View Full Version : Scouting Reports: Jamaica, ES, Panama
Autogolazo
21 Jul 2004, 02:00 PM
Just figured we needed a thread for all compiled info on our upcoming opponents to analyze potential matchups. Especially considering the Jamaica game is less than a month away.
Anyone know anything about Jamaica's new Brazilian coach? Isn't a bit late to be hiring a new guy?
El Salvador is supposedly a shadow of its former self--true?
Have heard nothing about Panama, but they did have a couple players in the Colombian league, I think. What are the bros. Dely Valdes up to?
voros
21 Jul 2004, 11:46 PM
Just figured we needed a thread for all compiled info on our upcoming opponents to analyze potential matchups. Especially considering the Jamaica game is less than a month away.
Anyone know anything about Jamaica's new Brazilian coach? Isn't a bit late to be hiring a new guy?
El Salvador is supposedly a shadow of its former self--true?
Have heard nothing about Panama, but they did have a couple players in the Colombian league, I think. What are the bros. Dely Valdes up to?
From results, Panama appears to be in the ascendancy (qualified for the U20s last time as well) and may now be a bit better than the Sallies.
Having three other good teams is actually good for us in that it will tend to reduce the overall points necessary to advance to the next round. 9 points might do it, 10 probably will.
If we somehow can come up with a win in Jamaica in our opening match, we will be extremely well positioned.
Scotty
22 Jul 2004, 12:36 AM
Regarding Panama, I have been wondering about their forward Julio Cesar Dely Valdez. The guy had a pretty impressive European career in Italy, France and Spain (with Cagliari, PSG, Oviedo and Malaga). He even scored in the last round of qualifiers. But at 37-years-old his best days are obviously behind him.
Anyway, does anyone know which club team he currently plays with? I posed the quesiton on the CONCACAF boards, but no one seems to know:
http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=104331&page=16&pp=15
michael greene
22 Jul 2004, 08:40 AM
As the El Salvador national team was staying at the same hotel in Torrance, CA last weekend, I can report they are very young and very short.
They played a friendly vs. Guatemala in LA, and lost 1-0. Guatemala w/o Ruiz, by the way. The same teams play again at RFK Aug. 6th, which will be the last game for both before quals start.
smith07
22 Jul 2004, 08:45 AM
From results, Panama appears to be in the ascendancy (qualified for the U20s last time as well) and may now be a bit better than the Sallies.
Having three other good teams is actually good for us in that it will tend to reduce the overall points necessary to advance to the next round. 9 points might do it, 10 probably will.
If we somehow can come up with a win in Jamaica in our opening match, we will be extremely well positioned.
SOMEHOW WE WIN..Shouldn't we be favored to beat Jamacia on the road?
metroflip73
22 Jul 2004, 10:09 AM
SOMEHOW WE WIN..Shouldn't we be favored to beat Jamacia on the road?
We've never beaten Jamaica in a qualifier on the road. I believe we are winless at The Office. This may change...
Sachin
22 Jul 2004, 10:10 AM
We won 2-1 there last year. Goals by Boca off a Convey corner and Klein in the run of play.
Lowe nailed an absolutely stunning free kick to pull one back. It's the first time we won at The Office since 1994.
Sachin
numerista
23 Jul 2004, 12:21 AM
Anyway, does anyone know which club team he currently plays with? I posed the quesiton on the CONCACAF boards, but no one seems to know:
Hey Scotty,
Here's what Lexis-Nexis tells me ...
In Panama's semipro league, Arabe Unido finished the season with the Dely Valdes twins playing in tandem. In their first game together, they combined to score five goals in a 6-0 win.
In January of this year, Julio had declared himself an "ex-futbolista," having struggled while playing for Nacional of Uruguay. Since then, he had a tribute game in May, where he said that he plans to stay with Arabe Unido for one more season, then go into coaching.
Scotty
23 Jul 2004, 12:52 AM
Hey Scotty,
Here's what Lexis-Nexis tells me ...
In Panama's semipro league, Arabe Unido finished the season with the Dely Valdes twins playing in tandem. In their first game together, they combined to score five goals in a 6-0 win.
In January of this year, Julio had declared himself an "ex-futbolista," having struggled while playing for Nacional of Uruguay. Since then, he had a tribute game in May, where he said that he plans to stay with Arabe Unido for one more season, then go into coaching.
