You could well be right, he is also there I believe for the tournament (along with Sinclair who I believe is bigger), it is difficult as it is a profile shot and he's got sunglasses on.
Veteran goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts, who could be the man to lead Jamaica out on to the field on June 8, along with Ryan Johnson, Je-Vaughn Watson, Rudolph Austin and Jermaine Taylor are expected to join up with the squad in the coming days
Didn't see Omar Daley at the training on Friday. Can any one confirm that he's here?
Give us some feedback on what you saw at training....
Ok. Apologies. Should have given more detail before this. They warmed up and did a number of short passing drills. After that things got interesting when they did a forward against defense drill. Nobody had their shooting boots on at all. Although Fuller is striking it fairly well. King looked a little out of sorts there.
Defensively Stew Peas and Nuggsey were heading the ball a mile! Amazing. Mapps was out with a mild ankle injury.
What I also found interesting from this drill is that although Rohan Reid is a six footer, he's not that great in the air.
Dada took a few shots from outside the box but really didn't shine here until he unleashed a back flick to set up Jeremy Lynch out of nowhere......poetry.
After that they played a half field scrimmage 11 v 11 for about 40 mins. Nuggsey and Fuller looked in very good touch. So did Stew Peas. Humphrey is quick and had some good moves but didn't get much of the ball out on the right. Virgo is quality on the ball. still a bit of a question mark defensively. Errol Stevens looked really good! a couple of times the players got on his case for not passing the ball - he's a bruckyboo it seems. I liked Nathan Smiths touches as well. Joel Senior started well but faded into the background as the scrimmage went on.
It was difficult to tell in the Half field scrimmage, but in the absence of Mapps, he seemed to start off with (bibs): Miller (goal), Nathan Smith Peas Nuggsey Virgo. Defense
Rohan Reid Senior Grandison Dada (Midfield).
Fuller shelton. (forwards)
After that, they constantly switched around giving most a chance to wear the bib.
Registered: 03/25/01
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Originally Posted By: jamatl
OK, The MLS players will be released after their games on Saturday, May 26th and the Norwegian/Sweden/Finland crew are available after Thursday, May 23rd.
The complete final squad will report on Monday, May 28th for the Panama match.
Tappa name your squad today and work with them on and off the field twice a day for the next 10 days.
Sit down with them and find out their preferred positions and where they played best for their clubs and maximize it.
The midfielders needs to play short touch games with pace. The entire team is training at a slow pace, not running but passing and moving off the ball.
They need to play more intelligently and think the game faster.
I didn't really know where to post this, but Marcus Gayle just posted this picture on Twitter with the caption "Reggae boyz in town !!" I believe thats (from left) Frank Sinclair, Marcus Gayle, Paul Hall, and Deon Burton and they're in Barbados for a legends tour.
Beego u no see seh a simpson that not sinclair
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FORMER President - F.A.A.B.A.C.B(Fans Association Against the Baseless Attack on Captain Burrel)
No break for this Toronto FC trio: Julian de Guzman, Ashtone Morgan and Ryan Johnson
A veteran of Canadian national team experience, Julian de Guzman is expected to be a regular at midfield as Canada takes on the United States in a friendly at BMO Field on Sunday. RICK MADONIK/TORONTO STAR
Daniel Girard Sports Reporter
It was a rousing sendoff.
Toronto FC won a fourth straight Canadian championship last Wednesday and then followed it up Saturday with their first win of a Major League Soccer season in which they set a record by losing their first nine matches.
Those were the last two games before the Reds began a three-week break from MLS action as the league virtually shuts down for international matches and the next round of World Cup qualifying. Some of the players will go home to visit their families. Others will stick around town but get away from soccer. Still more will nurse injuries or work on their fitness.
