third camp.

Second half--Convey starts pushing up, and voila, he takes guys on the dribble, beats them, and he's pinching towards the center of the pitch. This was exactly why I was puzzled by Bruce's desire to move him to left back. I think he would have done a much better job than Olsen would have in the center part of the pitch.
Agree 100%. Probably would have done better than Donovan did in his second half stint there.

I also believe that the Bruce is going to get around to seeing this, and that Convey is the central mid of the future. Let DMB use his all out speed as the left mid, and let Convey create in the center.
And make sure he brings a left back or two to camp. We have a couple of pretty good ones in Vanney and Barrett and some others who could at least get a run out there in case of an emergency like this one (Franchino perhaps). Better that than use a player whose skills and talents have never suggested him as a possible left back. (I could say the same about Victorine at RB and Olsen at center mid).

[The Wanderer]

Originally posted by kyledane
Better that than use a player whose skills and talents have never suggested him as a possible left back. (I could say the same about Victorine at RB and Olsen at center mid).

And this is why I thought that Broome deserved a shot at LB after Barrett---he KNOWS the position, and the Burn only finished 3 pts lower than San Jose in the final standings. Broome was an absolute rock for Dallas the last third of the season, and his ability to contribute to the attack also improved(he's a converted left mid/forward).

[The Wanderer]

Originally posted by kyledane
I've noticed a funny dichotomy in the posts today, or I guess more like a trichotomy. About 40% of posters say that Convey looked great because of his attacking skills. About 40% (maybe less) say that he was terrible because of his poor positioning in defense. And the other 20% noticed both and say he was so-so. I'd put myself in the third camp.

I knew he was going to get beat a lot. I mean, c'mon, does it take rocket science to figure that out? The guy has played left back absolutely one time at the international level(much less at club level) and then expect him to take on Argentina and not be somewhat lost?

[appoo]

Originally posted by The Wanderer
I knew he was going to get beat a lot. I mean, c'mon, does it take rocket science to figure that out? The guy has played left back absolutely one time at the international level(much less at club level) and then expect him to take on Argentina and not be somewhat lost?

He did all right out there which tells me that he could have a future as a left back. But I agree with the Original post. But I mentioned this in the post game thread. I actually think that Convey is a more skillful player than Donovan. With him it just seems so smooth and effortless. And I'm not comparing Convey to the Donovan that played to day, but rather the one that played in the World Cup.

[BackOtheNet!]

Convey is going to be a very good player. I was very impressed by some of his thought process. He is not a left back by any means. But his vision of the space in front of him is impressive. He is everything he is cracked up to be. Although he is not d'alesandro. that guy has it all.

[bofahey]

Convey played A-mid for DCU the last few games of the season and he was a complete revelation there.

If you look back at the DCU boards from the last couple games of the season, all anybody could talk about was "I really hope Hudson realizes that Convey's future is in the middle." The kid has that ability to think two/three passes ahead... a very rare attribute for USMNT players.

You saw today in the second half some of the same creativity that he showed at the end of last year when he was given a chance in the center. (Though I thought his offensive play today... even in the 2nd half... did not come close to matching his play at the end of last MLS season when he was in form and playing in the middle. If you thought his offensive was impressive today... you ain't seen nothing yet.)

Personally, I truly believe (and this isn't just as a DCU-homer) he will be the best playmaker on our roster in 2006... although it might be a stretch to rate him ahead of Donovan. In any event, I'd like to see Convey groomed as our #10 and Donovan as a withdrawn forward. Run-DMB as left mid, Convey as a-mid, JOB as holding-mid, McBride (if he's still playing at a high level) and Donovan at forward... that's our best chance to be a creative team offensively in 2006 IMHO. Olsen should be either on the bench or at right mid... his best attributes are wasted in the middle and he doesn't have the skill or vision to play there. He does have the speed and tenacity to be more effective than Klein on the right.

D-Tron... can I get a witness about Convey's a-mid abilities?

[bofahey]

Convey is our #10, Donovan is our #9.

If you don't know it yet, it's because you haven't seen Convey play there like those of us who got to see it at the end of last MLS season. I'm sure people aren't going to believe this (heck, it's taking Ray Hudson a long time to come around on it), but Convey's creativity will force Bruce to move him to central mid in the next two years, the same way Run-DMB's spring 2002 play forced him into the starting right-mid role. Wait and see on this, you will be convinced.

[BennyDee19]

I hope so.....I hope he lives up to expectations...he did look good today when he went up tp midfield....

-PB20

[Tejas]

Originally posted by The Wanderer

Donovan is like a Baggio, Convey like a more aggressive Reyna(look at how he dribbled against Argentina today).

I definitely concur with the Baggio comparison (play style wise), hell even Donovan has said that the player he looks up to the most was Roberto, but I still think at best this competition is up in the air. My opinion is that Donovan is most inline to take over this role, but to be honest I have seen more of LD than Convey. I like the idea of some competition for the role, but I would really like to see more of Convey in this role in MLS. The bottom line I think will be who is able to embrace the position mentally more than anything else. Center mid is the position at which we seem unable to to develope players for some reason. Everybody we produce seems pigeonholed as a striker, winger or defender, while perhaps the most critical position on the international level seems to be the #10. Either way I am waiting for somebody to step up. Study the position if need be and embrace the repsonsibilty that it entails. As long as we have players who see themselves as fitting another role it simply won't happen. Get with it kids.