Thanks for the update.
Do you happen to know if he will play in the upcoming group round of qualifying?
numerista
23 Jul 2004, 01:06 AM
Do you happen to know if he will play in the upcoming group round of qualifying?
It sounds like he will.
GringoTex
23 Jul 2004, 09:31 AM
El Salvador is supposedly a shadow of its former self--true?
El Salvador is in complete overhaul mode, going almost exclusively with younger, inexperienced, "motivated" players. Thus, they're very vulnerable at the moment.
GRUNT
23 Jul 2004, 11:47 AM
El Salvador is supposedly a shadow of its former self--true?
You mean a shadow can cast a shadow of itself? I should have paid more attention in science class. :D
voros
23 Jul 2004, 11:53 AM
SOMEHOW WE WIN..Shouldn't we be favored to beat Jamacia on the road?
If history is any guide, we should definitely be favored to tie Jamaica on the road since that has far and away been the most common result.
GRUNT
23 Jul 2004, 11:55 AM
El Salvador is in complete overhaul mode, going almost exclusively with younger, inexperienced, "motivated" players. Thus, they're very vulnerable at the moment.
As opposed to the dangerous threat they were previously? Whew!! We can rest easy now. :p
I don't mean to knock what you're saying -- actually, I'm glad to hear it -- but I just don't have it in me to take El Salvador seriously. When was the last time a match with the Salvis was even a contest?
Dixie
23 Jul 2004, 11:56 AM
SOMEHOW WE WIN..Shouldn't we be favored to beat Jamacia on the road?
We are 8-0-5 all-time vs Jamaica but only 2 wins in Kingston (1994 and 2003). In WCQ we are 0-0-2 in Kingston.
Adam Zebrowski
23 Jul 2004, 03:17 PM
I suspect wcq matches are the only relevant past history which is meaninful.
So drawing in Kingston is good.
Similarly, my belief is the the recent run against mexico doesn't tell us very much about how many points to expect playing home and away...
4 points off mexico would be excellent with 3 being the most likely and 2 being quite possible
TAKK
23 Jul 2004, 03:19 PM
We are 8-0-5 all-time vs Jamaica but only 2 wins in Kingston (1994 and 2003). In WCQ we are 0-0-2 in Kingston.
The Boyzz will probably have the most professionally experienced team they have ever had also.
If Fuller was healthy, think he isn't, to start with Euell up top, they could really be huge trouble down there. I know Lowe is done as he was recently busted for drugs, so they are missing two players who coould really pose problems.
Playing midday in Kingston is not easy for anyone. I believe they have lost twice there since 94. Us this spring, and Mexico in qualifying last time out (2001).
Not easy at all.
Oh yeah, watching the Carib Cup last year in Panama wa brutal. That field is just awfull. Uneven and hard. Jusy ugly.
numerista
23 Jul 2004, 07:42 PM
If Fuller was healthy, think he isn't, to start with Euell up top, they could really be huge trouble down there. I know Lowe is done as he was recently busted for drugs, so they are missing two players who coould really pose problems.
Playing midday in Kingston is not easy for anyone. I believe they have lost twice there since 94. Us this spring, and Mexico in qualifying last time out (2001).
Not easy at all.
Well put ... incidentally, I just did a search on Fuller, and he's in Colorado right now to see a knee specialist, perhaps to go under the knife.
On the bright side, if his knee has been mangled beyond repair, Colorado is the right place to be. The Rapids specialize in signing foreigners who are constantly injured.
voros
24 Jul 2004, 02:27 AM
The Boyzz will probably have the most professionally experienced team they have ever had also.
If Fuller was healthy, think he isn't, to start with Euell up top, they could really be huge trouble down there. I know Lowe is done as he was recently busted for drugs, so they are missing two players who coould really pose problems.
Yeah but I'm not sure Damani Ralph or Marlon King are going to be significant downgrades.
Fact is Jamaica's going to have two strong strikers out there, they're loaded with strikers. It's the other 9 players and the team's level of organization that the USA will have to outmatch that will make the difference.
j5isalive
24 Jul 2004, 03:03 AM
If WCQ has taught me anything, the games are always harder than you imagine. We should be favored against all three teams, no matter the location. But when it all matters, we will see how the team responds to pro or con crowd. I wish I could, but I can't attend a game until the 5th. I hope it is not too late.