Commentary
USA-Jamaica: Men's Friendly Player Ratings
- by Mike Woitalla @MikeWoitalla, Jun 6, 2019
June 5 in Washington, D.C.
USA 0 Jamaica 1. Goals: Nicholson 60.
Att.: 17,719.
The USA suffered its first loss of the Gregg Berhalter era, falling 1-0 to Jamaica on Wednesday in a tuneup for the Gold Cup. It was Berhalter's fifth game at the helm. Shamar Nicholson, a 22-year-old sub who plays for Slovenian club Domzale, scored the winner from 27 yards out. Jamaican goalkeeper Andre Blake needed to make only one save.
USA PLAYER RATINGS
(1=low; 5=middle; 10=high.)
GOALKEEPER
Zack Steffen was lucky to go unpunished when he weirdly passed the ball to Peter-Lee Vassell inside the U.S. penalty area in the 13th minute. He didn't jump high enough to stop Shamar Nicholson's rocket.
Player (Club) caps/goals (age)
4 Zack Steffen (Columbus Crew) 9/0 (24)
DEFENDERS
Jamaica, attacking mostly with just one striker, Dever Orgill, managed only one shot inside the U.S. penalty area. But the inaccurate passing of Matt Miazga and Omar Gonzalez contributed to the USA's lack rhythm. Tim Ream was better on the ball and on the left side enabled Antonee Robinson to focus on offense.
Player (Club) caps/goals (age)
4 Matt Miazga (Chelsea/ENG) 13/1
(23)
4 Omar Gonzalez (Toronto FC) 50/3 (30)
6 Tim Ream (Fulham/ENG) 29/1 (31)
MIDFIELDERS
The USA was unable or unwilling to attack through the middle, and its predictable approach made it easy for Jamaica -- especially because of the USA's awful passing. On the left side, Antonee Robinson was guilty of several giveaways -- and a header over the crossbar while under no pressure when the USA finally managed a purposeful cross late in the first half. Paul Arriola fared better on the right side but faded after a strong start. Jackson Yueill made a forgettable debut. His central partner, Wil Trapp, stopped in his tracks as Nicholson unleashed his shot.
Player (Club) caps/goals (age)
5 Paul
Arriola (D.C. United) 22/3 (24)
3 Wil Trapp (Columbus Crew) 16/0 (26)
4 Jackson Yueill (San Jose Earthquakes) 1/0 (22)
3 Antonee
Robinson (Everton/ENG) 7/0 (21)
FORWARDS
After a first half in which all but one of his crosses were off target, and his seven turnovers occurred in the Jamaican half, Cristian Roldan gifted the ball to the Reggae Boyz in lead-up to their 1-0 goal. Djordje Mihailovic, a poor passer and ineffective dribbler like most his teammates on this evening, botched a shot inside the penalty area and misplayed the ball on a late stoppage-time breakaway. Josh Sargent saw very little of the ball and didn't get enough power -- or height would have been good -- on his 88th-minute shot that Andre Blake made a diving save on. He shot wide in the 71st minute.
Player (Club) caps/goals (age)
3 Djordje
Mihailovic (Chicago Fire) 3/1 (20)
4 Josh Sargent (Werder Bremen/GER) 8/2 (19)
2 Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders) 10/0 (24)
SUBSTITUTES
Shortly after making his USA debut, Duane Holmes scrambled away from three Jamaicans and set up Sargent for a shot. Holmes also provided the service for Sargent's second attempt. Nick Lima managed one in the USA's five shots -- way over the bar from outside the penalty area. Jonathan Amon and Joe Gyau charged ineffectively down the wings.
Player (Club) caps/goals (age)
4 Jonathan Amon (Nordsjaelland/DEN) 2/0 (20)
4 Nick
Lima (San Jose Earthquakes) 3/0 (24)
6 Duane Holmes (Derby County/ENG) 1/0 (24)
4 Cameron Carter Vickers (Tottenham Hotspur/ENG) 7/0 (21)
4
Joe Gyau (Duisburg/GER) 3/0 (26)
nr Daniel Lovitz (Montreal Impact) 4/0 (27)
TRIVIA. Wednesday's loss to the Reggae Boyz marked the first time the USA has lost to Jamaica in friendly. The USA's two other losses in the previous 25 meetings -- in addition to 15 U.S. wins and 8 ties -- came in World Cup qualifying in Kingston in 2012 and in the 2015 Gold Cup semifinals in Atlanta.)
