5-3-2
Formation for the Boyz?
October 12, 2003
Leicester
City, England
Many Jamaican supporters have long called for a change
from the 4-4-2 formation employed by technical director
Carl Brown. They want a more secure system. Well, it appears
they are about to get their wish.
Whether the
change was brought about by the fact that Jamaica's Reggae
Boyz will be facing arguably the most potent attack in
world football, five-times world champions, Brazil, is
up for debate.
What isn't
debatable is that the Boyz, who oppose Brazil here at
Walkers Stadium at 3:00 pm tomorrow (9:00 am local time),
practised the 5-3-2 formation with some degree of enjoyment
and comfort at Leicester City's training ground yesterday.
"It (5-3-2
formation) is an option that we have always looked at,"
Brown said after the session yesterday. "... We have
been playing the 4-4-2 formation for a long while now.
We have not played the 5-3-2 and there is that little
thought of playing it in this game... We always said we
were prepared to adjust whenever necessary, so this could
be the game."
At practice
yesterday were Claude Davis, back from injury, Tyrone
Marshall and Frank Sinclair marshalling central defence,
with Ricardo Gardner on the left and Craig Ziadie operating
on the right. In midfield were Theodore Whitmore, who
is also just returning from injury, Richard Langley and
James Lawrence. Ricardo Fuller and Deon Burton were pairing
as the frontmen and Donovan Ricketts tended goal.
Brown was satisfied
with the defensive co-ordination of the players. "I
am pretty satisfied with what I saw out there today (yesterday)...
there is always a good sync whenever Claude is inside
the central defence. He takes so much command of the team
around the back which tends to offer some comfort,"
said Brown.
While the 5-3-2
format appears to be uppermost in his mind, the football
boss is also harbouring thoughts of utilising a 5-4-1
formation. He will make a "final decision" today.
At yesterday's
near 90-minute session which started under nippy conditions,
the players were taken through drills which emphasised
quality passing, as well as getting used to the Nike Brazilian
balls, specially brought in for tomorrow's game.
They then followed
up with an intra-squad game, with Davis, Whitmore, Fuller
and Burton sharing the spotlight.
"We
wanted to do some defensive and attacking work and I am
satisfied with what we got," said Brown. "There
are one or two little things that I would like to work
on defensively, but we will meet as a team tomorrow (today)
and talk about them."
Meanwhile it appears that Brazil is taking this game seriously.
In an practice match with Leicester City youth team Coach
Pereira requested "strong wingers" suggesting
that the Brazillian ace respects Jamaica's flank attacks.
He was also quoted as saying:
"When
teams play Brazil it is the game of their lives. It is
their World Cup final and every team has the spirit and
enthusiasm to play Brazil. We
have no fear of any team, but we have to take Jamaica
seriously."
Brazil
will be without the services of midfield ace Ronaldhino
who turned up injured.
Today's
game will be televised live in the USA on Telemundo at
1pm EST.
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Boyz
to face full strength Brazil!!!!
September 26,
2003
SUBJECT
to the formal approval of the English Football Association,
Jamaica's Reggae Boyz will meet star-studded world champions,
Brazil, in a friendly international on October 12 in London,
Captain Horace Burrell, president of the Jamaica Football
Federation, announced yesterday.
Jamaica
have played Brazil twice, drawing 0-0 and losing 0-1 to
an under-strength team at the CONCACAF Gold Cup in the
United States in early 1998.
He
described this as Jamaica's "biggest ever friendly
international" on what is a FIFA-approved date for
football internationals.
Burrell
said Brazil would field Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos, Cafu
(captain), Rivaldo, Ronaldinho, Kaka and "all the
other (top Brazilian) players".
He
said all arrangements were already in place, apart from
the formal approval of the English FA, for the game to
be played on English soil. Confirmation of the English
FA's approval should come within 48 hours, he said. He
did not name a match venue.
A
United States company, Tropic Sports, will promote the
game and arrangements are being made for the two national
television stations to show it live.
"We
have been trying for about two years to get this game...,"
Burrell said. "It took a lot of persuasion, a lot
of... talking and negotiations and so on and believe me
I only got confirmation a short while ago...," he
added.
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Five
Boyz on Target!
September 21,
2003
In
form Jamaican Reggae Boyz, Ricardo Fuller and Onandi Lowe,
led a cluster of Caribbean scorers in English football
on Saturday evening.
