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Barnes wants better passing from team
Sean Williams
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Jamaica's head coach John Barnes appears determined to get his team to play a better passing game when the Reggae Boyz face El Salvador in a friendly international match at the RFK Stadium in Washington DC on Saturday at 7:00 pm.
BARNES... I'm looking for quality in possessional play
Barnes, in his sixth month in charge of the team, rued the Boyz's atrocious possessional play in their friendly fixture against Haiti in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Saturday night and spent all of last evening's one-hour training session guiding the players through passing routines which involved
a scrimmage.
In Saturday's 2-2 draw, Barnes lauded the team for its guts in coming from 1-2 down to draw level in the dying moments, but lashed the team's suspect passing game. For the El Salvador contest, Barnes is looking for an improved showing in that department.
"They showed commitment, spirit and heart, now I am looking for quality (in the possessional play)," said
the former England and Liverpool standout.
At Tuesday's session, the emphasis was on goalscoring as the strikers were taken through an extended shooting drill.
And at yesterday's training session at Winchester Park, 19 players were taken through their paces, but veteran defender Ian 'Pepe' Goodison was noticeably absent.
Queens Park Rangers' Damion Stewart, who missed Tuesday's training, took part in yesterday's workout.
Meanwhile, Claude Davis - who was shown the red card in Saturday's match-up - was not considered for the El Salvador game.
Up to press time last night, the 18-man squad was not named and was expected to be decided on at a light training session at UWI Bowl in Mona at 7:00 am today, just seven hours before the team is due to depart the island.
Nicholas Addlery, who scored on his senior debut against Haiti on Saturday, will join the group in Washington as he returned to his club Puerto Rico Islanders on Sunday.
The quartet of Desmond Breakenridge (Arnett Gardens), Dicoy Williams (Harbour View), Jermaine Johnson (Sheffeild Wednesday), and Devon Hodges (Rivoli United) were recalled and will be vying for places in the final 18.
Johnson was not considered for the May 23 friendly against Haiti because of a one-match suspension for the red card he received in the February friendly against Nigeria in London.
Breakenridge and Williams, both central defenders, did not make the final 18 and could now be in with a chance that Davis is out. Hodges, the Digicel Premier League's top scorer with 25 goals, will now be eligible for selection as he was successful with his non-immigrant US visa application.
Training squad: Goalkeepers Shawn Sawyers (Portmore United), Dwayne Miller (Harbour View), defenders Claude Davis (Derby County, UK), Damion Stewart (Queens Park Rangers, UK), Dicoy Williams (Harbour View), Ian Goodison (Tranmere Rovers, UK), Desmond Breakenridge (Arnett Gardens), Adrian Reid (Portmore United), Andre Campbell (Portmore United), Rafe Wolfe (Ferencvaros, Hungary); midfielders Eric Vernon (Portmore United), Oraine Simpson (Tivoli Gardens), Richard Edwards (Harbour View), Michael Campbell (Boys' Town), Jason Morrison (Ferencvaros, Hungary), Wolry Wolfe (Ferencvaros, Hungary), Jermaine Johnson (Sheffield Wednesday); forwards Keammar Daley (Meadhaven United), Navion Boyd (Tivoli Gardens), Roland Dean (Tivoli Gardens) and Devon Hodges (Rivoli United).
Sean Williams
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Jamaica's head coach John Barnes appears determined to get his team to play a better passing game when the Reggae Boyz face El Salvador in a friendly international match at the RFK Stadium in Washington DC on Saturday at 7:00 pm.
BARNES... I'm looking for quality in possessional play Barnes, in his sixth month in charge of the team, rued the Boyz's atrocious possessional play in their friendly fixture against Haiti in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Saturday night and spent all of last evening's one-hour training session guiding the players through passing routines which involved
a scrimmage.
In Saturday's 2-2 draw, Barnes lauded the team for its guts in coming from 1-2 down to draw level in the dying moments, but lashed the team's suspect passing game. For the El Salvador contest, Barnes is looking for an improved showing in that department.
"They showed commitment, spirit and heart, now I am looking for quality (in the possessional play)," said
the former England and Liverpool standout.
At Tuesday's session, the emphasis was on goalscoring as the strikers were taken through an extended shooting drill.
And at yesterday's training session at Winchester Park, 19 players were taken through their paces, but veteran defender Ian 'Pepe' Goodison was noticeably absent.
Queens Park Rangers' Damion Stewart, who missed Tuesday's training, took part in yesterday's workout.
Meanwhile, Claude Davis - who was shown the red card in Saturday's match-up - was not considered for the El Salvador game.
Up to press time last night, the 18-man squad was not named and was expected to be decided on at a light training session at UWI Bowl in Mona at 7:00 am today, just seven hours before the team is due to depart the island.
Nicholas Addlery, who scored on his senior debut against Haiti on Saturday, will join the group in Washington as he returned to his club Puerto Rico Islanders on Sunday.
The quartet of Desmond Breakenridge (Arnett Gardens), Dicoy Williams (Harbour View), Jermaine Johnson (Sheffeild Wednesday), and Devon Hodges (Rivoli United) were recalled and will be vying for places in the final 18.
Johnson was not considered for the May 23 friendly against Haiti because of a one-match suspension for the red card he received in the February friendly against Nigeria in London.
Breakenridge and Williams, both central defenders, did not make the final 18 and could now be in with a chance that Davis is out. Hodges, the Digicel Premier League's top scorer with 25 goals, will now be eligible for selection as he was successful with his non-immigrant US visa application.
Training squad: Goalkeepers Shawn Sawyers (Portmore United), Dwayne Miller (Harbour View), defenders Claude Davis (Derby County, UK), Damion Stewart (Queens Park Rangers, UK), Dicoy Williams (Harbour View), Ian Goodison (Tranmere Rovers, UK), Desmond Breakenridge (Arnett Gardens), Adrian Reid (Portmore United), Andre Campbell (Portmore United), Rafe Wolfe (Ferencvaros, Hungary); midfielders Eric Vernon (Portmore United), Oraine Simpson (Tivoli Gardens), Richard Edwards (Harbour View), Michael Campbell (Boys' Town), Jason Morrison (Ferencvaros, Hungary), Wolry Wolfe (Ferencvaros, Hungary), Jermaine Johnson (Sheffield Wednesday); forwards Keammar Daley (Meadhaven United), Navion Boyd (Tivoli Gardens), Roland Dean (Tivoli Gardens) and Devon Hodges (Rivoli United).
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