I have tracked Bobby on the senior level, including actually tracking his every touch on the ball in the Senior Team's game against Paraguay, and I have felt strongly that Bruce Arena is making a wise investment in this kid. At times he has been frustratingly inconsistent. At times he has simply turned in poor performances. But in each game at the Senior Level, he has at least shown us flashes of the player he might one day be. I was looking forward to seeing him play in this tournament, and seeing in particular whether or not playing amongst same-aged players affected his confidence. I have also held the belief that the one thing that is holding Convey back from being a real star at the senior level is his confidence, or more specifically, his lack of it. What I wanted to see is whether or not in a competition of same-aged players, Bobby was a confident player. And if he were a confident player, would that affect his performances. On both counts, the answer is a resounding yes. Bobby has assumed the captain's armband and the role of "the man" on the U20s, and he is flourishing. I believe what we are seeing now with the U20s is what we can expect to see a couple years from now with the senior team. Next year Bobby will take on the role as "the man" with DC United. He will also be a vital piece of the US Olympic team puzzle. And when he has some down time, I am positive he'll see some action with the Senior Team. By the time 2006 finally gets here, if the US has made it to Germany, I think Bobby forces his way onto the field as a key player for Arena's team. I've said for a while that Bobby brings qualities to the attacking midfield that no other player in the US pool can. Bobby is better than even Reyna and O'brien - right now - at making strong, well-timed, intelligent runs away from the ball that open up opposing defenses (see his game-winning goal against Costa Rica in the Gold Cup). Bobby has a few different gears, and can accelerate and leave defenders behind and hacking at his ankles (see his monster goal against Paraguay in this tournament, or the PK he drew today against Korea). And Bobby, more than any US attacking midfielder, has no qualms about taking and beating players on 1v1 from any area of the field, and setting up his teammates on a counter (see about 4 opportunities teammates blew against Germany). There have been frustrating times at the senior level, but the timid touches, the hesitance and poor finishing in front of the goal, and other frustrating aspects of Bobby's game are nonfactors with the U20s. Has he perfected his game - no. Far from it. But he has been an absolute force for the US three straight games in the World Youth Cup, leading me to believe that Bobby has an extremely bright future ahead of him. He will be a big-time player at next year's Olympics, and then he will continue to work himself into the starting rotation at the senior level and be a key player in the 2006 World Cup. I look forward to watching all of it. Great play so far, Bobby. Keep at it.
I thought the same thing after watching him play against Argentina for the senior team earlier in the year.
Convey is a player with good , real good potential. He is inconsistent...hey , that is normal for your young players to go through..the patchy thingy. He is fast and skillful..and that is a scarey combo.
Part of his problem this year has been playing for DC United. Obvious, I know, but it was real hard for him to find a groove.
I wholeheartedly agree. Next year will be interesting: Convey has two choices it seems- possibly three: 1) From his U-20 performance, MLS sells him to some Euro/non-England club. Yeah I know supposedly his heart is set on England, but if some team in Germany or Holland say wants him for a substantially higher salary than Spurs offered (400K)? Seems like he'd think seriously. 2) Stay all of next summer with DCU. 3) Go to England next summer- mid-MLS season. Which choice would be best for his development? Which would be best for the Nats? No clear answers that I see as I am not a person who believes that all our best players HAVE to go to Europe. Of course Bobby WANTS to go abroad at least since he's been playing under Ray Hudson...
I honestly believe that the best option for Bobby is to play next year at DCU. I know his heart is set on England, but if he stays in MLS next year, he guarantees himself that he will be playing in the 2004 Olympics (assuming US qualification). If he performs well there, he writes his own ticket. Developmentally, I just do not see Bobby getting an opportunity anywhere, in any top league, in Europe to run the show like he will next year for DCU. For a developing young player, you cannot ask for anything more at this stage. A year from now, after running the DCU midfield and playing in the Olympics, I think it will most likely be the right time for Bobby to move on. But I think that the Spurs rejection will prove to be a blessing in disguise in the long run, and Bobby will become a better, more confident, and more well-rounded player because of it.
Bobby has really impressed me. Long term, I've always believed that he would become a class player. While I think that his confidence sometimes ebbs and flows, his commitment to improving and his seriousness of purpose seem to be constants, and those qualities will enable him to develop even more. I'm not sure he's physically gifted enough to be a top level international player, but then who in the U.S right now has that potential (Donovan, perhaps marginally, but I don't see the fire in his belly), but there's no reason to believe that he can't become a significant force on the USMNT.
