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Simoes has a healthy problem ... too many choices
published: Saturday | May 31, 2008
Nodley Wright, Freelance Writer
Simoes
Technical director René Simoes was visibly pleased at the end of Thursday's training session at the Braco Resorts in Trelawny, despite the fact that he could have a very big problem when it is time to trim his squad.
The training session was intense: almost all the players giving everything. The only player who appeared to be holding back was Luton Shelton, who was limited by back pain.
Ricardo Gardner looked back to his best, Ian Goodison looked in his best condition for about five years, Jamal Campbell-Ryce looked like a team player, but those who really caught the eye were Deon Burton and schoolboy Evan Taylor.
'Have quality here'
"Yes, yes that is true," Simoes said after the training in response to the question about the difficulty in trimming his squad.
"Even this boy, Evan Taylor, you saw the practice today - the guy, it is amazing. He looks so comfortable inside of this squad with overseas-based players and all. I like players like that. I keep saying that we have quality here in Jamaica and I tell you there is another one who plays Under-20 who should be here. I have to look very, very seriously at them and that is good," said Simoes, hinting that Taylor, if he continues, could force himself into the World Cup squad.
Highly-motivated team
The man who guided the country to its historic qualification for the 1998 World Cup in France also highlighted the attitude and effort of some of the older players.
"Burton was very good, but not only him. You look at Ian Goodison at 35 years of age - he looks very good. It is a matter of inside. Your energy is not outside, it is when you can touch deep inside and motivate the guy.
"I think he is highly motivated now. I think the entire team is highly motivated. Marlon King did a wonderful job as well, Ricardo Fuller, Ricardo Gardner, it is amazing what these guys do," he gushed.
The first time invitees Simon Ford and Lee Williamson, as well as the returnee Richard Langley more than held their own, but could have been affected by the field which, as Simoes pointed out, could be a challenge for those who ply their trade in England and Scotland.
"The place here is paradise, but the football field will be. We will make it that. For Jamaica the level of the field is good but for those who have played in a different environment like England, Scotland and so on the level of the field is not perfect so they will take time to get used to it," he said.
Satisfied with effort
That aside, Simoes was more than satisfied with the effort, and the difficult position his players were putting him.
"I am quite satisfied with the effort that the players put out in training. This presents the kind of problem I like to have so when we have trouble to pick the team. The real problem is when you have no options. Now we have a lot of them, but this word is very difficult to use in football. But at the end of the line (it's) how to make marriage between them work," he said, before rephrasing his statement showing a clear understanding of some of the country's social norms.
"In other words the chemistry," he said with a laugh before adding, "chemistry is the right word to say here as to say make a marriage between players does sound wrong. But really what it means is that you take the weakness from one and the strength from another and you blend it. It is good. We are pretty confident about what they are doing. Let us see if they keep doing it."
Nodley Wright, Freelance Writer
Simoes
Technical director René Simoes was visibly pleased at the end of Thursday's training session at the Braco Resorts in Trelawny, despite the fact that he could have a very big problem when it is time to trim his squad.
The training session was intense: almost all the players giving everything. The only player who appeared to be holding back was Luton Shelton, who was limited by back pain.
Ricardo Gardner looked back to his best, Ian Goodison looked in his best condition for about five years, Jamal Campbell-Ryce looked like a team player, but those who really caught the eye were Deon Burton and schoolboy Evan Taylor.
'Have quality here'
"Yes, yes that is true," Simoes said after the training in response to the question about the difficulty in trimming his squad.
"Even this boy, Evan Taylor, you saw the practice today - the guy, it is amazing. He looks so comfortable inside of this squad with overseas-based players and all. I like players like that. I keep saying that we have quality here in Jamaica and I tell you there is another one who plays Under-20 who should be here. I have to look very, very seriously at them and that is good," said Simoes, hinting that Taylor, if he continues, could force himself into the World Cup squad.
Highly-motivated team
The man who guided the country to its historic qualification for the 1998 World Cup in France also highlighted the attitude and effort of some of the older players.
"Burton was very good, but not only him. You look at Ian Goodison at 35 years of age - he looks very good. It is a matter of inside. Your energy is not outside, it is when you can touch deep inside and motivate the guy.
"I think he is highly motivated now. I think the entire team is highly motivated. Marlon King did a wonderful job as well, Ricardo Fuller, Ricardo Gardner, it is amazing what these guys do," he gushed.
The first time invitees Simon Ford and Lee Williamson, as well as the returnee Richard Langley more than held their own, but could have been affected by the field which, as Simoes pointed out, could be a challenge for those who ply their trade in England and Scotland.
"The place here is paradise, but the football field will be. We will make it that. For Jamaica the level of the field is good but for those who have played in a different environment like England, Scotland and so on the level of the field is not perfect so they will take time to get used to it," he said.
Satisfied with effort
That aside, Simoes was more than satisfied with the effort, and the difficult position his players were putting him.
"I am quite satisfied with the effort that the players put out in training. This presents the kind of problem I like to have so when we have trouble to pick the team. The real problem is when you have no options. Now we have a lot of them, but this word is very difficult to use in football. But at the end of the line (it's) how to make marriage between them work," he said, before rephrasing his statement showing a clear understanding of some of the country's social norms.
"In other words the chemistry," he said with a laugh before adding, "chemistry is the right word to say here as to say make a marriage between players does sound wrong. But really what it means is that you take the weakness from one and the strength from another and you blend it. It is good. We are pretty confident about what they are doing. Let us see if they keep doing it."
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