TD to test Boyz blend with SVG game.
By: Ian Burnett Sports editor.
The Simoes search
Technical director Rene Simoes continues his search for the perfect combination and formation when Jamaica host St Vincent and the Grenadines in an international friendly here today at the National Stadium at 7:00 pm.
Today's encounter marks the second game for Simoes since his return to the helm of the nation's technical football programme, and it will also be the first of five games over the next two weeks.
The little Brazilian, who guided Jamaica to the historic France 1998 World Cup Finals, saw his side squander a 2-0 half time lead to draw 2-2 with Trinidad and Tobago on March 26; and following today's match, the Boyz will depart the island on Thursday for Trinidad for the return leg on Saturday. Then they hop over to Grenada for another test on June 10, before returning home for the first of two CONCACAF World Cup qualifying dates with The Bahamas on June 15 and 18 at the National Stadium and the Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium, respectively.
Ranked 105th on the latest FIFA list, Jamaica's Reggae Boyz completed a one-week training camp at the Grand Lido Braco resort in Trelawny on Sunday, with Simoes and his technical staff tinkering all the time with personnel and formations.
Having employed the 4-4-2 formation in his first game back, Simoes used the 3-5-2 formation extensively during last week's training sessions, and at times appeared to modify that formation to a 3-1-4-2, but he was clearly uncertain about the personnel in midfield, though he appears settled on his strike pair of Marlon King and Ricardo Fuller.
Donovan Ricketts was the man in goal, and new invitee Simon Ford was used as a sweeper with the veteran no-nonsense Ian Goodison and Adrian Reid working as the man markers. Those players were set throughout.
At times during the week-long camp, Richard Langley partnered Ricardo Gardner, Obrian Woodbine, Jermaine Johnson and Omar Daley in midfield, with switches to include Jamal Campbell-Ryce, Rudolph Austin and Demar Phillips.
Last night, in what appeared to be the starting side, a new player emerged in the deep midfield holding role in Reno's Evan Taylor, and it will be interesting to see how the inexperienced player goes about the business tonight. He was flanked by skipper Gardner, Phillips, Austin and Andy Williams, who has come out of retirement, having last played for Jamaica two and a half years ago in the CONCACAF Gold Cup tournament in the USA.
Williams had his first kick-about in a tactical session with the first team last night, while the other members of the squad enjoyed scrimmage and technical drills.
The Reggae Boyz squad will be completed by Shawn Sawyers, Dwayne Miller, Claude Davis, Richard Langley, Jermaine Taylor, Obrian Woodbine, Demar Stewart, Kenneil Moodie, Omar Daley, Jermaine Johnson, Jamal Campbell-Ryce, Luton Shelton and Deon Burton.
Tonight's game will be the ninth meeting between the sides, with the visitors having won just once, 2-1 in the Digicel Caribbean Cup qualifier here in 2006. That loss eliminated Jamaica from the tournament. But the homeside has the advantage with six wins and one draw against the 145th ranked FIFA team.
For Simoes victory is important tonight. "Victory is important because of the FIFA ranking, we have five games to do something, but we have to keep in mind that the most important thing is the World Cup (qualifier), but we want to improve our position in the ranking and we want to win the game," he said.
He also added that the players are very intense in their preparation, as each player wants to impress and make the squad. In fact, he said during Sunday's session he had to whistle players regularly for foul play, just because of the level of competitiveness.
The Brazilian conceded that the players are not yet fully fit for the World Cup qualifier, but are fit enough for tonight's game. He noted that the three games before the date with The Bahamas should be enough to get the players where he wants them physically.
Meanwhile, St Vincent and the Grenadines arrived in the island yesterday and held a training session at the National Stadium last night. New technical director/head coach, Englishman Stewart Hall, who has been on the job for the past four months, said he was looking forward to tonight's contest with eagerness.
"We are very much looking forward to this game, as we are preparing or the World Cup qualifier against Canada. We know Jamaica is a very strong team who will give us the kind of workout that we are looking for," he said.
They arrived with a 20-man squad, including seven players with international experience. They are Shandel Samuel (Jabloteh FC Trinidad), Theon Gordon (Ibero University Team, Venuzuela), Wesley Charles (Galaway United FC, Ireland), Wesley John (Porto FC, Portugal), Marlon James (Kedah FC, Malaysia), Cornelius Huggins (Kedah FC, Malaysia), Kendal Velox (Caledonia FC, Trinidad).
The squad is completed by Troy Jeffers, Roy Richards, Winslow McDowall, Melvin Andrews, Richard Hayed, Oscar Nero, Millon Prescott, Randolph Williams, Darren Francis, Alwyn Guy, Sean Glynn, Cornelius Stewart, Emerald George.
In their last three outings, St Vincent and the Grenadines have lost twice (0-2 against Barbados in March, and 1-2 against Grenada in February), while they ended 2-2 with Guyana in January.
They open their World Cup Qualifier against Canada on June 15 and 20.