Fuller's goal
for Preston North End helped them to a 4-1 win over Rotherham,
who got their goal from another Jamaican international,
Darren Byfield.
Lowe
scored for Rushden & Diamonds in a 2-1 loss to Bournemouth,
while Trinidad and Tobago's Dennis Lawrence and Jamaican
internationals, Kevin Lisbie and Richard Langley, also
made the scoring headlines.
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Coach under
fire!
A
disjointed Jamaica Lost 2-1 to the Aussies. Its time
for a change in coaching staff made obvious by the severe
tactical weakness of the National Team's play. The programme
has much more talent than what Rene Simoes had and yet
the team looks so much unlike 'a team'. Severe weaknesses
in methods have been pointed out by local and foreign
coaches, to their peril. Just as we need professional
players, we need a professional coaching staff. There
is no space in the program for amatuers if our beloved
Boyz are to qualify for the next World Cup.
- such is the word of the man in the
street.
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Boyz
to face Socceroos
August, 2003
SYDNEY
(AFP) -- Australia will take on the Reggae Boyz of Jamaica
in a football international at Reading in England on September
7, Soccer Australia (SA) said yesterday. It will be Australia's
second international in the United Kingdom in just under
three weeks following a scheduled match against the Republic
of Ireland in Dublin on August 19.
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Viduka
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National
coach Frank Farina said he expected all the Australian
players to be available for the game, including Harry
Kewell, Mark Viduka and midfielder Brett Emerton, who
has recently joined Blackburn Rovers.
"It's
being played in London and it's in the FIFA dates so I
don't see any problems there," he said. Soccer Australia,
slowly rebuilding under the chairmanship of property billionaire
Frank Lowy, are expecting a large contingent of Australian
fans, holidaying and working in the UK, to support the
team at Reading's Madejski Stadium, to the west of London.
"Jamaica will prove to be an opponent that provides
the Socceroos with a different football style to their
recent European experience," acting SA chief executive
Richard Johnson said in a statement. "As this is
the Socceroos' first match on neutral territory we urge
all Australian fans living in the United Kingdom and continental
Europe to support them in Reading as we continue to prepare
the team on our ultimate goal of qualification for the
2006 World Cup finals in Germany."
Farina is looking for matches to consolidate the overseas-based
team following their historic 3-1 win over England in
London last February and said Ireland would provide a
stern challenge.
"Look, I honestly believe Ireland will be very, very
tough," Farina said. "They're a quality side
and I think their collectiveness and the way they play
as a team, they maybe have less what you'd call superstars
than England, but collectively I think they play better
as a team at the moment than England were back in February.
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Carl
Brown reflects on Jamaica's 5-0 loss
Tuesday, July 22, 2003
Mexico
City, Mexico -- Jamaica's technical director, Carl Brown,
says a poor approach by his players contributed significantly
to their 5-0 loss to Mexico here in the CONCACAF Gold
Cup on Sunday.
Goals by Omar Bravo, Rafael Garcia, Daniel Osorno, Jared
Borgetti and Juan Pablo Rodriquez sunk the Reggae Boyz,
who reached the quarter-final of the tournament after
finishing second to Colombia in first round play in Miami.
As has happened on every previous occasion, the Jamaican
players struggled in the unaccustomed thin air of high-altitude
Mexico City and the early afternoon heat didn't help.
To make matters worse, the Jamaicans started without first
choice centre-backs Claude Davis and Tyrone Marshall because
of injury and striker, Onandi Lowe, because of a red card
suspension. And two minutes into the game, the Jamaicans
lost the very experienced Andy Williams to injury. But
even with all the handicaps, Brown also felt the players
let themselves down badly on the field.
"We already knew it would be tough playing against
Mexico and then you lose three of your starting players
and then a fourth one just after two minutes, it always
was going to be uphill from there," lamented Brown
after the game. "... But apart from that we did basic
things badly, we didn't pass the ball with any quality
and any sort of authority and we allowed the Mexicans
to have too much possession. When you allow Mexico 70
to 80 per cent of the football you always are going to
find yourself with your back against the wall," he
added. Brown also stated that his game plan of keeping
the Mexicans at bay early in the game worked well up to
a point, but the Boyz couldn't take over the game because
the midfielders were hesitant to support the attacking
plays, preferring to stay back and conserve on energy.
"We were not able to keep possession of the ball,
especially up front and the ball just kept coming back,"
said Brown, adding: " ... and the defenders and midfielders
became a protective wall instead of a supporting wall.
