before Convey went to Reading he was getting some good time with the nats.. now ofcourse hes not. What do you think has happened? and how is he doing at Reading?
I suspect you'll get a wide range of answers here ranging from: a) he's tired b) he's already got the work permit so he doesn't need the caps c) he's being left to work into Reading d) he's not playing well e) Bruce is just trying out other players
[/QUOTE]I suspect you'll get a wide range of answers here ranging from: a) he's tired b) he's already got the work permit so he doesn't need the caps c) he's being left to work into Reading d) he's not playing well e) Bruce is just trying out other players[/QUOTE] All right! Multiple Choice! Let's see....I choose "c." It's my understanding that it was a Nats camp that inadvertently caused him to loose his starting position at Reading. They started winning when he want' there, and now the coach doesn't want to change anything. I think Bruce is aware of that and is constantly factoring that into his call-ups. Come 06, I'd be very surprised if Convey wasn't on the roster at least.
I suspect you'll get a wide range of answers here ranging from: a) he's tired b) he's already got the work permit so he doesn't need the caps c) he's being left to work into Reading d) he's not playing well e) Bruce is just trying out other players[/QUOTE] All right! Multiple Choice! Let's see....I choose "c." It's my understanding that it was a Nats camp that inadvertently caused him to loose his starting position at Reading. They started winning when he want' there, and now the coach doesn't want to change anything. I think Bruce is aware of that and is constantly factoring that into his call-ups. Come 06, I'd be very surprised if Convey wasn't on the roster at least.[/QUOTE] When was he ever starting for reading? I didnt think that he ever started consistenly for them since his move.
I think this was a diabolical plan by Arena to get Convey enough CAPs so that he could get a work permit to play in England and then send him over there so we would never have to see his sorry ass again.
Alright I rethought, and decided I'll give you my true opinion (which has some basis on the others I mentioned) since you're probably looking for legitimate views. Personally I think Convey hasn't played as big a role because he's not the best option under the circumstances. I think Bruce Arena likes the potential in Convey (don't we all). However Convey hasn't become the heir apparent to Claudio Reyna that many hoped for following his play for the Youth teams. Neither for club or country. For DC United he was moved to a left midfield position where he played fine - nothing great - but pretty solid but he does have holes in his game (such as finishing and consistency). The US has had a big empty hole at left back since WC02. Since Convey hasn't shown a better option at left wing (due to Beasley and Lewis) but does have a wide range of skills, Arena gave him a shot at left back. However, as we've learned, Convey really doesn't have a defender's mindset (he could still develop one possibly) and was really being used out of position here. He did fine against poor teams, because we didn't really need him to defend and was really more of a 5th midfielder. So He goes to Reading where he's played in the "proper" position on the left side of midfield. He seems to do ok, starts some games, sits some games. But he's still young (20?) and in a new country, new style, new teammates... which can take some settling. (some players take more time to settle than others). After some average performances, he comes to the USA for a camp/game and while away the other players (I won't call them replacements) that play his position did well... and have continued. When Bobby has played he's done alright, but nothing to suggest he should replace the others. So far at Reading, he's at the level of a squad player. (not saying this is where he'll peak - just current performance) So, he hasn't been stellar recently. Now look to the USA team. Carlos Bocanegra has been playing (and playing well for the most part) as a left back with Fulham in the English Premier League. Compare that to Convey as an average midfielder for a Championship level team... and it's an easy choice who to play as left back for a meaningful game. Again, for games that matter, Beasley is the left winger of choice (and Lewis is still solid there). The last game against Jamaica was a nothing game forthe USA as far as qualifying, but we still watned a win. As a result, new players were tried. Looking back, he could have played as a left mid, but Arena was trying out new people. Convey is largely a known quantity right now. So where does this leave Convey with the team. Easy (in my mind)... he needs to improve if he wants a place on the team. He needs to be either a midfielder or a defender... and play well tehre for club. Then he can be ready for future camps and National Team games. If he doesn't play better than he has for the past year, he doesn't deserve to start for the USA. (again my opinion). So there you have my full thoughts... Feel free to disagree... it's a free country... (well where I'm sitting at least)
