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Sporting Kansas City announced Friday that midfielder Bobby Convey has been acquired from the San Jose Earthquakes in exchange for an international roster slot for 2012. Convey, a United States international and a veteran of the 2006 FIFA World Cup, joins Sporting Kansas City after three seasons in San Jose where he was named as an MLS All-Star in both 2010 and 2011. To date, Convey has scored 11 goals and added 30 assists in 164 appearances in Major League Soccer.
Sporting KC acquires MF Bobby Convey from SJ Earthquakes | Sporting Kansas City
It’s safe to assume that Convey’s huge salary, spotty injury history and strained relationship with San Jose manager Frank Yallop played a role in the trade. But none of that bothers Vermes, who welcomes "strong" personalities and often credits his training and medical staff for helping oft-injured players such as Chance Myers and Júlio César enjoy breakout 2011 seasons. "I believe that strong personalities get you through tough times," Vermes said. "Weak personalities, they don’t bend, they break."
The second thing that bothers me about this trade is Convey's attitude. He was benched in San Jose and there's been plenty of rumors about his attitude during his time with the team. Talk of him not wanting to play left back being part of the reason for his benching along with other things. But in KC I can't see Peter Vermes accepting that sort of attitude from Convey. He hasn't accepted that from other players like Ryan Smith and Stephane Auvray, so I don't expect him to accept the same attitude from Convey to bring different.
Sporting Kansas City announced Friday that Manager Peter Vermes has been selected to lead the 2011 Generation adidas tour of the Netherlands. Vermes will be joined by technical staff members Zoran Savic, John Pascarella and Jon Parry on the tour of the Netherlands. The team will train at the world-renowned Ajax Academy in Amsterdam and compete in friendly matches against reserve teams from Ajax, FC Volendam and Almere City FC. Vermes spent the 1990 season with FC Volendam in the Dutch Eredivisie, becoming the first American to play professionally in Holland's top division.
SKC staff to lead Generation adidas tour of Netherlands | Sporting Kansas City
Any inkling that Sporting Kansas City manager Peter Vermes would stand pat this offseason has quickly been put to rest during the past week. Sporting grabbed headlines again on Friday, acquiring Bobby Convey from San Jose in a trade that sent an international roster spot in 2012 to the Earthquakes in exchange for a player who was named to the MLS All Star team in both of the past two seasons. Vermes said the club had signed Convey, who would have been available for selection in the Re-Entry Draft after San Jose declined to exercise their option on his contract, to a four-year deal despite competition for the versatile 28-year-old.
Vermes says Convey won't be limited to defensive role | MLSsoccer.com
Convey, 28, is a very versatile player, who can play outside back, winger, and surprisingly central-mid (where he played during his stint with Reading in England). For me, this raises my suspicions about Omar Bravo's SKC future, especially because Sporting traded back for Seth Sinovic - probably taking back the LB starting spot (which could have been Convey's).
The Footy Chronicles: Bobby Convey becomes newest addition to SKC
On Friday, in the trade for an international spot, Sporting KC received San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Bobby Convey. Peter Vermes's quote says really what my point was trying to be:
"Bobby Convey has been a difference-maker in this League for many years, with experience at the highest levels of soccer. His competitiveness and attacking qualities stand out and we feel that he can thrive within the culture created at Sporting Kansas City. We are very excited to welcome Bobby to our club."
It's been a busy offseason for Sporting Kansas City manager Peter Vermes. Out are midfielder/forward Ryan Smith, Arnaud and defender Seth Sinovic. Coming in are former Chivas USA midfielder Paulo Nagamura and, yes, Sinovic, who was initially lost in the expansion draft and then reacquired in the trade that sent Arnaud to Montreal. Combined with the waiving of Jeferson, Milos Stojcev and Craig Rocastle, Vermes has recaptured over $500,000 in cap space plus the allocation money obtained from Montreal. Not a bad bit of work, considering that the core of the squad has remained intact.
Initially known for his midfield play, Convey drew rave reviews for his performance as a left back in the Earthquakes' unlikely push to the Eastern Conference final in 2010, a run that included a two-goal performance against the New York Red Bulls in the semifinals. He tied for the league lead in game-winning assists and was also named the MLS Comeback Player of the Year.
MLS: Sporting Kansas City Acquires Bobby Convey from San Jose | Bleacher Report
Sporting Kansas City announced Friday that Peter Vermes will manage the 2011 Generation adidas team during a tour of the Netherlands. He will be joined by KC staff members Zoran Savic, John Pascarella and Jon Parry on the tour. The Generation adidas team, which features some of Major League Soccer's young stars, will train at the Ajax Academy in Amsterdam. The team will face off against reserve teams from Ajax, FC Volendam and Almere City FC. vermes played for FC Volendam during the 1990 season -- the first American to play professionally in Holland's top division.
Vermes to manage Generation adidas team on European tour - KansasCity.com
Convey, who did not have his contract option picked up by San Jose after this past season, was part of the initial list of players available in the MLS Re-Entry Draft, but that is no longer the case after Sporting KC stepped up to trade for the veteran left winger. In addition to giving the Earthquakes some flexibility in the international market, losing Convey clears up a good deal of cap space for San Jose, as Convey was on the books for $336,000 in guaranteed compensation last season. It remains to be seen what kind of deal Convey gets with Sporting KC.
Following the signing of Bobby Convey I thought i'd dig a little deeper into his career and give you guys some interesting stats.