They laid back, wouldn't go forward when the ball did
and that created more problems than anything else.
"Whenever we lose a game we are disappointed. It
was very tough and the result is disappointing for our
programme," he said.
Editor's
Comments:
What's that saying? When you fail
to prepare, prepare to fail.
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Jamaica
beat Guatemala 2-0 in Gold Cup
Wednesday, July 16, 2003
MIAMI--
Jamaica's Reggae Boyz last night qualified for the quarter-
finals of the 2003 CONCACAF Gold Cup whenthey
blanked Guatemala 2-0 at the Orange Bowl. Played in
front of 10,323 spectators, the Reggae Boyz struck through
Onandi Lowe in the 30th minute and a 69th-minute penalty
by Andy Williams.
MIAMI, USA-- Jamaica's Onandi Lowe
(right) drives past Guatemala's Mynor Ivan Gonzalez
during the Gold Cup encounter between the two
teams last night. Jamaica won
2-0 with Lowe scoring the first goal. He was later
sent off. (Photo:AFP)
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Early
in the second half, Lowe turned from hero to villain
as he stupidly charged a defender, Edgar Valencia,
to pick up his second yellow card thus reducing
his team to 10 players with 40 minutes remaining.
Jamaica now await the result of tomorrow's game
between Colombia and Guatemala to determine whether
they win the Group and stay in Miami or finish
second and travel to high altitude Mexico City
for their quarter-final on Sunday.
Jamaica went in front in fine style. Ricardo Gardner
picked out Lowe with a peach of a pass. The Rushden
and Diamonds hitman received the pass on the turn
and before Guatemalan goalkeeping skipper Edgar
Estrada knew what was happening, a scud missile-like
left foot shot rocked his net.
The Reggae Boyz almost allowed the Guatemalans
back in the game a minute later when Donovan Ricketts
had to leave his line to deny the dangerous Carlos
Ruiz. Jamaica had a glorious chance to increase
the lead in the 41st minute when Lowe released
Darren Byfield but the Rotherham striker missed
the net. |
The temperamental Lowe, who had earlier picked up a
yellow card for dissent, was sent off in the 50th minute.
But Jamaica continued to match the Central Americans
in terms of chances as the ball swung from end to end.
The penalty came in the 69th minute, as Andy Williams,
dribbling deep inside the box, was brought down. His
shot was sensationally blocked by Estrada, but the match
officials ruled that the goalkeeper had left his line
illegally and ordered the penalty retaken. Williams
made no mistake with a right foot blast, second time
up, to make the game safe for Jamaica.
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Patino's
strike sinks Jamaica
Monday, July 14, 2003
MIAMI,
Florida -- A 42nd-minute strike by midfielder, Jairo Patino
was enough for Colombia to escape with a 1-0 victory over
Jamaica in their opening Zone B 2003 CONCACAF Gold Cup
game at the Orange Bowl here yesterday.
Played before 15,423 spectators under South Florida's
treacherous summer heat and humidity, the teams faltered
under the conditions, particularly Jamaica, in the last
15 minutes of the first half.
It was during this period that Colombia, the reigning
South American champions, got the lone goal as Jamaica's
Reggae Boyz literally stalled on the pitch.
"I believe both teams suffered out there," admitted
Jamaica's technical director Carl Brown. "I saw the
Colombian team and they really weren't doing any better
than our team in terms of dealing with the heat ... it's
probably that they got some energy because they got that
goal, but I believe all the teams will be affected by
the heat," said Brown.
Jamaican midfielder, Richard Langley also blamed the elements.
"We played twice in Jamaica and it was hot, but nothing
compared to what we experienced today (yesterday),"
he said at a post-game press conference, "but we
will just have to adjust quickly. "It was a tough
game due to the conditions ... we also knew that it would
be tough against the South Americans and we probably spent
too much energy doing the wrong things in the first half.
We changed that in the second half and did to them what
they were doing to us. We showed great team spirit in
the way we came back in the second half," added the
Queen's Park Rangers player.
The South Americans were quickly out of the blocks with
Patino testing goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts with a grounder
in the opening minute of the game. However, the Reggae
Boyz quickly found their rhythm, primarily through Bolton
Wanderer's left sided midfielder, Ricardo Gardner who
found space to penetrate the Colombian right flank. On
one occasion he fired wide of the target, and on another
his teasing cross rolled agonizingly across the face of
the goal but no Jamaica player was present to finish.
