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Bora's Boyz fail test
FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida
For Jamaican football fans, Thursday night's international, matching the Reggae Boyz against Switzerland here, was more like sixth formers being asked to take a master's degree exam. Simply unfair. The Boyz were essentially schooled 2-0 by the 'Nati' - some would say shredded like Swiss cheese. But a few Boyz may have earned the right to a re-sit, while for others who found themselves above their grade level, it's back to the classroom. Here's how they fared:
GOALKEEPER: Fine, courageous show by Richard McCallum. Voted the Boyz' MVP for the match. It was not easy for him to cope with the high crosses in the troublesome wind against huge, powerful attackers, but in the first half he stood between the Swiss and a complete rout. Reacted late to the first goal, but may have been unsighted by players in the box.
GRADE B-PLUS
DEFENCE: Not easy to say how much this unit is to be blamed for the continuous onslaught on McCallum's goal, as little stood in the way of the rampaging Swiss attackers. Starting wingbacks Oneil Smith and Mario Swaby felt the brunt of Switzerland's assaults from the flanks, while central defenders Jermaine Taylor and Christopher Harvey had a tough time marking the big, physical and mobile Swiss forwards. Their use of the ball must be better at this level, but the unit improved in the second half with the introduction of Adrian Reid and a more organised, aggressive midfield. By then it was too late.
GRADE C-MINUS
MIDFIELD: Here's where the real lesson was taught. While Jamaica's tentative quartet of Donald Stewart, Lovel Palmer, Nicholy Finlayson and Demar Phillips failed to control and keep possession of the ball, the confident Swiss made it look easy. They set up numerous scoring chances and stifled Jamaica's midfield which battled nerves, the wind, and any other distraction that popped up at Lockhart Stadium. The introduction of veteran Fabian Davis and aggressive Keneil Moodie at the break gave Jamaica savvy and spunk, but the unit failed to show much imagination or consistent attacking threat.
GRADE D
FORWARDS: For most of the night Kavin Bryan and Fabian Taylor struggled. They did not get proper passes and support from midfield, and when left on their own, had a tough time with the rugged Swiss defenders. Jamaica's first meaningful shot at goal came when Taylor blasted high and wide in the second half. That summed it up. But the strike pair tried hard, offering glimpses that things might have been different with a bit more help.
GRADE C
COACHING: Bora Milutinovic is playing a patient game, trying to develop local-based talent while Jamaica have no serious competition prior to the World Cup qualifiers. Playing Switzerland not only exposed players to a quality team, but also exposed the Boyz' deficiencies. To Milutinovic's credit, Jamaica's young team never quit against Switzerland, even after the 'Nati' looked like they would score in bunches. And whatever he said at half time really sunk in because the Boyz were more purposeful after the break.
But Milutinovic's team still lost, and he will learn that Jamaicans do not take kindly to losing ... To anyone. The Serb's much publicised salary makes him an easy target for criticism, which will hardly bother him. He gets to feel love at 'The Office' for the first time on Monday against Panama. Or, if the team plays poorly, a glimpse of the ugly side that says his honeymoon is over.
GRADE B
Gordon Williams is a Jamaican journalist based in the United States.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida
For Jamaican football fans, Thursday night's international, matching the Reggae Boyz against Switzerland here, was more like sixth formers being asked to take a master's degree exam. Simply unfair. The Boyz were essentially schooled 2-0 by the 'Nati' - some would say shredded like Swiss cheese. But a few Boyz may have earned the right to a re-sit, while for others who found themselves above their grade level, it's back to the classroom. Here's how they fared:
GOALKEEPER: Fine, courageous show by Richard McCallum. Voted the Boyz' MVP for the match. It was not easy for him to cope with the high crosses in the troublesome wind against huge, powerful attackers, but in the first half he stood between the Swiss and a complete rout. Reacted late to the first goal, but may have been unsighted by players in the box.
GRADE B-PLUS
DEFENCE: Not easy to say how much this unit is to be blamed for the continuous onslaught on McCallum's goal, as little stood in the way of the rampaging Swiss attackers. Starting wingbacks Oneil Smith and Mario Swaby felt the brunt of Switzerland's assaults from the flanks, while central defenders Jermaine Taylor and Christopher Harvey had a tough time marking the big, physical and mobile Swiss forwards. Their use of the ball must be better at this level, but the unit improved in the second half with the introduction of Adrian Reid and a more organised, aggressive midfield. By then it was too late.
GRADE C-MINUS
MIDFIELD: Here's where the real lesson was taught. While Jamaica's tentative quartet of Donald Stewart, Lovel Palmer, Nicholy Finlayson and Demar Phillips failed to control and keep possession of the ball, the confident Swiss made it look easy. They set up numerous scoring chances and stifled Jamaica's midfield which battled nerves, the wind, and any other distraction that popped up at Lockhart Stadium. The introduction of veteran Fabian Davis and aggressive Keneil Moodie at the break gave Jamaica savvy and spunk, but the unit failed to show much imagination or consistent attacking threat.
GRADE D
FORWARDS: For most of the night Kavin Bryan and Fabian Taylor struggled. They did not get proper passes and support from midfield, and when left on their own, had a tough time with the rugged Swiss defenders. Jamaica's first meaningful shot at goal came when Taylor blasted high and wide in the second half. That summed it up. But the strike pair tried hard, offering glimpses that things might have been different with a bit more help.
GRADE C
COACHING: Bora Milutinovic is playing a patient game, trying to develop local-based talent while Jamaica have no serious competition prior to the World Cup qualifiers. Playing Switzerland not only exposed players to a quality team, but also exposed the Boyz' deficiencies. To Milutinovic's credit, Jamaica's young team never quit against Switzerland, even after the 'Nati' looked like they would score in bunches. And whatever he said at half time really sunk in because the Boyz were more purposeful after the break.
But Milutinovic's team still lost, and he will learn that Jamaicans do not take kindly to losing ... To anyone. The Serb's much publicised salary makes him an easy target for criticism, which will hardly bother him. He gets to feel love at 'The Office' for the first time on Monday against Panama. Or, if the team plays poorly, a glimpse of the ugly side that says his honeymoon is over.
GRADE B
Gordon Williams is a Jamaican journalist based in the United States.
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