You know... now that I've thought about this more... it's possible (although not necessarily likely) that there's something else Arena is trying to do that doesn't have to do with Convey individually. One of Arena's goals for this game was Defensive structure. Arena also likes to have backs that can push into the attack. So, knowing that Bobby is going to push frequently into the attack, Arena decides to use him as a "role player" while looking at the bigger picture: "How do the other defenders react to cover for a "vacant" Left Back side. If this is the case, then I think the defense showed really well. So, if Arena is comfortable that his central defenders can adjust to to that situation, then he can afford to put someone like Convey in the left back to ack as a Roberto Carlos type of defender/attacker.
Reading this thread I think a lot of people forget what Bruce did with DCU and with the WC team. If he's got the chance, and the opposition is right, he lines up in a nominal 4-4-2 but in reality one FB is given the freedom to attack whenever possible. The backline then rotates into a 3 man backline. He used Sanneh this way with DCU and with the MNT. Diego Sonora played this role for DCU as well. That's what Convey did yesterday. Yes, he had defensive responsibilities but he was told to attack, attack, attack. He did this quite well and he was not exploited by Denmark when he did get forward. This is partially due to his excellent rapport with DMB. The other plus he brings that none of our left backs have shown is a great ability to distribute passes from that position -- Bruce likes that role as well and Agoos did it for DCU and the MNT for many years. So, whether Bobby plays there full time for the MNT or develops the ability to play there should it be needed, its part of an understandable long range strategy on Arena's part.
You may be correct in your assessment but I have two problems with Arena's approach then... - I don't think either Reyna or OBrien are the answer for 2006 as A-mids. Whether injuries or development of other players that can play a faster game. - We're at the point as a soccer playing nation were we need more specific positional development. You'd never expect Zidane or Davids to be "versatile", even thought they may be. We need a dominant player at every position as well as role players and meld a team from that mix. Reyna will be on his last legs during the WC qualifiers. He's too easily injured (I know the feeling being an old fart myself). I think JOB may be our starting left back by 2006, if he's not injured as well.
Convey handled himself decently yesterday for someone playing out of position. If he had his work permit granted in England and was playing for Spurs, he would not get pushed off the ball. He'll learn and he needs to build up his upper body more. Bruce has him in this spot for other defensive options, but i believe after this coming World Cup, and Reyna retires, Convey will line up alongside O'Brien and be our midfield generals.
The best thing I saw about Bobito on Sunday was that he was a menace to the opposition. Throughout his career, he has had difficulty finishing, until this year's international games. He is now dribbling into the attack and he is putting shots on frame. To me, that was the most important component that was missing in Convey's game. Several folks have mentioned that he needs to bulk up. He has bulked up significantly in the past year or two years. I don't want him to bulk up so much that it harms his speed and agility. For the umpteenth time, I hope he decides to bring this version of his game to DC United this year. GM
Lots has been said but 2 additional tangents might be interesting. 1. Some improvement in his game recently are simply getting "out from under" Ray Hudson. Hudson is a good coach for veterans but has never done much in developing younger players. Getting away from him and playing for guys more focused on PLAYER DEVELOPMENT instead of just winning has been good for Convey. What we saw yesterday is evidence of that. 2. Another reason we saw him in a featured role is to both give him exposure as well as another international cap with the goal of landing a position in Europe. He is clearly ready as witnessed by both this game and the interested from Tottenham last fall. Arena has openly stated that he wants players to move up to higher levels of play than currently is afforded in MLS. This game, and his performance in it, was just one more step in getting past that work permit hurdle.
I second this. Thought the man had an admirable performance considering his experience. Now we'll see if he can improve from here I guess.
Supporting Cast Convey looked great going forward, and I certainly hope he brings that attacking attitude to RFK, but a huge factor in his performances w/ various national teams is the caliber of his teammates. He can play quick passes w/ them and expect quality in return. Who is capable of playing that way w/ DCU, Alecko? Not. I think Convey clearly has the talent to run DCU, but the results on the field depend greatly on his supporting cast. And right now, the offensive cast leaves a lot to be desired. I hope he's given the time to learn the job, but I hope expectations aren't too high considering what he has to work with.
Re: Supporting Cast mg, I don't disagree with your basic piont, but I'd like to point out: 1) He was often passing into a very stagnant, back to goal situation. In other words, it was the abyssmal offense, or lack thereof, that created the stagnant play to which you allude. 2) Supporting Cast Stewart - Adu (Cerritos) Olsen - Bobby - Santino/Eliseo Kovalenko Reyes - Nelsen - Petke - Brandon So in that situation, you have Reyes pushing foward with Olsen. Convey linking things up and dishing it up to Stewart -- who is very intelligent with his runs and can play quickly -- and Adu, who already has shown he has an understanding/chemistry with Convey. Yeah, I think it'll take Freddy some time before he's a 90 minute player... but not more than mid-season. To me, it's not the talent but the mindset. Last season was painful, because they were plodding along and simply refused to play quick combos for many stretches of games. I don't think Nowak will allow that... I hope.
Clearly supporting cast matters. But team spirit, cohesion, clarity of roles (and a fit between roles and the players in them) and tactics probably matter more. Jamil Walker was productive for SJ. Not b/c he's so talented. But Yallop built his confidence up, put him in a role he could fullfill and he grew as a player. Even now, there are probably several dozen players in MLS any of us would take above Jamil Walker. But he was VERY productive for SJ. In fact, that's the whole SJ story. And when teams win, players look good (conversely, when teams lose players look talentless). I felt that the 4 most talented rosters in MLS last year were (in order of most talent): Columbus, DCU, Dallas and LA. Yet those were the bottom 4 teams (and they mostly looked bad finishing that way). Convey can be successful with the talent on hand. And, I'm sure that Nowak will make changes anyway--he's just waiting to get a better sense of the talent he does have and what holes are on the roster IMO.
