U-20s: We have been hit early!

[Tilla]

RE: U-20s: We have been hit early!

Thus has nothing to do with lack of match practise. Not being able to square a ball or take a corner or stay on your feet to make a tackle or close down an opposing player or hustle to a 50/50 ball is something that is endemic to our footballers.

You noticed that too Bricktop? I also find it appaling that on set pieces, we do not seem like a threat. I saw corners where the referee might as well just turn over the ball to CR. I saw a free kick from outside the box and two of our players stood over it. None of the two seemed as if they knew who was going to take the shot. Both started running then collided past the ball. They had to regroup and take the kick attempt a second time.

Unlike Karl, I did not think that CR outplayed us. The game could have gone either way if we took the chances presented to us. I saw Joel Senior got a good chance and forrced a good save from the CR goalkeeper. Goel Grant too got another opportunity, but waited to long to pull the trigger. This resulted in him not having space to get the shot off from a tight angle in the box. The penalty kick was a terrible miss. The kicker's body language was all wrong even prior to taking the kick. I never expected the shot to go in and he ended up proving me right.

I thought we tended to lack organization overall. Half time instructions from the coach never seemed to effect any change to our play.

[Mitty]

RE: U-20s: We have been hit early!

The only thing the JFF can do is change the culture of soccer in Ja, who did the Costa Ricans play to prepare? Our players need some serious film sessions

[Jamaica2099]

RE: U-20s: We have been hit early!

I'm not exactly blaming lack of preparation but rather the morals of the JFF and it's agenda. Twenty minutes before the match started I was watching the Lunar Cup Final and asked a co-worker why Bora had not concentrated on the U-20s right now and let Downswell coach the Olympic squad in the Lunar Cup tournament.

Now I know??

[Karl]

RE: U-20s: We have been hit early!

Tilla (2/21/2007)

Thus has nothing to do with lack of match practise. Not being able to square a ball or take a corner or stay on your feet to make a tackle or close down an opposing player or hustle to a 50/50 ball is something that is endemic to our footballers.

You noticed that too Bricktop? I also find it appaling that on set pieces, we do not seem like a threat. I saw corners where the referee might as well just turn over the ball to CR. I saw a free kick from outside the box and two of our players stood over it. None of the two seemed as if they knew who was going to take the shot. Both started running then collided past the ball. They had to regroup and take the kick attempt a second time.

They outplayed us by far. They missed empty goals, save for one defender at least twice...and, created a few other good opportunities.

Yes, we had our chances, but they should have killed the game long before they did. I hope you took note that the final goal was another effort at goal where only one defender had to be beaten....in this case the goalkeeper.

Unlike Karl, I did not think that CR outplayed us. The game could have gone either way if we took the chances presented to us. I saw Joel Senior got a good chance and forrced a good save from the CR goalkeeper. Goel Grant too got another opportunity, but waited to long to pull the trigger. This resulted in him not having space to get the shot off from a tight angle in the box. The penalty kick was a terrible miss. The kicker's body language was all wrong even prior to taking the kick. I never expected the shot to go in and he ended up proving me right.

Yup! You are right in saying our organisation was poor. ...but, you get better at that if you are always playing quality teams.

BTW - Do you remember the results this team got against opponents provided by the JFF?

Yup! If you play crap as preparation...youwill becrap.

Half time instructions from the coach never seemed to effect any change to our play.

You did not see that we improved. We played with more urgency. Finally started taking shots at goal.

Sure some of our free-kicks outside the penalty-area were overhit...but, they were driven in with force towards the backpost. We need to make then more accurate. Practice will get that right! Practise in match conditions against quality opposition will 'iron out' nerves.