NO creativity in central midfield. Austin and morrison didnt do a damn thing especially morrison i cant believe morrison is being picked over Jermaine Hue... Jason Morrison is the worst Jamiacan player ever!!!!! we need to carry in more UK ballers we need more experience Jamaica nerely lost last night....
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Scrappy Boyz! Minnows hold Ja 0-0 in W'Cup qualifier
WORLD CUP QUALIFIER
IAN BURNETT with the REGGAE BOYZ in Antigua
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
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ST JOHN'S, Antigua — In a lack lustre performance, Jamaica could only eke out a point in a 0-0 stalemate against a spirited, if not talented Antigua and Barbuda aggregation here at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Grounds last night.
The point moved Jamaica to four in Group A of the semi-final phase of the CONCACAF World Cup play-offs, one ahead of the USA, who were slated to face Guatemala away in a late kick off.
Antigua and Barbuda, who were making the semi-final phase of the competition for the first time, improved to one point, with the Central Americans pointless.
When the fixtures were announced by FIFA, head coach Theodore Whitmore and his technical staff would have been looking to take maximum points away from the tiny eastern Caribbean outfit, clearly the weakest on paper, and yesterday's loss of two points could prove critical for the Reggae Boyz qualification bid for the final round which will be contested between February and October next year.
The Antiguans were the first to have a close look at Dwayne Miller's face when Lawson Robinson received a throw in behind the Jamaican defence, which was caught out, but Miller was alert off his line to smother the feeble effort from just inside the penalty area.
The Boyz responded immediately with Lovell Palmer relaying a floated pass down the right channel for the speedy Dane Richards, who held up play well before turning the ball back for Rodolph Austin to centre.
However, Ryan Johnson's firm headed contact was easily saved by a well-placed Morvin James at his near post.
At the other end, Peter Byers, who got the goal against the USA last Friday, just failed to bundle home a left-sided corner, after the all-yellowclad Antigua and Barbuda players capitalised on their superior height advantage from a deep cross.
Demar Phillips, the man who opened the scoring for Jamaica against Guatemala last Friday, worked his way into a shooting position near the break, but James got down quick enough at his near post to palm away for a corner.
And moments later, Johnson was on target once again with a header from a looping cross from Palmer, but James was there to save the day for the Eastern Caribbean side.
The ambitious Antiguans threatened again upon the resumption, forcing Phillips to scramble a grounded cross dangerously over his goal for a corner.
At the other end, Richards got the best chance of the game to put the green jersey, black shorts and green shocking-clad Boyz ahead, only to muff the chance by booting the ball high over the crossbar with only goalkeeper James to beat.
Je-Vaughn Watson, who was ineffective in the first half, cut inside his markers from the left before playing a neat pass to Johnson, who teed-up the New York Red Bull inside the area. He should have done much better.
The physically strong Antiguans always posed a threat at the other end from set pieces and on one occasion, Randolph Burton narrowly missed making contact with Tamorley Thomas’s left-sided cross deep into the Jamaican penalty box.
Then just after the hour mark, Shelton, the captain on the night, struck the right upright after Watson had again done well to weave his way into a dangerous area before rolling a cross on the penalty spot for Shelton to strike left-footed.
From the rebound which fell under Johnson’s feet, he couldn’t get the ball out quickly enough to turn into an unguarded net.
At the end, the result is probably what the Boyz deserved, as they never displayed the tenacity, urgency and hunger of a team which was desperate for three points in the land of the great West Indian cricketer and national hero, Sir Vivian Richards.
Just as I said, the Antiguans a run up dem mouth on call in programmes and the like, saying that we escape and we lucky, that THEY drop two points!
They have their tails up now. They believe that they are going to qualify for the next round. No I am not lying. They have the measure of the Boyz, the're saying.
The reality though, is that these guys don't belong on the same field as the Reggae Boyz, period!!
I have gave them my prediction, that they will pick up 4-6 in the Office. YOU HEARD IT FIRST HERE! I am looking forward to that match date.
The level of skill were evdent in the Boyz, But they wewre not consistent enough. Our urgency was not there . If we played Like we did against Guatemala, We would have walked away with three points.