A minute later midfielder, Mauricio Molina, who proved
a handful throughout, just failed to hit the target when
his torrid left-footed effort from just outside the penalty
area, slammed against Donovan Ricketts' crossbar.
Shortly thereafter and the Jamaicans' legs began giving
way, allowing the Colombians to take control of midfield
and indeed the whole pitch. No Reggae Boy appeared eager
to venture forward, or even to get out of a jog to track
down their opponents. It was, therefore, no surprise when
Patino opened the scoring. The midfielder, allowed to
waltz with the ball, played a neat give-and-go with striker,
Jairo Castillo, and literally walked around Ricketts to
slot home, as the Jamaicans looked on helplessly. And
on the stroke of half-time Ricketts, who was in fine fettle,
had to scramble off his line to thwart Castillo.
Brown thought that period cost his team the game. "We
fell down on the tight marking in the last 15 minutes
of the first half," conceded the coach.
Six minutes after the resumption Ricketts, after being
deserted by his defenders, called on all his experience
to deny Castillo's cheeky chip, after the Colombian was
sent clear one-on-one with the Village United custodian.
The Boyz then slowly reasserted themselves and created
a few chances of their own, but neither Andy Williams,
Theodore Whitmore nor Gardner could make any of those
opportunities count.
At the other end Molina was still forcing Ricketts into
saves, whenever he got the chance. Substitute Omar Daley
broke free on the left from a corner kick, but the Reggae
Boy dribbled to the penalty area before wasting his effort
with a poor attempt at goal. Moments later Whitmore weaved
his way into the penalty area and shot at Farid Mondragon's
near post when a better option would have been a cross
to substitute, Onandi Lowe at the far post. The goalkeeper
parried the effort which fell to the onrushing Daley,
whose powerful right-footer was just held by a diving
Mondragon.
In
time added, Lowe controlled Gardner's cross beautifully
on his chest and fired at goal, but the ball rebounded
into the path of Jamie Lawrence, who could only help it
over the top from close range.
The defeat leaves the Boyz in a must-win situation for
tomorrow night's game against Central American side, Guatemala,
while the Colombians are now well-placed to advance to
the next round. They take on Guatemala on Thursday.
With the performance of his Boyz in the second half, Brown
thought that his team deserved more from the game. "If
we look at the stats we should have at least got a draw,"
he said, adding: "I still believe we have a very
good chance of advancing ... we came here prepared to
play five games and that's still our aim.
"I believe the second half we paced ourselves better,
we were going much better than the Colombian team and
it is at this time that you really have to get this goal
and we really just didn't do that ... it's just about
putting away your chances ú you play a game like
this and end up losing 1-0," lamented Brown.
Team: Donovan Ricketts, Claude Davis, Tyrone Marshall,
Craig Ziadie, Michael Johnson (Fabian Taylor 82nd), Ricardo
Gardner, Jamie Lawrence, Theodore Whitmore, Richard Langley
(Omar Daley 60th), Darren Byfield (Onandi Lowe 60th) and
Andy Williams.
Booked: Lawrence (88th).
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Ralph
on target as Fire beat Galaxy
September
25, 2003
Jamaican
forward, Damani Ralph registered a goal and an assist
as the Chicago Fire edged the Los Angeles Galaxy, 3-2,
in their Lamar Hunt US Open semifinal Tuesday night.
Ralph
set up the game's opening goal in the 55th minute and
scored eight minutes later.
Ante
Razov sent Chicago 3-0 up in the 69th minute, but the
home side had to fend off an impressive late rally from
LA as Alejandro Moreno and Arturo Torres struck goals
in the last 20 minutes to narrow the gap at the Cardinal
Stadium.
The
second-half five-goal show started eight minutes after
the break when Ralph crossed from the left for Beasley
to score.
Ralph,
having a splendid season -- a rookie record 11 goals --
in the Major League Soccer, made it 2-0 when he knocked
in an Evan Whitfield cross from six yards. |
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Davis
to join Preston North End
Tuesday, July 22, 2003
The
24-year-old Portmore United player is scheduled to depart
the island today for England to join Division One outfit,
Preston North End, the club of compatriot, Ricardo Fuller.
"It's like a dream come true. It has been a long-time
plan, a long-term goal," beamed Davis, who has steadily
progressed to being one of Jamaica's top central defenders.
