Based on current form, McB and Gooch? But let's assume DMB will be as strong as ever (right now i'd give convey the edge, but when he's at full speed it will tip back to DMB). And let's assume that LD will return to the season in peak form. And, let's assume Reyna will return and work his way back into top form. I wouldn't rate lewis any higher right now, they're in the same league and convey looks every bit as good if not consistently better, but Lewis is a better option at left back probably. Gooch and Stevie C, and I'd give a nod to Boca (don't know if the form is better). Is anyone else possible? Why US fans wouldn't be excited about a young player who's flat out nailing every game in a highly competitive league, I don't see. If people had doubts in august, sept, oct, nov, I can understand that, but he's now played 30+ games at a very high level, about a full season of games for an mls player, isn't it? He's playing fast and hard, his passing is first rate, his free kicks are strong and his corners are wicked, he's running at people and unsettling defenses, has scored 5 and assisted on a ton _ and both occassionally in spectacular fashion, and his work rate is as good as anyone on the US roster. So please, help me out, exactly what is lacking in his game right now?
the table, for anyone interested: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/table/default.stm and the rest of their season: http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Fixtures/0,,10306,00.html
i am basing my views on Convey after watching today's game. What i saw lacking in his game is 1. speed 2. body strenght to use it for his advantage 3. some of the passing was not good 4. he doesnt have "fake" moves 5. his shoot blocked or off target,definetly not on target 6. seems to be subbed out often 7. paying 2nd div is not premiership he will face Italy and Czech players, both will walk over Convey making him invisible
I think the real magic number is 19 (101 total points) Watford sitting at 3rd position with 58 points can max out at 100 points. If Reading obtain 19 more points (6 wins and a draw) they clinch premeirship. 19 points in 13 games should be a no brainer....
But Leeds united is also at 58 points and has a game in hand over Watford, so they can get to 103 points. So Leeds makes the magic number 22 points.
Like a finger buffet when you crave a steak, this game did the job, even if it left you a little less satisfied than you could have been. The win was the main thing, and that was effectively wrapped up in the first half with a tap-in from Lita, after good work by Little, and a fine near-post individual strike from Doyle. The best of the rest, in a porridge of a game for long spells, was provided by Glen Little. With the ability to pluck the ball out of the air like picking cherries, and the ball stuck to his boot like an impression of a traditional Greek soldier's uniform, he teased openings out of nothing, getting out of tight spaces in a manner that would have impressed Harry Houdini. Southampton arrived with a game plan to swamp Reading and allow them no room in the final third. That part certainly worked, but it created a game where both sides had as much penetration as soft core porn, and it felt like the final 3 minutes for almost the whole of the second half. Not that Southampton didn't have chances. On loan Grzegorz Rasiak had a first half chance that is to be included in next years Junior Encylopedia of Football under the heading "gilt edged", but it was more thoroughly wasted than Pete Doherty after a good night out. With Reading being slacker than a fat woman's knickers at times, and Southampton being thankfully just as accommodating, the second half fizzled out, with suited everyone at Reading just fine. 82 points from 33 games, and wanted ads are being prepared for opera singers in the Reading area. Only fat ladies need apply.
Very nice game for Reading and our Convey and Marcus.. The Coppell interview after the match was hilarious.. He was asked if this was the most enjoyable season he's had.. He answered with 'any manager will tell you he can't enjoy a season with all the ups and downs' - don't think there have been too many downs for Reading this season since the first match.. Coppell is the Andy Reid of the CCC.. Somehow Bruce is going to need to figure out how to get Beas and Convey on the field at the same time.. maybe a 3-5-2 or a 4-4-1-1.. i don't know- it's his problem.. but his crosses are so dangerous and corners are perfect.. A bit lacking on defense, but if you watch him, you'll notice he's always anticipating the fast-break, and that's what we need.. we don't have a RM as good as Bob or Beas. Well done, our boy's done good..
It's over. Why we keep going thru this song and dance of magic numbers is silly. I believe that it has been confirmed that no team who has reached 86 points under the current format has ever failed to get automatic promotion. There are 13 games left and Reading are at 82? This is why I thought that Reading should have played their starters in the FA. But whatever. Congrats to the guys.
At 1:1 odds? Definately... not that you could find those odds anywhere in England at this point as the bookmakers stopped taking bets on Reading getting promoted a long time ago.