The only thing that has assuaged my anger and disappointment was in learning that USA drew with Guatemala. So, now its back to square one.
I believed that Demar Philips was a littlt too casual sometimes in approaching the ball and had to make hurried clearances at the last moments.
I also believed Jason Morrison also had a good game, A few wayward passes But he was very commanding in breaking up attacks.
The players such as Khari, Omar, Jermaine and company have all be given chances and we were having these same discussions with them in the squad. Hamilton Israel saying he is not "knee jerk" but I beg to differ. There is nothing about the teams Tappa Whitmore[quote=brush] has put out in the last two years that suggest they cannot compete with the teams in CONCACAF.
This argument that we cannot compete without a midfield "maestro" is hogwash. He can compete with the players we have as long as we execute to their strengths. The "midfield maestro" argument would have merit if one can honestly say Jamaica have not been creating goalscoring chances. They created chances against Guatemala at the "Office" and though they played below par in Antigua, they created chances there also.
I pray and hope the JFF continue on with Tappa and not listen to the likes of Ric and HI. Whitmore is not the first coach to leave players out of their squad because they either can't work with the players or felt the players affected team chemistry and he won't be the last. Chances are if they replaced him with Pep, Pep would come to Jamaica and leave out some player a few would not agree with.
Y'all need to chill. Stop looking at the game from a list of names we supposedly have at our disposal. I know everyone felt Antigua would be the side that everyone would be running up the score on. However, they are proving to be a formiable opponents. If you had told some that the USA would only have beaten them by two clear goals on their home turf, y'all would have laughed. Better yet, if Jamaica had beaten Antigua by 3-1 in the Office y'all would be crying for Tappa head.
Captain, please don't do anything stupid, as is firing Tappa!!!
Brush yu-ha tek mi out-a context brethren. I wasn't saying Kari, JJ, Smith should be in the side. I was using these players for an argument as to the nonsensical way Tappa has selected the side. I'm not even much of a fan of Kari, even though he has raised his game a little and getting much playing time at San Jose, who are in second place
nevertheless I will retract statements I've made previously regarding Keamar.
My argument was why have a Keamar Daley whose confidence is shot and a inexperience RSPL player in Ewan Grandison on the team, as the only two creative midfielder besides Jason? when at least there's a Kari Stephenson, for all it's worth can give us an experience 25 minute run.
Why have Grandison & Keamar if you don't think they are capable at this time?
Show me the player for example on the USA team that Klingsman selected that is not capable of starting? there are no fillers on the USA team, they all are possible starters. Can't say that about us. Tappa not going to play Keamar & Grandison in games of this magnitude, so why have them on the team? That is wasted space. Kari is better than both of them in the same position.
You see what I'm getting at Brush. The selections must make sense.
I don't know if Tappa was poisoned by the Jamaican Brits when he was with them in '98 and after, and somehow that experience has cause him to be leery of them today I don't know.
I don't know of any coach in modern soccer, will get a list of possible creative players in his hand, a position he's weak in and doesn't do something about it. As I've often said there's 6-7 creative players in England we can use. Here they are once again, top of the list:
Jobi Mcanuff Junior Hoilett Raheem Stirling Nathan Dyer Lewis McGugam Gareth McCleary Daniel Johnson -to a lesser extent-
It's not brain surgery, all Tappa needed to have done is watch tapes of all these player, make a decision as to the ones he likes best. jump pon plane, watch dem in person, and schedule a meeting. This should have being done his first year in charge and we wouldn't have to worry about Jobi getting married this June and what have you.
Of-course Hoilett is the exception here because of the Canada situation, but there's 6 others to choose from.
I'm not saying to bring the whole Jamaican British contingent home, but we needed to have addressed our needs quickly and expeditiously. If Tappa failed to qualify us I'd say this situation in not fixing our midfield will be the calling card for that.
Originally Posted By: brush
This argument that we cannot compete without a midfield "maestro" is hogwash. He can compete with the players we have as long as we execute to their strengths. The "midfield maestro" argument would have merit if one can honestly say Jamaica have not been creating goalscoring chances. They created chances against Guatemala at the "Office" and though they played below par in Antigua, they created chances there also.
