Great game by the US. Probably the best they’ve ever looked, etc. etc. But there’s always room to improve. Next time we play this box formation I’d like to see Convey and Beasley switched. When Convey is in back he doesn’t have the natural instincts of a defender and leaves the CD’s stranded too often. Against faster or cleverer strikers this will be a definite liability. Convey is a much better crosser than Beasley. He’s almost as fast with and without the ball. He and Donovan are starting to work very well together. Left mid is his usual club position. Since he also plays a lot of AM, he can play wide or inside depending on the tactical situation. Beasley is used to coming back when he plays mid and bailed out Convey at least once on Wed. He has good positioning and has the right mental attitude for a defender: cool as a cucumber and plays smart. Offensively he is fast, but has become a one-trick pony with his speed. He is the soccer equivalent of a relief pitcher: a guy with one great pitch, but no variety. He’d be more effective on a few well-timed blazing runs from the back rather than constantly buzzing around up front. Neither is especially physical so we don’t lose anything there. Downside: a big part of Beasley’s game is drawing fouls and that would be risky in the back. Convey’s finishing is… problematic lately.
Not gonna happen. Beasley gets the preferred spot because he is a much more dangerous player than Convey. Bobby's emerging, and Bruce is trying to fit him in, but Beasley is far, far more important to this team right now. Regardless of what some folks seem to think, Beasley is a key offensive player for the US and will remain so for some time to come. Convey is still working his way in. Odd how for such a "one-trick-pony" Beasley is constantly dangerous to pretty well any team we play. He's the one guy we can always rely on to take the game to the other team and create confusion and find chances. Meanwhile, Bobby hasn't really done crap against grown men, comparatively. Until he does, he is no way, no how going to jump past Beasley for the attacking role on the left.
Beasley is also brilliant at tracking back from midfield to make defensive stops. That's a big reason to keep him there.
I actually think Convey would be better because he's more skillful,can cross better, and weaves in and out of traffic just as well as Beasley. What Convey lacks is some discipline in making his runs. WHEN to make that run is fairly important. This is the area where Beasley excels I think. He's also also harder to disposses. But honestly, I don't think there would be to much a difference in how effective we are when its between Convey and Beasley. I Beaser is a better defender however
I'm not sure if putting DMB in the back is a good idea, but I am weary about Convey's defensive skills. I watched the game on telemundo and since i don't know a lick of spanish I had no idea about the US's formation. The whole game I was thinking, wow Bruce finally switch to a 3-5-2, finally!, because everytime I looked I only saw Hejduk, Pope, and Pablo on the back line. Until I looked at the post-match reports I thought he was just playing the wing-mid on that side. He had a great game, but I would like to see him be more of a defender than just a midfielder who has more ground to cover.
I agree with appooOnU. It's Convey's greater versatilite that makes him dangerous back there if he can get his head a little more in the defensive aspects of the game. His attacks out of the back with DMB and LD in support can be killers.