Tweet
Local players falling into void
published: Wednesday | April 2, 2008
ANOTHER INSTANCE of the void that exists between players juggling somewhere between the semi-professional and amateur level of the Premier League here, against professional leagues elsewhere, along with the capacity of such competitions to adequately prepare players for decent inter-national matches, occurred in the 2-2 draw with Trinidad and Tobago at the National Stadium last Wednesday.
It unfurled in such a manner that even if one had not been aware of the differences previously, the careful observer would have had little doubt noticing the greater advantages that automatically accompany professionalism and its effects - purely on the field - in relation to important things like maintaining the shape of the team to knowledge, and its usage as the game situation changes.
This is not to say, or even suggest, that such things are not coached here in the premier or lower leagues, because they are. And at the national level, Jamaica has an international coach and has had many international coaches so a lot of these strategies relating to the above would have been worked through with the players.
Additionally, there is also far greater exposure and availability of top-level football through local television and the great influx of cable so people, in general, and not only footballers, also have that channel of experience.
The important thing though is how they use it.
Take for instance the advantage earned by the Reggae Boyz at half-time in the match - 2-0. Additionally, it was one of those 2-0 margins that easily could have been a four or five because of the way the Jamaicans were thoroughly dominating the game against the youthful Trinidadians.
Substitutions
Through the course of the second half, a number of substitutions were made and with each one on the Jamaican team, its level of performance dropped because, barring striker Deon Burton who came on at the half, and midfielder Khari Stephenson at the end, the midfield virtually disappeared and play got more individualistic with the sort of totally unnecessary dribbling associated with amateurs lacking total team discipline.
Like when you watch those big international or club games in the Champions or big European and South American leagues that mainly top the offerings, what was really required with that advantage was less haste to impress, indi-vidually, and more possession, collectively, to force the opposition (Soca Warriors) to chase the game and leave themselves exposed at the back to the measured incisive and decisive sort of attacking that comes so easy in those situations.
Patrons booed the Jamaican team for losing the advantage to draw 2-2. That show of disappoint-ment was also complemented by the fact that the Trinidad and Tobago unit lacked the vast majority of its professional players and really lacked class.
Jamaica's football technical director, René Simoes, who calls the shots, got a lot of flak and took the blame for the result.
He was also heavily criticised for the heavy usage of Portmore United players - six on the night - and all four of the local-based ones were introduced in the second half. Simoes has defended his decisions on the basis of quality displayed on the team's recent development tour in Brazil, as opposed to a favouritism that grants one club greater access to international exposure and marketing players.
By way of a letter, the Brazilian stated publicly: "I will not change my way to do things because there is a perception for this or for that."
Many are not convinced and the perception will remain as long as the numbers from one club are dominant in the national team and don't seem justified based on the local talent pool.
I must point out though that this situation is not unusual for national squad, and at other levels, including all-star selections.
My biggest concern though had to do with a player who does not represent Portmore United but Reno, young O'brian Woodbine who played left back against Trinidad and Tobago. He normally plays an attacking role from midfield and did well to get one wide-open chance and create another for Burton.
However, he never showed any aptitude to adapt to the defensive responsibilities last Wednesday, which made his flank the real hunting spot and placed foray into the Jamaican defence.
Equaliser
Both goals conceded came from his side, he was late to the ball both times and actually kicked the ball out within the parameters of the 18-yard box when he could have booted it way downfield, leading to the equaliser. So, on the night, his input did more harm than good.
A better left-sided defender, Christopher Jackson, was seen warming up from a half hour into the game, presumably because Woodbine was constantly out of position and looked out of his depth. The change was never made and the team paid for it.
I hope that in future, if used, Woodbine, who obviously has a lot to learn, is put in a position that suits his attacking flair better to allow him to make a more meaningful contribution to the team.
He was part of the experimentation that has drawn much criticism. Ideally, trialling is not the sort of thing you'd want to be happening now with qualifiers barely months away, but under the circumstances - with a fairly new coach, as Simoes only began working with the majority of these players in January - players here must get their chance to show their worth in international competition and challenge for a place on the national team.
Ripe opportunity
Interestingly, in the friendly against a tougher Costa Rica team on February 6, a game that ended 1-1 at the National Stadium, three subs were used, the two local-based ones, Wolry Wolfe and Roen Nelson entering the game at the 80th and 85th minutes, respectively.
Besides Wolfe at the 85th, the other three (Duwayne Kerr 46th, Ricardo Cousins 64th, James Thomas 69th) of the four who were introduced in the second half against Trinidad and Tobago got far more playing time.
That second half against the Trinidadians was a ripe opportunity for any local-based player given the type of dominance held by the Jamaicans up to then, the talent level of Trinidad and Tobago team and the scoreline.