You still have issues with our argument for a creative player or two after what we saw at the GCC against the USA? Even the Panama friendly away exposes that; the friendly against HON away was another example.
I do understand that we area a different team from the '98 squad which make the Cup. Tappa & Simpson in the middle was our strength, unlike today were our focus is the flanks. today Football has changed because of
....because of Spain football. It's all about balance and hard work nowadays. You won't have success with strength in one area and weakness in others. Nowadays coaches and defenders are smart to dissect your team and take advantage of any weakness.
Against Panama in the second match they focused on Dane & Fuller the Flank players as our key attackers. They neutralized our flanks and we petered away. We had no option in the middle because Rudi and Jason don't necessarily join the attack in tight matches.
Creative players provides a third option in the attack, they hold up the ball with their guile and nuances giving others time to move into open spaces. And in that they keep the defense honest and we have a diversify attack, and possession of the ball and credible thru passes on goal.
In the Gold cup Keamar came on second half and provide another option for us with his needle passes, and of course it was one of those passes which killed HON.
....because of Spain football. It's all about balance and hard work nowadays. You won't have success with strength in one area and weakness in others. Nowadays coaches and defenders are smart to dissect your team and take advantage of any weakness.
Against Panama in the second match they focused on Dane & Fuller the Flank players as our key attackers. They neutralized our flanks and we petered away. We had no option in the middle because Rudi and Jason don't necessarily join the attack in tight matches.
Creative players provides a third option in the attack, they hold up the ball with their guile and nuances giving others time to move into open spaces. And in that they keep the defense honest and we have a diversify attack, and possession of the ball and credible thru passes on goal.
In the Gold cup Keamar came on second half and provide another option for us with his needle passes, and of course it was one of those passes which killed HON.
So Brush I hope you understand me better now.
I'm not the one calling for Tappa's head. As I've said in previous post that it would be suicide to have a coaching change at this stage of qualifying. Tappa will have the opportunity to qualify us and I'm for that.
My issues with his decision making in selection of players and position of players is my only argument with Tappa. And these decision miscues may very well end up being his downfall. My hope is if he's in any way reading our arguments from any 'ites that he would ponder these things, to the point of making changes; no one will know he got from here.
Is the team good enough to make it to the HEX, the answer is yes. To make it out of the HEX we are not good enough until we have two credible creative midfielders.
Again we have three creative midfielders, Jason, Keamar & Grandison. two of dem will not get game in any qualifiers, match is too tight for them. Why have dem on the team? idiat decision dat, done talk.
rokkstar's comments only shows his misunderstanding of the system the team is playing and Jason's role rather than a reasonable assessment of Jason's play.
RESPECTED football analyst Clyde Jureidini examines the Group A CONCACAF World Cup qualifying match between Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz and Antigua and Barbuda in an away 0-0 draw on Tuesday night. His analysis of the game focuses on the main areas of defending, possession and penetration while recapturing in details plays, tactics, statistics and highlighting special moments.
The competitive away game against a combative, confident Antigua was always expected but our experience, class and pedigree were expected to prevail in the end, but we failed to penetrate and finish.
FIRST HALF: The Antiguans started out immediately thrusting down the left flank, as Lovel Palmer stopped their progress at the corner flag, to be fouled. It was a threat of things to come as for the next 10 minutes a series of rightsided attacks aided by our errors and poor ball control.
Peter Byers was always a clear and present danger with his physical ability to outmuscle our players two or three at a time. He barged his way goalward through our defensive lines with regularity, but lacked the necessary composure to finish when alone in precious two goalscoring positions, looking eye-to-eye with goalkeeper Dwayne Miller who stared him down twice.
The combination of five midfielders high pressing our Jamaicans into discomfort on the ball, constantly fouling Rudolph Austin from initiating plays which may have affected his below average performance on free kicks, corners and passing on the seemingly narrow field and a hard surface, stuttered at the beginning as the Antiguan committed some 13 infringements by half-time.