"But it all depends on a work permit," warned
Davis, who did not participate in the 5-0 crushing Jamaica
received from Mexico on Sunday as he was given two weeks
to recover from an ankle injury he sustained against Guatemala
last week Tuesday.
Davis received a call from Preston's manager, Craig Brown,
yesterday, instructing him to travel to England today
for a press conference tomorrow.
To acquire a work permit from the English government,
a player would have had to participate in 75 per cent
of his country's games over the past two years.
Preston's medical staff has undertaken to treat Davis
while he recovers.
The player's agent, Phil Graham, has confirmed the one-year
deal, noting that a lower league was deliberately chosen
in order to guarantee the defender a first-team place.
However, no transfer deal was made public and Davis has
yet to agree to personal terms.
Davis, meanwhile, was being pursued by two other English
League clubs, Walsall from Division One and Birmingham
City from the Premiership.
Davis' Portmore United teammate, Omar Dailey, is also
scheduled to travel today to join an English club on preseason
training.
Editor's
Note: Davis was signed for one year to PNE.
PNE's
Brown Considers back three
(Teamtalk)
Preston
manager Craig Brown admits he is still mulling over whether
to accommodate new signing Claude Davis in a three-man
central defence.
Although
fit and now boasting the residency permit which allows
him to live in Britain, Davis is competing with Chris
Lucketti and Michael Jackson for a place.
Brown
said: "I won't slot Claude in automatically.
"Neither
Lucketti or Jackson deserve to be left out, so the only
way we can slot him in is to go to a three-man defence
which is a possibility. "But it doesn't mean to say
we're going to put him right in."
Fuller,
Lowe score again English Nationwide
Sunday, August 17, 2003
JAMAICANS Ricardo Fuller and Onandi Lowe were both on
the scoresheet for their clubs as the English Nationwide
football tournaments continued yesterday.
Fuller, who in midweek missed a penalty which knocked
his club Preston North End (PNE) out of the Carling Cup
in a 7-6 penalty shoot-out loss against Notts County,
expertly put the ball into the back of the net in the
86th minute to earn PNE a 1-1 tie against Wigan in the
English First Division. Lee McCulloch rescued a point
for his team with an 89th -minute strike.
Lowe was on target when he headed in a cross by Gary Mills
in the 54th minute to give Rushden and Diamonds a 2-1
win over Plymouth in the Division Two. Vincentian, Rodney
Jack, made it 2-0 for Rushden in the 56th minute when
he latched onto a bad back pass from Lee Hodges before
beating Romain Larrieu in the visitors' goal.
Lowe's opener was his third goal of the week. Plymouth
reduced the lead when Tony Capaldi scored in the 77th
minute, but the Diamonds, with another Reggae Boyz, Paul
Hall, also in their line-up, stayed strong for the win.
In Scotland, Jamaica's captain, Theodore Whitmore was
impressive in midfield for his new club Livingston who
beat Motherwell 1-0 on a Derek Lilley goal.
Daley
granted work permit
Tuesday, August 19, 2003
National
midfielder, Omar Daley, could make his debut with English
First Division club, Reading FC reserves tomorrow against
Northampton after his application for a work permit was
granted yesterday.
Daley will be available for first team selection on Saturday
when the 'Royals' play Derby County.
"I have played a lot in this country, including a
spell at Everton alongside Wayne Rooney, so I think I
know what to expect," Daley was quoted as saying
on the website, Ananova.
"I have been made very welcome at Reading and had
no hesitation in joining them ...," he added.
Jermaine
Johnson not bothered about demotion
Tuesday, August 19, 2003
Bolton
Wanderers midfielder Jermaine "Teddy" Johnson
says he has no problems in dropping down to Division Three
outfit, Yeovil Town.
Johnson, who is in the final year of his contract at Bolton
and is unlikely to feature in the first team at present,
agreed to join the 'Glovers' on a one-month loan last
week, and according to the 23 year-old he is happy at
the prospect of getting first team football once more
at Huish Park.
"I'm not worried about leaving Bolton to play in
the Third Division because I need first team football
to get my place back and Yeovil can help me do that,"
he told BBC Sports.
Yeovil, who won the conference league last season by a
clear 17 points, is described as a "very ambitious
club" managed by former coach of Cambridge, Watford
and the Latvia national team, Gary Johnson.
They have won their first two games of the season, and
according to Jermaine Johnson he is looking forward to
adding to their success.
"I'm excited about playing for them because they
are a good team who pass the ball around a lot,"
he said.
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