[Tejas]

While I think Donovan was lost in some parts of the game today I don't think Convey is a better choice in the central midfield. Sure I agree with just about everyone else that Bobby is better in the midfield rather than left back, but I think he is best slotted on one of the sides rather than the middle of the midfield.

In short the the same things that make Bobby good in the midfield are the same things that LD also has in spades. The critical test will be who makes the mental jump to play the distribution role first.

[K.P.]

If we switched to a 3-5-2 I would like to see Convey be one of the two holding mids. He is definitely a midfielder, and I think he is better in the center, but I am not sure he is ready to be the main attacking midfielder. However, he picks his moments very well, and when he makes a run it creates very dangerous opportunities. Plus, against top notch opponents like Argentina (admittedly, we won't have many more on the same level), it is clear that Pablo could use help in the middle of the field. I think with Convey to help relieve the pressure, distribute, and make dangerous runs, our offense would be much improved.

I would try the following:

-----Mathis--Twellman

---------Donovan

left mid-------------right mid

-------Convey--Mastro-----

[USA4Life]

Convey Beasley, and Donovan are all on the same page together.

I agree about Convey in the middle, but not as a holding mid. He should play more like Reyna. Mastroeni is the DCM.

3-5-2 no doubt.

-----------Mathis----Guy with speed

Beasley---------Donovan
-----------Convey------------------Klein/Olsen

-------------------Matroeni

--------Bocanegra----???----???

--------------------GK


If McBride is healthy and available then Mathis sits
Pope and Sanneh are the first choice defenders.
A healthy Wolff is the first choice forward to be paired with Mathis
Twellman and Cunningham are pretty average.
Lewis may get the nod over Beasley.

[JohnR]

Bobby played well in the second half. He had a lot of energy (his fitness must be excellent), and he attacked with energy and intelligence. I don't see DCU very often ... this was the best I have ever seen Convey. Now, I understand all those DCU people saying "play him in the middle."

But ... Argentina had pretty much packed it in by then. Up 1-0 and figuring (correctly) that the U.S. was unlikely to do anything dangerous. They gave Convey a ton of space. So 45 minutes against a team that had taken its foot off the gas, well I'm not quite ready to annoint him our #10.

But I'm eager to see him get another shot at the role.

[kyledane]

Originally posted by The Wanderer
I knew he was going to get beat a lot. I mean, c'mon, does it take rocket science to figure that out? The guy has played left back absolutely one time at the international level(much less at club level) and then expect him to take on Argentina and not be somewhat lost?
I suppose my standards are high, but at this point, I do not expect ANY player to enter the US lineup and look lost. And this is for the simple reason that we have players at EVERY position that will not look lost at their position even the first time they play there internationally. MLS has ensured that we have players everywhere who at least know the basic responsibilities of their position.

But, silly me, I also expect players to be used at the international level at positions they have already familiarized themselves with at the club level.

[tubby_butter]

Originally posted by kyledane
I suppose my standards are high, but at this point, I do not expect ANY player to enter the US lineup and look lost. And this is for the simple reason that we have players at EVERY position that will not look lost at their position even the first time they play there internationally. MLS has ensured that we have players everywhere who at least know the basic responsibilities of their position.

Bruce doesn't pick the best positional players, he picks the best players and tries different combinations of them. This is what I like about Bruce. I think that Convey is a better PLAYER than any left back in the league. So why not give it a shot over a couple of off-season, meaningless friendlies and see what happens? You never know what tactics you have to pull out in certain situations (Mexico, last summer. . . ) and it is nice to have tried some different things.

[kyledane]

Originally posted by tubby_butter
Bruce doesn't pick the best positional players, he picks the best players and tries different combinations of them. This is what I like about Bruce.
Well, count me as one who does not like this aspect of Arena's coaching. I believe that this kind of experimentation is a relic of the days when the US only had 10-15 international level players and our best bet was to get as many of them onto the field at once as we could. Those days are gone.

We now have a group of perhaps 50-60 players who can play at this level, and we are stacked four, five, even six deep at some positions. There is no need to experiment with placing players who are clearly natural midfielders in the back simply to get them onto the field, when a number of good outside backs are available and eager for a chance.

I will concede only that upon this particular occasion the likely left back candidates were all over in Europe. But that doesn't explain the use of Sasha Victorine at RB when Ryan Suarez and Nick Garcia were both available and in camp. This was, again, a waste of minutes and it lasted 2.5 games.

I think that Convey is a better PLAYER than any left back in the league. So why not give it a shot over a couple of off-season, meaningless friendlies and see what happens?
Because he is not and likely never will be as good a left back as the players who have spent several years learning the position. Nothing in his game suggests that he belongs there aside from a decent left foot.

Not only that, it's a waste of his time, which would be put to better use learning the nuances of the positions he is likely to play at this level, namely attacking mid and left midfield.