The Hunt vs Convey debate

[winchester_royal]

oxf*rd me even after an excellent team performance after going down to 10 men some idiots still find it necessairy to critiscise one of the players

give convey time, hunt did bugger all in his 1st few games, and he didnt have a career threatning injury to return from.....once he starts to become more confident with his body and gets up to speed with the premiership he will start to produce some of the form which made him one of our most important players in the championship winning season

but i suppose some of you newbies wont have seen that season will u?

[Woodcote Royal]

You are quite right that Convey's inclusion has coincided with a good run of form but it's just that - a coincidence. We do look better balanced with two wide men, but that's about as far as it goes.

Surely Convey has added that better balance though? That's not coincidence.

Perhaps not but in order to pull out of a tackle you have to get reasonably close. If we had another wide player on the bench yesterday, Coppell could have swapped him for Convey and we would have been no worse off

Convey has extra quality over Hunt! Do me a favour. In the last few games he has wasted more opportunities than the number of bad decisions that have gone against Roy Keane

Everyone acknowledges Hunt's work rate but there is much more to his game than that, he is quite often the most creative player we have.

There is more to Hunts game than pure work rate and an ability to wind up the opposition but Convey is more consistent with the ball than Hunt is. Convey isn't the best crosser of the ball but he has more vision and a better touch than Hunt and you're a lot more likely to see Hunt miss-control or shin it into the stand than Convey do the same.

Having said that it's Hunt who has bought more to the last couple of games than Convey, who was probably the better of the two when he first came back into the side and was playing on adrenalin.

Some of Hunt detractors never cease to amaze me

Having had an unchanged side for several games, there's been no evidence whatsoever of Convey's superior quality over Hunt (and I'm not saying Convey is doing that badly)

As much as I hope Bobby gets back to his best, Hunt is fast reaching the point where it's just a case of where he plays.

And, having shown that he can do a very good job anywhere in midfield, not to mention stand in up front or at left back (and bury a few pens while he's at it ) any serious offers we get for a left winger in January will be for Hunt and not Convey.

Frankly, we should be starting to fear Hunts departure just as much as Shorey's because it's the former who has made the biggest contribution to our recent rise up the table.

Simply, he has been the catalyst for just about everything in the last month whilst Bobby has done OK but is clearly falling a long way short of his rivals contribution.

[PEARCEY]

I dont think it fair to guage Convey's performance level with Hunt's.
Convey has barely played in the Premiership over the last twelve months whereas Hunt has been pretty much an ever present.
Hunt has been terrific in the last month....but was nothing special earlier this season(despite what others say...and besides if he was I'd like to know in which particular games).
Anyway why is there a need to compare and contrast. Their presence on the two flanks is giving the team the balance it has lacked so far this season.

[Woodcote Royal]

Yep, it's funny how some posters don't want to discuss Hunt when he's our best player.

[rob the royal]

I'd like to see Doyle right/Lita up front or just Long for Convey and see how it works

i've been thinking this too. don't get me wrong i think convey is a good player and i don't think he's been doing too much wrong, but i wouldn't want to take doyle out because of the way he links up with kitson. so for me sticking lita on up front and popping doyle on the wing would be a good compromise. and who knows leroy might come on and score a few scorchers? something that at the moment doyle just isn't doing despite his endeavour and all the stuff that he contributes to our game. surely it's time lita got a run out? if someone has to make way i think it would have to be convey.

[PEARCEY]

Yep, it's funny how some posters don't want to discuss Hunt when he's our best player.

I'm happy to discuss Hunt any time. I just dont see the need for a comparison with Convey particularly when the latter has just got back from a career threatening injury.
Hunt is in great form at the moment. Good on him. I hope it continues.

[Woodcote Royal]

Yep, I mean, why would anyone be vaguely interested in comparing our 2 left wingers when the arrival of a right mid will probably mean one of them getting dropped

I have no doubt that if Convey was currently wiping the floor with Hunt that this thread would have reached 10 pages by now.......................

[PEARCEY]

Yep, I mean, why would anyone be vaguely interested in comparing our 2 left wingers when the arrival of a right mid will probably mean one of them getting dropped

I have no doubt that if Convey was currently wiping the floor with Hunt that this thread would have reached 10 pages by now.......................

