IS IT THE LACK OF CHEMISTRY OR THE LACK OF COACHING?

Three days before Jamaica’s World Cup Qualifying game against Panama at the National Stadium, some of the UK-based Reggae Boyz were at Mandela Park doing meet and greets with a gathering of football fans and members of the media. The event was put on by Coca Cola. Television Jamaica’s Morning Time host Neville Bell conducted interviews with the Boyz – Lloyd Doyley, Marvin Elliott, Theo Robinson, Rudolph Austin, and Jermaine ‘Teddy’ Johnson – and the crowd was happy to see them.

Konshens provided the musical entertainment and the energy was high. Tamara Ward, Coca Cola’s Country Manager, explained to me then that the event and others like it to come, were planned to get Jamaica to connect with the players so that together they could build a vibe as Jamaica tried to make it to only their second World Cup in Brazil next year. Ward said they wanted to create the kind of energy around the Boyz similar to that which the country experienced during the Road to France campaign in 1997. After two lacklustre performances; a 1-1 draw here at home against Panama on March 22 and an even worse performance in losing to Costa Rica in Costa Rica on March 26, getting John Public to connect with these Reggae Boyz might just become a harder sell.

Against Costa Rica on Tuesday night, the Jamaican team looked ordinary but near the end of the game, just before they gave up a second goal to the home team, the Boyz actually looked like the team that people expected them to be. For a very brief period, they attacked with numbers and created a few good scoring opportunities. They were missed opportunities, like two clear cut ones from Jermaine Beckford and Luton Shelton respectively in the first half, that Jamaica would come to rue.

The question then on everyone’s minds is, “What is wrong with the Reggae Boyz?’ Many people close to the 2013 version of the Reggae Boyz insist that this team possesses much better talent than the ’98 campaigners. Warren Barrett, the goalkeeper from ’98 and who is now the goal-keeping coach, agrees that there is now better talent but the chemistry in ’98 was much better. Could that be the bug-bear of this team that has promised so much but has so far delivered so little in this final round of qualifying?

On that morning that the players were in Half-Way Tree, Bell, who besides his skills as an affable and talented broadcaster is also the hugely successful coach of St. George’s College’s all-conquering Manning Cup team, reveals that the pool of players selected for the campaign is perhaps the most talented ever to represent Jamaica but he presented an interesting caveat. “Whitmore now needs to be careful,” he said. “Because he needs now not to necessarily select the best players for the team but the right players.”

After three rounds of matches, it seems as if Bell is onto something. Against Mexico the team delivered a historic performance, stealing a point at the Azteca on February 6. During that match they demonstrated great discipline and suffered a bit of mixed fortune but came away with a much-needed point. Since that time however, chemistry seems to be absent. The players seemed lost against Panama, giving up possession after every three or four passes and never looked threatening until Marvin Elliot scored from a corner in what many believe was against the run of play. Panama dominated play after that and got a deserved equalizer.

Against Costa Rica, the team never seemed capable of beating the home team that looked very beatable. In fact, I would venture to say that had this Costa Rican team been a little less fortunate playing before their home crowd estimated at about 35,000, they could have gone 1-0 down very early to Jamaica had Beckford not muffed a very good chance after being released by Luton Shelton on the left side of the box early in the first half. Shelton also muffed an easy chance later on in the half.

For the most part the team looked flat. They seemed disjointed and they kept giving the ball away, especially in the defensive third of the field and was what caused both goals that they eventually conceded. The non-cohesive play could be a factor of chemistry but I do believe that there is a glaring weakness in the coaching as well. The team’s play I feel is a reflection of weak coaching as even without chemistry, these professional players don’t seem to be playing to a clearly defined plan. We don’t see them shutting down the dangerous opposing players, we don’t seem them playing with an understanding of what their respective roles are. We could also be using the incorrect formation in both attack and defense. It’s kind of like putting kids in a classroom to take a test that they were never prepared for.

Then there is the logic or the lack thereof. Jermaine Beckford had barely played before he was named starter in the Panama match. If you recall he was called up for the Mexico match in February and got injured immediately after and did not play. He only recently recovered and had not played much. So starting him made little sense. Starting him again on Tuesday night made even lesser sense. Why not start with Robinson, who had a decent game against Panama and Jermaine Johnson who also played well in the 12 or so minutes he had against Panama. He had an immediate impact against Costa Rica once he was brought on in the second half. Imagine what he might have done had he been allowed to start?

