| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Karl |
Posted - Jun 05 2006 : 5:51:29 PM
JAMAICA'S SENIOR FOOTBALLERS ended a disastrous two-match tour of England over the weekend, losing big, first to Ghana and then England. Below are the grades for the tests against two World Cup-bound teams:
GOALKEEPER: While captain Donovan Ricketts struggled in the first match, except for a wild challenge way out of his net on Michael Owen's breakaway, he could hardly be blamed for the flood of goals against England. Yet, with his height, more command in the penalty box is expected, along with better technique handling straight-forward balls. Conceding six goals in 90 minutes is a lot, especially after giving up four less than a week before.
GRADE D
DEFENCE: It is tricky to praise this unit after 10 goals conceded in two games, but Omar Daley, Damion Stewart, Claude Davis and Garfield Reid, stuck to the task well against England. Daley's reliance on the same predictable dribbling moves and his occasional, rash challenges must be addressed. Reid's shooting consistency must also improve, along with the tactical awareness of Davis and Stewart. All worked hard, especially against the special challenge of 6' 7" Peter Crouch, the unpredictable Owen, and set plays engineered by David Beckham. Still, four at the back continues to expose Jamaica against quality attackers. The players now available cannot, by themselves, cope against thinking, quick-moving and skilful teams, especially with the poor support they get from midfield.
GRADE D
MIDFIELD: Quick and confident Jamal Campbell-Ryce was the lone bright spot over two games, fearlessly attacking both Ghana and England. Jason Euell improved after a sub-par first game, while Jermaine Hue showed against England what professional maturity can do when matched with special talent. Defensively, this unit is poor. The biggest concern is the central role where Jamaica appear lost for answers. Too passive Khari Stephenson did not command respect against Ghana and lost his place against England. Replacement Jermaine Taylor was ineffective and gone by halftime. The marking is way too loose and toughness, tactical discipline and overall composure with the ball are sorely lacking.
GRADE E
FORWARDS: Marlon King's dismissal hurt Jamaica against England as solid goal scoring chances were squandered. One goal in two games is below par. Speed alone will not help Luton Shelton much at this level. Ricardo Fuller showed flashes of what he can do with a super first-half effort that left Frank Lampard for dead, but his shot just missed. Teafore Bennett could use more time on the field and, at this point, so too Deon Burton. But, generally, this unit suffers from poor passing service. Way too many balls came in high against England's big and powerful central defenders. That will not do.
GRADE D
COACHING/ADMINISTRATION: At least Jamaica got to Old Trafford early on Saturday. No one realistically expected the Boyz to win against England, but questions must be raised about team selection and overall strategy. The 4-4-2 formation does not work with the quality available. Also, if Campbell-Ryce's pace and guile were causing so many problems for England, why wasn't Jermaine Johnson, who has succeeded against players of England's level with similar skills, joining the attack earlier? The troubles in midfield against Ghana were not adequately addressed versus England, although half-time adjustments eased the pressure slightly. With the King disciplinary embarrassment added to the on-the-field woes, it's soul-searching time for Jamaica's leadership.
GRADE E.
- Gordon Williams
Source: Jamaica Star, June 5, 2006 |
| 1 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Karl |
Posted - Jun 06 2006 : 07:45:51 AM
FROM THE BOUNDARY - Mismatch in Manchester
published: Tuesday | June 6, 2006
Tony Becca
WHEN I was a boy and even when I was much older, I never ever did believe or even dreamt that one day Jamaica and England would have been on the same football pitch.
In those days, players from the 'Mother' country, players like Stan Matthews, Tommy Lawton, Nat Lofthouse, Stan Mortensen and Billy Wright, and later on as I grew older, others like Bobby Moore, Bobby Charlton, Jack Charlton and goalkeeper Gordon Banks were men to idolise - little gods from a land far away.
Times have changed, however, and on Saturday Jamaica, little Jamaica who had made it to the world stage, to the World Cup Finals in 1998, went to Old Trafford in Manchester to take on not only England but the best of England.
Despite the odds against them even scoring a goal Jamaicans, many of them, and especially so those residing in Britain, entertained thoughts of an upset - of a draw, probably even of a victory that would announce their arrival to the world.
That, however, was wishful thinking and the result was a mismatch.
For 90 minutes, it was like boys up against men as the Jamaicans - all of them but for goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts who spent his time picking the ball out of his goal, running around Old Trafford chasing shadows.
DIFFERENCE IN CLASS
In a wonderful display which underlined the difference in class between the two teams, England scored four goals in the first half, two in the second after missing a penalty and taking their foot off the pedal and with Jamaica failing to even get a good look at goalkeepers Paul Robinson and David James, with Jamaica's moments of aggression limited to a few long distance shots by Jason Euell, Luton Shelton, Ricardo Fuller, Jermaine Hue and Garfield Reid, eased to a comfortable 6-0 victory.
Although the margin of defeat could have been worse - and especially so with their defenders so weak, there are some Jamaicans who believe that Jamaica, with Marlon King and Ricardo Gardner in the line-up, could have done better.
That, however, must also be wishful thinking.
King or no King, Gardner or no Gardner Jamaica, who, with four teams qualifying from their group failed to qualify for the World Cup, Jamaica, who lost 5-0 to Australia and 4-1 to Ghana, did not have the chance of a snowball in hell against a team like England.
It is a team with a rich history in the game, a team that has won the World Cup, a team that has since been to the semi-finals, a team that last time around lost to eventual champions Brazil, a team that in David Beckham, Frank Lampard, Wayne Rooney (even though he was absent), Michael Owen, Steven Gerrard, Joe Cole, John Terry, Ashley Cole and Rio Ferdinand possesses some of the finest players in the world, and a team that is one of the five or six favourites to win the Cup.
BEST IN WORLD
Lest it be forgotten by those who believe that Jamaica had a chance to embarrass England by even scoring a goal or two against them, and by those who are now strongly criticising the players, the English League is one of if not the best in world.
While the Jamaica team comprises mostly home grown players, players from the USA and players from the lower leagues in English football, the players in the England team, almost to a man, come from the richest and leading clubs in the Premier League - from Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspurs.
Lest it be forgotten also, English football, which is supported by full houses every day of play, by sponsors who align themselves with all the teams and by money from television rights, is richer, much richer than Jamaica's football and because of that, or mainly because of that, there is no comparison between the organisation and the professionalism of English football and Jamaica's football.
On top of that, with the English leagues so rich and so strong, many of the world's best players appear in them and because of that, the English footballer is more exposed, much more exposed and more experienced, much more experienced, than the Jamaican.
England versus Jamaica in a football match and before a full house in England at that? That was great.
It was, however, not an earned match-up. It was a friendly and because of the difference between football in England and football in Jamaica, neither the performance of Jamaica nor the score line was surprising - certainly not to me.
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