Solving the Reggae Boyz strikers' drought

[Twan]

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/2...s/sports4.html

[Mosiah]

It sticky pon wi! And we actually have a defence problem now more than anything else. Jermaine Tayor will miss this game because of cards, and Omar Daley, if I heard right. All this before meeting the mighty Mexicans!

Jermaine 'Tuffy' Anderson - Leading scorer in the local premier league with 18 goals. Played two Caribbean Cup games, starting one. Didn't score. Dropped.

Jermaine Beckford - Debut against Panama. Also started against Costa Rica (CR). Subbed twice. Missed golden chance against CR. Three goals from 21 games in ELC 2012/13. Last scored January 5.

Deshorn Brown - MLS rookie with excellent speed. Started all Colorado Rapids' six league games. One goal.

Omar Cummings - Quick with a lethal shot. Returned from injury which kept him out of pre- and regular-season MLS games plus hexagonal games. Played 10 minutes total in two substitute appearances. No goals. Scored seven times in 35 internationals.

Ricardo Fuller - Wily veteran, scored four goals in 27 games - starting 16 - in ELC 2012/13. Two sub appearances in the previous round of WCQ. No goals. Not played since. Eight goals in 72 appearances for Jamaica. Huh?!?!

Jermaine Johnson - Skilful, fast with a powerful shot. Provided spark as sub against Panama and Costa Rica. Nine goals in 71 Jamaica games.

Ryan Johnson - Big target man. Three goals in five 2013 MLS games; eight in 31 internationals.

Marlon King - Retired from international football in 2012. A dozen goals in 21 games for Jamaica and 29 in 67 games since joining ELC club Birmingham City (13 in 27 this season) - fuels calls for his return. Injured, out of action since February.

Darren Mattocks - MLS 2012 rookie star. Scored once in four 2013 club starts. Didn't leave the bench last weekend. No goals in five internationals.

Theo Robinson - Appeared as a sub in all three hexagonal games. Missed good scoring chance against Mexico. Eight goals in 34 ELC games this season.

Luton Shelton - Jamaica's all-time leading scorer - 35 goals in 73 games since 2004 - missed Mexico game. Started last two in hexagonal, but wasted great chance against Costa Rica. Ten goals in 45 appearances for Turkish club Karabukspor, five in 17 this season.

Tramaine Stewart - Scored in Caribbean Cup starting at forward, but has featured in midfield. Two goals in 11 games for Jamaica. Played as a sub against Mexico. Not appeared since. Two goals in three 2013 games for Aalesund in Norway.

[Dunny]

Well JJ is in great scoring form at the moment, he scored another goal today against Leeds. That is 4 goals in his last 4 games. He could start just behind the main striker!

[Jangle]

June is a long way off.

[OJ]

Jm is suspended

[Karl]

Good Post, Twan! - Solving the Reggae Boyz strikers' drought

Solving the Reggae Boyz strikers' drought

Published: Saturday | April 13, 2013


Luton Shelton



Jermaine Johnson



Jermaine 'Tuffy' Anderson



Ricardo Fuller



Jermaine Beckford



Ryan Johnson




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Gordon Williams, Gleaner WriterThree games. No goals. Jamaica's strikers are firing blanks. But with seven games left to decide the country's World Cup football fate, the Reggae Boyz must reload and end the drought if they hope to rise from CONCACAF's hexagonal cellar and stake a claim in Brazil 2014.

Jamaica's only goal - after clashes with Mexico , Panama and Costa Rica - was scored by a defensive midfielder. Combinations tried up front have failed and the pool of solutions is littered with strikers desperate for form, recovering from injuries, shadowed by indiscipline or unproven at the highest level.

Paul Young, who scored more than 20 times for Jamaica and currently coaches in the United States, believes on-field chemistry has also been missing.

"They are not in sync," said Young.

That narrows his choices for future games to Jermaine Johnson and Darren Mattocks. Johnson, suspended for Jamaica's next match on June 4, started in a more withdrawn striker/midfielder's role against Mexico and was used as a substitute versus Panama and Costa Rica.

"Jermaine Johnson is in good form and he still has something left to prove for Jamaica - that he can be a dominant and consistent player that his teammates can rely on," Young said of the Sheffield Wednesday attacker who scored twice last weekend in the English League Championship (ELC).

ATTITUDE PROBLEMS
Mattocks was dropped for the hexagonal, accused of a 'poor' attitude during last year's Caribbean Cup.

"He's young, smart and dangerous," Young said of the 22-year-old he coached at Waterhouse FC who plays for the Vancouver Whitecaps in North America's Major League Soccer (MLS).

