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Despite DigiCup win... Boyz were sloppy
BY LIVINGSTON SCOTT Observer staff reporter
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Head coach of Jamaica's Reggae Boyz, John Barnes, said although his team was barely tested throughout the recently-concluded Digicel Caribbean Championship, they were guilty of "sloppiness and sloppy passing".
"Overall we dominated the matches... but sloppiness and sloppy passing at the back gave us problems... I didn't think we necessarily had lapses in defence, there were lapses in terms of the way we passed the ball," he said.
Jamaica's Eric Vernan (left) being brought down by Grenada captain Anthony Modeste for a penalty in their Digicel Caribbean Championships final at the National Stadium on Sunday night. Jamaica won 2-0. (Photo: Bryan Cummings)
Barnes, who took over the reins of the team on November 1 after the Boyz's failed World Cup qualifying campaign, led the team to their fourth regional championship when they defeated Grenada 2-0 inside the National Stadium on Sunday night courtesy of two Luton Shelton penalties in 16th and 71st minutes.
The former Liverpool and England winger said now the focus is to get the players mentally ready for the next major assignment, the CONCACAF Gold Cup, next summer.
"Our concentration that is what we need to improve on... as your concentration is paramount when it comes to situations where you are tired," Barnes said.
"We will keep after them (players) about their concentration and sloppiness... I know that we can get better," he told journalists at Sunday night's post-match press conference.
Barnes, who was winning his first title as a coach, said it was important to note that the 12-day tournament was not easy on the players, having to play five rigorous matches.
"The team didn't change much so it's hard to ask the players to keep sharp and alert all the time... so if you want to be picky you can say that things can improve, but it has been a long, hard tournament and overall I cannot fault the players whatsoever," he said.
Barnes, along with JFF president Captain Horace Burrell, confirmed at the press session that a number of "quality oppositions" friendly internationals are being organised to give the team the best possible preparation going into the Gold Cup.
"At the moment there are three definite FIFA friendly dates where we will be getting together to face a few oppositions. We have no matches organised yet, but we have those dates, so it's just a question of getting quality opposition to help us prepare for the Gold Cup," Barnes noted.
"The problem we may have is that the March and April dates are also World Cup qualifying dates, so a lot of the European, CONCACAF and African teams will be involved in World Cup qualifying, so as to the quality teams we can get for those dates, we will just have to wait and see," he said.
"But we have four or five matches before then (Gold Cup) and all I will be stressing to the players is that their concentration must be up at all times in our training and preparation," he added.
Though delighted with the team's triumph, the Jamaica-born Barnes said there is no room for relaxation.
"I'm very happy, but I have been in football long enough to know that you are only one game away from doom and gloom. Yes we won the Digicel Championship and we managed most of the games, but we have other matches to look forward to," he ended.
BY LIVINGSTON SCOTT Observer staff reporter
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Head coach of Jamaica's Reggae Boyz, John Barnes, said although his team was barely tested throughout the recently-concluded Digicel Caribbean Championship, they were guilty of "sloppiness and sloppy passing".
"Overall we dominated the matches... but sloppiness and sloppy passing at the back gave us problems... I didn't think we necessarily had lapses in defence, there were lapses in terms of the way we passed the ball," he said.
Jamaica's Eric Vernan (left) being brought down by Grenada captain Anthony Modeste for a penalty in their Digicel Caribbean Championships final at the National Stadium on Sunday night. Jamaica won 2-0. (Photo: Bryan Cummings) Barnes, who took over the reins of the team on November 1 after the Boyz's failed World Cup qualifying campaign, led the team to their fourth regional championship when they defeated Grenada 2-0 inside the National Stadium on Sunday night courtesy of two Luton Shelton penalties in 16th and 71st minutes.
The former Liverpool and England winger said now the focus is to get the players mentally ready for the next major assignment, the CONCACAF Gold Cup, next summer.
"Our concentration that is what we need to improve on... as your concentration is paramount when it comes to situations where you are tired," Barnes said.
"We will keep after them (players) about their concentration and sloppiness... I know that we can get better," he told journalists at Sunday night's post-match press conference.
Barnes, who was winning his first title as a coach, said it was important to note that the 12-day tournament was not easy on the players, having to play five rigorous matches.
"The team didn't change much so it's hard to ask the players to keep sharp and alert all the time... so if you want to be picky you can say that things can improve, but it has been a long, hard tournament and overall I cannot fault the players whatsoever," he said.
Barnes, along with JFF president Captain Horace Burrell, confirmed at the press session that a number of "quality oppositions" friendly internationals are being organised to give the team the best possible preparation going into the Gold Cup.
"At the moment there are three definite FIFA friendly dates where we will be getting together to face a few oppositions. We have no matches organised yet, but we have those dates, so it's just a question of getting quality opposition to help us prepare for the Gold Cup," Barnes noted.
"The problem we may have is that the March and April dates are also World Cup qualifying dates, so a lot of the European, CONCACAF and African teams will be involved in World Cup qualifying, so as to the quality teams we can get for those dates, we will just have to wait and see," he said.
"But we have four or five matches before then (Gold Cup) and all I will be stressing to the players is that their concentration must be up at all times in our training and preparation," he added.
Though delighted with the team's triumph, the Jamaica-born Barnes said there is no room for relaxation.
"I'm very happy, but I have been in football long enough to know that you are only one game away from doom and gloom. Yes we won the Digicel Championship and we managed most of the games, but we have other matches to look forward to," he ended.
Eric Vernan (left) accepts the Digicel Caribbean Championships Most Valuable Player trophy from JFF president Captain Horace Burrell at the National Stadium on Sunday night. (Photo: Bryan Cummings)
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