Game Plan & Strategy

I am very disappointed that the structure we used against USA was abandoned. It appears that having gone behind early we panicked and instead of playing our usual game we started booting the ball from our defensive third into Panama’s defensive third using our midfielders as a net in a game of ‘foot’ volleyball. It is interesting that this was Panama’s active game plan. They kept one player somewhere in the middle of the field, boot the ball from the eighteen in his direction and hope that he would head it on to their pacy forward to out run our moderately slow defenders. Instead of identifying a strategy to deal with this we opted to copy their game plan and looked very vulnerable for long stretches. In the instances when we reverted to our normal plays we looked in charged and seemed almost unstoppable. Was this of Lazaroni’s design or did the boyz loose their focus.I am curious to know, did we do any scouting of the Panamanian team? It appears to me that their game kinda surprised us. Notwithstanding this we had the skill to break down Panama’s defense and having done so refused to put the ball in the back of the net … was there some cosmic forces at play? If we are going to be serious contenders, we will need at least one player with the ‘what’s it take’ to put the ball in the net. I can hear some of brethren them screaming ‘ leggo di pearl’ while I am silently whispering oh! for a Nandi.

Ratings

It is very difficult for me to attempt a player-by-player rating as I am still deeply buried in the pits of disappointment and may be unfairly harsh. I think it is fair to say Bibi was having a scorcher of a game before being switched to the left back. I thought Ralph & JJ brought some good energy. Fuller was dangerous but really should have converted at least one chance. Marlon King I believe is facing a serious hiccup, if something isn’t done to motivate him, he may loose his predator features and become as harmless as a dove. I think the lack of first team football at his club maybe contributing to him appearing ‘flat’. Tappa disappeared on me again, just at the point I was reexamining my theory on these aging ballers. Folks I think it is unmistakably clear Keith Kelly must be in the squad for El Salvador. We are still in urgent need for one right back and two good center halves with good pace (1 just in case of injury). I want to seriously recommend that we start with Fuller, Ralph & King for the El Salvador game. KK, Bibi, & Hyde in the middle. Marshall, Claude, Reid & Jamie Lawrence or Langley (right wing back). JJ , Tappa & Andy will be my possible substitutes. We have to make a statement with this game.

Substitutions.

I think Laza erred again with his substitutions in this game. I felt notwithstanding the challenge of losing Pepe, He really should not have pulled Garfield Reid. Reid presented more of an offensive option than Fabian. This situation did call for some out of the box thinking, which he eventually resorted to by putting in Andy for Fabian. This is what I would have done. I would send Hyde to the right wingback; install Ralph for Tappa (just behind the two forwards) Instal JJ for King. Don’t know if the results would have been different but I thought that would have been a better shot.

What of the future?

This kind of situation is a serious test of character does these guys have it? What of Laza can he provide the motivation? This too is a serious test of his capabilities as coach, you see coaching is more than providing strategy; it is providing the strategy and motivating the players to want to do it.

What of the waggonists?

Is this that time to make the call … ‘one stop driver’ or will you unflinchingly hang in there. If you will hang in there, I invite you to join mi and mi brethren in El Salvador as we help the boyz to recognize that … ‘ the brave may fall BUT never yields’. Okay purple hearts … if nothing else uunu have a damn good motto.

I think CC says it better..."Learn or Leave"......simple but effective....Run wey the tuff head player dem!!

Take care of the simple things and the game becomes easy!!

Ricketts

F Davis,C Davis, Marshall and Reid

Lawrence Williams.

Fuller Ralph King Gardener...

My team...

Yes, the replay is available free on demand. Press TV Mode for grainier full screen or watch the small screen version. I have not watche dthe full game but couldn't help but noticing a classic tactical mistake on their first goal -- the defence set up for a half line freekick close to the six-yard box where the goalkeeper has no time to react to deflections or a snap header. I always coach my defence to set up for those kicks as high up as possible -- usually the 18-yard box for easy reference with the main defender having instructions to run back as the ball is kicked. A couple of fake run outs before the kick are also advisable to freeze the forwards. Brown's header came of the side/back of his head and was not directed. However, he was so close to the goal Ricketts had no time to react.
I also was shocked by some of our misses. In the first minute, Fuller dismissed his marker on the goal line and sent a nice curling cross to the far post that eluded bot King and Bibi. Tappa also saladed a player to get into the 18-yard box only to see Claude and another couple players miss impossibly. Fuller and Bibi had another bunch of howlers.

On their last goal, it was clear that the Andy for Fabulous sub -- while helping out on offence -- was the main factor as Andy was so late coming back, the scorer ran into him on his way back upfield to celebrate. Andy for Tappa would have been the inspired change as Fabulous was also whipping in some nice crosses and up the line passes.

I also would have worked out a better arrangement than the Reid substitution. Dropping Bibi back was a major loss on the attacking left flnk. I am less clear on an alternative there but sacrificing King Early (based on how he was playing at the time and pushing Bibi higher up may have been the way to go.

Spilt milk?