Fellas, as much as I fighting down Jamaica 2099 (in a rare decent argumentative discussion with a jamaican), he brought up a very valid point in response to my calling him out to talk about which is the better team right now based on the last 12 months of form and preparation.
The man talk about the rivalry between Ja and T&T, and how it brings out the best in Ja, no matter if they lose to another team.
As he said, a commentator said they could lose 12-0 to a team one day, but once they playing T&T, even with our WC players, we still cannot beat them.
This is so very true...about the mentality of jamaicans.
And to be honest, I dont think we as a country ever had the die hard fighting attitude and spirit on the field to match them.
BUT!
This is a new era, and from since Beenhakker took charge last year, one thing that has been instilled in the players is the fighting attitude, exemplified by the results we ground out to reach Germany, especially the come from behind wins vs Mexico, Guatemala and Bahrain...difficult wins on the road under pressure vs Panama and bahrain....pressure under which we usually folded in the past.
We may have more talent, a better team, and players who historically played at much higher levels that Ja, but i is a man who could testify first hand how ja as a country hyped up anytime they had to play trinidad, expecially in WCQ. Their fans had a mentality that they just would not accept losing to T&T, and the players played with that as well. And whether we like it or not, Ja has beaten us consistently, both in TT and Ja over the last 15 years. In my lifetime, I cannot recall we beating them in Kingston. Jabloteh 3-1 win vs Jungle a couple years ago is the only thing I can think about. So they have a right to think they still better, but football is just about direct match-ups as it is about current form, which T&T is way out in front.
As far as I see, T&T are kings of caribbean football at present, it is left to other teams to prove otherwsie (digicel cup)...and I waiting till someone brings up the point that Ja won the last digicel cup, cause when T&T won its 10 or how much ever Caribbean Cups compared to Jamaica's one or two, they always belittled Trinidad's titles and focussed on the only one that mattered, WC qualification..
T&T is not the same team it was 18 months ago.
It would be lovely to see the 2 teams meet now.
What a rivalry!
All the ingredients to make it one of the best in CONCACAF....Social, historical, cultural...
Its high time to stamp out authority over the next 2-3 years and take sole position at the top of Caribbean football.
Good point made by Jah Goal.