It looks like bobby has not let this unfortunate decision affect his game negatively and that is a great sign for us. Good job, Bobby, on focusing on your game so hard at the time when many players would've let their foot "off the pedal"
This is complete utter speculation, but I say convey's transfer fee (after his great play in the u20 WC) has jumped to 2.25 mil pounds- at least. Let him play another season here in MLS, just one more where DC is HIS team, and he will be in England in the Prem getting quality minutes, and delivering a hefty transfer fee back to MLS.
him and about 300 other people. God I've been singing this kids praises ever since I saw him vs Argentina (the Thread Wanderer is referring to). For whatever reason, every time I see him play I think to myself that this kid could be a real star. I mean STAR. HE's pretty much my favorite player in the National Team. Due to his style of play and also due to how many freaking times I've defended him. He's been amazing in this tournament and I think if he can lead us to the Semi's he is going to be in serious consideration for the MVP award.
I agree with almost all the original poster's comments. I didn't get to see much of the Germany game and missed the first game entirely but read raves about Convey's play against Germany. Then I saw today's game. Wow. Hard to believe that's the same kid who's been doing so little for D.C. United. I agree that with Etcheverry gone it might be Convey and not Adu who wows RFK crowds next summer. What I thought was so exciting was that, as explosive as he could be when he had the chance, he didn't force things that weren't there. He was very patient and had no problem making an easy pass when that was all that was needed. It's like having Claudio Reyna at the midfield stripe who turns into Landon Donovan in the attacking third. I sure hope he can keep this up in MLS, and perhaps eventually for the senior national team.
The work permit denial did nothing for Bobby's confidence. He sleepwalked through the second half of the United season. His foot was "off the pedal". Sachin
I have two beliefs, and I suppose they might be intertwined. One is that 2010 will be the first world cup when we are of the caliber where we can win the whole thing. And the second is that Convey is a benchmark for this generation of American player, and will be a leader on that team. Since the MLS era began, he seems to be the first star that was given proper domestic development from a young age and really thrived in response. In the future, there will (hopefully) be lots of Convey-like players, but in my book he was the first, and when I see him succeed, I really see a microcosm of American soccer.
In that sense, though, I'm not sure his MLS team did him any favors. With almost any other team but DCU, where Etch was so ingrained and dominant, Convey would have had more chances to make the team his own, ala Martino with Columbus. Hudson, quote machine that he is, doesn't seem to help, either. Convey needed to feel important and wanted after the England spurn, and the musical chairs rotation Hudson had going put everyone at DCU off kilter. You'd sleep-walk too if you weren't sure of your position or what was expected of you. With the national teams, even with the senior one, Convey has seemed more focused and purposeful. In this tourney, he knows what to do and it shows.
In seeing his U-20 performances I now subscribe to the theory that it was the DCU offense that had it's foot off the pedal and Convey was part of the collateral damage.
Why wait until 2010? I'm not so sure we won't get to see Adu, Donovan, Convey, and Beasley making beautiful music together for the US in 2006.
nah, I like to see him play well. It just seems that every time I say something nice about him, he plays like grabage for a month.
I like Convey always have. He had a size and strenght problem when he first came up. When he went shoulder to shoulder with some one he would just bounce off the dribbler. To counter that when he goes should to shoulder later he slides for the ball now. Using the near foot to get to the ball. No one does that any more Convey is one of the few that does. It was a tackle that Beckenbauer was fond of using. Also with DC in the beginning he was a left wing. Good touch and quickness but would get lost in games for long periods of time. He did not know how to move in the wing position so he still had a chance for a touch before a team mate would reverse their field playing the ball away from his flank. He knows how to do that now. Then on his chances with the mens National team too small it seem for the contact when he played in the middle of the field. Then Arena who wants a left back who can attack when we have the ball tried him there. He may still wind up playing there. He works very well with Beasily. He just has to be more physical as a back. -------- He has looked good as a central attacker because we are comparing him with young and less physical players that he is playing with and against in this U 20 tournament. Then the ones he will be playing against on an Adult National side. He looked very good against Korea because he was the only mid on either team that did not make every touch a back pass. he would actually show for the ball and turn once in a while and look to attack. No one else did that they touch the ball and back pass to the backs. Then the backs would touch the ball to each other for 10 minutes. That might have been the most boring game I ever two teams play in my life. That's why all the Arabs left the stadium after an hour. Can't blame them for that. Back to Convey in this game against Korea, Convey looked like Platini because we compared him to everyone else in this game. I think Convey will be a starter in Germany. Most likely as a left wing back. Maybe a spot player inside the field by 2006. Richie Richie