From the Soccertimes analysis of U-20 game, USA v. El Salvador, a 1-0 victory for the home team http://www.soccertimes.com/usteams/2002/nov15.htm Midfielder Bobby Convey - 7.5: Looked like a man among boys. Far and away the best U.S. player. Was 75 percent of the offense and made key defensive stops. At times, was one against four defenders and held his own. Not Q1's finest hour, though undoubtedly he was pissed at not playing across from his namesake Q2... I'd like to remind everyone that this poster was a crew member on the intial run of the Bobby Convey bandwagon...
Are you implying that you were not disappointed with his play earlier this year (before Ray benched him)? We were all very excited when Bobby signed with DCU. My interest waned increasingly as he failed to finish and to take command when he was given the opportunities. I think the 7.5 rating is too high for that ugly performance. Bobby was among the best players, but his woeful finishing was once again on display (except for the free kick that was wonderfully taken): "Convey almost single-handedly produced the goal of the tournament late in the first half, weaving his way on a 40-yard run through the Salvadoran defense and then misfiring with an off-balance shot as he approached the penalty area. " http://www.ussoccerplayers.com/latest_soccer_news/330882.html Let's not get carried away and heighten expectations too much. We are less likely to be disappointed if we moderate our fandom. BTW, there is an article where Bobby has lots of love for Thomas Rongen, which I found interesting: http://www.soccer365.com/US_NEWS/National_Teams/page_91_41810.shtml GM
Geez Tom, Bobby only had one real opportunity at goal from the run of play and your grilling him? Give me a break.. Bobby hardly had an ugly performance, he was a class player out there and I defy any player to finish that one chance he had considering he had to run 60 yards past 3 defenders then cut back on another one and put it past a keeper who came out to narrow the angle.. Some people just aren't satisfied...... Cut the kid some slack and leave the bad finishing rants for stiffs like Lassiter and Albright who deserve the label...
The GrillMaster does NOT cook humans! Maybe this was Owen's expression to CSC and they took him too literally. Only by beginning to finish late in the season does Bobito avoid the unfinished business list. To put it politely, Bobby is a questionable finisher. I am comfortable with being called unsatisfied. I am unsatisfied with DC United's last three years for reasons that I have stated innumerable times. Ray was on target when he told the reporter that he wasn't satisfied, and the fans shouldn't be satisfied either. Those who are satisfied have their expectations set too low, IMO. There is a middle ground that I am finding only recently, where one doesn't get too high or too low on a player. Remember that I said "Let's not get carried away and heighten expectations... ". Every player is only as good as what he has done lately. Bobby has done quite well lately with DCU. He still, IMO, has not shined when being the number 10. On Friday Bobby showed some leadership on the field and was quoted saying the 'right' things about his team mates. I say some because I don't think he demanded the ball and he didn't impose his will on the game. Bobby should have tried to slow the game down more with possession triangles and try to generate as many corners as possible to use the US height advantage. Perhaps he will learn that from this game. This is a team the US should have decimated. A one-nil (own goal) victory is supremely unsatisfying, 10 v 11 notwithstanding. A win is a win, and the US is going to the 2003 Worlds. But only because our defense was awesome, not because of offensive (no pun) play (yes, Bobby did very well defensively). Bobby is probably not satisfied with his performance. He needs to hear us cheer him on. I will (continue) to do that while continuously expecting more from him until his potential is realized. You 'da boy, Bobby. It's now time to be 'da man. Impose your will on the game. You've got it in you. Go ahead, give it a shot. GM
No, what I'm saying is that since he first started playing for United 3 years ago it's been obvious to me that he has some uncommon gifts on the field - his vision, timing, dribbling ability... Is he perfect, no. Is he finished developing as a player, no. But I think you spend a lot of time looking awfully hard to find flaws in his game. 'Convey is a dissappointment 'cause he didn't play well in a few games early in the season. Convey isn't special because he didn't finish a chance that nobody else on his team could have created.' Who scored the most goals for DCU this year anyway? And he's a creator not a scorer.
You can say that again, and add Thomas Rongen, who was also "sent off." If it weren't for the ES own goal, the US would have been in a must-win situation against a Canadian team we couldn't handle, as it turned out. Quaranta (and Rongen) very nearly cost us qualification to the U-20 championship.
