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Karl
Senior Member
USA
914 Posts |
 Posted - Jul 20 2003 : 09:46:51 AM
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Retired Football Referee.
Taken from www.jamaica-star.com
Tone down the criticism
ALTHOUGH THERE HAS been some inconsistency in the overall results, Jamaica's senior National football programme is progressing at a satisfactory rate and there is now a cadre of competent players available to the Carl Brown-led coaching staff thus ensuring competitiveness in the international game.
The policy of inviting professionals of Jamaican lineage based in Great Britain has increased the number of eligible players and competition for places has grown in intensity. The problem with this though, is that there is a reluctance o the part of the employers to release these footballers for international duty, and players tend to come under pressure from the managers, who are virtually insisting that a choice is made between club and country.
England-Born
There are now about eight England-born and based players who are now responding regularly to invitations from the Jamaica Football Federation's technical director, and with those working in the United States and a few outstanding ones playing locally one could almost say there is an embarrassment of riches.
Speaking of England-born players I find it extraordinary that the names of Paul Hall, Fitzroy Simpson and Frank Sinclair, all on the wrong side of thirty, are still part of the plans. To be absolutely fair though, this could only be possible if the young brigade is failing to impress Brown and his staff.
In any event, with the ultimate objective being qualification for the World Cup final in Germany 2006, the technical director would be well advised to focus on the development of players for the future thus having a complete break with the past and banish these aging players to the history books.
In terms of quality however, I find that apart from Darren Byfield and Richard Langley none of the others possess anything resembling the penetrative skills that the top clubs in Europe are pursuing. Still one would expect to see, when they are given the opportunity, the less talented ones justify their existence in the squad.
With local-born Ricardo Gardner, Jermaine Johnson, Onandi Lowe and Ricardo Fuller based in England as well as Keith Kelly in Belgium, Brown has options aplenty on the European side of the Atlantic.
Let us look now at some of the squad prospects based in the United States. Tyrone Marshall, Andy Williams, Wolde Harris, Damani Ralph and Chevar Thomas are currently employed in the US Major League. Ralph has improved almost beyond recognition and is now beginning to get amongst the League's leading scorers whilst Thomas has looked solid in defence especially with his aerial responsibilities.
Here in Jamaica, defender Claude Davis is a standout and has virtually improved with every game up to now. Then there is Marco McDonald, Gerald Neil, Robert Scarlett and Damian Stewart all young and showing a fair amount of promise in defense. Attacking players Fabian Taylor, Roen Nelson and Omar Daley are improving their game and it is a little surprising that all of these players have not yet been able to find work overseas so they can be adequately compensated for their skills.
Once a higher level of cohesiveness emerges then there is every possibility that defensively the squad could play well enough to deny the opposition goalscoring opportunities.
Under Pressure
Following the 1-2 loss to Cuba on Sunday last, the technical director has been coming under pressure and is being criticised for his team selection and the general performance of the squad.
There is obviously nothing wrong with being critical, but to be outright rude and disrespectful is something else and some of the so-called experts have been guilty of obnoxious behaviour.
With the squad rebounding with a 2-0 defeat of the much more accomplished Paraguay without coming out of first gear, I sincerely hope that the more strident of the critics is sufficiently chastened and will endeavour to desist from the practice of preaching so negatively and decrying the efforts of the coaching staff.
Truth be told, many of these half-witted 'experts' are pining for a foreign coach.
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Karl |
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Clifford "Cliff" Williams - Sports Journalist,