I just was bummed that I didn't hear the "Bobby Convey clap clap clapclapclap" chant that has become so common these days. I heard it once at a Metros-Crew game once. Maybe it happened and I didn't hear it, the sound of the fans on the TV sucked.
It WAS good to see Convey moving forward so confidently and aggressively as it suggests that the development he's shown in U-20 play is carrying over to the rest of his game. You have to wonder, though, what Arena thought of it all. Convey spent a great deal of time fairly far forward in the second half. If he did so at Arena's encouragement, that's fine. If he did so more from natural proclivity, Arena might not appreciate it. A 3-5-2 formation will work fine against the likes of Guyana or Grenada, but at some point the US will need a fully-functioning left back in a 4-4-2. If Arena has marked Convey out for that, better that Convey accustom himself to it sooner rather than later. perc
Bruce relies on primarily MLS guys for qualifiers??? Nice imagination. Only for the Grenada/Guyana matches will he do this. Last time around and every time in the future UNLESS advancement has been secured, he chooses whoever he wants from Europe- Reyna, Friedel, McBride. Qualifying will not be easy and it is not lip service when Bruce says this. Why not check out who lined up last time around, accounting for injuries? Convey had another good game- especially the second half, but that's his style, second half player. His ball skills are very good- anyone notice any Etcheverry in the way he handles the ball? and his left has become excellent with the long ball and cross. He's all grown up now. Now, when he could be a leader for DCU- after we waited 3 years watching him improve, he will probably be sold to Europe this summer. I'll be the first to complain.
If Convey does go to Europe this summer it is likely to be as a left outside midfielder, where he would have played with Spurs. I think he likes the opportunity to play out from under Etch's large shadow in the middle with DCU, so Joe W. may well be correct that Bobby may rethink playing wing somewhere else vs. playing in the middle here and any one of several positions in WCQ matches and the Olympics. I don't think an EPL side is going to sign an American as a #10, especially with little or no experience at the position. As for A-mid with DCU, I hope it happens, but I also hope that we do't fall into the trap that snared Etch, where all attacks were funneled through on man. I expect Novak to play more of a situational offense, where the ball is played to the person in the best position to threaten. If it's the central midfielder, so be it, but it could be someone else. With Bobby playing all over the pitch with the USMNT and age-group teams, he should be especially good at this kind of attack.
The second half is when he is taken off the back line and is back in midfield. That is why he has looked better. Let him start the game in midfield.
Rethink the title of this thread.... Cahnvee vs tha whole cuntreeh of Denmahrk.... Cahnvee 163 - Denmahrk 0... Wat if it wer mini-Cahnvee verssuss Hur-ricayne Denmahrk, an' Cahnvee haz ta play wit jusst hiss mini leff nut? In dat case, Cahnvee 162 - Denmahrk 1... Denmahrk 1? Yah, onna own gowl when Cahnvee stepss ahn hiss right wun
Convey plays left back to get international experience, that much is true. However, moving O'Brien (who, IMO, is our best two-way central midfielder) to left back would be a bad move. Central midfield is more important than left back, and O'Brien has said he prefers to play in the midfield. Especially considering we don't often play with a real attacking midfielder (but instead with one destroyer and one holding mid), O'Brien is essential there. I think Arena was trying to play two defensive midfielders and two attacking wingers. Mulrooney and Armas are good players, but neither one is going to generate too much offense on the international level. They don't have the vision or the creativity for it. I agree completely. I also think that Arena wants Convey's defensive game to become a bit tougher, thus forcing him to toughen up by playing him in the back. It also worked kind of well against Mexico and Germany in the World Cup, you may recall. If we can't develop good outside backs before Germany '06, we probably should look at getting the most out of a 352. No point in pushing people into roles they aren't fit for, as we learned with Rongen.
Great thread Skip, lots of good insight. I love the SNL "Da Bears" version of the events! I think Arena has shown that he wants to utilize a positional progression. Before he gives an opportunity at one of the most important positions on the field--central attacking midfielder--he wants to see how they do at positions more forgiving of making mistakes. Forward, wing midfielder and fullback are more forgiving than the central midfield and central defense positions. Arena would play Convey at left wing, but he's already graduated DaMarcus there, so he doesn't want to deny him his playing time, and he wants Convey to get experience working with DaMarcus and Donovan. If a game were played tomorrow that the US needed to win, I suspect DaMarcus would be the left back and Convey the left midfielder. But eventually, by 2006, I think Arena wants the primary option to include DaMarcus at left midfield and Convey at central midfield with Donovan as left creative forward. That allows those three to interact most effectively. I don't think Convey is being considered as the first choice left back, I think it's a case of Arena not being satisfied with any of our curren left back prospects and using this position to allow Convey and DaMarcus to share the left mid and left back roles and generally both be in midfield while the other fullback stays back and defends. In this game, 6'1 Chris Albright was that other fullback, and IMHO, Albright acquitted himself quite well. He showed solid defending, phsyical play, excellent touch on the ball, good passing, a willingness to add to the attack when needed, a willingness to stay back when so instructed, and very good linking play. I've always thought he had the qualities to make a good right back, and I think this experiment went extremely well. -Digital
I wasn't hot on Albright's play. I couldn't tell if the problems on the right side were the invisible Steve Ralston or Albright's distribution or some combination of the two. If the game were played tomarrow and the US needed to win hopefuly Convey would be up at Right mid and someone like Cory Gibbs at left back, and swap out Albright for a more experienced defender too. Convey is too good going forward to keep him back. Both Ralston and Klein showed that he needed some help on Sunday. Convey on the right side of midfield is the answer there.