Guys, my only sources of information are a near whole page dedicated to Jamo and short conversations I have had with the man himself.
The news of the world reveal that Jamo uses a sports psychologist to mentally prepare him to consistently play at the top level. He readily admits that this extra help has taken him to new heights this year.
Although it is my opinion that along with this psychologist, sheer hard work and dedication are key contributing factors to making saves like the last minute effort against Bolton. Let’s be honest, you don’t get a physique like Jamo’s by not training hard.
He says in today’s NOTW that his preparation starts in the car, “We work on loads of things. Imagery training, for example. There have been a lot of jokes about when I drive into games, every time I stop at traffic lights, I’ll imagine catching crosses. It’s taken as being quite nuts. But it’s part of the imagery work, you imagine yourself doing the right things and it helps you to do them.” In my book, that’s dedication, concentrating the mind before he even reaches the ground.
He goes on to talk about watching the darts players on TV, “They are all hitting 180’s and, suddenly, they go. The TV cameras are on and some can’t cope. It’s a big mental thing.”
Jamo will admit to being a perfectionist, but with the experience of age is now admitting that you must be happy with what you have done well and that in goalkeeping in particular you cannot produce a perfect display, although I can name games where he has near as performed one!
Jamo likes what he sees in the Fabio Capello England camp, where he was recently given a huge vote of confidence by being played the whole 90 mins, he said, “It would be easy to say everything was perfect because I played for 90 mins and felt good. It was thorough and felt good. Wearing the no.1 jersey is great, but more importantly, I saw a set up that I liked. I thought, hey, this is a guy who knows what he wants and he knows how he wants you to do it.”
On a personal note, I’ve said on this site more than once that I honestly believe that Jamo can play at the top, top level for at least another 3 years, taking us past the 2010 world cup, if so he can hardly be seen as a short term measure can he! This is how some continue to label Jamo’s England status, but there is most definitely not a better English keeper, if indeed a better keeper than him playing anywhere.
On his domestic club football he has this to say, “We are making large strides to be one of the best teams in the country. Part of that progression is getting to the F.A. cup finals – and winning the F.A. cup final.”
So then, fellow Vital Pompey members, that is the vision Jamo has for our future, one of the best clubs in the country and F.A. cup winners this year. How refreshing to hear confidence and long term vision coming from the dressing room at Fratton Park.
I have written this article following suggestion on the site that Spurs are after our man Jamo. I think the last part of the article would suggest that Jamo sees himself in Blue on the south coast for the foreseeable future.
One worrying note though is that as yet Jamo is, as I understand, out of contract in the summer. I would hope the club make it an absolute priority to address this issue, then if anyone were to come in to take away one of our prized assets, it would cost, say, £9-10 Million.
Written by pompey4me.
The views within this article are the views of the individual who wrote and submitted this piece, sometimes solely theirs. They are not necessarily shared by the Vital Pompey Site Journalists.