They muffed it, but that is the only measure of their readiness for the real thing - the upcoming World Cup qualifiers. Then, if they are not selected, one certainly cannot say they didn't get their chance as they are floating in the void between semi-professional and amateurism that does not always properly prepare players for decent international competition.
published: Wednesday | April 2, 2008
ANOTHER INSTANCE of the void that exists between players juggling somewhere between the semi-professional and amateur level of the Premier League here, against professional leagues elsewhere, along with the capacity of such competitions to adequately prepare players for decent inter-national matches, occurred in the 2-2 draw with Trinidad and Tobago at the National Stadium last Wednesday.
It unfurled in such a manner that even if one had not been aware of the differences previously, the careful observer would have had little doubt noticing the greater advantages that automatically accompany professionalism and its effects - purely on the field - in relation to important things like maintaining the shape of the team to knowledge, and its usage as the game situation changes.
This is not to say, or even suggest, that such things are not coached here in the premier or lower leagues, because they are. And at the national level, Jamaica has an international coach and has had many international coaches so a lot of these strategies relating to the above would have been worked through with the players.
Additionally, there is also far greater exposure and availability of top-level football through local television and the great influx of cable so people, in general, and not only footballers, also have that channel of experience.
The important thing though is how they use it.
Take for instance the advantage earned by the Reggae Boyz at half-time in the match - 2-0. Additionally, it was one of those 2-0 margins that easily could have been a four or five because of the way the Jamaicans were thoroughly dominating the game against the youthful Trinidadians.
Substitutions
Through the course of the second half, a number of substitutions were made and with each one on the Jamaican team, its level of performance dropped because, barring striker Deon Burton who came on at the half, and midfielder Khari Stephenson at the end, the midfield virtually disappeared and play got more individualistic with the sort of totally unnecessary dribbling associated with amateurs lacking total team discipline.
Like when you watch those big international or club games in the Champions or big European and South American leagues that mainly top the offerings, what was really required with that advantage was less haste to impress, indi-vidually, and more possession, collectively, to force the opposition (Soca Warriors) to chase the game and leave themselves exposed at the back to the measured incisive and decisive sort of attacking that comes so easy in those situations.
Patrons booed the Jamaican team for losing the advantage to draw 2-2. That show of disappoint-ment was also complemented by the fact that the Trinidad and Tobago unit lacked the vast majority of its professional players and really lacked class.
Jamaica's football technical director, René Simoes, who calls the shots, got a lot of flak and took the blame for the result.
He was also heavily criticised for the heavy usage of Portmore United players - six on the night - and all four of the local-based ones were introduced in the second half. Simoes has defended his decisions on the basis of quality displayed on the team's recent development tour in Brazil, as opposed to a favouritism that grants one club greater access to international exposure and marketing players.
By way of a letter, the Brazilian stated publicly: "I will not change my way to do things because there is a perception for this or for that."
Many are not convinced and the perception will remain as long as the numbers from one club are dominant in the national team and don't seem justified based on the local talent pool.
I must point out though that this situation is not unusual for national squad, and at other levels, including all-star selections.
My biggest concern though had to do with a player who does not represent Portmore United but Reno, young O'brian Woodbine who played left back against Trinidad and Tobago. He normally plays an attacking role from midfield and did well to get one wide-open chance and create another for Burton.
However, he never showed any aptitude to adapt to the defensive responsibilities last Wednesday, which made his flank the real hunting spot and placed foray into the Jamaican defence.
Equaliser
Both goals conceded came from his side, he was late to the ball both times and actually kicked the ball out within the parameters of the 18-yard box when he could have booted it way downfield, leading to the equaliser. So, on the night, his input did more harm than good.
A better left-sided defender, Christopher Jackson, was seen warming up from a half hour into the game, presumably because Woodbine was constantly out of position and looked out of his depth. The change was never made and the team paid for it.
I hope that in future, if used, Woodbine, who obviously has a lot to learn, is put in a position that suits his attacking flair better to allow him to make a more meaningful contribution to the team.
He was part of the experimentation that has drawn much criticism. Ideally, trialling is not the sort of thing you'd want to be happening now with qualifiers barely months away, but under the circumstances - with a fairly new coach, as Simoes only began working with the majority of these players in January - players here must get their chance to show their worth in international competition and challenge for a place on the national team.
Ripe opportunity
Interestingly, in the friendly against a tougher Costa Rica team on February 6, a game that ended 1-1 at the National Stadium, three subs were used, the two local-based ones, Wolry Wolfe and Roen Nelson entering the game at the 80th and 85th minutes, respectively.
Besides Wolfe at the 85th, the other three (Duwayne Kerr 46th, Ricardo Cousins 64th, James Thomas 69th) of the four who were introduced in the second half against Trinidad and Tobago got far more playing time.
That second half against the Trinidadians was a ripe opportunity for any local-based player given the type of dominance held by the Jamaicans up to then, the talent level of Trinidad and Tobago team and the scoreline.
They muffed it, but that is the only measure of their readiness for the real thing - the upcoming World Cup qualifiers. Then, if they are not selected, one certainly cannot say they didn't get their chance as they are floating in the void between semi-professional and amateurism that does not always properly prepare players for decent international competition.
Comment