In the match against Panama, the sudden loss of Nyron Nosworthy negatively impacted the team and I believe contributed to the goal that the team conceded to bring Panama level. On Tuesday night, both goals were conceded by a defence that was asleep at the wheel. The first goal happened in slow motion with the defenders sleepwalking through the sequence of events until the ball was in the back of the net. The second was equally embarrassing with one player getting the better of three or four defenders and then slotting the ball home from an acute angle. But if Nosworthy’s absence was a factor in the draw against Panama, what was the cause of the debacle in Costa Rica. Surely, that cannot be put down exclusively to the lack of chemistry?

The math is that after three of ten rounds Jamaica is at the bottom of the table with two points and one goal scored. They have given up three. Those results are not trending in the right direction. The energy has been sucked out of the campaign. We wait to hear what Captain Burrell has to say about this performance. Earlier this year he had expressed confidence in his coaching staff. I wonder what he is thinking now?

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16 Responses to “IS IT THE LACK OF CHEMISTRY OR THE LACK OF COACHING?”

Donovan Bower says:

March 27, 2013 at 4:49 pm

If you were flying from Jamaica to Brasil, would you hire a pilot who had never flown multiple times successfully to Brasil? Coach Whitmore is doing his best flying a plane that he was only a passenger on during his only previous trip. Look at who Brasil chooses to be their coach? Only previously successful coaches, supported by numerous other veteran coaches. It’s a tough and long journey, everything has to be micro-analyzed…tactics, player chemistry, fitness, speed-skill level of opponents, size of field, etc, etc. We used five offensive players currently or formerly based in England, however we only saw two crosses with players going to the net. Our attacking mid is too slow to keep up with our two forwards, and to close the middle when we lose the ball. His clumsy feet were responsible for the free kick that led to the first goal. He was caught up on every attack and the score would’ve been worse if the refs didn’t flag 3 of Saborino’s runs, which were really onside. Mariappa played stopper & sweeper this game, the other defenders are not world cup level. The left back has good offensive instincts and gets back. This team needs 2 defensive mids, if we’re going to use so many offensive players who cant get back. McAnuff is the only one who plays disciplined. We should beg Rene Simones to come back, he has an understanding of what players compliment each other, how many speedy/skilful players are needed to control a game, & how to prepare for different opponents. Costa Rica did the same as Panama. We have no system to close the center of the field and games can’t be controlled and utimately won without that!
juan mayor says:

March 28, 2013 at 6:38 am

I think both,looking at the game there were no clear mission on what we are here to do,lack of technical support.
southy says:

March 28, 2013 at 9:23 am

we wont be going anywhere with that midfield and Luton Shelton.midfield is too slow and cant pass.Shelton just runs like a headless chicken.the coach is clueless.no in game adjustments .Nosworthy,Mariappa and McAnuff are the only worthy imports.the rest could have stayed and we could have found players of similar quality at home
hlynch says:

March 29, 2013 at 6:31 am

After several days of what was a debacle in Costa Rico, there has been no assertive response from Captain Burrell and the JFF hierarchy. Clearly he must address all aspects of this campaign apart from making ‘powder puff’ comments about the up coming Mexico game in June. I suspect that he is being someone coy since he is the architect of this latest setback.

The first thing that should be addressed is the coaching staff; I’m begging any Jamaican football official or anyone that has the ears of the JFF to please talk some sense into Burrell. Theodore Whitmore though a good player in his playing days is not a consistent or astute Technical Director. It just does not translate. “How long should we continue to pay for two meaningless goals against Japan in 1998”?

The personnel and philosophy which should be the brain child of the Technical Director must be immediately addressed. Here are my suggestions for a solution; if we are going to stay local, give the job of National coach to Neville ‘Bertis’ Bell. He is a great tactician, communicator and successful coach at the school boy level.

Please don’t bring back Beckford, Elliot, McCleary and Doyley. We have more than capable personnel that we have cultivated locally, and it cost much less to amalgamate them into the program. We cannot truly say these players are better than Mattocks, Decoy Williams, Cousins, Tuffy Anderson, Vernon or Jermaine Hue?

Jamaica’s problem has always been a disregard and lack of love for our own, what we produce, what we know. We continue to have a foreign taste and that has been our down fall at all levels. Just look how we have to be groveling at the IMF feet! Our greatest assets are often times right in front of us, but we are too farsighted.

