Maturana wants Caribbean (Digicel) Cup

[Hortical]

One or two experienced players may not be enough to win the tournament. Qualifying for the 2009 Gold Cup in the 3rd or 4th position is not acceptable. Lets us not forget Carl Brown flopped at home in the prior qualifying tournament for the 2007 Gold Cup.

[Exile]

Creating waves Karl? Where have you been since '98? We can't move past the first round to the hex but you want to create waves in 2014. Please!
I agree though on this 2nd tier team. send the youn' uns...since it seems we not ready for the big stage..and won't be for a quite a while.

[Warlord]

One or two experienced players may not be enough to win the tournament. Qualifying for the 2009 Gold Cup in the 3rd or 4th position is not acceptable. Lets us not forget Carl Brown flopped at home in the prior qualifying tournament for the 2007 Gold Cup.

So then youre saying that we should use a WCQ team to play in a Digicel Cup tournament? Im not belittling the tournament but in the past T&T has used local teams and won this thing. Why couldnt Jamaica do tha same thing? This is a time where some of the local players can get a chance to play some international games and also where the technical staff can start having a look at players for the future. It is important to win for pride and supremacy but we are supposed to be looking at the bigger picture down the road (2014)Brazil. To be honest, I could care less about winning this tourney. If Jamaica wins then great but it aint a priority for me as long as some new players are blooded in the process and we clinch a Gold Cup berth. We are in a transitional phase at this point as we will be losing some senior players who are either retiring or wont be around next qualification cycle.

Another thing. Next year is the hexagonal for World Cup qualification. At the Gold Cup next year, Im pretty sure that USA, Mexico, wont be sending their A teams to that tournament because of those important WC matches. The same can be said for T&T, Honduras, Costa Rica. So we should be again looking at the future and developing players over time.

[Sam !!]

I don't think so Warlord

Ok you go name a completely local squad and risk another 2-3 years in the ranking wilderness. Thereby having sponsors, kit providers and good national team opponents avoid us like the bubonic plague for another decade. If we got em meaning the players use them, let's stamp our quality for everyone to see even if we aren't world cup bound. There will be other chances to blood young players when the stakes aren't this high...By the way, I could have sworn that players like K Daley, Woodbine, Kerr, Laing, Vernan, Reid and Morrissey were in the squad anyway?

[Warlord]

Ok you go name a completely local squad and risk another 2-3 years in the ranking wilderness. Thereby having sponsors, kit providers and good national team opponents avoid us like the bubonic plague for another decade. If we got em meaning the players use them, let's stamp our quality for everyone to see even if we aren't world cup bound. There will be other chances to blood young players when the stakes aren't this high...By the way, I could have sworn that players like K Daley, Woodbine, Kerr, Laing, Vernan, Reid and Morrissey were in the squad anyway?

I have to disagree with you here Sam. Like I said T&T has won this tournament a few times with a full compliment of local based players. Last year they got to the final with a C-team and narowly lost to Haiti. Outside of T&T, there shouldnt be any other team in CFU that we shouldnt be able to beat with a local based squad. No disrespect to St Kitts, Barbados, Grenada and others but we're better than them. Our football pedigree is much stronger in CFU. If we cant beat any of those nations with local based players, then we have alot more problems than originally thought.

[Sam !!]

I agree with all that you are saying from a developemental point of view War. But our present situation dictates that we annhialate everything that is put in front of us to raise our stock. We unlike TnT have a greater percentage of good young players that actually do ply their trade abroad and need first team national selection as well. Jamaica are blessed with 23-25 year olds that play first team football in Norway, China, Hungary and the states who make up what essentially still is a Jamaica B team. These guy's are indeed the future and will more than likely be the heart of the 2014 squad. I don't worry about the future considering the talent of our under 20's and unlucky under 16's following what transpired in TnT.

[Naminirt]

Under 16 unlucky in what way? they were soundly beaten in tnt

[Peter R]

How many games did Costa Rica lose in the just concluded round? You might ask who are Haiti, Surinam and El Sal but...fact is they did what they had to do.

Having said that I agree with you that the hex is anyone's game. However, I expect the first 3 places to be filled by Mex, USA and CR. T&T has as good a chance as the other three to get 4th (don't forget who their 12th man is)...again they have to get rid of the old men they're playing... while Yorke and Latapy have some of the old touch, I don't see them getting out of the round if they rely on "old men" with all due respect to those 35 and over.

[Naminirt]

How many games did Costa Rica lose in the just concluded round? You might ask who are Haiti, Surinam and El Sal but...fact is they did what they had to do.

