Tweet
published: Thursday | January 17, 2008
René Simoes is well and truly here and has already started working. Now, I'm one of those persons who held the opinion that the revered coach should not have been here, especially since it was at the expense of a coach, I thought, wasn't given a fair run at the job.
Not long after arriving in the island, Simoes told Jamaica, there was more to work with here than was available to him during his 1998 campaign.
I agree with him, I don't think he should have said it, though. Guess what? Now Simoes will be judged even more harshly because he has admitted to having it easier this time around.
Programme in context
Before the public starts looking at it like that, though, let me put the national programme in context.
Simoes has six months to prepare for the start of the qualifiers. He had more time the last time out. He also has a team that has not played any serious football.
The Gold Cup was a big miss for the Jamaican team. I was watching replays of it just the other day and a team like Panama (who had no trouble getting by us last time) has improved by leaps and bounds and has benefited from playing in that competition.
The only upside to Jamaica's relative inactivity is the fact that, for the first time, the team is an unknown quantity.
The kind of pace and quality in the Jamaican attack is something that has not yet been seen and will take some getting used to.
When we play those teams that are used to our knocking the ball around at the back and slowing down the pace of the game to a comfortable level before we attack, they'll be in for a surprise.
The problem, though, is the fact that the team is an unknown quantity for Simoes as well. It will take some time for him to formulate a plan regarding just how best to use the assets of the team. This includes, which players to pick, which formation to use and the best ways for this team to adapt to playing against the different styles in the CONCACAF region.
This will take time, and so the six months that I speak of before the qualifiers begin is even shorter than you would imagine.
Bad change
The number of practice games we have are still unsure and though Captain Horace Burrell, the Jamaica Football Federation president wants one for every FIFA date, the quality of opposition might not prepare us properly for the road ahead.
Jamaica will play against Costa Rica in February and this will give us a good idea regarding where we stand at this point.
After that, the programme needs to go into high gear and I am not sure if Simoes, or any other coach, would or could be ready to do that by next month.
The change in coach at such a belated stage was a bad idea. Simoes took us from the doldrums and, most certainly, improved our football but I think recalling him was a step back.
I am not saying this because I think Simoes isn't a good coach, but because he has been placed in a situation in which any coach might falter.
Just as I thought Velibor 'Bora' Milutinovic wasn't given a fair run, I don't think Simoes is being given a fair one either and I wouldn't have taken the job if I were him.
The prognosis, I think, is that Jamaica's road to the World Cup is going nowhere fast, but the talent that this team has might be able to create another miracle.
If Simoes manages to take Jamaica to Africa, he would have elevated himself in Lord of the Rings' Gandalf-like proportions from 'Simoes the Grey' to 'Simoes the White' and create the stuff legends are made of.
Paul-Andre.Walker@gleanerjm.com
René Simoes is well and truly here and has already started working. Now, I'm one of those persons who held the opinion that the revered coach should not have been here, especially since it was at the expense of a coach, I thought, wasn't given a fair run at the job.
Not long after arriving in the island, Simoes told Jamaica, there was more to work with here than was available to him during his 1998 campaign.
I agree with him, I don't think he should have said it, though. Guess what? Now Simoes will be judged even more harshly because he has admitted to having it easier this time around.
Programme in context
Before the public starts looking at it like that, though, let me put the national programme in context.
Simoes has six months to prepare for the start of the qualifiers. He had more time the last time out. He also has a team that has not played any serious football.
The Gold Cup was a big miss for the Jamaican team. I was watching replays of it just the other day and a team like Panama (who had no trouble getting by us last time) has improved by leaps and bounds and has benefited from playing in that competition.
The only upside to Jamaica's relative inactivity is the fact that, for the first time, the team is an unknown quantity.
The kind of pace and quality in the Jamaican attack is something that has not yet been seen and will take some getting used to.
When we play those teams that are used to our knocking the ball around at the back and slowing down the pace of the game to a comfortable level before we attack, they'll be in for a surprise.
The problem, though, is the fact that the team is an unknown quantity for Simoes as well. It will take some time for him to formulate a plan regarding just how best to use the assets of the team. This includes, which players to pick, which formation to use and the best ways for this team to adapt to playing against the different styles in the CONCACAF region.
This will take time, and so the six months that I speak of before the qualifiers begin is even shorter than you would imagine.
Bad change
The number of practice games we have are still unsure and though Captain Horace Burrell, the Jamaica Football Federation president wants one for every FIFA date, the quality of opposition might not prepare us properly for the road ahead.
Jamaica will play against Costa Rica in February and this will give us a good idea regarding where we stand at this point.
After that, the programme needs to go into high gear and I am not sure if Simoes, or any other coach, would or could be ready to do that by next month.
The change in coach at such a belated stage was a bad idea. Simoes took us from the doldrums and, most certainly, improved our football but I think recalling him was a step back.
I am not saying this because I think Simoes isn't a good coach, but because he has been placed in a situation in which any coach might falter.
Just as I thought Velibor 'Bora' Milutinovic wasn't given a fair run, I don't think Simoes is being given a fair one either and I wouldn't have taken the job if I were him.
The prognosis, I think, is that Jamaica's road to the World Cup is going nowhere fast, but the talent that this team has might be able to create another miracle.
If Simoes manages to take Jamaica to Africa, he would have elevated himself in Lord of the Rings' Gandalf-like proportions from 'Simoes the Grey' to 'Simoes the White' and create the stuff legends are made of.
Paul-Andre.Walker@gleanerjm.com
Comment