Someone posted a while ago that in the last 17 years --- 6 teams with 86 points have failed to gain promotion and once a team with 90 points came in 3rd and missed out via the playoffs. Apparnetly the real number is 91 points. See post #9 of this very thread. As the weeks go on, and if Reading keeps winning, then yes it's academic, but for the moment Sheffield United isn't that far behind, Watford has won 6 in a row, and Leeds are still up there with a game in hand.
You were the guy that bullied by BC at School and i claim my £10 Seriously though - 1) Speed??? No way. BC is as quick as any wingers around. 2) Strength - Agreed but this is already greatly improved from last season. 3) He's a creative player, he will give the ball away at times, but he'll also have a tonne of assists. 4)Maybe not but Giggs doesn't have a lot of fake moves but can anyone doubt him at his peak? 5) Don't really understand this point. 6)Subbed out because he's one of the most important players at the club, same with Little, and their replacements, although good players are no where near the level of BC or Little. Also what's the point of risking injury to your best players when the game is won? 7)Who said it is?
My analysis of him was purely in regard to whether he should be on the USA WC team or not. There are better players at Reading then Convey, but how many of them will play for England. I say none. So there is my point.
Yes, but who would you replace him with? Any US player lower down the USMNT pecking order than Convey would severely struggle to make the current Reading first team. It's no shame to Convey that he's not the best player at Reading as Sonko, Little, Sidwell, Hahnemann, Lita and Convey himself are just some of the players at Reading that are frequently cited as being amongst the best players in England outside the Premiership. As for pace, it's true there are many faster wingers than Convey, but his pace is much more than adequate and there's no point in complaining that he's not as fast as Sean Wright-Phillips (for example) as few are. Arena has to work with the players he's got and Convey is one of the better palyers that he has at his disposal, it's true their are many better left wingers, but there's only one better left winger eligible to play for the USMNT, which is why Convey will feature for the US at the upcoming WC.
If your point is that you wish the US had players of a calibre where we didn't need to look to the second level in England for players, that's fine, that's a wish most US fans would share. But if your point is that Convey isn't one of the best players available to the US, i'd disagree. he's playing at least as well as lewis right now, DMB has been injured, and no one else on the left is close. Beyond that, he's better than any option we've got at right, isn't he? (not saying he can play there, just that we'd be excited if he could). Also, Reading has pretty decent talent. I would point out that little is being looked at for England (he won't make it, but he is being looked at), Kitson attracted interest from Ireland, but refused to consider them. Hunt, the man convey starts ahead of, is a Ireland U-21, who, according to the manager, would have had a very good shot at the full side if he'd been playing more (so convey is, in a sense, keeping him off the squad). Lita is an england u-21, now that the paperwork is in order, Doyle is on the ireland squad. Sonko turned Senegal down for the Af cup this month. Gun is the Iceland captain, and Ing, who retired internationally after a dispute with the last coach is probably back on the team for euro qs. And marcus is pretty decent. Beyond that, they've got a number of other youth team members.
I don't understand the BC speed criticism. If you want to talk about Bobby's weaknesses, you're not going to pick speed. Sure, he isn't the fastest wing midfielder in the world, but he is definitely as fast as the average EPL player in that position. I have never heard any coach/announcer/pundit have an issue with his speed.
I bet Bobby Convey is a fair 400m/800m runner. For a winger he's is not notably fast (comapred to some wingers in the EPL who had a choice between athletic and soccer careers), but his speed is not a notably slow either for a winger which is generally where the fastest players play.
I can't actually believe we're debating whether is BC is quick or not Maybe it's just me but if that's slow, then i want some of what BC's taking. Talk to some CCC defences, ask them what they think of BC. If you want someone slow, look at Glenn Little.
He's not so quick as to get commentators slavating over his pace, but he's not slow either, he's got roughly average pace for a winger which menas he's going to be quicker than most other players on the pitch. Certainly there's not many quicker players at Reading than Convey, but Little's THAT not slow either!
Who cares if two of our players play in the CCC. I think it is a higher level than MLS. It is a very good league. And, they will be in EPL next year after breaking the points record for the CCC.
Where did you hear that? From what I understand, when Staunton took over the Irish job he mentioned he'd be taking advantage of the granny rule, the press noticed that Kitson has Irish grandparents and got excited about it. Kitson then restated his position: that he is from North London, as were his parents; that he never even met his Irish relatives; and that he wouldn't want to stand in the way of a player who actually feels Irish.
That I recall... the source? ... don't recall... but today it's the apparent turn-out ... or not ... I hear Kitson is calling Gio Rossi for an advice .... http://home.skysports.com/list.asp?hlid=362509&CPID=219&clid=&lid=3098&title=Stan+won't+worry+over+Kitson