Plaza breaks 14 match drought; but China win 4-2 to end woeful Warriors tour

Willis Plaza ended a barren run for Trinidad and Tobago that stretched for 14 games and 33 months—his last goal came against the United Arab Emirates on 5 September 2013—while Glenroy Samuel gave a glimpse of his potential with some fine second half saves, after replacing goalkeeper Adrian Foncette at the interval.

Photo: Trinidad and Tobago striker Willis Plaza (left) tries to keep the ball from Peru defender Alberto Rodriguez during international friendly action at the National stadium in Lima on 23 May 2016. (Copyright Ernesto Benavides/AFP 2016/Wired868)
Photo: Trinidad and Tobago striker Willis Plaza (left) tries to keep the ball from Peru defender Alberto Rodriguez during international friendly action at the National stadium in Lima on 23 May 2016.
(Copyright Ernesto Benavides/AFP 2016/Wired868)

Otherwise, it was another poor performance from the “Soca Warriors” who were flattered by the final score summary, as they fell 4-2 to China in an exhibition match in Qinhuangdao.

The result ended a three game tour, which included Peru and Uruguay, that saw Trinidad and Tobago concede 11 goals with three in response. But it is hard to know what else could reasonably be expected of coach Stephen Hart with a weakened team on foreign soil against superior and full strength opposition.

Hart told the TTFA Media that the outings were a good test of his team’s ability to handle the rigours of overseas travel and a chance to increase squad depth.

Yet, at best, just five players from this tour would be pushing for a starting place when Trinidad and Tobago host Guatemala in a crucial Russia 2018 World Cup qualifier on September 2.

Plaza and midfielder Jomal Williams, who scored against Uruguay, would be lifted by their items, while striker Shahdon Winchester and Samuel made decent cases for spots on the substitutes’ bench. But it is hard to see where Hart might have learned anything he didn’t know already.

Photo: Trinidad and Tobago National Senior Team coach Stephen Hart (right) gives the ball back while Peru coach Ricardo Gareca looks on during international friendly action in Lima on 23 May 2016. Peru won 4-0.
Photo: Trinidad and Tobago National Senior Team coach Stephen Hart (right) gives the ball back while Peru coach Ricardo Gareca looks on during international friendly action in Lima on 23 May 2016.
Peru won 4-0.

The players on the fringe of first team picks, like Daneil Cyrus, Sean De Silva and Hughtun Hector, were decent in spurts and overran at times. While the outside shots, like Nathan Lewis, Weslie John, Andre Ettienne and Foncette, looked raw and, once more, Marcus Joseph was anonymous.

Otherwise, Trinidad and Tobago slipped 11 places to 64th in the FIFA rankings and hardly gave any of their three host nations a cause to invite them back over.

Just two months ago, Hart took an experimental team with largely local-based players to Grenada and drew 2-2. Fourteen members from that squad were then asked to compete with Peru, Uruguay and China.

No matter what gloss Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) president David John-Williams puts on the fixtures, it was, at best, the right teams at the wrong times. At worse, it was a case of ambition trumping common sense.

There was just one minute and 31 seconds on the clock when China went ahead in a stadium that was nowhere near to its capacity of 33,000 patrons.

Photo: TTFA president David John-Williams (left) shakes hands with a Shanghai Group of Companies representative on a TT$600,000 deal to play China. (Courtesy TTFA Media)
Photo: TTFA president David John-Williams (left) shakes hands with a Shanghai Group of Companies representative on a TT$600,000 deal to play China.
(Courtesy TTFA Media)

Attacking midfielder Jiang Ning scored with a free header from the edge of the six yard box off a right side cross.


The pattern continued throughout as China frequently got dangerous crosses in from either flank with Warriors right back Alvin Jones, in particular, struggling to cope with the pace of the match.

China might have already been three goals clear when teenaged Eredivisie striker Zhang Yuning scored on his debut with another header from a wide delivery in the 30th minute. And, despite a tame Williams shot and a threatening Winchester header off a De Silva corner, China remained two goals clear at the break.