Slow ball movement, regular turnovers by all midfield and attacking players in addition to goalkeeper Millers’ distribution did not help the team to settle down, build a rhythm or penetrate with authority in a coordinated way hence sparodic forays only from right-sided crosses from Austin and Palmer were well met by Ryan Johnson at the far post but directed straight at custodian Molvin James. Left-sided advances by Demar Phillips hitting the post and average finishes from Dane Richards and captain Luton Shelton as JeVaughn Watson was in the background. Richards searched for openings, looking more dangerous on the right.
SECOND HALF: Byers emerged as the solitary “hitman” early in the second half, when on 51 minutes he controlled well under pressure, twisted and turned Nyron Nosworthy and Jason Morrison to burst 20 yards into the area past Adrian Mariappa to cross from the left as Phillips hurriedly cleared just over his own goal, ahead of Miller. The corner that resulted again saw the ball headed down across the area to Byers at the centre to lift the ball over the goal from eight yards.
The Reggae Boyz responded with sharper, swifter and better coordination on the ball and Watson sprang to life on minute 54 down the left, he cut inside and shunt Johnson on top of the penalty area as he swayed away from two defenders to tee-up a fast-moving Dane Richards to his right, but the latter skied the shot from 15 yards to spurn what must have been Jamaica’s best opportunity to score. Johnson instinctive response of disappointment, said it all. The run of the game was now with the Boyz as probing down both flanks flowed but little penetration into the deep-seated Antiguan defensive unit until minute 64 when Watson again flirted with rightback, Quinton Griffiths before sliding inside to pass to Shelton who exploded by a group of opponents to slam a left-footed shot against the goal post, which rebounded to a surprised Johnson who could not convert under pressure.
Finally, the stabilising force of Jason Morrison was emerging into the opponents half for the first time as he was now being fouled regularly just above the half-line. Peter Byers and his partners in Thomas and Murtagh kept penetrating at the back but failed to convert twice as ground and aerial crosses went abegging as a historic victory beckoned.
Coach Theodore Whitmore rang the substitutions with three attacking changes introducing Tremaine Stewart, Errol Stevens and Ricardo Fuller, who all made an impact but not grabbing the prized “Brass-Ring” by scoring the allimportant goal. As Fuller entered the game in the 88th minute, he could have made himself a hero to finish of a 10-pass sequence, but his anxiety got the better of him as he was ruled offside as he moved early to collect Tremaine Stewart’s threaded ball inside the penalty area.
The last whistle blown, only time will tell what price we will pay, when we settled for a point and lost two to be joint zone leaders on four points from two games alongside the USA, who have a superior goal difference as Guatemala and Antigua are on one point each.
Editor’s note: Clyde Jureidini is general manager of Harbour View FC and company secretary of the Premier League Clubs Association.
Just as I said, the Antiguans a run up dem mouth on call in programmes and the like, saying that we escape and we lucky, that THEY drop two points!
They have their tails up now. They believe that they are going to qualify for the next round. No I am not lying. They have the measure of the Boyz, the're saying.
The reality though, is that these guys don't belong on the same field as the Reggae Boyz, period!!
I have gave them my prediction, that they will pick up 4-6 in the Office. YOU HEARD IT FIRST HERE! I am looking forward to that match date.
The level of skill were evdent in the Boyz, But they wewre not consistent enough. Our urgency was not there . If we played Like we did against Guatemala, We would have walked away with three points.
The only thing that has assuaged my anger and disappointment was in learning that USA drew with Guatemala. So, now its back to square one.
I believed that Demar Philips was a littlt too casual sometimes in approaching the ball and had to make hurried clearances at the last moments.
I also believed Jason Morrison also had a good game, A few wayward passes But he was very commanding in breaking up attacks.
I am vexed!
Read my first comments/analysis of this game and you will see why Demar Philips had to make hurried clearances, and was totally ineffective in this game, both in defense and attack.
A coach, any coach, cannot be a 'one-trick-pony' and Tappa, in top level, competitive matches, is appearing to be that more and more...in every single, competitive tournament in which he has coached Jamaica, except the Digicel Caribbean Cup.
He is appearing to be a Caribbean Cup level coach...and nothing more.
A coach who limits his own options is exactly that...a very limited coach...and Antigua was always going to be the side to expose Coach Whitmore's limitations; I don't think he causes Jurgen Klinnsman too many sleeplees nights...as he should be doing.
