'Tappa' plans immediate Reggae Boyz shake-up Published: Thursday | September 8, 2011 0 Comments Gordon Williams, Gleaner Writer FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida:
JAMAICA'S senior men's head football coach, Theodore 'Tappa' Whitmore, is not happy with his team's approach and has vowed a shake-up of the current Reggae Boyz, in a drastic attempt to "nip in the bud" what he fears is complacency, ahead of World Cup qualifiers which begin in 2012.
In a post-match changing room dress-down, following Jamaica's fourth consecutive loss - a 2-0 defeat to Colombia here on Tuesday night - an upset Whitmore warned his charges that with "immediate effect" he will be taking the team in a new direction.
"Last night after the game we had a meeting with the players and we let them know it's gonna be a different ball game going forward," Whitmore said yesterday.
During the meeting, the coach asked the players directly if they were satisfied with the opportunities they had been given to stake a claim for places in the Reggae Boyz squad to prepare for the qualifiers. He said not all had done enough to earn those spots.
He also explained that the coaching staff and the team will be evaluated. Then he will set off on an intense hunt for players to bolster the squad, a search which will include local and overseas-based talent.
"We have to take a couple of days and do a self-assessment in terms of coaching staff, playing staff and where we want to go forward, and we'll make the decision as to where we go," Whitmore said.
That decision will come soon. The changes, both in approach and player personnel, Whitmore explained, will be instituted in time for Jamaica's next international game, which could be as early as next month.
According to Whitmore, some players - including seasoned veterans - have started to "expect" to see themselves in the squad, believing their selection is automatic, while others are too easily satisfied making the squad without being willing to improve their attitude and game. He said the number of guilty ones is still small and their influence has not permeated the entire squad. But he is not willing to wait to see if it can.
"It is just a select handful and, as our Jamaican saying goes, you have to nip it in the bud from now, before we reach next year," the coach explained. " ... Something definitely has to change, and will change."
Early Hint of clampdown
Before the Colombia game, Whitmore had hinted his intention to clamp down on his team. While he said it is necessary for him to quickly fix the problems, he also understands that further deterioration through poor results could lead to his removal as head coach.
"I have a job to do, you know, and if I don't do it well, the (Jamaica Football) Federation will get rid of me," Whitmore reasoned. "I have to do it to the best of my ability."
The Colombia game offered possible glimpses of what Whitmore has in store. Several players were heard discussing the post-match meeting. Eric Vernan, a regular member of the national team, was seen sitting in the Lockhart Stadium stands during the game. There was no report from team management that he was unfit or otherwise incapable of playing.
Captain Shavar Thomas declined to discuss details of the Tuesday night's meeting, but acknowledged the coach was in an uncompromising mood.
"Let's put it this way," Thomas said, "we had a very serious team talk."
Pressed if Whitmore was happy with the team, Thomas was more direct.
"(He) could never be satisfied," he said.
Was it only surrounding the Colombia game, the captain was asked.
"No, no," Thomas replied. "I mean, everything."
Whitmore said he will also be injecting new blood into the squad because some of the current crop is not up to standard. Some players, he said, lack international quality, others the proper attitude. A few carry a combination of shortcomings.
"I think we have players here now who are comfortable; players who are just comfortable coming on a trip," the coach said. "I always explain to them, you have an opportunity that a lot of players would want to but haven't gotten the chance. Take for instance going to China (for the August 10 friendly); no player right now would take up his money and buy a ticket to go to China for two or three days. If it is only being on a trip then it makes no sense.
"You have players, both local and overseas, who have gotten a fair chance and did not come up with the goods," he added.
Yah-man it was about Fck'n time now wi here whagwaan from summaddy man, cho-claat, and what is plan-b to move the program forward, after all these dismal display from the local-based players. I trust your judgements, and believe that from over the last two years or so, you have seen all and have selected all of the best local prospects, and has exhaust all the option as to what the current local players has to offer, and you will now shift your focus to overseas, NCAA, the UK so on and so forth, while still keeping a look out at home for any rising star in the making.
"Yah-man Tappa done now wid the experimenting thing wid the local ballers dem and broaden you search and recruiting process boss." Let's go!!!
We'll see. They have a lot to do to convince that they are not just blowing smoke.