Yuning struck again with a stooping header to put the hosts three goals clear, midway through the second half, after Trinidad and Tobago failed to clear another set piece.

But, two minutes later, substitute Plaza gave the Warriors a lifeline with a predatory finish from close range, after stand-in captain Radanfah Abu Bakr headed on another incisive De Silva corner kick.

And, in the 85th minute, the Warriors clawed themselves to within one goal of their opponents, as Plaza converted a downward header after a sweeping move that involved fellow substitutes Cyrus and Hector.

Photo: Trinidad and Tobago forward Willis Plaza (left) tries to keep the ball from Panama captain Roman Torres in friendly internal action in March 2015 at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva. (Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
Photo: Trinidad and Tobago forward Willis Plaza (left) tries to keep the ball from Panama captain Roman Torres in friendly internal action in March 2015 at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)

The score did not reflect the action on the field, as Ettienne made two desperate tackles to deny China on one counter attack while Samuel made two superb reflex saves in different passages of play to keep Trinidad and Tobago in the contest.

And the hosts recovered their two goal cushion promptly, as Yuning laid off to substitute Yang Xu on a 88th minute raid and the latter player finished with an unstoppable blast across Samuel and into the top left hand corner from just inside the area.

If Williams had his way, the battered Warriors would now be preparing to face Equatorial Guinea. Thankfully, Hart put his foot down on a fourth outing and his players agreed, when the TTFA president controversially went around his coach’s back to allegedly petition the players directly.

Maybe John-Williams does not know as much about arranging opponents for international teams as he thinks. And it should not be his job anyway.

(Team)

Trinidad and Tobago (4-2-3-1): 22.Adrian Foncette (GK) (21.Glenroy Samuel 46), 15.Alvin Jones (5.Daneil Cyrus 72), 6.Radanfah Abu Bakr (captain), 3.Yohance Marshall (4.Andre Ettienne 72), 2.Aubrey David; 14.Andre Boucaud, 12.Sean De Silva (20.Makesi Lewis 86); 17.Nathan Lewis, 23.Jomal Williams, 9.Marcus Joseph (11.Willis Plaza 58); 10.Shahdon Winchester (7.Hughtun Hector 72).

Unused substitutes: 1.Marvin Phillip (GK), 17.Weslie John, 13.Leston Paul, 19.Curtis Gonzales.

Coach: Stephen Hart

Photo: China attacker Yang Xu converts a penalty during international action. (Copyright China Daily)
Photo: China attacker Yang Xu converts a penalty during international action.
(Copyright China Daily)

International friendly

(Friday June 3)

China 4 (Jiang Ning 2, Zhang Yuning 30, 64, Yang Xu 88), Trinidad and Tobago 2 (Willis Plaza 66, 85) at Qinhuangdao.

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About Lasana Liburd

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.

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238 comments

  1. Soon after his election DJW stated that in order for us to get quality friendlies we need to consistently have a FIFA ranking at 50 or higher; our ranking has dropped to 64. We will need to tie or beat the USA and Guatemala to return to the 50 range. Solely, within the selfish LONG TERM financial interest of maintaining the best ranking these last friendlies without our best players were poorly timed. Short term cash demands won the day, time will tell if long term negatives.

    FIFA formula for rankings below:

    P = M x I x T x C

    The following criteria apply to the calculation of points:

    M: Points for match result

    Teams gain 3 points for a victory, 1 point for a draw and 0 points for a defeat. In a penalty shoot-out, the winning team gains 2 points and the losing team gains 1 point.

    I: Importance of match

    Friendly match (including small competitions): I = 1.0

    FIFA World Cup™ qualifier or confederation-level qualifier: I = 2.5

    Confederation-level final competition or FIFA Confederations Cup: I = 3.0

    FIFA World Cup™ final competition: I = 4.0

    T: Strength of opposing team

    The strength of the opponents is based on the formula: 200 – the ranking position of the opponents. As an exception to this formula, the team at the top of the ranking is always assigned the value 200 and the teams ranked 150th and below are assigned a minimum value of 50. The ranking position is taken from the opponents’ ranking in the most recently published FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking.