Proof of what I'm saying lies in the analysis of all the other observors, including Juerdini; all the analysis says the same thing, basically because that is the game we all observed.
Where the proof of Tappa's ineptitude lies is in the timing and use of his substitutions...I've said that even for the 5 minutes Ricardo Fuller was on the pitch, his level of play was glaringly obvious...what if he had been given, as the senior striker, the 30 or more minutes the team needed from him...and have the junior strikers, Stewart or Stevens, enter the game later, after Fuller's influence was already in effect.
There are so many of Jamaica's supporters who are determined to see Ricardo Fuller fail in a Jamaica jersey that it seems that Whitmore is intent on giving them what they wish for, rather than being the professional coach that Jamaica needs.
It is glaringly obvious to me that Fuller is just working his way into this Jamaica side and will improve continuously the more he is on the pitch and in the side.
Whitmore's lack of observing this, and many other things, could still very well prove to be Jamaica's ultimate downfall.
Whitmore first evidenced this ineptitude at last year's GC...against the first real top-quality side and test he had faced up to that point...the USA.
After getting his formation and personnell wrong to start with and being totally outplayed for 60 minutes of the match...at 10 minutes into the second half, the score was still 0-0, with a chance to influence the outcome by intelligent substitutions...
Whitmore stood on the sidelines, as if paralysed into inaction...I watched him keenly...he was mentally berift of any football solutions to the problem he and Jamaica was facing on the field...
And was only shaken out of his trance when the USA finally scored...and then chose to make the necessary substitions..way too late to save Jamaica at that stage.
Whitmore, as popular as he is, must be assessed by his performances...so far, against real competition, his recent performances asks more questions than provides adequate answers.
I'm still hoping that he can come up with the right answers against the USA on Sept.7, in Kingston.
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Sport Tappa’s letdown - Boyz coach rues result against Antigua
Thursday, June 14, 2012
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ST JOHN'S, Antigua — Head coaches Theodore Whitmore of Jamaica's Reggae Boyz and Tom Curtis of Antigua and Barbuda have expressed disappointment at the 0-0 stalemate their teams exhibited in the semi-final round of the CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying play-offs here at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Grounds on Tuesday night.
Whitmore told the media that while he was disappointed with the result, he was prepared to accept the one point gained, while young English coach Curtis rued the two points dropped because he thought his players were better for most of the game.
[Hide Description] WHITMORE... I wasn’t satisfied with the result [Restore Description] 1/2
"Well I wasn't satisfied with the result, but I guess at the end of the day you come into the game with one point and you leave with one point," Whitmore said at game's end.
Curtis said: "I suppose we are a little bit disappointed, we didn't win the game because I felt for much of the first hour we seemed to be the stronger side both physically and I suppose the football we played.
"It was a tight game though and it probably could have gone either way and luck seemed to be even on both counts. We had a number of chances and they had one or two chances as well, but overall I think we are disappointed not to have taken three points off Jamaica with all those high-quality players."
The result left the two seeded teams, Jamaica and the United States level on four points atop Group A, with Antigua and Barbuda improving to third place with one point and Guatemala at the bottom of the group with a point.
When the competition resumes on September 7, Jamaica will play host to the US in a top-of-the-table clash at Kingston's National Stadium, while Antigua and Barbuda host Guatemala in a crucial encounter for both teams.
The burly Antiguans might not have won the war, but they certainly won the physical battles and Whitmore was lavish in his praise of the eastern Caribbean side.
"I think it was a well-deserved point... they (Antigua) were not going to lay down and die, it was going to be a tough game, that was expected from them. I am pleased with the one point, I would have been more satisfied with all three points, but the game could have gone either way.
"I think the Antiguan team is a pretty decent team, they are tough to play against, especially in Antigua and any team coming here to play against Antigua is going to be in serious problems, so we were prepared for this task," he noted.
Whitmore's opposite number also lauded his team's tenacity and fearlessness against the more famous opponents. "I must pay tribute to all our players on a fantastic performance, a big, physical and mental performance from everybody and we are still in the group, that's the main thing, we are still in it.