Who says either will get dropped given that Hunt's best form has occurred when he has been playing on the right side of the pitch.
Coppell may not think the arrival of a right sided midfielder is now so important given Hunt's form in that position.
As I keep on repeating ad infinitum the team looked far more more balanced with both players in the side on either flank. I therefore do not see them in direct competition for the left wing berth.

[Woodcote Royal]

When we have a right mid he'll have to be in pretty poor form not to get a place unless Convey improves significantly and even then I think Coppell would still be most likely to opt for a genuine left and right combination, thus putting Hunt and Convey back in direct competiton.

[Ian Royal]

Yep, I mean, why would anyone be vaguely interested in comparing our 2 left wingers when the arrival of a right mid will probably mean one of them getting dropped

I have no doubt that if Convey was currently wiping the floor with Hunt that this thread would have reached 10 pages by now.......................

Who says either will get dropped given that Hunt's best form has occurred when he has been playing on the right side of the pitch.
Coppell may not think the arrival of a right sided midfdielder is now so important given Hunt's form in that position.
As I keep on repeating ad infinitum the team looked far more more balanced with both players in the side on either flank. I therefore do not see them in direct competition for the left wing berth.

Regardless of that, both are left wingers and 2 wingers are not enough for any team, let alone a premiership one. We've now seen Hunt can play both wings. This is excellent. Convey can possibly play both, he certainly swaps enough when he plays. This still means an injury or suspension would leave us right back in the no balance or width bracket.

We need a winger, prefereably right or both sided. We know they'll get games, Coppell likes to keep his wingers rested by taking them off with 15-20 to go.

Regardless of how well Hunt and Convey are playing we will need a good new winger and we'd be well advised trying to find better than we have. How else will we move on? Someone is bound to be dissapointed in that situation. But that is how life works.

[PEARCEY]

Yep, I mean, why would anyone be vaguely interested in comparing our 2 left wingers when the arrival of a right mid will probably mean one of them getting dropped

I have no doubt that if Convey was currently wiping the floor with Hunt that this thread would have reached 10 pages by now.......................

Who says either will get dropped given that Hunt's best form has occurred when he has been playing on the right side of the pitch.
Coppell may not think the arrival of a right sided midfdielder is now so important given Hunt's form in that position.
As I keep on repeating ad infinitum the team looked far more more balanced with both players in the side on either flank. I therefore do not see them in direct competition for the left wing berth.

Regardless of that, both are left wingers and 2 wingers are not enough for any team, let alone a premiership one. We've now seen Hunt can play both wings. This is excellent. Convey can possibly play both, he certainly swaps enough when he plays. This still means an injury or suspension would leave us right back in the no balance or width bracket.

We need a winger, prefereably right or both sided. We know they'll get games, Coppell likes to keep his wingers rested by taking them off with 15-20 to go.

Regardless of how well Hunt and Convey are playing we will need a good new winger and we'd be well advised trying to find better than we have. How else will we move on? Someone is bound to be dissapointed in that situation. But that is how life works.

Why would Coppell want to switch Hunt back to the left when he has been far more effective cutting in from the right. Yes they are both left wingers but as has been proven they can both switch flanks.
There seems to be a rush to drop Convey after a matter of games.
Lets see how he performs in forthcoming games and remember how well he was doing pre-injury. Its rare for any player to come flying back after such a serious injury. I think he can do a job for the team as can Hunt. I dont see there to be a need to chose one over the other.
Its also all very well for people to bang on about new signings coming in and taking their place in the side. As we saw with the ill fated Rosenoir experiment on the right flank there is no guarantee any new signing will succeed in that position. If Hunt is playing well in that position and Convey improves then why change things around.
I would add that I am not an apologist for Convey(I thought he was only a 5 yesterday) and I am certainly not a Hunt basher. There may well be room for both in the side.

[papereyes]

You are quite right that Convey's inclusion has coincided with a good run of form but it's just that - a coincidence. We do look better balanced with two wide men, but that's about as far as it goes.

Maybe, but you're underestimating what it means to the side having balance.

We have two wingers who are both rather creative.
We have two wingers that are using their wings to a much greater extent than earlier in the season.

Its not coincidence. Be well assured of that.

