JAMAICA - ST VINCENT

1. The STVG surface held up well given the amount of rain that was falling during the game. Jamaica take note.
2. Jamaica's slow build-up from the back is a problem. Better teams will press us and without a creative midfielder, we will be dispossessed.
3. All this talk about Jamaica needing a right back makes no sense to me, Lembikisa is fine, thank you!
4. McLaren's outfit doesn't play with any synchronicity.
5. McLaren's substitutions were on point.

BLAKE (7.0) - not much to do and what he had to do he did well especially a big save in the 28th minute. He cannot be faulted for the goal.
BELL (7.5) - more attacking than I have seen from him. A very capable defender.
PINNOCK (6.0) - calm on the ball and his passes out of the back were for the most part accurate. Just the same, it wasn't one of his better games and his carelessness led to STVG's goal. Had a header miraculously save from point blank range.
KING (7.0) - while the opposition wasn't USA, Canada, Mexico or Panama, I would be comfortable paring King with Pinnock in central defense. He offers level-headedness and attacking prowess that Lowe and Bernard lack. He did get completely turned around on that STVG goal though. The more they play together the most cohesive they will be.
LEMBIKISA (8.5) - overlapped well to put pressure on the left side of STVG line. His crosses were troublesome to the defense. He found the net, however, Bailey was adjudged to have blindsided the goalkeeper.
HAYDEN (5.5) - energetic but nothing outstanding. Very workmanlike.
REID (5.0) - one of those few games when you didn't realize he was on the field.
MCCALLA (5.5) moved well in space but clumsy on the ball and in tackling. Missed an easy chance to score. Got better as the game went on.
BAILEY (6.5) - one of his better games for Jamaica but he still dribbles into defenders. He does not think pass first though he did make a few decent passes. Scored the important equalizer from the penalty spot.
NICHOLSON (5.0) - pretty much invisible except for a missed chance.
GRAY (5.0) - off-color performance by Gray
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SUBS
CEPHAS (7.0) - holds head down and dribbles into the opposition ala Bailey. His speed was a threat and created a couple chances.
BROWN (6.0) - missed a chance but was the one who was fouled for the penalty.
DIXON ( ) - wasn't on the field long enough to be graded.

In reply to JoeGrine

Bailey attempted very few dribbles today…if anything he should have attempted a few more..tried the early passes and didn’t connect ..agree though that this was one of his better games..Nicholson was poor, McCalla made a crucial error..Lembikisa was the Man of the Match…agree with your ratings generally

The referee was a disgrace..Its one thing to allow the game to flow but St Vincent should have gotten at least 6 or 7 yellow cards…the alleged offside goal was not offside ..Bailey was not interfering with the goalkeeper’s line of sight

In reply to JoeGrine
Great assessment as always

In reply to JoeGrine

Excellent take as per usual!

In reply to Chrissy

Thanks!

In reply to XDFIX

Thanks!

In reply to JoeGrine

I once looked at Demarie Gray as a potential England player,has he regressed, I hardly ever hear nice words about him now what is wrong.

In reply to granite

Coinciding with this move to the Gulf region has been a decline in his prowess. His career has been a study in regression. By football standard, he is still young so he might just rebound.

RETURN LEG

1. Coach showed guts in keeping Lowe on the bench.
2. Coach showed guts in benching Nicholson and starting neophyte Brown.
3. Is Sabina Park a better football surface than the stadium?
4. Given that Champs is in the air, I was rather surprised at the fairly decent crowd at the game.
5. I did not like the switching of Lembikisa (undoubtedly our best player in the first leg) to the left back position to accommodate Latibeaudierre.
6. The team is still absent that person who can transition the ball from defense to forward. As a result, attacking is each player trying a thing rather than synchronization.

GK: BLAKE (7.0) - difficult to grade as he did not have much to do.
RB: LATIBEAUDIERRE (6.5) - nothing outstanding and nothing blatantly poor. As usual, good work rate. At best, a utility player.
CD: PINNOCK (7.0) - marshalled the back line and played at a faster pace. His pairing with King should be maintained.
CD: KING (7.0) - clearly growing in stature from playing beside Pinnock. Was not afraid to make a few forward runs.
LB: LEMBIKISA(7.5) - the best of the defenders and his incursions ahead were most productive. He eventually went back to his preferred right back position.
RM: REID (7.5) - a very solid game attacking and helping out in defense.
CDM: HAYDEN (7.0) - arguably his best game for Jamaica. He controlled the center of the field. Anxious to see him do this against better teams.
LM: GRAY (6.5) - missed a chance early but showed more energy in this game going forward as well as coming back to help the defense.
RW: CEPHAS (7.0) - must learn to (a) pass to the open man (b) that a wide player should think cross. He was double-teamed to nullify his speed. Scored a screaming volley.
F : BROWN (8.5) - his first start at this level, he simply did (a) what he did at StATHS (b) what he has been doing at Arnett Gardens i.e. - score goals (c ) what Nicholson has failed to do - show urgency. His strike from a nice pass from Reid was top shelf. He belongs.
LW: BAILEY (6.5) - made some nice passes but typical Bailey turned the ball over a bit. He need to stop playing to the gallery, that does not work at this level. Football 101 - let the ball do the work!

SUBSTITUTES
None were impactful enough (primarily due to time on the field) to merit a grade.

In reply to JoeGrine

Great take!

I don't understand why Dixon can't get a longer run on the pitch!

In reply to JoeGrine

I feel sorry for these youngsters - they do not play together enough.

In reply to XDFIX

I agree with you. Why play Dixon for a total of about 5 minutes over two games?

In reply to Chrissy

I see where you are coming from, however, it is the modern game, most nations only get their players together during FIFA windows. The coach has to be able to (1) create a brand of football (2) have the clubs/schools in Jamaica playing that brand of football (3) find quickly a concentrated pool of players. That's the best way to overcome not playing together often enough.

In reply to JoeGrine
True but don’t forget those they select who have never played in JA schoolboy football