    C: Strength of confederation

    When calculating matches between teams from different confederations, the mean value of the confederations to which the two competing teams belong is used. The strength of a confederation is calculated on the basis of the number of victories by that confederation at the last three FIFA World Cup™ competitions (see following page). Their values are as follows:

    CONMEBOL 1.00
    UEFA 0.99
    AFC/CAF/OFC/CONCACAF 0.85

    Based on my rudimentary understanding of the formula that is three zero’s for our 12 month average.

  2. Lasana – Coach Hart is an excellent coach and said it best in the interview shared above – “The objective (of these three games) is to create some depth for our matches in late September.” It’s about developing your pipeline of talent. This way when your first string players are hurt or unavailable you have similar or even better talent to replace them with. This experience will also help our Pro-League players to understand that while they may be top-dog in the Trinidad professional league, they lag far behind in terms of other professional talents and must raise their game to even higher levels. The experience gained by the players involved will be invaluable to their development and to the future of our national program. Let’s take our licks now, and learn from the experience. We need more games like the last three. With coach Hart at the helm, we will continue to develop to levels beyond our imagination.

    • Although I believe what else can he say Carlos? There’s no coach in the world who will say taking a B team to play a full strength Uruguay team is a good idea for grooming.
      Not even teams like Brazil would do that. And it would be considered disrespectful to Uruguay if they did.
      But mighty Trinidad decides that Cavani and company are good to use as kindergarten teachers for Pro League players.
      Of course we want to build depth. I agree with that. But I don’t agree with how it was done.
      I think the coach tried to make the best of a bad idea.

    • I hear you. But coach Hart is a smart fella. When he’s given lemon he’s smart to know to make lemonade with it.

    • Carlos, I won’t argue with that! Hahaha

  3. Debbie Espinal, Curtis Charles and Brian Springer, listen to Stephen Hart’s comments on game:

    • Debbie Espinal its up to us fans to ensure that does NOT happen…Stephen Hart is the BEST Coach T&T has had since Leo Beenhakker…who recommended him for the job incidentally, we lose him and our football will be back to the doldrums of post 2006 and pre 1989

    • Just for accuracy, Beenhakker didn’t recommend Hart. But he endorsed him when asked to review him as coach.

    • I feel for this guy, I think he has shown what he can accomplish if he is given the tools and time so hopefully the TTFA give him the support to properly prepare the team for those 2 WCQ’s vs Guatemala and the USA

    • Brian Springer Live in hope Brian Springer. DJW looks as though he is out to get Coach Hart even at the expense of his/ our Country just to fulfil his own agenda which is to get rid of Hart. Yuh think Jack Warner or Tim Kee was bad? This one making Idi Amin look like a fairy.

    • Yeah his analysis was on point. He also knew that his players weren’t at the level. That’s why he said that some players could have shown better but given the circumstances they couldn’t and to me the circumstance is that he had a team below the standard which affected the way in which a player could have shown his abilities ,being under so much pressure.

    • It was exactly what we were saying eh Curtis? And that is from the head coach. So case closed.

    • After watching Hart’s interview my heart actually broke for him. One could see the frustration on his face and he didn’t hold back on his assessment of the match. After all he has done to raise the level and bring back the fans to football in this country to be royally screwed like this is incomprehensible.

    • Brian Springer Dream on Brian. Dream on. Some people egos are bigger than the game.

    • Lasana Liburd exactly what we were saying, the same said the coach.

  4. I agree eh now is the time to get beat up by all the foreign base countries eh and Venezuela went through that same thing some years ago eh look at them now eh even my greatest team in the universe Brazil does be ketching their tails to beat them up eh and on the other hand our local professional league players cannot say that they are not being given their chances eh to prove themselves so Mr. President and Coach Hart just continue to bring on the top of the line foreign countries eh we shall definitely rise again I am a believer……BOOM

  5. Given the struggles of the TTFA, we should be thankful for these games at this point.
    Honestly, I don’t think the China game was that bad.