Me a tell yu DIstrib....
We would like to say to TAPPA that this a good start. We know if what you have in mind mainly is the UK Boyz, we would appreciate that you be transparent and respectful to fans who pay their money to support the team and communicate to us.
It may take a liilte time to invite the UK 'ites because of paper work issues. We know by now that HUMPHREY, PRATLEY, I think BECKFORD, GORDON and may be another or two were already processing their imigration paper work.
What we asking for is communication & transparency because come next FIFA match day the paper work may still not be in place. And not seeing the UK players, then once again yu gwa have we Jamaican blood boiling.
THe JFF in the past & present have poor communication with the fan base they expect to support the team; we're asking for some respect.
Let us know who you've contacted, the status of the player response, if and when they will be able to represent us. Keep the fans in the know...... That's all we're asking.
Well if him waa keep him job then him betta do suppen bout him talk....cause nobody job nuh safe round here, not even fi him Tappa....
Suh wi deh pon the look out now to keep him honest, and to see what is the immediate shake up him talking bout....we will keep this promises alive, trust!!!
Talk is a start at least he is acknowledging what we have been screaming around here. We want to see Tappa put things in motion and this does not mean now shifting focus to Harborview players instead of PMU. It pisses me off in our culture you never see action or talk until we are drowning or there is a potential disaster. How many games did we of to play before they realized the team sucks? The US game was the signal for me. The fact is we should have been inviting at least one new recruit per game, so what is he going do now call up a bunch of players who never met before. I am waiting to see this new approach by Tappa. I am like many fans whose patients is thin right now. The October FIFA date is going to be a defining date for our football because we will see if it is serious talk. No bull crap like we invited players but their documents were not processed yet.
Registered: 03/25/01
Posts: 16612
Loc: Miramar, FL, USA
Offline
I think it is better to refer to the players as England-based or UK-based as not all of them are English-born.
Zavon Hines (born in Jamaica) Chris Humphrey (born in Jamaica) Daniel Johnson (born in Jamaica) Keammar Daley (born in Jamaica) Ricardo Gardner (born in Jamaica)
It is obvious our technical folks at the JFF need to get going and find another hobby or reach out to these eligible players ASAP. It should be common knowledge we are not producing enough quality players locally. We find a diamond on the rock like once every decade.
Yah-man it was about Fck'n time wi here whagwaan from summaddy man, cho-claat, and what is plan-b to move the program forward, after all these dismal display from the local-based players. I trust your judgements, and believe that from over the last two years or so, you have seen all and have selected all of the best local prospects, and has exhaust all the option as to what the current local players has to offer, and you will now shift your focus to overseas, NCAA, the UK so on and so forth, while still keeping a look out at home for any rising star in the making.
"Yah-man Tappa done now wid the experimenting thing wid the local ballers dem and broaden you search and recruiting process boss." Let's go!!!
BL there is an errror that most including myself makes from time to time. Most of the current squad are not local based players. They are playing their football in the MLS and Scandanavia. The problem is the UK based players. Also if MLS players no up to scratch, Y u feel seh NCAA players have anything much different to offer for the senior team. Arnt NCAA players amatuer anyway. Mattocks is one of the top ballas in the college system. When he is here him not a regular fi Waterhouse. And its not that the local coaches are ediots. I see to so call college players come here and dem average at best. At a KSAFA Major league where I was affiliated dem cld even mek the starting side. Oh and some a dem name i here u guys here mentioning as big balla. As mi seh dem aright up to U23 but dem no ready fi d senior side. Unnu need to figet the hype and just talk tings without to objective basis fi unnu statement.
Edited by zilla (09/08/1108:02 AM)
_________________________
FORMER President - F.A.A.B.A.C.B(Fans Association Against the Baseless Attack on Captain Burrel)
Maybe we should look more into UK based players. Not college players or local based players. This team will not succeed without full time professional players. The UK based players will also bring something that local based players are not very good at, that is their work rate off the ball.
I think it is better to refer to the players as England-based or UK-based as not all of them are English-born.