I checked, and he's never been a consistent starter for Reading. Actually another falacy seems to be that when he was gone the team started winning regularly. They won without him against Sunderland, but the next game he subbed in during a loss. Then they went on the 3 game win streak. Hers's how it's gone 1 - Brighton - win - on bench 2 - @ West Ham - loss - subbed in after 34 minutes due to injury 3 - @ Sheffield U - win - started - went 73 minutes 4 - Rotherham -win - started - went 90 5 - @ Millwall - loss - subbed in after 14 mintues due to injury (here he basically played 4 full games so may be where people think he was a consistent starter) 6 - Sunderland - win - not on bench (this may be when he was with the national team) 7 - @ Derby - loss- subbed in 76th min 8 - Preston - win - subbed in 73rd min 9 - Gillingham - win - on bench - never entered 10- @ Watford - win - on bench - never entered 11- @ Ipswich - draw - subbed in 82nd min 12 - Burnley - draw - subbed on 71st min 13 - @ Stoke - win - subbed on 81st min 14- Leeds - draw - subbed on 81st min 15- Crewe - win - subbed on 71st min 16- @ Coventry - loss - subbed on 57th min 17- @ Plymouth - draw - started - subbed off after 63 min 18- Stoke - win - on bench - never entered 19- Cardiff - win - subbed on 80th min 20- @ Nottingham - loss -on bench - never entered Take from this what you will.
It seems sometimes like the only thing Bobby's consistent at is being inconsistent. He's still a great player and all and when he's playing well I love to watch him, but when he's not playing so well it's kinda painful. I was actually surprised he didn't play in the last Jamaica game but I guess as was said earlier Bruce wanted to see new players. I know the first Jamaica game he wasn't called up because everyone seemed to be in a mutual agreement that he still needed time to set in and the team wouldn't die without him. For the next set of games he played against El Sal but then didn't play for Panama and then when he got back to England said he was kinda dissappointed that he didn't get to play against Panama and the Reading coach between that set of games and the next said it was frustrating for him and for Bobby to have him be with Reading for 3 weeks then go to the US for a week and half and come back to England for a few weeks and then leave again. Supposedly Bobby talked to bruce and I guess there was some sort of understanding between them that it didn't really help anyone if he was gonna come to the US for a set of games only to be benched. At Reading he hasn't been a consistent starter and I think the last game he started everyone was saying that he looked scared and he was giving up easy balls and not going for 50/50's and stuff like that. I think at Reading they've come up with a couple excuses for that (new team, needs to settle in, new style of play etc.) but when you read some of the stuff people are saying it's kinda weird because I have a hard time picturing anybody on the national team looking scared during any game. Whatever's going on with him it's all in his head. Everyone knows that he's good and everyone can see that he has a lot of potential but everyone gets frustrated because it's not always there. Since getting the playing time at Reading is pretty important there aren't any national team games for awhile and maybe he'll find his way into the lineup once he settles in and gets used to things over there. I'd be kinda surprised if he didn't get more time in the next few months because it seems like everytime I go to the Reading website someone's always getting hurt, it's probably just reports on the same 2 or 3 guys but I wouldn't know, I look at the website to see how he's doing and if he's playing any better yet. As for playing at LB didn't Bruce say that he was only gonna put him there if he knew that it was going to be a very offensive game? Almost everyone agrees that he's not a defender but it is nice to have him at left back in an offensive game so he can get the ball and just run up the line and pass to someone coming up in the center or take the ball himself and go and take a shot. Unfortunately for him the US has a lot of good players on the left side who are, well, better than him. On a brighter note a month or so ago he scored two goals for the reading reserves, I actually heard he played really well with them, like a whole different person.