    • You make it sound like nobody wants to play us. You know under the last administration we played Peru (twice), Romania, Argentina, Iran, New Zealand, Mexico, UAE… You make it sound like we should take what we get and hush because we are not accustomed to getting games. Lol. 
      You are fixing the wrong problem if you think that series makes any real difference to our reality as a football body.

    • I meant the performance of the China game

    • Not that at all Lasana
      But will like to know how the negotiations went down and how they decided these were our best options given the teams that were available

  6. Peru game was horrible, but we’ve had really bad performances with full strength squads. And you honestly can’t look at the scoreline all the time. Jordan cut we tail 3-0 last year, Panama run over us but won 1-0 not too long ago, we played Argentina and lost 3-0, but the scoreline isn’t what you’re looking for

  7. I still don’t think the tour was an embarrassment.
    I wouldn’t say by any means the it was futile or we shouldn’t have played those opponents.
    The 3 matches served a specific purpose for Coach Hart who literally begs for friendlies. The tour gave staff an opportunity to see who’s up to it in terms or training, adjusting tactically, adjusting mentally, adjusting to heightened physical training and play, also adjusting to travelling and playing.
    We’re preparing for World Cup qualification and we have players being frustrated in ProLeague saying they’re not given sufficient chances and we need to widen the pool if situation depends Hart needs a specific type of player for a game.

  8. What so miserable about the tour? Wasn’t it for the purpose of sifting through the players, giving them exposure, checking fitness etc? The Coach really didn’t have a great pool from which to choose so one has to wonder if he was being set up. Despite all this Hart was still able to show that he could coach anyone you throw at him.

    • What are the positives Debbie? I would find it very hard to believe that Hart asked to play Uruguay, Peru and China with a largely local based team with few players that would be available to face Guatemala on September 2. The Pro League wouldn’t even have started yet.
      Of course you can find a pro here and there. For me, it is mostly cons.

    • Agree Lasana. Looks like he was being set up to fail but the calibre of the man showed that he could still make something out of nothing so jus maybe DJW plan backfired.

  9. But has the Coach sat with the President and they come up with a plan for matches? Months ago Coach Hart complained about the need for matches right here people beat the TT FA for playing Grenada. I think yu guys missing the balance between when a big team wants a game for a Caribbean team to be target practice and what ability we possess to choose an opponent you guys /gals want to play.

    • Steups everybody drinking cold medicine for the staff and they happy to walk bare back in the snow. The Prophet peace be upon him said ” help you brother when he right and help him when he wrong. The Muslims said oh Prophet how can we help him when he wrong, what would Allah say about this. The Prophet said pull his coat. ..tell him when he wrong… that’s how yu help your brother when he wrong.
      If the staff discuss this with the President would that not be a big step forward?

    • Jamaal, the president asked the coach to talk to his squad. You see that as a green light to ask the players to accept a game that the coach declined?
      That’s playing really loose with the facts to me.
      Call the president and ask him if Hart gave him permission specifically to ask the players if they wanted to play a game that the coach already refused. Then let me know what he says.

    • I ask the question is it extreme idealism on my part to suggest that the Technical Staff and President and even Technical Committee sit and develop a pathway forward

    • But I do think you have a valid point about the dangers of standing up for those who won’t stand for themselves. That’s always shaky.
      Even though we can often understand the reluctance for people to stand up.

    • So you not seeing a need for the Staff and the President to sit and discuss a pathway forward?

    • The TTFA president draws up fixtures now Jamaal? Of course I think there should be dialogue. And the president can give an opinion.
      But he must respect the coach’s decision on such matters.
      You think Glazer will tell Mourinho who to play in pre-season?

    • Fair enough ….But would let’s not go as far as Mourinho. ..would Angus Eve accept it . I see a whip on the back of the President and cups of cold medicine gobbled down for the staff. …..

    • So Lasana DJW foot is on my neck. Chabeth. ..Kenneth. …the whole of wired- the President foot on my neck ok. But no word to the person who Allegedly and I say Allegedly have his foot on my neck? Wow.

