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Trinidad and Tobago National Senior Team coach Stephen Hart credited his players for clawing back a 3-2 win over St Vincent and the Grenadines yesterday, in a Russia 2018 World Cup qualifier at Arnos Vale.
Trinidad and Tobago won 3-2.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/CA-images/Wired868)
However, he slammed his “Soca Warriors” for an unacceptable performance, although they sit atop Group 3 with seven points at present followed by Guatemala (6), the United States (4) and “Vincey Heat” (0).
“I can’t accept this performance but what I will say is we fought our way back (and) we got the three points,” Hart told the TTFA Media. “We can play much, much better. We have to look deep within ourselves and be more efficient without the ball and with the ball.”
The Warriors coach, who is in his third year at the helm, criticised his team’s defensive effort against the route one approach by the host team, which led to two goals and at least one other glorious scoring opportunity.
“We didn’t show our real purpose in closing down the ball (and) in pressing,” said Hart, “and our organisation between midfield and (the) back line was at times, for me, shocking. I didn’t recognise some of the things we were doing at all.
“There were too many gaps (and) too many spaces. And once you realise that a team is going to play direct balls, the objective is to stop (them from) playing that ball as early as possible.
Trinidad and Tobago won 3-2.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/CA-images/Wired868)
“Too many players didn’t show the sort of urgency to defend that they should have.”
Hart’s suggestion that he could barely recognise what some of his players were up to was, arguably, in itself shocking.
The least experienced player in the Trinidad and Tobago defence yesterday was 30-year-old Yohance Marshall, who made his ninth appearance for Hart but is a regular squad player and has played professionally in at least five different countries.
In the centre of the midfield, where Vincey Heat were able to engineer those problematic passes, Andre Boucaud and Khaleem Hyland have a combined 89 international caps between them and 51 of those appearances were made under the current coach.
Should Warriors fans be concerned that the message does not seem to be sinking in on such important occasions?
Trinidad and Tobago won 3-2.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/CA-images/Wired868)
There was, arguably, more room for sympathy in the offensive third where Kevin Molino was making his first outing since 27 March 2015, due to a lengthy injury-enforced layoff, and full back Justin Hoyte essentially wasted one attacking slot on the right flank.
Still, Hart conceded that his players were not good enough there either.
“On the first half, we had a lot of possession on the ball and we got into good, good positions all over the field,” said Hart. “And then we struggled to make the final pass or to cross the ball properly. Or just to have that little impetus to have shots on goal.
“(Then) a goal scores on you. And now you are away from home in a dogfight to try and get the goal back.”
Hart explained that Hoyte’s deployment as an attacking right-sided midfielder was meant to maximise his crossing ability and the timing of his runs. In the end, the England-based defender was overworked by having to offer constant support to right back Daneil Cyrus.
Trinidad and Tobago won 3-2.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/CA-images/Wired868)
“(Hoyte) has a good knack for knowing when to get forward and deliver crosses,” Hart told Wired868, “and we thought we would try it in the game and see how it works. (We felt) it would give us a balance when Cyrus was going forward…
“But I think he ended up doing too much work.”
The Warriors coach was relatively happy with Molino’s effort, though, and suggested that the Orlando City midfielder only needed to regain his confidence to return to his best.
“(Molino) has been playing 77 minutes and 90 minutes for Orlando and he needs the games (to regain his sharpness),” said Hart. “He was busy all game (and) looked the part. He just needs to get his confidence in front of goal.”
There was no questioning the value of substitutes Levi Garcia and Neveal Hackshaw, though. Both were National Under-20 players just last year and they combined for the 81st minute winner, as Hackshaw launched the ball into space for the 18-year-old Garcia to collect and finish.
Trinidad and Tobago won 3-2.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/CA-images/Wired868)
“It was a fantastic debut by young Levi Garcia,” said Hart. “And Hackshaw came on and it was a textbook sort of pass, run (and) finish. And, between the two of them, they got us back in the game.”
If Hart’s trusted older guard are not getting the message. Maybe Soca Warriors supporters will be treated to more youthful enthusiasm on Tuesday when Trinidad and Tobago host St Vincent and the Grenadines from 7 pm at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain.