June 5 in Washington, D.C.
USA 0 Jamaica 1. Goals: Nicholson 60.
USA -- Steffen; Miazga (Carter-Vickers, 72), Gonzalez, Ream
(Lima, 59); Robinson (Lovitz, 80), Trapp, Yueill (Amon, 59), Arriola (Gyau, 72); Mihailovic, Roldan (Holmes, 66), Sargent.
Jamaica -- Blake; Lawrence, Francis, Lowe, Powell;
Hector, Lambert (Williams, 64), Brown (Marshall, 64), Vassell (Magee, 77), Foster (Nicholson, 55); Orgill (Mattocks, 85).
Yellow cards: none. Red cards: none.
Referee: Kimbell Ward (St. Kitts & Nevis)
Att.: 17,719
Stats:
USA/Jamaica
Shots: 5/13
Shots on Goal: 1/5
Saves: 4/1
Corner Kicks: 4/2
Fouls: 9/11
Offside: 1/0
Possession: 54.4%/45.6%
My summary: The team started by playing horribly and worked their way up to ineffective.
It is very difficult to find anything positive to say about the match. One could make a "highlight" collage of poor passes, just from the film of this match, and it would be a long clip.
I totally agree. I think “poor passing” sums up the USA’s contribution for the entire game.
I totally agree. I think “poor passing” sums up the USA’s contribution for the entire game.
What we saw last night can't be blamed on poor performance of the night or on GB. The problem runs much deeper. Realize the players for the US are ,or better, REPRESENT, the better/best or near best of what America has to offer. Many of them even play in Europe or learned their game in England.
When you look at Jamaica, the country that produced Alan "Skill" Cole, a great ball player, look at how the Jamaican players handle the ball one on one, with ease, confidence,standing straight up with the ball, poised, like you see good Yugoslavian player do, and most importantly look at how they handle themselves with the ball in a small space,under pressure. And realize, my description fits all the Jamaican players from the defenders to the front line....ALL OF THEM. THEY ALL HAVE THAT CAPABILITY. Now can say that of our team, defenders, midfielders or even our front line.
So you have to ask yourself what are we missing in our development.
SIMPLE ! PICKUP SOCCER. This is where the Jamaican players excell over us in INVIDUAL prowess with a ball. Our lack of technical depth with a ball is so OBVIOUS and glaring. This can't not be learned or gained playing at a SOCCER ACADEMY or going to FANCY SOCCER CAMPS, or have played for a great youth team that wins everything with a coach who has 10 A++ coaching licenses hanging on a rear view mirror. The Jamaican players live in a country that is not an economic bastion in this area, and the players have to make due with what's there.
As I have stated so often, sending our best players to Europe does help but they still miss the most important element in their development which is PICKUP soccer experience.
Frank de Boer stated that he allows his Atlanta players to play free-style , Pickup soccer, called by his hispanics "creativo" the day before the game. These players want to go back to their "roots' in how they developed their skills when they were young. We have to realize that sending these kids to our soccer academies or to Europe( which is too late) does not develop those innate skills.
Training may provide valuable feedback and mentoring, but the "modern" coaching plan is to make team practice sessions a substitute for pickup soccer.
That approach is doomed to turn out poorer players. Coaches cannot polish a "game" that players don't have. The best professional club academies expect their youth players to play lots of pickup because they love to play. Those clubs are looking for kids that will sneak out of the house to play. Their parents could not stop them from playing if they tried.
As you point out, even pros don't outgrow the simple joy of playing.
Jamaica's player development has made big strides since 2018 qualifiers.
We need a soccer Revolution in the USA. No more gimmicks. No more smoke n mirrors. Coaching is totally over rated. Players win championships not coaches. To start off We need 600,000 futsal courts so kids can play king of the court, 24/7/365, for free and with no adult interference. We need to create a Rucker park version of soccer. We need to create Courts of Dreams. You build them. They will come. Once we create this than we create the 2nd phase. THE NEW SPARTA!
https://youtu.be/M7JBcu0MzvI
Cony ,that would nice be but you don't even need that....we need to develop a culture of pickup and is all you need and the rest will come. As a matter it is nice to have futsall courts but a ball any size , any weight will do for you want them to experience different weights of balls,for that will make them think and be aware of the type of ball and what is possible. This forces the player to think what he will do considering the metrics of the ball. I want to play not only with futsall ball but also a tennis ball which was much of my game in the street soccer days and rubber bouncy ball or plastic not so bouncy balls...