    • Jamaal, how do you mean? That we are not asking DJW for a quote? Or that Hart isn’t complaining?

    • I am asking if the Staff not asking The President for a meeting to discuss this

    • Did Hart ask the president to play Uruguay, Peru and China with second string teams?

    • I dunno but did he put his foot down and say hey let’s sit and discuss this because it’s my signature on the match sheet?

    • That I don’t know. Although the fact that, when he did refuse a game, DJW asked the players directly if they were willing to play it might say something about the relationship between coach and president.

    • Every man has to be able to paddle his own canoe though. And of course Hart has to be clear about his goals too. I won’t absolve him of that.

    • If DJW is going to be a run away horse what is the Staff as the first port of embarkation prepared to do ? I am no big brave man but I met with the Dictator of Dictators and voice my view in Jack Warner

    • well I just heard that he got the permission of the coach. Lasana did you ask if the Coach accepted for him to talk to the players on the subject? I know many coaches who would not grant such a permission.

    • To be solution oriented if we have a DJW who can get games then the Staff need to man up and sit with him and come up with a plan.

    • Jamaal, valid question. And that is why Trinidad and Tobago’s successful coaches have always been the stubborn pitbulls. Never the nice guys.
      See Gally Cummings, Bertille St Clair and Leo Beenhakker.

    • My analogies may be far fetched but those who claim to be oppressed and the would be oppressor share a unique relationship of tolerance for the so called oppression to continue.

    • It does not have to be a pit bull meeting

    • Everyone has their own personality in getting their message across.

    • Democracy as a concept cannot prevail when men on their knees and throwing purses. It is made on the backs of those who as stakeholders are prepared to demand their space in the consultative process.

    • In my time I see Jack Warner snuff out idealists but I also saw him tolerate and draw from the ideas of others. Short of resigning one can find a way within the system to state your case and stand up.

    • I agree but not all leaders are the same and not all practice the same form of “democracy”. Some democracies are dictatorships dressed up to look like democracy. That is also a reality.

    • I am too am very disappointed but not just to blame DJW but the lack of fortitude from the Staff and others to engage the President in serious dialogue about the future of the team and the program.

    • The other way to look at what you just said Jamaal is that the TTFA president thinks it is okay to bully anyone who allows himself or herself to be bullied.
      Or that it is okay to abuse your power once you feel you can get away with it.

    • Jamaal, I’m really not defeatist. When ppl do good, I commend. DJW got the audit, I applauded. Ppl do nonsense, I will say the same way.
      Three ppl holding positions in the wider football fraternity have lost their jobs since this new lot of folks took over… Two of those ppl had contracts that were not honored and one person was working for free.
      I really don’t think that sends a message of the TTFA being open to dialogue from anyone.
      Apart from which, when DJW reportedly couldn’t get his way from the coach on the fourth friendly, he reportedly went straight to players. If I say what I really think about that you will tell me I’m being negative. But I will say that if Hart feels confident about his job stability simply because he has a contract, then he really shouldn’t.
      With respect to this tour, apparently it doesn’t even conform to FIFA rules about number of matches within a certain time frame. There are reasons for rules. When they are violated, nobody should say anything?
      Ppl like to talk about the geopolitics of FIFA and world football and how the North Americans trying to subdue the CFUs power within concacaf, yet still DJW broke ranks with the CFU and went publicly endorsing infantino and then ppl want to talk about the US trying to weaken the CFU?
      There are a myriad of things where DJW has erred but I’ll stop here for now because I know you get my point. Nobody is making up things to criticize DJW for, things are actually happening.
      Transparency, communication, and collaboration can easily kill all the less than favourable feedback.

    • But the team was full of injuries and some of the overseas players couldn’t be released so he had to go with what was available so why so tough on them. Gimme a break.

    • Lasana Liburd Hart is very clear about HIS goals . Is DJW clear about his?