"His movement, understanding and game awareness as a striker is far superior to most of the strikers that we have."

Former Reggae Boy Tyrone Marshall believes Jamaica should start Ryan Johnson, reigning MLS Player of the Week after scoring twice for Portland Timbers on April 6, and possibly Mattocks. Both will be active in MLS when the Boyz play their next three World Cup qualifiers (WCQ), while most Europe-based players are in club off season.

"Ryan Johnson is one who is on form so I think he should be in for sure," said Marshall, also a US-based coach. "Mattocks will make a difference ... . He should get a start as well."

But Johnson failed to score in a start against Mexico, missing a breakaway chance. He didn't play against Panama or Costa Rica.

Selecting Jamaica's strikers should be straightforward, according to Marshall.
"You have to look at the people who are playing and scoring," he said.
Barring exceptional twists, coach Theodore Whitmore will likely pick from the following list.


Jermaine 'Tuffy' Anderson - Leading scorer in the local premier league with 18 goals. Played two Caribbean Cup games, starting one. Didn't score. Dropped.


Jermaine Beckford - Debut against Panama. Also started against Costa Rica (CR). Subbed twice. Missed golden chance against CR. Three goals from 21 games in ELC 2012/13. Last scored January 5.


Deshorn Brown - MLS rookie with excellent speed. Started all Colorado Rapids' six league games. One goal.


Omar Cummings - Quick with a lethal shot. Returned from injury which kept him out of pre- and regular-season MLS games plus hexagonal games. Played 10 minutes total in two substitute appearances. No goals. Scored seven times in 35 internationals.


Ricardo Fuller - Wily veteran, scored four goals in 27 games - starting 16 - in ELC 2012/13. Two sub appearances in the previous round of WCQ. No goals. Not played since. Eight goals in 72 appearances for Jamaica.


Jermaine Johnson - Skilful, fast with a powerful shot. Provided spark as sub against Panama and Costa Rica. Nine goals in 71 Jamaica games.


Ryan Johnson - Big target man. Three goals in five 2013 MLS games; eight in 31 internationals.


Marlon King - Retired from international football in 2012. A dozen goals in 21 games for Jamaica and 29 in 67 games since joining ELC club Birmingham City (13 in 27 this season) - fuels calls for his return. Injured, out of action since February.

Darren Mattocks - MLS 2012 rookie star. Scored once in four 2013 club starts. Didn't leave the bench last weekend. No goals in five internationals.


Theo Robinson - Appeared as a sub in all three hexagonal games. Missed good scoring chance against Mexico. Eight goals in 34 ELC games this season.


Luton Shelton - Jamaica's all-time leading scorer - 35 goals in 73 games since 2004 - missed Mexico game. Started last two in hexagonal, but wasted great chance against Costa Rica. Ten goals in 45 appearances for Turkish club Karabukspor, five in 17 this season.


Tramaine Stewart - Scored in Caribbean Cup starting at forward, but has featured in midfield. Two goals in 11 games for Jamaica. Played as a sub against Mexico. Not appeared since. Two goals in three 2013 games for Aalesund in Norway.

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/2...s/sports4.html

So Jermaine "Teddy" Johnson is suspended for our next match...therefore we need someone to partner Ryan Johnson (Striker who always sets up his striker partner and works FULL 100 both on attack and defense).

Based on the records above save Luton Shelton's (his is great but he has huge problem playing for us at the higher levels)...the starter should be Darren Mattocks - pace and finishing ability and plays decent TEAM - and off the bench if needed should be Tramaine Stewart and my dark horse, JERMAINE HUE who surely will play where the TEAM and Tappa needs him? HUE - great passer and therefore if set-up should easily supply finishing pass into goal!!

If Mattocks as starter do not live up to required standard in our next match Jermaine "Teddy" Johnson returns as starter.

There should be no thought of recalling Fuller or Marlon King!!!

[MrLaidback]

Is Jermaine Johnson a striker or attacking midfielder? If he is an attacking mid and we play him at striker....

I am more concerned with the midfield service to the forwards. So few passes going to the forwards we could play both Bebeto and Romario and no goals would come...

[Karl]

Is Jermaine Johnson a striker or attacking midfielder? If he is an attacking mid and we play him at striker....

I am more concerned with the midfield service to the forwards. So few passes going to the forwards we could play both Bebeto and Romario and no goals would come...

How many balls each per game would you consider adequate?

[Don1]

How many balls each per game would you consider adequate?

Nuh one at a time dem usually werk wid??