Daley aims to shrug off English setback

[Karl]

Daley aims to shrug off English setback

Oshane Tobias & Sean Williams
Sunday, May 20, 2012

KEAMMAR Daley's deadline-day transfer to English League One outfit Preston North End (PNE) was greeted with much optimism here in Jamaica and Britain, where he was expected to hit the big times.

The 24-year-old midfielder seemed to possess all the necessary trappings needed for him to gradually blossom into this country's next football mega star, but was he in for a rude awakening.

Keammar Daley (left) and Reggae Boyz teammate Damion Stewart. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)




Keammar Daley (left) and Reggae Boyz teammate Damion Stewart. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)


"It's been a learning experience as normally you go into a team for the first time it is not going to be right away, no matter what, some players get that opportunity, some name players, but for me, I'm not a name player who goes over there and gets into the starting team right away."

Since signing for the Deepdale outfit on August 31, 2011, Daley has managed only nine (eight as a substitute) appearances in all competitions — a stark contrast to the optimism that preceded his arrival, but opted to select the positives from the experience.

"I had to be working hard, but the changes with the manager had a huge impact on me because that's when I got less playing time and things just seemed to be going bad from then, so the first season has been good and bad," said the former Tivoli Gardens lynchpin.

Under previous manager Phil Brown he got two first team starts in Cup games, plus some substitute appearances. But all that dried up with the arrival of new gaffer Graham Westley.

Daley — a small, skilful playmaker for PNE and who is being grromed as the creative mastermind for the senior Reggae Boyz, is seen to be a victim of his very own strengths as a player. Not everywhere in the British game his sublime qualities are always appreciated.

"In England is it just more fast playing, physical playing and a lot of long balls as opposed to here in Jamaica where we play with the ball, spend time with the ball. Over there they don't spend time with the football, but that's just their style of play and we just have to get acclimatised to it," said the star of Jamaica's silver medal-winning team at the 2007 PanAm Games in Brazil.

Still, the diminutive Daley believes there is a place for his spcialist qualities at Deepdale, but with this new manager he just won't measure up even with his best efforts.

"They don't have many players like me and they really saw that I'm a good player to have in the team because they don't want to be going just one way with long balls, sometimes you want to change the tempo of the game, but some managers like certain types of players and even this new manager he likes six footers, so he's not going to have me in his plans," he told the Sunday Observer at a meet-and greet function at the JFF headquarters on Tuesday.

"It is not like I can't go out there and do the job, I know I can, but he never gave me that chance to go out there and prove it. I've done it over and over in the reserves and at training and even the players and the fans ask why I'm not in the team and I respond by saying it's the manager's job, but deep down I believe it is something else, it can't be that I'm not good enough," reasoned Daley.

Funny how things can change in a heartbeat as the former Meadhaven and Jamaica College star was buoyant about the move to the League One outfit, telling the club's official website back then: "I want to come here, make the Preston fans proud and show my teammates that I am a good player."

Daley left on a high last year after picking up the Most Valuable Player award in Tivoli's League and Knock-out double success and being named the Flow Cup MVP, and the transition from Tivoli to Preston was expected to be relatively smooth because of Daley's own lofty ambitions and also based on the fact that Jamaican players Ricardo Fuller, Omar Daley (no relation) laid a solid foundation for him at Deepdale.

Unfortunately, it never quite happened that way. Instead, Daley was reduced to a mere spectator for most of the season -- even as Preston languished in the lower-half of the table — and was transfer-listed by new manager Westley at the end of the season.

"The future is somewhat on pause now because I had a meeting with the manager before I left and he said I'm not in his plans for next season, though a good player I am, a player with good quality and experience and all these positive stuff, but at the end of the day all these positive stuff does not make up for me not playing or having a future at the club," said a disappointed Daley.

"I'm still a Preston player, but right now I'm just holding on waiting to see what happens next," he said.

But as Daley's career at PNE sits in limbo, he has agents working around the clock to try and get the best deal for the man deemed heir apparent to succeed Theodore 'Tappa' Whitmore in the heart of Jamaica's midfield.

"Hopefully, after the World Cup Qualifers I can land a deal or someone sees me play and is interested in me. I have interest outside England; I never said that I wanted to play in England, I always said I would love to play overseas," he said.

Daley says his main focus right now is playing his part in Jamaica's Mission to Rio campaign.

"I'm excited because I know what international football is about and I'm always happy whenever I'm back because It's coming home and even though things are not the best, the mind is ready mentally and I'm hungry to play, to create chances, score goals and help Jamaica win matches," he beamed.

The midfielder suited-up for the Reggae Boyz in Friday's friendly against Guyana at the Montego Bay Sports Complex, which the hosts won 1-0.



Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport...#ixzz1vQh3ExSq

[Karl]

Was he good enough for PNE?
He says, Yes!

...but?

[Karl]

'Tappa' ready to announce Cup squad

'Tappa' ready to announce Cup squad

Published: Sunday | May 20, 2012



Errol Stevens ... had a good match. - file



Whitmore

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Andre Lowe, Senior Staff Reporter

MONTEGO BAY:With Jamaica's FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign just weeks away from getting off the ground, Theodore Whitmore handed out four more debuts during Friday night's friendly international against Guyana at the Montego Bay Sports Complex.