Zavon Hines (born in Jamaica) Chris Humphrey (born in Jamaica) Daniel Johnson (born in Jamaica) Keammar Daley (born in Jamaica) Ricardo Gardner (born in Jamaica)
I never understand why some of our best ballers from high school get scholarship at US universities and then never heard about since. US keeps churning new players from the College system and they make it back into the US squad at some point but our Ballers who shine at universities are considered inferiror to the ones who weren't as good and stayed back to play NPL
_________________________
Blessed all CC massive zeen
I think they have found one in Stevens as well Carter. It's fair to say that the JFF has exhausted all the readily available options locally.
Boss most of the current side are base in the US and Scandanavia
Yeah man I know, but the coaches conduct camps with predominantly local players in each with a few making the final squad. Just commenting on the lack of quality there and the fact that they actually found a decent player in Stevens.
Yah-man it was about Fck'n time wi here whagwaan from summaddy man, cho-claat, and what is plan-b to move the program forward, after all these dismal display from the local-based players. I trust your judgements, and believe that from over the last two years or so, you have seen all and have selected all of the best local prospects, and has exhaust all the option as to what the current local players has to offer, and you will now shift your focus to overseas, NCAA, the UK so on and so forth, while still keeping a look out at home for any rising star in the making.
"Yah-man Tappa done now wid the experimenting thing wid the local ballers dem and broaden you search and recruiting process boss." Let's go!!!
BL there is an errror that most including myself makes from time to time. Most of the current squad are not local based players. They are playing their football in the MLS and Scandanavia. The problem is the UK based players. Also if MLS players no up to scratch, Y u feel seh NCAA players have anything much different to offer for the senior team. Arnt NCAA players amatuer anyway. Mattocks is one of the top ballas in the college system. When he is here him not a regular fi Waterhouse. And its not that the local coaches are ediots. I see to so call college players come here and dem average at best. At a KSAFA Major league where I was affiliated dem cld even mek the starting side. Oh and some a dem name i here u guys here mentioning as big balla. As mi seh dem aright up to U23 but dem no ready fi d senior side. Unnu need to figet the hype and just talk tings without to objective basis fi unnu statement.
Zilla, I'm not looking to see the whole entire team comprise of only UK ballas, NCAA or local-based ballas. Now, don't tell me that we can't look @ the NCAA league and find a good college prospect from Jamaican decent, with some ball knowledge, who Tappa cannot include in the program, we must can identify a yute with raw talent to star, before him become a star or being sort after, by another country.....suh, you whaa tell me seh the JFF scouts dem that blind and nuh have nuh vision fi see good yute prospects.....mi never call nuh college baller name, but there must be a potential diamond in the ruff.....Bibi come to mind...?
I never understand why some of our best ballers from high school get scholarship at US universities and then never heard about since. US keeps churning new players from the College system and they make it back into the US squad at some point but our Ballers who shine at universities are considered inferiror to the ones who weren't as good and stayed back to play NPL
They make it back with newly garnered pro contracts. Not as college Sophomores and Seniors. Underage teams are the only ones that historically use students in their national setups. Akron's Mattocks had a harder time scoring in some Manning cup games than he does inna dah college supn deh.
Registered: 03/25/01
Posts: 16612
Loc: Miramar, FL, USA
Offline
More quality players needed to improve the Reggae Boyz squad – Montesso Afredo Montesso.
Following the Reggae Boyz defeat to Columbia on Tuesday, September 6, assistant coach Alfredo Montesso says the coaching staff will need to find more players with quality to improve the squad.
Members of the Reggae Boyz squad returned home on Wednesday afternoon, September 7 after suffering a 2 – 0 defeat to host Colombia in Florida, their third straight defeat since the quarterfinal exit at the CONCACAF Gold Cup in July.
Coach Montesso singled out debutant Errol Stevens as one player, who could play a significant role in the team going forward.
"We have to look for better quality players every time. We just say Stevens, from Arnett Gardens and he played his first game very well. He showed ability, he showed quality and we have to be open to quality players like him," Montesso said.
Stevens says playing at the international level is a whole different ball game.
"It’s much different … the game is much faster and requires more focus. It was a new experience in terms of the level of playing, (it was) a more intense game, so I had to raise the standard a bit but I really feel good about how I performed," he said.
The Reggae Boyz have conceded 10 goals in their last four matches while scoring twice.
Since being beaten by United States in the CONCACAF Gold Cup, the Reggae Boyz have suffered defeats to China and Ecuador in recent games.
