Audley a read the forum?

[Assasin]

Reggae Boyz wishing for a stroke of magic
published: Thursday | June 26, 2008


PICTURE JAMAICA in any of these third-round CONCACAF World Cup-qualifying semi-final groupings: One - Cuba, Guatemala, Trinidad and Tobago and the United States; or Three - Costa Rica, Haiti, El Salvador and Suriname.
With two countries certain to advance to the six-team finals, I'm sure you'd bet your money on the Reggae Boyz taking one of those. A cinch; a sure goal.
But alas! That's only a wish.

As it now stands, the Reggae Boyz will have to play like mad to escape from their 'Group of Death', which also includes confed powerhouse Mexico, sticky Honduras and Canada, a team that has been playing some good ball for the past year or more.

At a glance
Jamaica will kick off in an away fixture against the Canadians on August 20, host Mexico on September 6, visit Honduras for a September 10 tie, journey to Mexico on October 11, then host Honduras on October 15 and Canada on November 19.

At a glance, the semi-final stage for Jamaica shapes up as being harder than the final task of qualifying from the ultimate leg of qualifiers that will involve six nations. From that, there will be three automatic qualifiers to South Africa 2010, plus the fourth-place team gets a chance of qualifying in a straight one-on-one match-up, home and away, against the fifth-place team from South America.

While the fixtures are quite difficult, the schedule appears helpful, especially as it relates to the the last two matches, right at the crunch - in 'The Office'.

Hard work will be needed
Based on the form of the Boyz, and the form and quality of the opposition, there's every indication that some hard work will be needed at that crucial juncture. Quite frankly, there's no better place to face the challenge than in the comfort of home, with thousands of helping hands (voices really), from the 12th man in the stands, to lighten the load.

Mexico have habitually claimed a CONCACAF ticket to the World Cup Finals. It's good to be facing them quite early, too, in the second match of the qualifiers when they won't be at full throttle.

They should certainly be the strongest opponent, but they, like the others, are beatable in 'The Office'. To do that though, the Boyz will have to lift their game well above the level that they have played at home this year. And most important, they must hold on to those leads. Remember Trinidad, and Tobago, when Jamaica led 2-0 at the half, only to end up drawing the tie?

Then there was Costa Rica, when Tyrone Marshall popped up to find a last-minute equaliser.

Forget about the World Cup qualifying fixtures against little soft Bahamas at home, elimination matches that were really prep matches for this, the real thing.

The Boyz have just not been good at taking care of business at home.
In such a competitive group, getting the Big W - that brings those juicy three points - at home is going to be crucial.

Second-round result
Check these second-round results: At Belize City - Belize 0 Mexico 2; at Monterrey, Mexico - Mexico 7 Belize 0; at Kingstown, St Vincent - St Vincent and The Grenadines 0 Canada 3; at Montreal, Canada - Canada 4 St Vincent and the Grenadines 1; at San Pedro Sula, Honduras - Honduras 4 Puerto Rico 0; at Bayamon, Puerto Rico - Puerto Rico 2 Honduras 2.

Jamaica walloped St Vincent and the Grenadines 5-1, recently. we know what they are like. Puerto Rico and Belize are certainly not in the class of the Boyz, either, and, though it is not safe to make judgements on the virtue of head-to-head results, one thing is clear.
Based on quality and experience, the Reggae Boyz measure up favourably against the teams in this semi-final group. They may face a tougher time in Honduras than in Canada, mainly because of the Central American football culture that can make life very uncomfortable both on and off the pitch.

When Jamaica survived with a final-round goalless draw on their World Cup outing on the road to France, the Boyz endured a sleepless night ahead of the fixture through drum-beating locals camped on their hotel doorstep in San Pedro Sula.

And Canada, in August when it's warm and with a large Jamaican population there and next door in the United States, Jamaica could get support equivalent to a home game.

Outside factors don't look so bad now after all. But the Boyz need some real fine-tuning and they will not have much time to work together at getting it right.

Let's wish that through some stroke of magic, they will blend the sufficient talent well enough to capitalise on those ripe advantages and make the top two of what appears a disadvantageous fall into the 'Group of Death'.

Feedback: audley.boyd@gleanerjm.com.

[Assasin]

Quote

Let's wish that through some stroke of magic, they will blend the sufficient talent well enough to capitalise on those ripe advantages and make the top two of what appears a disadvantageous fall into the 'Group of Death'.

[Farmah]

After Audley nuh fool !! He, like most Jamaican sports writers, is well aware that the forum is a hotbed of good information regarding the ReggaeBoyz. I knew for a long time that some of our players and relatives of players do visit this site whenever possible. That's why it is important that while we exercise free speech in criticising our players, administrators and coaches, it is also imperative that we utilise a modicum of respect in lambasting them. Afterall, we have to take care not to insult the sensibilities of these players who attempt to make us, themselves and the country proud!

So Sass, it seems like Audley agrees with you that Mexico: Ripe for a beating in The Office.