But for a trio of Reds, there’s no break. Julian de Guzman, Ashtone Morgan and Ryan Johnson are trading club colours for those of their countries, beginning the next stage of qualifying for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Here’s a closer look at the three:
JULIAN DE GUZMAN
TFC’s second-highest paid player at $1.9 million a year, the midfielder found himself on head coach Aron Winter’s substitute’s bench earlier in the season. But in the past few matches, the Scarborough native has played some of his best soccer in a Reds uniform, winning battles, sticking up for teammates and setting up chances and goals.
A veteran of Canadian national team experience, de Guzman is expected to be a regular at midfield as Canada takes on the United States in a friendly at BMO Field on Sunday before opening the third round of World Cup qualifying in Cuba on June 8 and hosting Honduras at BMO Field June 12.
ASHTONE MORGAN One of the youngsters who plays regularly on TFC’s much-maligned back line, the 21-year-old Toronto native has already trotted out for Canada twice in World Cup qualifying and will no doubt continue his rapid development even if he plays sparingly, or not at all.
Prospects: Canada will face a stern test on Sunday from the U.S., widely regarded as the top team in CONCACAF right now, in a match that highlights the 100th anniversary of the Canadian Soccer Association.
In qualifying, Canada is in tough against Honduras, participants in the 2010 World Cup and semi-finalists at last year’s Gold Cup. To advance to the final stage for Brazil 2014, the Canadians will have to take care of business against the weakest team of the group, Cuba, and get the better of Panama.
RYAN JOHNSON
The Jamaican striker, who was named MVP of the Canadian championships after scoring two of TFC’s four goals in four matches, leads the Reds in goals so far in 2012, with five in all competitions.
A regular with the Reggae Boyz since 2009, Johnson has played in 14 matches for them and has scored seven goals in the past two years. He’s expected to be available for a friendly in Panama Friday and two qualifiers, June 8 at home to Guatemala and June 12 at Antigua and Barbuda.
Prospects: The bad news for the Reggae Boyz is that they’re drawn in a group with the U.S. The good news is that the top two teams from each of three groups advances to the final round, and with Guatemala and Antigua and Barbuda the other two sides, Jamaica should have no problems.
_________________________ "Money doesn't change men, it merely unmasks them." - Henry Ford
Dynamo's Hainault, Watson prepare for international duty
May 24, 2012 MLSsoccer.com
Photo Credit: Getty Images
As expected, CONCACAF World Cup qualifying will have an orange tinge.
A week after Houston Dynamo Geoff Cameron left to join the USMNT, fellow defender Andre Hainault (above) and midfielder Je-Vaughn Watson have been called to join Canada and Jamaica, respectively, as they prepare to kick off their quest to qualify for Brazil 2014.
“I’m happy when these guys get called in,” Dynamo boss Dominic Kinnear said. “It’s important and I think it’s an honor and these guys want to do it, so it’s great for everybody.”
Hainault’s call comes six months after he turned down the first leg of a two-match call up to stay with the Dynamo. Subsequently, Canada head coach Stephen Hart pulled the invitation altogether, and there was some concern as to whether Hainault would be part of his plans for Canada this summer.
“I spoke with Stephen a couple of months ago to make sure things were clear and there was nothing that got misconstrued by the media or whatever,” the defender told MLSsoccer.com. “I was really happy to just get another chance.”
With any perceived hard feelings firmly in the past, Hainault can now turn his attention to helping push the Canucks to the next level as they will face the US June 3 in their centennial match and then face Cuba (June 8) and Honduras (June 12). Is this the time they finally break through and reach the World Cup for the first time since 1986?
“That’s the million-dollar question with Canada soccer,” Hainault said. “We’ve got to be good collectively and be a tight knit group. I always feel like we have a strong team. The quality’s there. It’s a matter of just putting it together.”
While Hainault is joining a Canada squad looking to strike up some momentum, Watson is riding a wave of it as he joins the Reggae Boyz for back-to-back friendlies against Panama before playing Guatemala (June 8) and Antigua & Barbuda (June 12). The midfielder is enjoying his best run of form in a Dynamo uniform, having received high marks since his Week 3 start against the Seattle Sounders.