“Captain Burrell please make the change now before it is too late, because those Mexicans will be coming with blood in their eyes and we have to change direction to match their intensity. If you don’t then you are really committing football suicide and your administration should not survive the failure of this campaign.
CE Senior says:

March 29, 2013 at 4:19 pm

I’ve not fully processed the game last evening against Costa Rica but one thing for sure what I saw on display was woeful from both teams and I’m not convinced that Costa Rica is two goals better than Jamaica. We played with little or no ambition both in offence and defence. What was surprising was our inability to make some simple passes consistently. No one seemed to have gotten the ‘feel’ of the field. Our midfield was out of sorts with Austin having one of his, now consistent, poor games. There is an absolute disconnect from one third to the next. It therefore begs the question…what was the plan going into this game? It was clear in my mind and that of my son that no thought was given to playing against Costa Rica.

Upfront we had two players, woefully out of form for their clubs, getting simple chances to put away. The fact that they missed didn’t surprise me. They weren’t convincing in training leading up to the Panama game or even during that game. So nothing much could have changed in such a short time. They both have poor scoring returns for their respective clubs; at least this season. So they both got a failing grade in this game 3/10. Let’s hope that Mattocks will be recalled to the National squad and given a long run and for Shelton, the country’s leading goalscorer, to get back in form before the next set of WCQ.

With almost no cohesion between the four midfield players again it wasn’t surprising the way they played. What was totally shocking was the inordinately long time for the coaching staff to make the changes and still they got those wrong. Austin should’ve been the first to exit with a proper ball handler in Hue taking his place. I’m sure he couldn’t have done any worst. And with our forwards constantly taking up real estate on the flanks our wide midfielders ie McAnuff and McClearly were forced to seek refuge in an already clustered, by the Costa Ricans, middle of the park. Yet we could hardly pass the ball 10yards without turning it over. I believe with time Elliot will be a good player for Jamaica but I’ve seen Jason Morrison and Rohan Reid looking much better in a similar position. Collectively they get 4/10.

I’ve always believed that Jermaine Taylor is not a good player at the International level and with Nosworthy out the JFF selected Phinn, not a bad choice, to replace him. And as I figured he would be a spectator. Phinn is a much better reader of the game and a better man marker. I do believe that we have in the youngster Carlos Wright of Boys Town easily the best man marker in the RSPL. Taylor was squarely at the center of us losing this game and not for the first time. Doyley seemed sure footed but certainly not as ‘good’ as a fit Xavian Virgo. ‘Peel Head’ Phillips had an unusually average game. This can be attributed to the lack of space on the left flank that nullified his opportunities to go forward. Mariappa was his usual self and I’m sure, like all of of us, missed his partner at central defence. I’ve said my piece on Taylor already and trust the adjustments will be made for the next set of WCQ games. I beg of the selectors to look pass the club that young Wright plays for and reward him with even a ‘call up’. Plus we have another youngster, recently signed to Seattle Sounder – MLS, Ashani Fairclough. He was a Wolmers and Jamaica youth stand out before going off to College and now making the step into professional football. He his highly regarded by the Sounders. Even though we let in two goals I believe Ricketts had a decent game in goal and is getting back to his LA Galaxy days form. Taylor gets a 2/10, Phillips 5/10, Mariappa 6/10, Doyley 5/10 and Rickets 6/10.

Dane Richards, who played a pivotal role in the last round of WCQ, needs to be played. Theo Robinson certainly brings some excitement to the team and looked good in training. Maybe if they were injected earlier they could’ve had more impact.

We can keep this nucleus of players together with some subtractions and certain additions that were mentioned earlier, we may just be looking at 2018 with some certainty.

It is clearer now, as if it wasn’t already crystal, that Burrell and Whitmore together have outlived their usefulness to Jamaica’s football. The entire programme is stagnant and need a fresh thinking and attitude. My fervent hope is that either John Barnes or Robbie Earle and dare I say Bertis Bell will be ready to take up the reigns when called upon. As for the post of top JFF Administrator…..I’m thinking I couldn’t do worse than Captain for sure!!!!! Collectively they get 3/10.

