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Charmin
Starting Member
40 Posts |
 Posted - Nov 08 2001 : 12:40:05 PM
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Jamaica will play their final World Cup qualifying game on Sunday, November the 11 against Costa Rica at the National Stadium, "The Office", in what should be an interesting encounter, with Jamaica fielding a young and inexperience team and Costa Rica, gearing up for next year's Gold Cup, will be travelling with an experience squad, minus Paulo Wanchope who plays in the English Premire League.
This final game will mark the ending of a disappointing run for the Boyz and hopefully, will signal or continue the/a new era for the Boyz.
The campaign started off on a positive note with a one nil victory over Trinidad and Tobago in Jamaica. Then came a four nil loss to the Mexicans in Mexico. This was followed by home draws. First against Honduras, 1-1.
Then a 0-0 draw agains the USA. It was then off to Trinidad and Tobago. This game the Boyz recorded their second win, but their first and only away victory of the campaign, a 2-1 win over TnT. Somewhere in the mix we also suffered a 2-1 loss to Costa Rica in Costa Rica.
This was followed by a long summer break...two months...in which the Boyz appeared to have done nothing to enhance their chance of qualifying for Japan/Korea.
In September the Mexicans came to Kingston and did the unthinkable--defeated the Boyz at the "Office", and seeminly derailed the "Orient Express". Following a 1-0 away loss to Honduras, Brasilian-born, Technical Director, Clovis de Olivera was fired and replaced by both Carl Brown and Peter Cargill. It was then off to Foxboro to engage the USA in a must win game, but it was not to be as the Boyz when down in defeat to the host, 2-1, in front of 40,000 plus.
So here we are, facing arguably our most formidable foe (One who whipped us 9-0 a few years ago), with a squadron of inexperience youngsters, and a coaching staff that is still fighting to gain the recognition, support and confidence of not only the supporters, but also the federation that hired them, the JFF.
Looking at the squad, you will quickly notice that a number of players are missing. Some were omitted in the name of development, club commitments, injuries and even one blamed a loss of interest in the national programme.
Some of the missing players are: Onandi Lowe--Kanas City (MLS). Theodore Witmore and Ian Goodison--Hull City in England. Deon Burton and Darrly Powell--Derby County in England. Micah Hide--Watford and Jaime Lawrence--Bradford City, England. Fitzroy Simpson, Paul Hall and the Bolton pair of Ricardo Gardner and Jermaine Johnson. Ricardo Fuller--Hearts, Scotlond. Also, Fabian Taylor and Omar Daley were both loaned out by their respective clubs, for a year, to the top club in Saudia-Arabia.
Making up the current squad is goalkeepers Aaron Lawrence and Donovan Ricketts. Experience defenders Linval Dixon and Christopher Dawes. The New England Revolution pair of Andy Williams and Wolde Harris. Tyrone Marhsall, Fabian Davis and Marco Mcdonald, three players who are no stranger to this level of competition, and Robert Scarlett who impressed in the last game against the USA in Boston. The other members of the squad are: Irvino English, Thomas grant, Winston Griffiths, Jermaine Hue, Leon Gordon (Gkp), Claude Davis and five U/20 players; The injured Keith Kelly, Fabian Dawkins, Shavar Thomas, Craig Gordon and Damion Williams.
Many fans, after seeing the current squad, are now engulfed with a sense of uncertainty has to what line-up to expect come Sunday, and probably to them more important, the result. The Costa Ricans should fancy their chances come Sunday, and should in fact start the game as the favorite and will be hoping to record their first ever victory over Jamaica, at this level, in Jamaica. Jamaica on the other hand will be hoping to rid themself of the demon (The inability to win at home) and put a bit of pressure on the JFF to retain the services of coach Brown and Cargill...Long shot, isn't it?
Looking at the sqaud, one will immediately notice the lack of a quality defensive midfield player. Therefore, who will harass and restrict Medford and company. The most logical choices to me is either Dawes or Marshall.
Coach Brown (Is anyone feeling Cargill in all of this? Certianly not me!) indicated that he will be going with a 4-3-3 set-up, if Keith Kelly is unable to start. I must presume then, that if Kelly starts we will see a 4-4-2 formation. To me, formatioin doesn't really matter, so long as the players understand to support each other in all areas on the field, while attacking and defending in numbers and simply playing and displaing intelligent football. The foe is indeed formidable, but now is not the time to save face. Play the youngsters and lets continue our quest to 2006, starting on November 11.
Good luck to TnT against the USA. Continue the improvements shown so far.
I think, and hope that Honduras will shock Mexico this weekend. Ultimately ending an era in Mexico's rich soccer history.
Reggaeboyz fi life!
Respect and irie ites!
Charmin
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