Tickets are priced at TT$300 (covered section) and TT$150 (uncovered section) and are available at Sports and Games (nationwide), Kenny’s Sports (nationwide), Sportway (Ellerslie Plaza and Gulf City), Fan Zone (Centre City Mall, Chaguanas), Ramsingh’s Sportworld (Couva) and Heritage Sports (Scarborough, Tobago).
They can also be purchased online via the TTFA’s official website: www.TTFootball.Org.
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Lasana Liburd is the managing director and chief editor at Wired868.com and a journalist with over 20 years experience at several Trinidad and Tobago and international publications including Play the Game, World Soccer, UK Guardian and the Trinidad Express.
He’s is by far the best prospect I’ve seen in our colours for quite a while indeed even the great MVB has taken a keen interest in the young man I expect great things from this lad.
Not even then! Dani Alves was woeful when they played higher up the field and Alba is a runner–no more, no less.
Unless they played for Barca lol
I can hardly think of a right back in the world who would make a good attacking right side midfielder.
He dam right , that win was poor .. Unacceptable
Boy,
I don’t know where to start
This team needs a me mum type of player in midfield. A disrupter, a player who will sacrifice his body for the team to prevent the ball being played forward, who is determined to win the ball,,,a Chris Birchall
We have 2 of them in the squad. The both played last game. I think we need the opposite. Someone that can create from the midfield. A box to box guy. To complement the disrupter. Hyland and Buc are two disrupters. Well they are suppose to be
Prince Borde You could put whatever label you want on those guys. Do any of them resemble a chris birchall defensively?
Hyland has the ability to be better. When the midfield was in position they dispossessed the midfielders a lot the other night. It’s just that a lot of times they never recovered well enough.
We will see an improve performance Tuesday
Sorry Prince, no Birchalls in this team
Ah man say to stay positive. Roneil…let me hope
I am positive. But just saying that I don’t see that type of player in this team.
Prince Borde That’s positive criticism. We could’ve said they played tata.
To their defense they have been playing well. Send in the two young players from the start this time
We don’t know if those two guys would be as effective playing 90 minutes at this level. They added a spark. Be happy.
The entire team bar Levi played way below standard. And this is a continuation of the Hati game. We cannot just show up and expect to beat leser opponents. Like the USA expected to do also.
True Jamal. But Gerard. I agree with Prince that Hyland, Boucaud and Kevan George are better disrupters than Birchall in my opinion. Or at least as good.
What I can’t argue with is Birchall had a quality cross from dead ball situations and an outside shot. None of the others do.
Hart clearly wanted Bostock in there to give us an outside shooting game. You can see we badly need that.
Maybe Birchall might be more tactically disciplined than some of the other guys though, outside of Kevan George who is a beast.
Lasana Liburd My point is he knew his role. It was a defensive role and and he played it very well. He wouldn’t be caught way upfield ahead of the ball because he knew his role was to stop the advancement of the ball when we were not in possession. These guys frequently are out of position to do that job.
Okay. Understood perfectly. Yes, Birchall was a tactically disciplined player for sure. Although that might have been easier with attacking players like Dwight Yorke, Russell Latapy and Aurtis Whitley around who you could count on to do their jobs.
Maybe Hyland and Boucaud won’t feel the need to push forward so much as Molino regains form, Levi settles in and Joevin wakes up…
Don’t be too harsh on Joevin Lasana Liburd he probably was still digesting some heavy Good Friday provisions
I honestly thought our holding midfielders won the ball when we were in position. What issue I believe is that we just didn’t recover. There wasn’t much transition.
Didn’t look like they were stepping to the ball when there was a turnover. Looked like they were retreating instead, which gave St Vincent midfielders space to look up and thread passes.
