Big part for faltering McClaren to play

FOR JAMAICA’S senior men’s national football team, defeating Curaçao is going to be tough, but manageable.

The big question, however, engulfs head coach Steve McClaren’s team selection and strategy to fulfil the arduous must-win task and book a ticket for next year’s ‘home’ World Cup Finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Ever since his Jamaican appointment on July 31, 2024, the English coach has not been able to settle on a team, bringing in new players at every turn.

After pretty much 18 months in charge, and playing the penultimate qualifier against Trinidad and Tobago on Thursday, there was a first-time start for striker Rumarn Burrell, the Queens Park Rangers man introduced to the Jamaican setup in March at the Unity Cup in Britain. He was unable to hold up the ball, never linked up well with the team and was very ineffective.

With only two games remaining in qualifying, there was also a debut appearance for Brentford FC leftback Rico Henry, who came on in the role of a left-sided midfielder in the second half, with the match delicately balanced on a solo, one-goal lead by Renaldo Cephas, the most dangerous Jamaican player.

Cephas was substituted at the 67th minute.

A very speedy sort, with good skill to match, Cephas plays off-the-cuff and is able to score and create goals at any moment.

Without scoring, he was quite deadly in the previous match, setting up assists for Bobby De Cordova-Reid and Shamar ‘Bowsa’ Nicholson, with another of his crosses forcing an own goal in Jamaica’s 4-0 win over Bermuda at the National Stadium in Kingston.

It was the game prior to Thursday’s away contest. And it was the best Reggae Boyz’s performance, and result, in the Group B qualifiers.

Markedly, Cephas had for company, and Jamaica had for the first time, an attacking trio including Nicholson and Kaheim Dixon, another off-the-cuff player very capable of scoring and setting up goals.

The trio improved Jamaica’s front-line and link-up play considerably, with beautifully coordinated movements and skill, which was fortified by the substitution of another very creative talent, Dujuan ‘Whisper’ Richards in the second half.

Player-combinations make a big difference in football. Some players play better with others. Combining player quality for good effect is also a mark of coaching quality.

McClaren’s quality has been called into question as the Reggae Boyz coach for his failure to group talent that makes consistently good Jamaica team performances. Additionally, he makes pronouncements that are not matched by his actions.

Nicholson is the best present day Jamaica senior men’s team goalscorer, with 21 conversions in 61 matches. Three days prior to the Trinidad and Tobago contest, McClaren said Nicholson “is the best striker in Concacaf”.

Nicholson did not play one minute against Trinidad and Tobago, watching action as an unused substitute.

Astonishingly, also, he was rejected by the coach in a 60-man squad for summer’s Concacaf Gold Cup.

The team was eliminated at the first round, serving up a prime opportunity for Jamaica to part ways with McClaren, as the Reggae Boyz had been woeful even before then. It prompted memories of former Jamaica Football Federation president, Captain Horace Burrell, and his 0100-hour firings. The army man would certainly not have missed the mark.

Dixon, impressive against Bermuda, did not play a single minute against Trinidad and Tobago, also watching from the bench.

Reggae Boyz matches prior to Thursday’s saw McClaren making five and six changes, respectively, to the starting team.

And he continues to introduce new players to the Jamaica team, having already said the time had passed for new recruits.

Manifested by the additions is a fact that many of the recruits have failed to impress. They are not at the level many ascribe due to UK club attachment. Given their failures, the team has not played well, lacking coordination, midfield presence and creativity.

Uncharacteristic of midfielders, most of the combinations put together by McClaren lack players with talent to dribble, make space and opportunities for scoring.

That was evident in the last match, where Jamaica were pinned back and made to defend largely, attacking mainly on the instinct and creativity of Cephas.

Now, having relinquished Group B’s top spot in a hard-fought 1-1 draw at Port of Spain on Thursday night, the Reggae Boyz still hold a decent position to qualify for next year’s World Cup.

Their 10 points, one less than Curaçao – which thumped Bermuda 7-0 – narrowed the window to a do-or-die permutation, with automatic qualification guaranteed to the winner of three groups of four nations in Concacaf qualifying for the world record World Cup with its biggest numbers, 48.

Easiest chance

It’s the easiest chance ever for 68th-ranked Jamaica’s senior men’s team to qualify, with Concacaf getting six certain spots, three of which have gone to the hosts; and seeded in an all-Caribbean group with countries ranked significantly lower (Curaçao 82nd, Trinidad and Tobago 100th, and Bermuda 168).

If a win does not materialise on the final day, at this juncture, the Reggae Boyz are in a strong position for a second shot in this qualification, holding the number one spot (10 points, +8 GD) among second place teams, with Group A’s Panama second (nine points, +2) and Group C’s Haiti third (eight points, +1GD). The top two runners-up will advance to FIFA’s playoffs in March next year, facing off against other continental hopefuls.

Potential challengers in intercontinental playoffs for Concacaf could include South America’s Bolivia, relatively unknown New Caledonia, from Oceania, and an Asian team, which will be either Iraq or the United Arab Emirates.

Jamaica’s goal at this point, however, must be singular – beating Curaçao at Kingston’s National Stadium.

Curaçao won the away encounter 2-0 on their own turf. It was a difficult match, which Curaçao were able to control because they always had the lead and were not pressured into changing their strategy.

The Dutch-speaking team’s goalkeeper had a big say in that contest, making a number of saves.

While the Reggae Boyz are capable and getting ready to lace up their boots, McClaren’s selection and strategy could yet make the loudest impact.

Audley Boyd has covered international football since 1989. He formerly played in the National Premier League, representing Cavalier and Arnett Gardens football clubs.