However, despite the continued presence of new players in the squad, Whitmore, a former national player himself, sought to assure that the team is close to being finalised and that he is comfortable with the players at his disposal.

Defenders Nyron Nosworthy, Adrian Mariappa, 18-year-old Ewan Grandison and goalscorer Jeremie Lynch all played a part in Jamaica's 1-0 victory in front of a strong crowd in the second city, as the locals continued their unbeaten run, which now sees them chalking up five games without a defeat since the start of the year.

There are concerns, however, that with the team slated to play Guatemala on June 8, Whitmore, who has been at the helm of the team since 2009, is not certain of his best options for the campaign.

"I wouldn't say that we are still looking at players and, furthermore, the squad that we have assembled this Monday is basically the World Cup qualifying team," said Whitmore in a post-match interview. "This is the last game to see players really."

"We have a starting 11, we are just looking around for additional players," Whitmore added. "We have a number of players coming in and you always want to keep widening the pool of players in case there are injuries or so on. We have seen players over the park in a number of positions so we shouldn't have a problem if that occurs."

Lynch helped his cause to figure among the final selection when he slotted home from close range in the 62nd minute, after substitute Errol Stevens latched on to a defensive error from Guyanese captain Charles Pollard deep into their half.

It may not have been a platinum performance from the Boyz, but the goal and the win that came along with it, was nothing less than they deserved, after a first half that saw them dominating play and creating numerous goalscoring opportunities.

Keammar Daley, who pulled the strings in midfield and was quite impressive throughout, served up a few for his teammates and spurned a couple on his own while Hyde and captain Luton Shelton also got good 'look-ins'. Nosworthy impressed in defence in the opening period, summing up a less than spectacular half for the hosts.

The powerful Watford defender demonstrated commendable poise; a calming presence with the right amount of steel when required.

scoreless first half

After a scoreless first half, the Jamaicans showed some intent at the beginning of the second, Daley volleying wide after some good work from Xavian Virgo down the right channel on 47 minutes.

Both teams traded jabs with the Jamaican backline nearly offering a gift to Dwain Jacobs, while Aubrey David hit the crossbar not too long afterwards.

However, the introduction of former Tivoli, Portmore and Arnett Gardens standout Stevens injected some incision into the Reggae Boyz offence, as the right-sided player proved too much for the Guyanese, who found themselves grabbing after him so often that he had to get a change of shirt.

The game lost its sting as the half matured, however, with a string of substitutions taking the steam out of the contest. There was, however, time for Jamaica to gift one more chance to the visitors as a result of communication mix-up between Virgo and goalkeeper Jacomena Barrett

"I think we played a pretty decent game here this afternoon, we have four players who made their debuts tonight, so I think it was a pretty decent game this afternoon," Whitmore summed up. "You have to take into consideration that Guyana are in the World Cup qualifiers as well and they also beat Trinidad and Tobago as well so they are not a walkover."

Guyana coach, Jamaal Shebazz, was appreciative of the opportunity and believes his team will benefit in the long run.

"I think it was a good game for us, in the end a silly mistake cost us the game but it will help us in the long run because we realise how thin the margins of error are. So, all in all, the exercise is a great one for us and one we appreciate," said Shebazz.

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/2...s/sports2.html

[Karl]

Errol Stevens?

It is interesting to hear that Errol Stevens performed well. Word from one of my sources in Vietnam was he was assessed not good enough at his Vietnam 1 division club (i.e a club in Vietnam's 2nd division) Is this saying something about the quality of Guyana...2nd formers, maybe?

[Sir X]

Like i said other mitigating factors will stifle a players growth that has nothing to do with the player as in Daley case.Get Daley in Mexico.

[Assasin]

It certainly depend on the team you play for. A youth like Daley would do well in Ian Holloway's Blackpool

[Karl]

In the Mexican teams there is no place for a player who does not consistently throughout match pass and move. It is physically demanding!!!
It is as Stonigut says, the player must be willing to 'never stop running' and swiftly pass (make good passes).

I have always been of the belief that Daley just needs the mindset and do the 'background preparation' to be an extremely good player.

...but then I have been saying that about Fuller and now his days appear over!

...and I have been saying for years Shelton has the potential to be good!

Well Daley has the potential to be good...but he has to first forget the excuses and start working on getting fit such that he can 'run all day' and also improve mentally such that he has judicious mix of swift one-time passing, sensible distribution and sensible dribbles in his game. For the life of me I could not (Fuller)/cannot (Shelton) understand why that simple addition to game has not been made. It does not require any 'superior' intellect to recognise TEAM (and dare I say self) needs such.

[myYout]

It unfortunate when ah ballah have certain abilities an di team strategy of play, choose fi alienate him. Di yout will find a suitable team an show him capabilities.

[Zeppo]

Someone tell Damion Stewart that Abraham Lincoln just called and he wants his beard back.

[Gamma]

"come get it"