Boyd

FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida, USA:Jamaica will, at least for now, abandon a tried and proven tactical formation and replace it with one the team believes will bring more balance, when the Reggae Boyz face Haiti tonight in a friendly football international here.

Coach John Barnes plans to ditch the 3-5-2 formation for the 8 p.m. (7 p.m. Jamaica time) match between the two traditional Caribbean rivals at Lockhart Stadium.

Barnes will replace it with a 4-4-2 line-up, a change he has long wanted to adopt, but was prompted to usher it in now following Jamaica's showing in the Reggae Boyz' last international, a 0-0 draw against Nigeria in England in February, which the coach believes exposed some deficiencies.

"The formation is going to change," Barnes said. "We're gonna play a 4-4-2. Since I've been here, we've played three at the back and I think three at the back has served us well, in terms of if you look at what we've done (including winning the Digicel Caribbean Cup last December)."

The coach understands that Jamaica have been successful using the 3-5-2, especially in the latter stages of the failed 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign, when the Boyz scored big wins against Mexico, Canada and Honduras. But Barnes insisted the switch is being made out of need.

"I've always wanted to play 4-4-2 but I didn't want to come and all of a sudden change everything and then, if you don't do well, people say 'well, why did you change?' So I kept it at that (5-3-2)," he said. "But the Nigeria game in particular has shown me that playing 3-5-2 or 3-4-3 against better opposition, it isn't as good a balance as a 4-4-2."

Furthermore, Barnes believes most of Jamaica's players are already used to playing the 4-4-2, especially those who play overseas, particularly in England.

"They all play 4-4-2 for their clubs, so they know how to do it," he explained. "So I just think that, from a point of view of what we want to do in the Gold Cup, because I think in the Gold Cup against arguably better opposition, America and Honduras and these teams, and I think it's just a better balance, a 4-4-2."

The 4-4-2 formation features four defenders, four midfielders - including two central and two on the flanks - plus two strikers. The 3-5-2 offers three central defenders, three midfielders and two forwards, with two players in wider midfield/defensive roles. The coach is eager to see how the Boyz fit into the system.

"I'm just interested in seeing how we can adapt to a 4-4-2," Barnes said.

The coach was less open on the team he plans to use for tonight's game. However, indications are that improving Jason Morrison, a regular starter under Barnes' tenure, will be one of the central midfielders. He could be joined in that holding role by Richard Edwards.

With veteran Ian Goodison joining the team on Thursday evening, he should be one of the two starters in central defence. He could be joined by Claude Davis or Damion Stewart. With striker Roland Dean recovering from an injured knee suffered in Thursday's training session, questions still remain about which players will carry Jamaica's attacking load. If Dean is fit he is likely to play. Nicholas Adderly, a newcomer to the senior team, has impressed Barnes. So too Keammar Daley and Navion Boyd.

Little is known about Haiti and their plans for the game. Ten players based in the French-speaking country were joined here by eight overseas-based professionals.

According to coach Jairo Rios, a Colombian who has guided Haiti for the past six months, the focus of his team will be less on the final result and more on solidifying his team for the upcoming CONCACAF Gold Cup, the July tourna-ment which will also feature Jamaica.

"We're not looking at the score," said Rios, who admitted that he is aware of Jamaica's team speed, skill and power, which will make it a difficult match for Haiti.

development

"We're trying to see the development of the team. This is very important for the preparation for the Gold Cup."

Barnes, too, is looking to evaluate his squad with the Gold Cup in mind. Jamaica have two more friendlies, May 30 against El Salvador in Washington DC, USA, and next month (7th) versus Panama in Kingston.

Formation switch aside, tonight he is keen to see if the Boyz have maintained continuity from their victory in the Digicel Cup last year and the promising draw with Nigeria.

"The expectation is to play in the way we have been trying to play," Barnes said. "You know when you put a strategy together, not just a formation, but a philosophy and a strategy, a pattern of play, you're looking for the players to carry that through into the match and that's all you can ask of them."

Edwards

Goodison

Morrison