“It started with that game in Seattle,” Kinnear said. “I thought he put in some good work and played pretty well and when given the chance he’s done pretty well. He provides some good mobility in there and that’s something you need.”
While Watson is off to join Jamaica, his Dynamo teammate and Jamaican captain Jermaine Taylor’s travel orders have yet to be booked. He must sit out the first qualifier, against Guatemala, due to his red card in the Gold Cup quarterfinal against the US, but he is still a possibility for the second match against Antigua & Barbuda.
Watson and Hainault will leave after Saturday’s match with the LA Galaxy (2:30 pm ET, NBCSN). They are slated to miss the June 10 match against the Vancouver Whitecaps.
Darrell Lovell covers the Houston Dynamo for MLSsoccer.com.
_________________________ "Money doesn't change men, it merely unmasks them." - Henry Ford
The Portland Timbers today announced that defender Futty Danso (The Gambia), goalkeeper Jake Gleeson (New Zealand), midfielder Lovel Palmer (Jamaica) and defender/midfielder Rodney Wallace (Costa Rica) have been called up by their respective national teams for various upcoming international matches between May 23 and June 16.
Gleeson will miss the Timbers’ exhibition match against Valencia CF tonight as well as Saturday’s match against Cascadia-rival Vancouver Whitecaps FC; he is expected to return Sunday. Palmer and Wallace leave for national team duty after the Vancouver match; neither player will miss a league match. Danso will miss one regular-season match, at the LA Galaxy on Sunday, June 17, while with The Gambia National Team.
Danso, 29, is set to join The Gambia National Team for 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Morocco on Saturday, June 2, and at Tanzania on Saturday, June 9, as well as a 2013 African Cup of Nations qualifier with Algeria on Saturday, June 16. Danso has been a part of The Gambia’s national team since 2010 and has five caps for the Scorpions. He was recently recalled for a 2013 African Cup of Nations qualifier against Algeria on Feb. 29.
Gleeson, 21, has been called up by the New Zealand National Team for a pair of U.S.-based friendlies in Texas. New Zealand faces El Salvador tonight at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston before taking on Honduras on Saturday at Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas. Gleeson, who has one cap with the senior national team, recently helped New Zealand’s U-23 National Team qualify for the 2012 London Olympics and has also represented New Zealand at the U-17 and U-20 levels.
Palmer, 27, will join the Jamaica National Team for an international friendly on Friday, June 1, against the Panama National Team in Panama City as part of home-and-home exhibitions between the two countries. Palmer has 19 international caps to his credit and has been a part of the Jamaica National Team pool since 2005, making his international debut for the Reggae Boyz at the age of 20. He was last called up by Jamaica for a friendly against Colombia on Sept. 6, 2011.
Wallace, 23, has been recalled by the Costa Rica National Team for a friendly against Guatemala on June 1, and 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against El Salvador on Friday, June 8, and Guyana on Tuesday, June 12. Wallace has five international caps and has scored two goals since making his debut for Costa Rica on Sept. 2, 2011. He started in his last appearance for Costa Rica, aiding in a 1-0 win over the Wales National Team on Feb. 29.
_________________________ "Money doesn't change men, it merely unmasks them." - Henry Ford
Blackburn’s Hoilett could add extra firepower to Boyz
BY OSHANE TOBIAS Observer writer
Monday, May 28, 2012
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THE news that negotiations are still underway to have Blackburn Rovers striker David ‘Junior’ Hoilett don the Reggae Boyz colours should be heartening for local football fans.
At 21, Hoilett, who is also eligible to play for his birth country Canada, is not yet the finished article, but one cannot overlook the fact that he is a super talent.
[Hide Description] HOILETT (left)... would be a valuable addition to Whitmore’s striker pool [Restore Description] 1/1
He was one of the few bright sparks in Blackburn’s relegation-hit English Premier League (EPL) campaign, scoring seven goals and assisting seven, while forming a decent partnership — worth more than 20 goals — with veteran Nigerian centre forward Yakubu Aiyegbeni.