[OJ]

Reggae Boyz wishing for a stroke of magic
published: Thursday | June 26, 2008


PICTURE JAMAICA in any of these third-round CONCACAF World Cup-qualifying semi-final groupings: One - Cuba, Guatemala, Trinidad and Tobago and the United States; or Three - Costa Rica, Haiti, El Salvador and Suriname.
With two countries certain to advance to the six-team finals, I'm sure you'd bet your money on the Reggae Boyz taking one of those. A cinch; a sure goal.
But alas! That's only a wish.

As it now stands, the Reggae Boyz will have to play like mad to escape from their 'Group of Death', which also includes confed powerhouse Mexico, sticky Honduras and Canada, a team that has been playing some good ball for the past year or more.

At a glance
Jamaica will kick off in an away fixture against the Canadians on August 20, host Mexico on September 6, visit Honduras for a September 10 tie, journey to Mexico on October 11, then host Honduras on October 15 and Canada on November 19.

At a glance, the semi-final stage for Jamaica shapes up as being harder than the final task of qualifying from the ultimate leg of qualifiers that will involve six nations. From that, there will be three automatic qualifiers to South Africa 2010, plus the fourth-place team gets a chance of qualifying in a straight one-on-one match-up, home and away, against the fifth-place team from South America.

While the fixtures are quite difficult, the schedule appears helpful, especially as it relates to the the last two matches, right at the crunch - in 'The Office'.

Hard work will be needed
Based on the form of the Boyz, and the form and quality of the opposition, there's every indication that some hard work will be needed at that crucial juncture. Quite frankly, there's no better place to face the challenge than in the comfort of home, with thousands of helping hands (voices really), from the 12th man in the stands, to lighten the load.

Mexico have habitually claimed a CONCACAF ticket to the World Cup Finals. It's good to be facing them quite early, too, in the second match of the qualifiers when they won't be at full throttle.

They should certainly be the strongest opponent, but they, like the others, are beatable in 'The Office'. To do that though, the Boyz will have to lift their game well above the level that they have played at home this year. And most important, they must hold on to those leads. Remember Trinidad, and Tobago, when Jamaica led 2-0 at the half, only to end up drawing the tie?

Then there was Costa Rica, when Tyrone Marshall popped up to find a last-minute equaliser.

Forget about the World Cup qualifying fixtures against little soft Bahamas at home, elimination matches that were really prep matches for this, the real thing.

The Boyz have just not been good at taking care of business at home.
In such a competitive group, getting the Big W - that brings those juicy three points - at home is going to be crucial.

Second-round result
Check these second-round results: At Belize City - Belize 0 Mexico 2; at Monterrey, Mexico - Mexico 7 Belize 0; at Kingstown, St Vincent - St Vincent and The Grenadines 0 Canada 3; at Montreal, Canada - Canada 4 St Vincent and the Grenadines 1; at San Pedro Sula, Honduras - Honduras 4 Puerto Rico 0; at Bayamon, Puerto Rico - Puerto Rico 2 Honduras 2.

Jamaica walloped St Vincent and the Grenadines 5-1, recently. we know what they are like. Puerto Rico and Belize are certainly not in the class of the Boyz, either, and, though it is not safe to make judgements on the virtue of head-to-head results, one thing is clear.
Based on quality and experience, the Reggae Boyz measure up favourably against the teams in this semi-final group. They may face a tougher time in Honduras than in Canada, mainly because of the Central American football culture that can make life very uncomfortable both on and off the pitch.

When Jamaica survived with a final-round goalless draw on their World Cup outing on the road to France, the Boyz endured a sleepless night ahead of the fixture through drum-beating locals camped on their hotel doorstep in San Pedro Sula.

And Canada, in August when it's warm and with a large Jamaican population there and next door in the United States, Jamaica could get support equivalent to a home game.

Outside factors don't look so bad now after all. But the Boyz need some real fine-tuning and they will not have much time to work together at getting it right.

Let's wish that through some stroke of magic, they will blend the sufficient talent well enough to capitalise on those ripe advantages and make the top two of what appears a disadvantageous fall into the 'Group of Death'.

Feedback: audley.boyd@gleanerjm.com.

And Canada, in August when it's warm and with a large Jamaican population there and next door in the United States, Jamaica could get support equivalent to a home game.

We will have to come up with smart ways to get tickets as they will restrict it.

[Farmah]

RE: "...Jamaica could get support equivalent to a home game."

I'm sceptic about the above. It would appear to me that the vast majority of Jamaicans do love football, love to hear that the program is on the ups, and are euphoric whenever we win. However, I'm still not convinced that as a people we have bought into the culture of attending games in massive droves. And with the present economic squeeze, not many of the small percentage who would normally dip into disposable funds to fly/drive out to games may be willing to do so.

[Bricktop]

and Canada, a team that has been playing some good ball for the past year or more.

Canada's results over the past year are nothing really to write home about.

[Assasin]

yeah man he saw it too.