Re: Re: Bobby Convey - all man(R) Sorry Q1 got screwed by a ridiculously harsh call. If you're mad about this I would've loved to have seen your reaction to Mathis ruining the Metros' playoff chances by stomping on Chino's head.
Re: Re: Re: Bobby Convey - all man(R) Uh, way to pick up on the subtext of what I wrote, Mister Obvious. I was furious with Mathis, even though I thought that also was a very harsh, and undeserved, call. But the fact is that you can't play around with marginal calls in important soccer games. Both Mathis and Quaranta did, and both of them screwed their teams over horribly. The good thing is that the El Salvador U-20s are worse than the US, and destroyed themselves with an own-goal, instead of finishing off the US like DC did with the Metros. The situations are closely parallel, which is why I raised it-- and like New England beating the Metros in the final game, Canada beat the US. I think Mathis deserved every bit of the considerable stick he got for his red card, whether or not it was "really" an offense that merited ejection, and he publicly said he messed up and will change his attitude. Yet no one has commented on Quaranta's infraction. DC fans pat themselves on the back for their soccer savvy, and remain studiously oblivious to their players making the same sorts of stupid blunders that players they pillory make. I hope Arena keeps Quaranta well clear of the national team until he gets his head together.
Well, this DC fan thinks Quaranta needs to clean up his act. What good are you to the team if you put them in such a precarious situation in important games. Better to have a reliable old workhorse.
Okay, I retract my broad and mostly baseless charges about DC fans having blinders on. And I wish I had been able to watch today, despite the result. Sounds like Convey had a good performance on an otherwise bad day.
What a suprise that his finishing improved when Hudson put him in the middle of the field! Could the change of position, which brought him closer to goal, have anything to do with improved finishing for the 19 year old?
Re: Re: Bobby Convey - all man(R) Yeh right, "creator" with 2 assists in 26 games in MLS. I am one of the most harsh Convey's critic.I think he saved his performance, this past season, the last few games.I think DCU should give him one more chance but,that is all.The U-20 performance has no meaning, because his oponents are his age players. Playing in MLS is another story. I still, believe he is no mach for the "grown up" midfielders but, we will see how he is gonna play in a much stronger DCU team next season,hopefully stronger. If, Ray is gonna do a good job recruting a new midfield Convey should be the first choice substitute, IMHO.
3 assists, and his forwards did such a great job finishing his passes too. Sure those stats aren't great, but if Moreno or Q1 had been around then it could be a completely different story as well. I agree about the one more season though to completely step it up.
If I'm not mistaken, the word "agree" has come up in reference to a post by sormun. Is this a bigsoccer first???
Could be. I would imagine Convey's contract will be ending in the next 1-2 years, and while it's obvious he will probably demand a much higher salary in a new deal, if he doesn't leave for Europe, I'd like to see a really solid, complete year from him next season. Granted, he'll only be 20 years old, but it's his 4th year in the league, and it's time to step it up and give us the performances he did over the last 4-6 games of the season.
Canada U-20 game on MLSnet.com http://www.majorleaguesoccer.com/content/02/usa1117canada.html Frankie Simek is the kid playing central defense for Arsenal. He probably was already, but this officially cap-ties him to the US I think. He's a back-up on the U-20s. Also, realize that the U-20's played most of the game without 5 starters. After we went down 3-0 Mapp and Devin Barclay (San Jose eQuakes) were inserted into the midfield with Convey. Once he had people with which to combine, the team was immeasurably better. It also caused the defense to play each midfielder a little more equally (instead of always collapsing on Convey). The US threw numbers forward as well. Again, Justin Mapp had some dazzling moves. When he's on he is breathtaking IMHO. But he's still very tactically naive, still learning defense, and still adjusting to the speed of thought needed in MLS. -Tron
Re: Re: Re: Re: Bobby Convey - all man(R) You can find some DC fans agreeing with the ref's decision here: https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=23953 And here: https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=23969&pagenumber=1
As Lanky noted, most of the DC posters weren't minimizing the red card. But, if you saw the game it was clear that this particular foul was not nearly as deserving of a red card as half a dozen other fouls committed subsequently by the other team on US players. The standard wasn't at all consistent for this game, and that did bother most posters. IMHO, I thought Santino deserved a yellow, but could understand him recieving a red. I also saw many very viscous and malicious tackles against US players that didn't even draw a card. Look at the threads Lanky posted. Most DC posters saw it in the same light you did. -Tron