They all played us games,we fought for coaches in the schools up to national level to get proper contracts working conditions etc ,deaf ears
The Coaches assocaitiom was defunct for more than ten years we tried tirelessly to reorganize revitalise ,but interest groups mainly the eat ah food gang ,and ah want me patnah from foriegn to come back ,but ah hadda. Give him the wok ,I went to one of those meeting and Coachman I could speak ..Cabal and self interest .We worked with Tim Kee and Phillips ,before that groden and we bankcrupt ex President …boy is
Defense is suspect need to be more strong in the CB position and central midfield, they press a little better in 2nd half, but passes have to be more accurate
This has to be articulated ..Our training facilities must be upgraded and maintained ,professionalism does not start at the pro levels it starts at the early childhood development programs..environmental factors are important.
Coachman we both know that in majority some things that are supposed to be standard for a developing global or regional powerhouse is sometimes nonexistant
I know Coachman ,The solution does not lye in the tangebles as much as it lies in the intangeables ..
We have an unprofessional culture ,
Let’s work on adjusting that intangeble
Set higher standards for players from youth levels to professional levels
Formulate a system of measurement and evaluation .What are we looking for ,What are our Technical expectations from our players
What are out Technical expectations for f our Coaches
What are our Administrative and professional standards for our administration ..The just must not be voted in on popularity
National youth coaches must not just be selected cause it’s free seconded or voluntary .
Raise the bar in Player and Coaching education .
Revamp secondary school league ,it’s not internationally relevant for 19,and twenty year olds to be playing schoolboy football ,our country is small we must do keep our eyes on global compettveness and not Port of Spain South tradition
Anton Corneal started a youth development program from U13 and that squad went on to qualify for the U17 and U20 Fifa Youth Championships. Some of those players in the senior team now.
We had a Coach Education programme up and running certifying persons with the TTFF/Dutch C Licence.
I think there needs to be a review and assessment of the positives and negatives in our effort to move forward. Not just the negatives
Good point Jamaal.
But where the coaches association?
We need tangible pathways for solutions not just identification of 1000 ills while forgetting whenever there was some good . And there has been some good.
Some people think the game belong to them ,it’s in their pocket ,it’s the truth.Why is their not a coaches association to vet but the nal appointments ..in the last election ,coaches were not represented because they never accepted our membership request .As for the players association ,request frustrated ,so who represented the interest of those two key make it happen stakeholders .it’s a big boy ting Coachman ,I’ll challenge anyone on this
How do you get the collective effort then ?
When Otto Pfister was hired and when Even Pellerud was hired both posts were advertised and persons shortlisted and interviewed before a final selection.
I am not aware of any ,but is this the process that continued for decades ,Once attended a TTFA meeting ,Financial ruin to the tune of about 30 million ,Coaches at all levels ,not just national and Pro league but schools grassroots etc frustrated ,lack of streamlined coaching development programmes ,secret courses by friend ting ,blacklist if u don’t kisscheeks ,regional associations run by Cabal ,constitutional issues ,opportunist ,I seen it all Coachman ,not go mention the national youth schedule ,with school football and Pro league youth football ,I could challenge anybody on this …A new president ,general Secretary etc is not the answer ,pipe dreaming ,Football needs a collective effort at all levels to move forward ,Finally while the world of football is evolving and becoming more scientific. We shouting at our televisions to win ..
If so I challenge that statement because I have seen processes in the past.
Are yu saying that the TTFF/ FA never had a process ?
The Federation is a political animal,croniesm ,friend ting ,power brokers,kisscheeks ..As far as technicians ,we have some folks who can meet the criteria ,the question is are the professional skills be compensated .We are still in an era ,just. As in politics so to in football ,friend ting and eat ah food .There is much to wonder ..1How is a national coach selected .How is a technical staff selected to me we are stuck in a rotation is f same ole faces on different day ,Cabal
Agreed. Defense was suspect yesterday
We must relate preparation to the reality today which is during the club season Fifa only allows you maximum 5 days with the national team on for games on the Official Fifa match dates. The biggest challenge we face as technicians in this era is planning, scouting and team management.
It helps a great deal if the Federation, the staff and the team is singing from the same hymm book.
