MCCLAREN...if you want to stay number one in the Caribbean, and you want to get in the top three of the Concacaf rankings, then you have to develop your game.
As Jamaica's Reggae Boyz prepare to face Cuba in their opening League A match of the 2024/25 Concacaf Nations League, newly appointed head coach Steve McClaren is brimming with optimism.
The former England manager has wasted no time setting his sights on long-term goals for the Reggae Boyz team, with a clear vision to elevate the country to new heights in international football.
For McClaren, the journey begins with a solid start in the Nations League, and he has been vocal about his expectations for the team to secure a win in his debut match as head coach. However, while results matter, McClaren is equally focused on developing a cohesive, competitive unit that can compete on the world stage.
Kick off for Friday's Group B encounter is 7:00pm at the National Stadium.
A win for the Boyz would put them in a good position to secure one of two spots from the group to the quarterfinals, as they seek to better their third-place finish from the last edition of the tournament.
"The first expectation is like every game, we plan to win and we expect to win. So that's the first message to them and then go out and win. That's basically it," McClaren stated confidently.
He continued: "It is a test, but it is more a focus on the performance. It won't be perfect; I know that over 90 minutes there will be ups and downs, good spells and bad spells, but I want to see just some of the things that we've worked on to know that the players are taking that on board and the team is developing in that, but also keeping the structure that they've had for the last two years and just help them develop from that.
"Because I think if you want to compete, if you want to stay number one in the Caribbean, and you want to get in the top three of the Concacaf rankings, then you have to develop your game. We've worked with the players; we've talked with the players in terms of how we develop. So tomorrow is the first step and it's a big step, one in which we need to find a way to win but also show signs of the performance which we've worked on."
McClaren's emphasis on growth and development has resonated throughout the camp, where players have embraced his forward-thinking approach. The Englishman stressed that, while talent is crucial, the mindset and application of each player will also be integral under his tenure.
"We've introduced one or two small things—principles, non-negotiables—that we must have in a game, and it's not going to be easy. It's not going to happen straight away. We're going to have spells where maybe we try to build up, but we make mistakes, but we want the players to play; we want them to be able to deal with the ball and control the game in possession. So not just have a transition game, but to try and have some control, which is in possession, and also control the game out of possession. Once you're in good shape and maintain a good formation, you'll be hard to beat," McClaren noted.
"This is what I said to the squad, football is not about eleven players, it's about the starters and the finishers, and the finishers have a more important job than the starters because they have to finish the game. So subs are important. So in a situation where you're winning a game or you're losing a game, it's important that the squad, the players on the bench, also impact the game when they get a chance to, and that's also what I'm looking for. The sign of a good team is to stay in the game, finish the game, and score a winning goal, but also ensure we don't lose the game," the tactician reasoned.
"Everybody must be able to deal with the ball and take the ball in modern-day football, and if you want to go higher, you have to have players who can deal with that to get out of tight areas, pass through the lines, change play, switch play, and are comfortable on the ball. That's one thing. We attack with eleven; we defend with eleven. No more is the one where we leave the nine up front...he doesn't have to work or the eleven can cheat. Everybody has to work together in terms of that and I think the key thing is consistency. If we get consistency in those areas, then you get results on a more level basis. But as I said, it's a process," he added.
Since taking the reins, McClaren has beamed about the team's culture, lauding the camaraderie and spirit that exists among the players. He believes that this unity is key to Jamaica’s success and sees it as one of the team's greatest assets.
"I like the spirit. I like the energy. I like them smiling. They enjoy being around each other, and they put everything into the training session—the intensity, the desire to work. That's what I've liked. We've tried to introduce one or two things, but I think we need to keep things simple. I think the style of play had success, and I want to keep that.
"I want to keep the foundation, keep the basics, and keep what they've had for the last two years where they've developed. They finished third in the last Nation's League; we want to continue that, but also we want to improve it. So I'm here to help the players go to the next level in which we can stay number one in the Caribbean, but also get up the rankings in Concacaf and the ultimate goal, which is qualification for the 2026 World Cup," McClaren shared.
While exuding confidence amidst the sense of excitement around what lies ahead under his leadership, McClaren is also mindful of Cuba's growth and, as such, warned against complacency.
"Cuba will be a difficult team. They performed very well in the Under-20 Concacaf tournament; they're developing, and they've got quite a few resources now. So the game is developing, their coaching is developing, and you can see that from the team's shape and structure, they're organised, they're disciplined, and I think the key thing is the coach who was leading the Under-20 team has now been moved to the senior team.
"So we have to make sure that we take the game to Cuba, use our individual talent in the final third, create and score chances, but also to make sure we're very dangerous on the transition, that our defence is right, and we get the balance between attacking and defence and demanding that we win," he ended.
Sherdon Cowan is a five-time award-winning journalist with 10 years' experience covering sports.
Returning fan favourite Alonso calls Liverpool 'one of Europe's best'
Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso hailed his former club Liverpool as "one of Europe's best" as he prepares for his Anfield return.
Alonso, who spent five successful years at Anfield and helped Liverpool win the Champions League in 2005, returns to his former stomping ground when Leverkusen take on the Reds on Tuesday.
Arne Slot has won 12 of his first 14 matches in charge of Liverpool, including all three in the Champions League so far.
Leverkusen have only won one of their 11 away major European matches in England (D3 L7), and have lost their last two visits to Anfield, and Alonso is under no illusion as to the scale of the task that awaits the reigning Bundesliga champions.
"For us, it is a big challenge," he said.
