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Simoes to scout extensively ahead of Qualifiers
Simoes to scout extensively ahead of Qualifiers
Howard Walker
Thursday, April 03, 2008
Chihuahua, Mexico - Technical director Rene Simoes will be embarking on a scouting mission to look at Jamaican players plying their trade overseas.
With approximately two months before Jamaica bow into 2010 World Cup qualifying action, Simoes - who took over the football programme on January 5 - has limited time to familiarise himself with all the players available.
"We have two to three overseas trips to look at the players because there are some names I don't know... I have to know them to see if they fit in my system, so we have to go and watch them," Simoes told the Observer yesterday.
In August 2004, Simoes' compatriot Sebastiao Lazaroni led Jamaica into their semi-final round game against the USA and were leading 1-0, courtesy of an Ian Goodison 49th-minute goal before substitute Brian Ching equalised in the 88th minute.
After the game Lazaroni admitted not knowing the Jamaican players and which player to take off the bench to shut the game down and secure what would have been a famous win in Kingston.
The rest is history as Jamaica narrowly missed out against Panama and failed to advance with the USA to the final stage. The US topped the group with 12 points, Panama eight and Jamaica seven.
Simoes, 56, who led Jamaica to their historic 1998 World Cup qualification, is not taking any chances and will be discussing the matter with Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) boss, Captain Horace Burrell.
The Brazilian also made it clear every active Jamaican player will be under the microscope, regardless of where he plays professionally.
When quizzed about Liverpool's 25-year-old winger, Jermaine Pennant who as a 15-year-old was signed by Arsenal for £2 million - a record fee for a trainee at the time - and later made his debut at age 16 against Middlesbrough, Simoes said: "No, I don't know him; we have to check. I will look at him. What position does he play? There are other players whose names were given to me and I will look at them," he said.
Even retired midfielder Andy Williams, 30, who said he is willing to come out of retirement for Jamaica's World Cup campaign, will be given a chance, said Simoes.
"There are no players out of my plan; he is in the plan. Andy, Jermaine Johnson. I discuss with Ricardo Fuller, so I have the team in my mind, so we have to give chance to players.
"We cannot fix 11 players because World Cup qualifiers are two years. We need a big group of players all committed and know that they are playing for Jamaica. If they decide about that they have a chance," Simoes noted.
The TD was disappointed with the criticism of the number of Portmore United players in the team for the recent friendly against Trinidad & Tobago.
"The issue about the Portmore players, we should not think about that. In the '90s everybody was concerned about the western players because every player was from Seba, Violet Kickers and Wadadah.
"If I'm not wrong, it was 15 players from these three clubs, now it is 17 players from Portmore, Waterhouse and Harbour View, because these three clubs are the best ones right now".
According to Simoes, nobody manipulates his selection.
"I have the co-ordinators and I approve or disapprove. We try to make a very good organisation right now," he stated.
Howard Walker
Thursday, April 03, 2008
Chihuahua, Mexico - Technical director Rene Simoes will be embarking on a scouting mission to look at Jamaican players plying their trade overseas.
With approximately two months before Jamaica bow into 2010 World Cup qualifying action, Simoes - who took over the football programme on January 5 - has limited time to familiarise himself with all the players available.
"We have two to three overseas trips to look at the players because there are some names I don't know... I have to know them to see if they fit in my system, so we have to go and watch them," Simoes told the Observer yesterday.
In August 2004, Simoes' compatriot Sebastiao Lazaroni led Jamaica into their semi-final round game against the USA and were leading 1-0, courtesy of an Ian Goodison 49th-minute goal before substitute Brian Ching equalised in the 88th minute.
After the game Lazaroni admitted not knowing the Jamaican players and which player to take off the bench to shut the game down and secure what would have been a famous win in Kingston.
The rest is history as Jamaica narrowly missed out against Panama and failed to advance with the USA to the final stage. The US topped the group with 12 points, Panama eight and Jamaica seven.
Simoes, 56, who led Jamaica to their historic 1998 World Cup qualification, is not taking any chances and will be discussing the matter with Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) boss, Captain Horace Burrell.
The Brazilian also made it clear every active Jamaican player will be under the microscope, regardless of where he plays professionally.
When quizzed about Liverpool's 25-year-old winger, Jermaine Pennant who as a 15-year-old was signed by Arsenal for £2 million - a record fee for a trainee at the time - and later made his debut at age 16 against Middlesbrough, Simoes said: "No, I don't know him; we have to check. I will look at him. What position does he play? There are other players whose names were given to me and I will look at them," he said.
Even retired midfielder Andy Williams, 30, who said he is willing to come out of retirement for Jamaica's World Cup campaign, will be given a chance, said Simoes.
"There are no players out of my plan; he is in the plan. Andy, Jermaine Johnson. I discuss with Ricardo Fuller, so I have the team in my mind, so we have to give chance to players.
"We cannot fix 11 players because World Cup qualifiers are two years. We need a big group of players all committed and know that they are playing for Jamaica. If they decide about that they have a chance," Simoes noted.
The TD was disappointed with the criticism of the number of Portmore United players in the team for the recent friendly against Trinidad & Tobago.
"The issue about the Portmore players, we should not think about that. In the '90s everybody was concerned about the western players because every player was from Seba, Violet Kickers and Wadadah.
"If I'm not wrong, it was 15 players from these three clubs, now it is 17 players from Portmore, Waterhouse and Harbour View, because these three clubs are the best ones right now".
According to Simoes, nobody manipulates his selection.
"I have the co-ordinators and I approve or disapprove. We try to make a very good organisation right now," he stated.
Paul Marin -19 is one thing, 20 is a whole other matter. It gets even worse if they win the UCL. *groan*. 
05/18/2011.MU fans naah cough, but all a unuh a vomit?-Lazie 1/11/2015
...and have consistently defended or at least asked us to 'step back' and take a second look when the criticisms of Simoes and other coaches (Laza, Downswell, CB, George Thompson and others) 'swell'...
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