Agreed with just about everything stated. The US lacked a #10 to run the midfield, but that doesn't explain the countless poor passes, shots on goal, indicisiveness, turn-overs, etc. I'm generally very positive about American soccer, but there is absolutely nothing positive to say about this game. Very depressing.
Thank God for Tab Ramos and the U20's!
The passing was atrocious out there. The commentator stated how GB can make his players fluid ,changing systems. That's not going to do you much good when you're unable to make a decent pass in a 'Friendly' even. The players were unimaginative. I would rather have lost 10-0 and see at least two US players taking on Jamaican players beating them with great individual skills, tricky moves, lose the ball because they dribbled just a little too much....That would have been fine with me for that tells me we can work with players like that for that is how Ajax players are like when they come to Ajax, that tone their skill down to a more functional ,efficient manner.
We don't even have players like that, even after 50 years, you would think by now just by the law of averages something has got to come out of the woodwork somewhere? Because of a lack of PICKUP soccer in our youth development , our kids immediately are introduced to a licensed coach who likewise follows a USSF programmed training routine ,following a certain pattern or trend of training that leaves little personal prowess and individual development, instead more team oriented. As a result we have now programmed players who show no leadership capabilities , no individual prowess, and don't think for themselves when the situation is called for. Our players are like programmed robots out there; hopeless and helpless , waiting for or follow instructions coming from the bench....
Frank you are 100% correct about creating a Streetball/playground/sandlot environment/culture. The problem is that the kids need a place to play for free and no park n rec permit needed. That’s why we need concrete courts like futsal courts. The ball doesn’t matter totally agree.
Frank you are 100% correct about creating a Streetball/playground/sandlot environment/culture. The problem is that the kids need a place to play for free and no park n rec permit needed. That’s why we need concrete courts like futsal courts. The ball doesn’t matter totally agree.
Frank you are 100% correct about creating a Streetball/playground/sandlot environment/culture. The problem is that the kids need a place to play for free and no park n rec permit needed. That’s why we need concrete courts like futsal courts. The ball doesn’t matter totally agree.
Cony, once you have a culture ,you can play anywhere....school parking lot, basketball courts behind a grocery store in shopping center where you can use the walls for passing and shooting....there are tons of places
I don't feel comfortable with 3defenders back there. A quick forward like Griezeman would have a field day. Next I don't trust our 3man backline for their passing upwards skills, for that skill requires more abilities than simply passing up to midfield. In Holland we call that the initial 'play-in' pass which requires the right velocity and to the right/correct foot depending upon the position of the opponent, and the pass can create a continuity of play upon going forward, instead forcing to pass back again.
Defensively, we need a 4th defender/midfielder who is capable of taking the ball up or make a good pass for in this manner our build up has more options other than simply looking to pass up to midfield for someone to pass to.
We need to improve our flank play. Just placing someone on the flank to make runs and give the ball a simple "POOOF" to cross it doesn't suffice....I mean the crosses have stunk out there, and were talking about pro's.. At least on the right side we did penetrate down the endline for a cross it, sometimes. Robinson on the left side showed me nothing...
But basically we employ runners on the flanks and hope for the best "POOF" possible...
Jamaica control of the ball, possession gave Sargent little if any chance to do anything.
We need to seriously look deeper into Individual development of our players for we serious lack in that department...
Well said Frank. All the U.S. players looked so uncomfortable with the ball. This resulted in a nervous and hurried pass attempt which often missed its mark. I think the U.S. U 20's would have beaten the senior team 2 or 3-0 last night.
That isn't quite what I was thinking regarding the U20's. What I was thinking was what a mistake to deprive any U20 eligible players of the opportunity to play in a youth world cup so that they could participate in this mess.