That’s football for you, brilliant final 20 minutes though….imagine how dangerous this team can be when all guns are firing….St.Vincent good for 6 in the Hasely Crawford
#Truetalk
Carlos yuh missed out preparation to eh, the corrupted TTFA is always complaining about being broke eh, hence the reason why they cannot play against better competition for the warm up games eh, compared to my USA team, Mexico, Costa Rica, eh, and hence the reason why they are always qualifying eh. Them really good yes.
Kenwyne’s work rate and leadership on the pitch yesterday was pathetic. In a WCQ away from home in difficult conditions the captain and our most experienced player had to lead by example and set the tone and he did the complete opposite ..do your job skipper
For me, it is hard to tell on television where you can see the whole field at once. I thought the St Vincent captain Roy Richards was exceptional on him.
But I really couldn’t see enough to say he didn’t work.
Sorry but he was bad. When he’s good I will praise him and when he gives those lazy don’t care performances when we need him most I will slam him. I’m ok with you having a shit game if you try and it just doesn’t come off but when you completely take the game for granted and as captain in a crucial WCQ that to me is unforgivable. Hope that was the last time I will have to say this about him in a bloody WCQ
Okay. Certainly seems fair to me.
He’s been for the most part very good under Hart but yesterday was just typical .. Playing a “small” team and the arrogance and lack of professionalism had my blood boiling
He did assist on the 2nd Goal with a nice flick on head pass
All is forgiven then ?
Haha
#Russia2018 #RedArmy #WeReady
Lasana Liburd There was a ball played forward on the right flank in the second half and the defender gave him a slight tug and he stopped running and waited for a call that never came. He’s been good under Hart but his work rate was poor yesterday
Fair enough.
Think it is time to move on. Good and important analysis and critique, and all fair and forthright which is good.
However, our next game is days away, and we need to send out some positive vibes to the team.
What has gone is history and cannot be re written. What is ahead of us is critical.
We need to support the guys on Tuesday, and I predict T&T 4-0. Go for it guys.
I’m not asking for him to be dropped Bruce. I just hope I don’t ever see that from him again in such an important fixture. Anyway , here’s to Tuesday and 3 massive massive points
Yeah he’s generally been good under Hart and had a tremendous Gold Cup. He’s got money in the bank
#Russia2018 #RedArmy #WeReady
Kenwyne : big, lazy, slow, poor first touch, cant dribble,not a good passer, very good header and post up player
Could not have put it better. Should not be a starter in this squad. I have never seen a footballer walk so much during games. Trevin Caesar should be given a start vs SVG. His pace is needed against them.
Make sense Lasana Liburd…
Well, USA would love to be in our shoes right now Carlos. And that is the irony here.
Look at the results alone and the team is doing a brilliant job.
At the international level you have to understand the required performance levels to be successful at every stage of the campaign .it’s either you perform consistently at a high level inspite of opponent ,pitch and home away .benchmark the performances based on those who have been consistently making the world cup .Mexico USA Costa Rica et al and you know the requirements
We need about four points again to get to the next round. I agree Jamaal.
I haven’t been consistently pleased with our performances. I mostly appreciate the effort but not so much the fluidity.
Still, if they would like to eke out results all the way to Russia then I would applaud them for it.
I would like them to be more emphatic. But I cannot knock us being unbeaten in four WCQ games and with three wins to boot.
Well our Soca Worries better make it good on Tuesday because they will be playing on a much better field in our sweet country and my foreign base Coach Hart better be very careful eh, because our Soca Worries have a tendency of destroying very good foreign base coaches coaching career eh. Them really good yes.
KJ attracts a lot of attention every time we play. He doesn’t score as much as we may like but he opens up space for the others. We go see. I don’t like the style of play we play at times but in Harts business it’s about string results. Get results or get fired. So once we advance he has don’t the job
Yup – agree. KJ is definitely on the decline, but still has something to offer to the squad. Nevertheless, he’s got to give his all once he’s on the pitch – even if it’s for 45 minutes.
I warned on this same Wired chat StVincent would not be an easy opponent on that windy dry bumpy cricket ground. No coach could be satisfied with a close score against what we perceive as a lesser opponent.
The ground conditions the speed of the opponents front 6 and their confidence were factors as well.
Still a good result.