So promising was Hoilett — who qualifies to play for Jamaica through his father — in the just-concluded EPL season that he has reportedly attracted interests from topflight clubs Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspurs and Sunderland, plus German giants Bayern Munich.
While his youthfulness will be as much of an interest as his ability to the likes of ‘Spurs’ and Bayern, it is his experience against top-class oppositions that would be of much help to Jamaica on the ‘Mission to Rio’ campaign.
Born in Ontario, Canada, Hoilett has actually spent most of his life outside of North America, having joined the Blackburn Rovers Academy at age 13, before moving to Central Europe at 17 on loan to German clubs SC Paderborn 07 and St Pauli for two seasons in order to boost his chances of getting a work permit in England.
Since returning to his parent club in the summer of 2009, Hoilett has been on the rise, scoring and setting up crucial goals for the Lancashire-based Blackburn in the past three seasons.
His inclusion in Jamaica’s 2014 World Cup qualification squad would give coach Theodore ‘Tappa’ Whitmore an even wider variety of attacking options. He would join the likes of Marlon King, Ricardo Fuller, Luton Shelton, Omar Cummings, Dane Richards, Ryan Johnson, and the emerging Darren Mattocks in a deep striker pool.
Hoilett’s pedigree and proven experience on the big stage would no doubt make him a favourite to nick a starting spot, therefore constantly keeping his fellow attackers on their toes.
The former St Pauli player, who it is also said is eligible to represent the USA, does not score a lot of goals, but his positioning in and around the 18-yard box makes him such a huge goal threat. He can be deployed in a number of attacking roles, which would give Whitmore a lot of security in case of injuries or lost of form to the other strikers.
For Blackburn, he is mainly used as a wide-man or a support striker for Yakubu — a partnership that could be copied by Whitmore with the bullish King in mind.
Among his seemingly special talents is his quick feet and inclination to cut-in from his favoured left flank and unleash either a curling or blistering right-footed shot from the edge of the box. Once it is on target, it is likely to cause trouble for the goalkeeper.
In one-on-one situations, he is also a gem.
“He likes playing wide, especially on the left flank when he can cut in on his right foot, but when he is playing just off the front he has got good feet, good movement and can provide service for (Yakubu) and score himself,” Blackburn manager Steve Kean told British tabloid The Sun recently.
“With seven goals and seven assists, Hoilett’s record this season is very good in contrast to (England winger) Stewart Downing, for example, who coasts £20 million and has failed to score or get an assist from the left flank for Liverpool,” wrote Just-Football.com in April.
“No player in the (EPL) has completed more dribbles per game than Hoilett who, like (Manchester United winger) Nani, is adept at running at full-backs and exploiting the space behind opposition defenders.
“Luis Suarez is probably most comfortable playing as a support striker, a position Hoilett also plays. The Canadian youngster has scored only one fewer than Suarez and has two more assists, making him more productive for Blackburn than Suarez has been for Liverpool,” the respected football website added.
However, if Hoilett’s youthful exuberance counts as one of his many assets, it is the very aspect of his game that could work against him. At times, he tends to rush attacking plays and find himself being crowded out by experienced defenders.
The one thing that could work against the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) in their bid to persuade Hoilett to join the Reggae Boyz family is his priority to establish himself as a top club player before launching an international career.
He reportedly turned down the chance to represent Canada last year, noting that he “wanted to develop his club career”.
With Blackburn now confined to second-tier football for at least one season, Hoilett and his agent, who is also his father, might just see this as the perfect opportunity to make that big move away from Ewood Park, especially with his contract set to expire in the summer.
But there is hardly any top club player who does not want to play international football, and JFF President Captain Horace Burrell will be hoping that Hoilett’s father, who it is believed hails from Ochi Rios in St Ann, can persuade his son to play for his homeland.
Any word on mcanuff? and whats up with mattocks and neita, they not invited again? I'm puzzled to the selection policy, they were called up for one match but couldn't make it and i haven't heard anything about them since.
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Never regret, If its good, its wonderful, if its bad, its an experience