[PEARCEY]

You are quite right that Convey's inclusion has coincided with a good run of form but it's just that - a coincidence. We do look better balanced with two wide men, but that's about as far as it goes.

Maybe, but you're underestimating what it means to the side having balance.

We have two wingers who are both rather creative.
We have two wingers that are using their wings to a much greater extent than earlier in the season.

Its not coincidence. Be well assured of that.

Well said Papereyes. At least you and I can see that.

[Ian Royal]

I like Convey very much. I think he can still play a big part for us. I also like and admire Hunt. I am advocating dropping neither. What I am saying is that it is idiocy to assume that they are enough and that we don't need some sort of cover for at least one of them.

That is why we need a new winger.

[PEARCEY]

I like Convey very much. I think he can still play a big part for us. I also like and admire Hunt. I am advocating dropping neither. What I am saying is that it is idiocy to assume that they are enough and that we don't need some sort of cover for at least one of them.

That is why we need a new winger.

.....and I dont have a problem with that but if both our current widemen are playing their part and the side looks balanced then neither need to be dropped and make way for the new signing...or indeed have to compete with each other. That is the point I am making.
Its just a shame so many have so little patience when long term injured players are making their way back in the side.

[Ian Royal]

I like Convey very much. I think he can still play a big part for us. I also like and admire Hunt. I am advocating dropping neither. What I am saying is that it is idiocy to assume that they are enough and that we don't need some sort of cover for at least one of them.

That is why we need a new winger.

.....and I dont have a problem with that but if both our current widemen are playing their part and the side looks balanced then neither need to be dropped and make way for the new signing...or indeed have to compete with each other. That is the point I am making.
Its just a shame so many have so little patience when long term injured players are making their way back in the side.

Well we can both be comfortaed with the knowledge Coppell is unlikely to drop anyone just because he has made a new signing. But we do need that signing.

[namroyal]

For what it's worth, I think Convey is beginning to show signs of what made him such an asset for us in the Championship. He's probably one of our most effective players on the break, and if Hahnemann or Shorey played him in more readily then we'd probably have sprung more attacks using his pace. On those occasions where we have got the ball to him quickly, he has been cynically fouled before getting into a danger area (I remember a break in the Sunderland game at home where he was looking threatening and was brought down goal side of the centre circle). He's showing flashes of the form that got us quite a few goals in the Championship.

That being said, I think that Hunt's energy and enthusiasm carry the team a massive amount, and you'd probably look to make him captain if Murty ever had to drop out of the side. I think he's the kind of character that when he's playing well, brings the best out of the rest of the team. They're totally different players though and it is a complete novice that will try to compare the two... yes they both play on the wing but it's like comparing apples with pears - both have strengths and weaknesses to their game that aren't mirrored by the other.

Convey needs more games under his belt, Hunt has shown excellent skill and commitment, but neither is the finished article yet. Just let them get on with it - they're both doing a good job in a team that is currently playing well as a unit.

[Katie Marsden]

If a winger can't cross very well, often they're more effective playing on the opposite side to their natural foot and cutting inside and delivering the easier ball. Hunt is doing a very good job on the right.

[Hugo Boss]

I can't stand Convey personally - Did a great job at Championship level and was instrumental in getting us to where we are now, nobody can deny that.

However, his lightweight style of play and reluctance to get stuck in is disgraceful at times and at this level, is unnacceptable.

The money these players earn they should be prepared to go in for any tackle that comes their way, not pussy-foot around poking the odd toe in once the ball has already been played.

Bring back Oster. At least he'd go in for a challenge.

[yappy]

Coppell's take on Convey: (Taken from 'Coppell tips Spurs for top five' from teamtalk)

USA international Bobby Convey could be rested following a hectic few weeks as he strives for fitness following major knee surgery last season.

Coppell admitted the winger had yet to reproduce the form that made him a fans favourite during the promotion season two years ago.

He added: "He still has a way to go. In his first year he made little impact but a huge one in his second. Last year was lost because of his injury worries and this season he has yet to have an impact.

"He is not a flying winger in a classic sense, he is one that has to connect with players. He has masses of energy and his ProZone stats are right at the top of the tree. It is just a question now of getting into a significant run of form.

"There are doubts in his mind. He has had big surgery and there is always something niggling away. He feels any twinge is the old injury rather than any normal ache or pain."