Kenwyne is about 31. Just accept what he gives now yes.
Physical power particularly from set pieces, good leadership off the field, unselfish and he worries opposing defences.
We just have to largely put up with the weaknesses while he beg him to work as hard as he can on top.
Now if Cornell Glen can have a heart to Hart chat with the boss, we can get some added firepower that might make a difference when things get sticky.
You rel chooking this fire lol
Yeah Lasana…KJ is a true worrier….he really worries some us trinis though….
an Away win in in WC is hard…. US loss 2/0 GUA who we beat…. they getting roasted up here…. We played absolute garbage for 70 min and looked ok OFFENSIVELY for 20…. we were suspect all day in the back,… SVG never stopped running but what was disappointing is that at no point did we really boss the game with our talent and force SVG to back down…. And team can take all the blame… poor coaching instructions caused the 2nd goal… you can’t fight back in a WCQ to lead 2/1 and still play as if you are chasing a game…. THAT is how you get beat…… the real test is the return leg on a bigger and better pitch… let’s see what team shows up ….
Sometimes you get a poor performance but a good result. I agree with the coach, but as he said, this team is far better than the way they played. A very good performance and a big win is now required on Tuesday. Was the Guatemala result good or bad for us?? I think we need to see the result of the return game on Tuesday to get the answer. A win for Guatemala or a draw may make yesterday’s result good for us. However a USA win will make it bad. Whichever way we need to win big on Tuesday.
I was not impressed by the performance but given the fact they have been performing well recently ,I would just take the 3 points and move on…..BTW ground conditions were not up to standards…
KJ is not the problem, but he does need to up his game and intensity a notch. He’s been a bit too casual on offense. But sometimes you win and don’t play well. I’ll take the 3 points and continue to work on our deficiencies. That’s why we’re paying Hart the big bucks???
Don’t think it’s kenwin
And this is why I like Steven Hart …straight shooter
The Problem is kenwyne
Locating the problem is step one…
Hart needs to send this message, that the performance is not acceptable. They players need to hear and understand that they did not perform at the required level though we won. On two many occasions the middle field did not pressure the Vincy passer. We should beat this team at 3-0 not a last minute victory.
The story does not tell us whether Hart accepts any responsibility for the poor showing nor does the story itself offer any explanation. Maybe it’s not information that Coach Hart wants out there before Tuesday but I sure would like to find out where, in his opinion or, alternatively, in the opinion of the writer, the blame for the crap lies.
Well, I’m not sure what else I can say. In the match report, I said it was a stodgy performance rescued by Levi Garcia’s vibrant performance.
I did not travel to St Vincent and it is harder to make a definitive assessment when I was not on live. But I would say Hart’s own analysis is spot on.
The question is why is there still a problem in his getting players to respond to his instructions after over two years.
I’m hoping for a better performance in Port of Spain on Tuesday and I can’t see why there wouldn’t be one.
The irony is, whether we play well or not, if we win then we are on top of the group and just one point away from qualifying for the final round with a game to spare.
Coaches live or die on their results. And there is no question that his results have been good.
Very honest assesment by him
Hart is very correct some of the more experienced players are not giving him what he wants, complacency is setting in it seems
There was plenty of complacency against Haiti for sure. If the players aren’t complying, he best swing the axe before they get him fired.
We lost a place in the Copa Centenario because of it and we almost paid dearly yesterday
He will start doing it especially if we qualified for the final round
He has been very loyal to his players for the most part. Now he might have to be ruthless.
Having said that. If we keep having awful performances and wonderful results, I would take that all the way to Russia! Lol.
For real eh its about getting the results because USA got their asses handed to them last night so let’s seal up our place in the next two games before we play in the US
I want us to eliminate the US. That will really make CONCACAF sit up and take notice. Let’s see if Guatemala can get a result in the States on Tuesday.
I would wine like if it’s a MACHEL MONDAY concert lmao
???
Yeah but the thing is bad performances catch up to you …..in the worst times …we gotta figure it out again and then get the results ….the good thing is we’re getting other attacking prospects starting to show their heads.
Thank you…
me too …to concede 2 goals to SVG?