OJ.. Argument done !

[Karl]

Not going to make pronouncement on the present Ricketts' distribution on this one game. Not sure it was a deliberate strategy that in this game v Mexico the ball would be advanced as far as possible from the back to reduce work load of the defenders. Oxygen deprivation - demanded less movement and reduction of being forced to both work back out of the back as well as defend against the expected unrelenting waves of attack from the Mexicans? ...right? ...could be the thinking of the players (Ricketts and his fellow defenders)...and instructions from Tappa? I just am not sure...if it is the 'old Ricketts' or a 'new Ricketts' playing to instructions or demands of that particular match...????

I agree that all we have seen of him previously showed him a lousy distributor of the ball...on this my position has not changed!!!

[Tilla]

I agree that the kicking out of the back could have been a game tactic. I hope he was playing to instructions of the coach and this was what the coach wanted.

I think though that it is six of one and half dozen of another with kicking the ball up field and not giving your players sure possession on which to build the attack. Saving energy by kicking the ball up field in one approach, but have we stopped to think the constant turnover it creates puts our defense under constant pressure and therefore means more running and chasing the ball, thus burning more energy? I mean, building your attack out of the back does not mean you will be doing a lot of dribbling. It means you maintain possession and pick and chose the passes so your team can advance the ball. When done in this manner, it gives you a chance to pull the defending team out of their defensive bunker, thus creating space for the attacking team to pick out that attacking pass as we build up for goal.

The big kick up field resulted in us always defending resulting in the Mexicans having a massive 72% possession to our 28%. On looking back at the match, our midfield did not get any chance to take the game to the Mexicans. I do hope though that this will change as this is not the way the modern game is played. More often than not we allow a team to have such a disproportionate level of possession and walk away with a draw. It work this last time, but trust me, we will not be that lucky in the other nine game we play.

[Karl]

You are just repeating what we have agreed on in the past. ...are you saying that in this match where our players were dead tired and the defenders in particularly were overworked that he should have been rolling the ball out to the defenders?

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On another note: I am hoping...expecting that having got this tremendously high altitude match out of the way...we shall see our REGGAE BOYZ doing a lot more passing and retention of possession.

...then we should also see Ricketts making safer passes, putting the ball into the outfield with few 'big boots' up the field. ...playing a 'thousands times, better football than that v Mexico display. ...same commitment and effort but greater movement and passing, passing and movement! Improved %age possession. Chances galore! Better shooting!

[Tilla]

No, I am saying the team was dead tired because they were chasing the game all night. Not having possession to dictate the pace of the game, we had to be reacting to the Mexicans all night. We need to control the ball and play through our midfield etc. Chasing the game all night because we keep gifting the Mexicans with possession each time is a recipe for disaster.

[Karl]

I hear you...but this is one of the few times, accepted we are focussed (or focused - chose your US or English version) on this particular match circumstance, when it is debatable on way to go that I agree that the results=the end....justifies the means!

*Normally, I would have no objection...forcefully agree with you on best way to go -

No, I am saying the team was dead tired because they were chasing the game all night. Not having possession to dictate the pace of the game, we had to be reacting to the Mexicans all night. We need to control the ball and play through our midfield etc. Chasing the game all night because we keep gifting the Mexicans with possession each time is a recipe for disaster.

...but forget Ricketts for a moment and try to remember how all the 'out fielders'...the TEAM as whole...kept gifting the ball to the Mexicans - Wonder what the remainder (i.e. minus Ricketts' gifting of the ball) possession ratio was? Mexico 70+% - 20+ % JA or worse? - would you if you were in Ricketts' place back our low percentage possession - Pass the ball to our defenders so near to goal? Would you (goalkeeper) not be considering an even busier night in goal? ...possible instead of your clean sheet...picking up the ball a few times from out of your goal?

Just saying...it may be worth considering how your tired players may fare with/on possession nearer to goal...

[Tilla]

It seems as if you have no confidence in our players ability to hold the ball and move it around until they see the right opportunity to pounce. The end justify the means because we did not lose. If we would be singing a different tune.

Yes, we put up a good fight, but we could have fought even better if we let the ball do the work. All night we were running after the Mexicans because we could not maintain possession. There is one thing I remember Simoes taught the Boyz in 1998. It was the importance of playing possession football, as without the ball, you are not in control of the game.

Anyway, this is my last piece on this subject. . .