"I think it would be difficult if Jamaica and the US were six points tonight with positive results, but we are looking forward to be really competitive down the line against Guatemala obviously."
It was a game of few chances, the best of which might have fallen to the New York Red Bull Dane Richards, who booted over the top from possibly Jamaica's best approach play all night, with goalkeeper Molvin James at his mercy.
Je-Vaughn Watson, who was ineffective in the first half, cut inside his markers from the left before playing a neat pass to Johnson, who teed up Richards inside the area, only for the diminutive player to squander the opportunity.
Still, Whitmore thought it was a good performance from his team, though they tried to avoid the middle of the pitch which carried about six rough cricket pitches which made ball movement a little difficult.
"I think it was a fairly good performance, we were organised and we kept our shape," admitted Whitmore, a former Reggae Boyz star player and the man who notched a brace in a 2-1 win over Japan at the France 1998 World Cup Finals.
"The pitch has a lot to do with it. We are used to the passing game and especially in the middle of the park it was a bit difficult to play. You can recall we made a lot of turnovers to Antigua in the middle of the field, so we had to use the wings with Dane Richards, Je-Vaughn Watson and Luton, at times," he explained.
The coach also played down the few minutes given to the Stoke City forward Ricardo Fuller and the earlier introduction of young Tremaine Stewart.
"Ricardo (Fuller) is a part of the team, so any given player at any time we feel is needed, we inject them in the game and I think at that point Ricardo was the one needed. And as I said before it is how the game progresses and at the time when we took off Luton, Tremaine (Stewart) was the one at the time to put into the team."
Meanwhile, Curtis, the 39-year-old who has been coaching the Antigua and Barbuda team for the past 14 months thought his team was positive at the end as they went in search of the winning goal.
"I think in the last 20 minutes the game was very even and could have gone either way. I thought it was important not to concede a goal and actually score a goal and I think the guys were positive and really pushed forward."
At the end the result is probably what the Boyz deserved, as they never displayed the tenacity, urgency and hunger of a team which was desperate for three points.
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Caribbean teams always play Jamaica the toughest. That was a difficult team to play against. The physical/fouling strategy worked. Should have have been moving the ball faster - one touch.
On the other side, if we had won, we would had gotten complacent for later games.
There are no easy games anymore and we are no giants in the sport.
One down side is that we do not have an away goal unlike US and Guatemala.
Lend Ric unnu ears fi a minute...Tappa went for this draw and got it...on the surface, not a particularly bad result except for a few very important issues.
PLEASE TELL MI YOU ARE JOKING.
JA rank 60 go play a non-footballing nation rank in the 100s in a qualifying match and went looking for a draw? Interesting!
Is this the same unpredictable JA that should be going after all winnable games moreso than any other team in the tournament, not knowing how the wind might blow in later games?
If JA is not looking for wins against the like of A&B who are they looking to pick up wins against?
PP, CR cannot beat this A&B side in Antigua. Lot ofof teams will Struggle down there. A draw was a reasonable result.
"I think it was a well-deserved point... they (Antigua) were not going to lay down and die, it was going to be a tough game, that was expected from them. I am pleased with the one point, I would have been more satisfied with all three points, but the game could have gone either way.
If that is the way Tappa thinks, being pleased with the one point...then Jamaica has a real problem....
Quick Burrell...find a coach who would be vexed with the one point...and the two lost...and who can do something about it... before its too late.
With that attitude, Jamaica's journey to Brazil is already in deep trouble.
TAPPARIHNO "ok team here is the plan, am gonna use two defensive midfielders and a defensive foreward, demar we know u can walk around these guys with ease so youre playing defense now just in u wingers get any smart ideas remember we are using two forewards wit no first touch so it doesnt even make sense to give them the ball, give it to austin so he can give it back to the defenders or kick it away. Jason...Jason mi a talk to yuh!!! you look like you can make a through pass so do not cross the half line....YOW YUH HEAR MI??? now remember guys this antigua team must not score and even if them score not more than 1 and if them dont score we musnt score either unoo get that DONT SCORE, WI A PLAY FI A DRAW...DONT SCORE!!!