What a boring, uninspired game, mistakes all the way around. Idea! Let's take the U20"s team and insert them into the Gold cup, with Tab Ramos coaching, they would probably at least play with some urgency and pride. The current MNT forwards don't even belog on a national team and Bradley and Altidore are not going to save this team. Very disappointed!
My introduction to real soccer was in Brazil. I was amazed to see the kids playing anywhere with any kind of ball (many obviously homemade with whatever they had to make a round object). They would play by themselves by using a tennis kind of technique by kicking the ball into a wall or play one on one or groups or at the beach. I even saw construction workers on their lunch break play on the 5th floor if a building. One rescued the ball by reaching out over the edge to bring the ball back. Futsal was also important and we included a small futsal at our factory for lunch games.
We have tons of parks and open areas where kids could be playing but the interest is just not there IMO.
i watched my grandkids practices and ball handling skills are not emphasized. Nor would my grandsons play very much by themselves or one on one. To my chagrin.
Of course we have so many sports and other diversions so it is difficult to develop what a pretty much one sport country can do. Not many sports nor areas to play in Jamaica, i image.
Lastly only in recent years has TV started to promote soccer. After seeing the ‘86 WC in Mexico, I was so enthusiastic I wrote to a bunch of companies and groups promoting a “Southern Tier” soccer league using primarily Latino players. Ted Turner answered my letter and told me that soccer would never be a big sport in the US as TV would not promote it until they could control it as they do all other sports. Ted was right until our USWNT started winning WCs.
Frank, In Brazil everyone has a soccer team....At the university level, the math dept. , the psychology dept, the Engineer dept, the Arts dept, etc,etc. ...they all had soccer teams...
Two words: Tom Byer.
Kids love playing, especially without a coach or parents. I used to hand practices over to my players (U10 boys) and they'd form teams and play. I'd be a short distance away and to my surprise, the player that always needed a water-break never needed one when I wasn't around. This wasn't true pickup soccer but it was the best approximation of it that I could muster.
Philip, Right on!
Team USA’s pace of play and decision making was so slow that by the time they finally attempted a pass it had been telegraphed to Jamaica or space had evaporated. It was a difficult match to watch. USA was completely unorganized. They looked like a grade B high school team and toward the end of regular time probably completed more passes to Jamaicans than their own teammates. Very sad and of serious concern, Regardless of who was on the field. If a player was supposedly good enough to be called up and be given a jersey he had to show better, lots better.
Team USA’s pace of play and decision making was so slow that by the time they finally attempted a pass it had been telegraphed to Jamaica or space had evaporated. It was a difficult match to watch. USA was completely unorganized. They looked like a grade B high school team and toward the end of regular time probably completed more passes to Jamaicans than their own teammates. Very sad and of serious concern, Regardless of who was on the field. If a player was supposedly good enough to be called up and be given a jersey he had to show better, lots better.
The play was embarrasing. Whether your the first, second or third team you should be able to pass the ball, anticipate and make quick decisions. Now we are going to bring back Altidore, Bradley and Zardees to make things right. Okay lets go.
The team is very predictable in their play and plays with no conviction. They have no one who will get their nose dirty.
come on.....1 gosh darn shot in 90minitrs of play.
the tactics are woefully elemenatary and it’s like watching a HS team.
they need to wake up and toughen up or we’ll be watching the next WC in front of their TV
So, now what? Its only one match, so N of 1, too soon to draw conclusions. It’s only a friendly, blah blah blah. But what was gained by running out the B team against a Jamaica that made them look slow and incompetent? Nothing to “build on”. Big waste of time?
R2, perhaps you're right about the waste of time. This game was actually used for GB to see if any of these can make the grade in order to fill in the other open spot(s). Some of these "B" players actually looked decent playing in earlier games with some of the 'A' types, but this game tells you how minimal they are really.
To me it wasn't so much a waste of time but more prove how badly hurt in the depth dept. and the lack of real technical talent. This game firmly confirms what I've been saying about our player development.
R2, perhaps you're right about the waste of time. This game was actually used for GB to see if any of these can make the grade in order to fill in the other open spot(s). Some of these "B" players actually looked decent playing in earlier games with some of the 'A' types, but this game tells you how minimal they are really.
To me it wasn't so much a waste of time but more prove how badly hurt in the depth dept. and the lack of real technical talent. This game firmly confirms what I've been saying about our player development.