Strike up the band, It’s time to rise up and be true to ourselves. We will go to RIO but only if we pay our way!!!
nemoKid says:

March 29, 2013 at 9:39 pm

Lets face it Jamaica sneak into the HEX via the back door Captain Burrell and most fans realized that the team needed more fire power especially since we have to to the grave yard
call Central/ North America to play 5 games
so he went to the old France 98 playbook and went UK shopping
only problem the team don’t have time to jell and the coaching and team selection is head scratcher
there is stll time to fix this but the window is closing fast
A.Powell says:

March 30, 2013 at 1:48 am

Maybe the Captain has to use his superb negotiation skills and persuade Marlon King to come out of retirement and help out.We desperately need a potent striker.What about Jeffery Maxwell for national coaching duties?
george says:

March 30, 2013 at 4:50 am

i think is lack of coaching,the reason why i said that his because jamaica as the rest of the carribbean island is playing carribbean soccer,they need to regroup, and fire their present coach and hire a more international coach,that know international soccer and not jamaica soccer.first of all jamaica need to position themself by palying not only good at home but also on thee road,they not even playing good at home,plus theodore whitmore need to let go or dump,he was a good player
in his days but not good enough to be a coach.
as a matter of facts even the techical director need to letgo trash all of them
dvAn says:

March 30, 2013 at 5:52 am

If you can’t control and pass properly not even Pep Guardolia nor Sir Alex can help you. Tappa you get the proverbial basket to carry water !
Intel sign!!?? says:

March 31, 2013 at 7:02 pm

My vote is for “lack of decent coaching.” For the rest of you who keep speculating about hue, tuffy, et and how good they. Did we not get eliminated with some of that local lot? Do these players get exposed to a variety of style besides what Mobay united has to offer. Plz get the delusion. Talented local players and coach are a rarity. We have a rag tagged league with poor infrastructure and football knowledge that comes from watching the game on TV. What we are missing is a coach staff that could blend the talent of all our players born local and abroad. It’s not like we abroad are not contributing to keep that basket case economy from further tanking.
hlynch says:

April 1, 2013 at 5:07 am

What has happen to Rohan Reid, this guy was one of the better defenders that I saw in the 2011 Gold Cup. He is tall has good ball sense and can tackle. He combined well with Decoy Williams another defender with size, before he went down to a foot injury. It is the case that all our promising local players are always being discarded. They are not being given a fair chance to compete for jobs on the national team. Let us begin to look at our advantages and use them to counter the Mexicans and the Americans; one of which is size. Size combine with speed and skill will win the day. Change however must begin at the top.
Senior Smith says:

April 1, 2013 at 4:27 pm

Not a football coach, but as an organization technician I’ll say this. Coach Whitmore reminds me of a boss I once had, generally respected once, but had a ‘maturity’ weakness….rather remain stubborn and watch the ‘ship’ sink instead of choosing the RIGHT PLAYERS. Isn’t true to say that Jermaine Hue has statistically in the past showed if used properly seem to be on winning Jamaican teams at the Concacaf levels?
Mer says:

April 1, 2013 at 6:27 pm

Coach is the problem, he is not using the players correctly. These players in my opinion is the best ever talent that jamaica ever had. Talking about local player, we have a very short memory, remember a few months ago they lost to the weak carribbean teams using local players and couldn’t even make the gold cup. The solution is, fire the current coach and get someone good, if not we are not going anywhere.
Woody says:

April 6, 2013 at 7:14 pm

We need a coach who understands strategy and can game plan according to the opposition. It is clear that we are not playing with any purpose and the players do not know what to expect of each other on or off the ball. We have much better players than the USA but they consistently beat us because they have a system and the players play within the system for each other.
With due respect to Tappa he has no coaching resume that would qualify him for even an MLS coaching job let alone preparing a team for the most prestigious football tournament in the world. Everything rises and fall with leadership and right now our team needs leadership so Tappa must go.
Rick says:

April 8, 2013 at 8:13 am

Whili I will agree that ‘Tappa’ is in over his head, the problem is a much larger one. If the administration doesn’t see football as a business and treat it as such, then our results will continue to be the same. If you look at the successful teams, they play instinctively as opposed to thinking about every move. Instinctive football playing comes as a result of (talent) and being familiar with each other. One cant acheive this level of familiarity, when you are brought into camp four days before a major fixture. We need to 1. Hire competent administrators
2. Hire a good coach (one who has been vetted)
3. Allow that coach to pick his own staff
4. Realize that football is a business and treat it like one
Gerald says:

April 29, 2013 at 9:32 am

I i have been saying this Jamaica needs a coach an the fren thing have to leave place for the guys who truely love an want to do the best for the country.This is the only team i see cant score goals. Jamaica needs a coach thats all i have to say.