Having said that I agree with you that the hex is anyone's game. However, I expect the first 3 places to be filled by Mex, USA and CR. T&T has as good a chance as the other three to get 4th (don't forget who their 12th man is)...again they have to get rid of the old men they're playing... while Yorke and Latapy have some of the old touch, I don't see them getting out of the round if they rely on "old men" with all due respect to those 35 and over.

why everyhting is warner to you wha you saying warner will pay honduras el salvador ? i does wonder bout some people well the captain is warner second in command

[Peter R]

Second in command is no way as influential as the 'commander-in chief". Anyway, don't take it personal...Jack not complaining. I'm merely pointing out the facts.

Why don't you make a comment on my "old men" opinion? that would be more constructive.

[Stonigut]

Second dat.

[Warlord]

How many games did Costa Rica lose in the just concluded round? You might ask who are Haiti, Surinam and El Sal but...fact is they did what they had to do.

Having said that I agree with you that the hex is anyone's game. However, I expect the first 3 places to be filled by Mex, USA and CR. T&T has as good a chance as the other three to get 4th (don't forget who their 12th man is)...again they have to get rid of the old men they're playing... while Yorke and Latapy have some of the old touch, I don't see them getting out of the round if they rely on "old men" with all due respect to those 35 and over.

I agree with you that Costa Rica did what they had to but you also have to admit that they basically got a free ticket to the hex with the group they were in. Haiti and Suriname were very weak opponents considering the other groups. Costa Rica's defense was never tested and they advanced with 2 games to spare. It wont be that easy for them in the hex because they will be seeing better quality strikers in the final round. Personally I dont think they will finish in the top 3 this cycle. They are too weak and I think Honduras has a better stronger squad than them and will finish ahead of them when the hex is over.

In Trinidad case. I think the warriors will have to steal pts away at EL Salvador, Costa Rica, Honduras to qualify. If they can do that they will advance without having to go through a playoff situation. I dont see them getting any points away to USA or Mex. I have to disagree with you of the notion of them getting rid of Yorke and Latapy. The core of that squad has an average age between 19-27. Yorke and Latapy while older brings some experience and are still playing at a high level abroad.They wont be able to play the full 90 mins as they did when they younger but their leadership qualities and experience will be vital to T&T qualifying.

[Warlord]

I agree with all that you are saying from a developemental point of view War. But our present situation dictates that we annhialate everything that is put in front of us to raise our stock. We unlike TnT have a greater percentage of good young players that actually do ply their trade abroad and need first team national selection as well. Jamaica are blessed with 23-25 year olds that play first team football in Norway, China, Hungary and the states who make up what essentially still is a Jamaica B team. These guy's are indeed the future and will more than likely be the heart of the 2014 squad. I don't worry about the future considering the talent of our under 20's and unlucky under 16's following what transpired in TnT.

Talent alone doesnt get you far in football today. There are a mixture of ingredients that help one become successful. The Haitians today claim they have the most talented players in the caribbean because their youth squads have qualified for youth cup tournaments in recent times and also based on the fact that they have young players doing good in french leagues and South American leagues but where are there senior team? The senior team is at home as we are. They arent truly any better are they? The point im driving home is I dont think we have more talented players than them or Trinidad because I think all 3 have talented players period but who has been more successful? I would say that we have been and I think Trinidad as well. Its about success on the national front. The CFU titles, WC appearance, success at the Gold Cup proves that clearly. Just to clarify something here CFU Cup isnt a FIFA sanctioned tournament. This means that foreign clubs arent obligated to release pro players for this event. If they do great but theyre not obligated to. The other fact is that this tournament win or lose doesnt impact our FIFA rankings in a significant way.

[Karl]

Creating waves Karl? Where have you been since '98? We can't move past the first round to the hex but you want to create waves in 2014. Please!
I agree though on this 2nd tier team. send the youn' uns...since it seems we not ready for the big stage..and won't be for a quite a while.

Stonigut put forward some aims. If we head in that direction then...?
Can be done, Exile. Just need the leaders to 'pull up their laces'!

[Peter R]

Fair comments... I could see a USA, Mex, Hon top three. The surprises will be if MEx and USA don't finish 1-2 in any order. The battle as usual will be for the 3rd spot and also 4th. I expect CR to rise to the hex occasion though.

As far as T&T goes, you're correct about Yorke and Latapy...but T&T runs the risk of relying too heavily on them...overly doing so will backfire. The hex lasts another year and these guys are not getting younger. They might shine against Cuba but as you yourself point out, the hex is more competitive, and in my opinion, probably more gruelling on them given the roles they now play on the teams in the leagues they play in. A lot more is riding on the qualifiers...so even coming off the bench is no picnic for old men.

Anyway, hopefully they don't break down and disappoint their T&T fans and make RSA a reality for their supporters. Time will tell.