"Liverpool at the moment are one of the best, if not the best, in Europe, they are showing that in the Premier League and Champions League, a good squad, great coach. We're looking forward to it. Let's see what happens.
"You can play 70 minutes great but in 20 minutes it [the game] is gone, so it is mentally and emotionally we need to be ready.
"In all areas, they are really strong, so the process works really well. [Slot] has done a fantastic job in three months."
Alonso played 210 times across all competitions for Liverpool between 2004 and 2009, scoring 18 goals and providing 20 assists.
After winning the Champions League with the Reds in 2005, he helped them reach the final in 2007, though they lost to Milan on that occasion.
However, the Spaniard does not think he will have too much time for a trip down memory lane.
"Unfortunately, there is no time for tourism – maybe a little run or walk," he said.
"I know the city very well, I love it, but tomorrow I will focus on the game and only the game.
"It feels great to be back here after a few years. It's always special. You notice the development of the club; the new stand looks amazing.
"It is a big game against Liverpool, it cannot get much better than that."
The omens are not great for Leverkusen, though.
Liverpool have lost one of their last 21 European meetings with German opponents (W14 D6), albeit that one defeat came against Leverkusen in 2002.
“We want everyone involved”- Chung hoping for massive support for Reggae Boyz in Nations League Quarterfinal against USA
General Secretary of the Jamaica Football Federation, Dennis Chung, is hoping that Jamaicans come out in their numbers to support the Reggae Boyz during both legs of their CONCACAF Nations League Quarter-final at the National Stadium in Kingston on Thursday, November 14 and Energizer Park in St. Louis, Missouri on Monday, November 18.
The Reggae Boyz will be looking for revenge over their American counterparts after suffering defeat to them at the semi-final stage of last season’s Nations League 1-3 in extra time. The USA went on to win the whole thing with a 2-0 victory over Mexico in the final while the Reggae Boyz beat Panama 1-0 to claim third place.
If the Boyz are to get over the hump this time around, Chung understands that a massive part of it will be the energy they receive from the thousands of Jamaican fans in attendance.
“We are at the quarterfinal stage. We want to ensure that we are there in our numbers supporting the Boyz because we have to make it past the mighty USA which, after we finish with them, they won’t be so mighty,” Chung said in press conference on Monday.
As such, three support groups for Jamaican football-Reggae Boyz Supporters Club, Reggae Football Fans Club and Reggae Boyz Community, are all making it possible for fans from all over the diaspora to have an opportunity to cheer on the Reggae Boyz live and in person.
“We want to welcome this partnership because this is a way for us now to reach our fanbase. We want to ensure that everyone is involved. At the last two games we had over 17,000 people in attendance and that, for us, is very important. It’s not just about playing football. It’s about getting everybody involved,” Chung said on Monday.
Errol Walters and Louis Grant, members of the Reggae Football Fans Club, were also on hand on Monday and gave an overview of this initiative.
“It’s an honor and a pleasure to be serving our country in this way. What we’re trying to do is create an opportunity for fans in the diaspora that we use our collective bargaining power to negotiate to go to the games,” Walters said.
“There are times when I’m in London and want to go to a game and I have no one to travel with so it was always my dream to create a database to say listen, who’s going to the game from where,” Walters added.
Grant explained that this idea came about because of the desire of members of the diaspora to be a driving force behind the support of the team on their journey to the World Cup in 2026.
“This was birthed out a desire to be the proverbial 12th man for our football teams and more so for the second iteration of the historic trip to the World Cup. We, as members of the diaspora here in the United States, think it’s only right that we play our part in drumming up support as far as leveraging air travel, accommodation, and support,”
“For example, we’ve been in touch with US Soccer with regards to the game in St. Louis. We’ve gotten a section that we can have all or most of our supporters concentrated to create that ‘Office’ vibe,”
“In my experience, we’ve gone to games in my area and you’d see our supporters and our flag sparsely across the various stadiums and we are of the opinion that if we were more concentrated in one section, it bodes well or it is a better look and feel for our team,” he added.
Fulham 2-1 Brentford: Wilson's late brace seals comeback win
Harry Wilson scored twice in stoppage time as Fulham came back to beat Brentford 2-1 in an enthralling West London derby.
Wilson was the hero from Fulham's bench on Monday, as Marco Silva's team – who were on the wrong end of a late comeback against Everton last time out in the Premier League – salvaged a victory from the jaws of defeat.
Fulham will feel it was a win they earned from a match they dominated from the off, with the Bees having taken the lead against the run of play through Vitaly Janelt's stunning 24th-minute strike.
But the Fulham pressure finally told when Wilson rose high to flick in his first in the 92nd minute, and – after Bernd Leno made a superb stop to thwart Brentford at the other end – the former Liverpool midfielder nodded in again to send Craven Cottage into raptures.
Fulham's win takes them up into ninth, while Brentford drop to 12th after suffering a fifth league loss of the season.
Data Debrief: Super-sub Wilson to the rescue
Fulham will feel they deserved to come away from that match with three points, having had 26 shots, 12 of which were on target, in an incredibly dominant display.
They also had 46 touches in the opposition box compared to Brentford's nine, but they could not make those count, at least until Wilson's late intervention as he finally broke through Brentford's stubborn defence.
The Welshman scored with both of his shots on target, having three attempts overall, with his goals coming from a combined 0.19 expected goals.
The Bees looked sure to get a first away win, and first clean sheet, of the Premier League season until their late lapse in concentration, and they have now dropped 14 points from winning positions in the competition this season, more than any other team.
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