    • That’s a lot to digest first I am not an apologist for DJW. I also want to see the thing go right. But you have your sources Lasana has his and I have mines. The main issue comes out that it’s all DJW but my point is that the Staff needs to at least address him on these issues. And reveal their plans and what they would like to see going forward.
      On the issue of job loss if it’s about the former TD again you need to get more clear info cause I have another truth about that. But according to Jack not tonight.
      The issue of breaking ranks with CFU I was there at that CFU meeting. …David Nakhid paid my expenses the CFU had no collective position on who to vote for. The CFU as a body became a force under JAW but how has this benefitted the region in terms of football development.
      The main CFU must think beyond power for power sake but for real football development.
      I agree with your points for transparency etc etc. But I think in any organisation the Leader must lead but he/ she must consult.

    • They knew many of the overseas players wouldn’t be available from day one. They took the game anyway.

    • Actually Lasana, preseason tours are a money spinning matter. I am pretty sure the coaches aren’t asking to tour Asia playing a bunch of matches because they think it’s the perfect preparation for the upcoming season.

    • Jamaal, I have no football sources. Lol.
      I am purely a spectator of the game.
      But I have absolutely no sources. It’s also not that I take Lasana’s word for everything or never question anything that he writes. Lasana and I have gotten in to it more than a couple of times.
      But if you have differing info, I’d love to hear it.
      I’m sure I’d be able to offer opinion on it. Lol. ?

    • I think DJW will have day to talk on some issues that he is silent on. And while he has made mistakes I think his drive and determination is needed. The Coach was crying for quality games …the only time you get your full team is on the Fifa dates…..DJW full of enthusiasm goes and gets quality games…..How then do we take the needs of the team, the desires of the Coach and DJW energy and desire and create a balance that would benefit the country?
      I think face to face dialogue nobody needs to lose most of all TT football.

    • Jamaal, the coach wanted quality games for his World Cup team. The TTFA got quality games for a watered down version of his team.
      That is like I ask you for a lamp, you bring me a sofa… And then you’re vex I don’t applaud! LOL.

    • Consultation is a key factor in leadership but this process carries a burden of responsibility on the leader and the led. What I am seeing is a beat up on the President and now Debbie is saying the Coach’s goal is clear….OK is not ensuring that yu sit with the President state your views clear and outlining what you would like part of that clarity ?
      I ask again why coming out of this series of matches the Staff do not ask for a meeting with the President and whoever else and state this “CLEAR” that Debbie speaks off?

    • How do we know a meeting was not requested by coaching staff? How do we know a meeting hasn’t occurred? I think we are making assumptions mainly because of the lack of communication from the TTFA, and possibly an unofficial “gag order” placed on the coaching staff.

    • Ok there are no games now. Debbie Espinal is now not a good time for those ” CLEAR GOALS” be spelt out to the President and together they look for opponents, dates and fixtures suitable to the progress of the team ?

    • Kendall, you cannot tell Ferguson or Mourinho where to go. Money spinner or not. Real managers have the final say. Ferguson turned down tours before when he wanted a different environment for his squad or left out players despite grumbles because he wanted them to get extra rest.
      But I know you get my point anyway

    • Brian Jordan you check your sources …Lasana check yours nah and I going to check mines

    • Jamaal Shabazz i am certain the Coach would have spelt out HIS clear goals to DJW but when you are dealing with a dictator who wants to call all the shots and dictate who should play when and where then we may as well have stuck with the devil we knew. At least he didn’t interfere with team selection and try to undermine the Coach.

    • I seriously doubt it is as clear cut as you might think Lasana. At the end of the day, club football is a business. The money concerns outweigh all else.

    • But I do take your point Lasana.

    • It is possible that Ferguson lied in his biography Kendall. But he specifically spelt out his power there. And he told the club what was most important for Manchester United. And they had enough respect to let him have his way.
      But the point here anyway is about the president understanding boundaries.

    • Ferguson came through a very different era Lasana. It is much more a business now than it was 15 years ago.

      I actually don’t think that you can compare a national team to a club preseason. Club tours in preseason are primarily to build the brand, not for league preparation. Hence open practice etc. National teams are trying to build cohesion, view players and work out tactical plans in a short span.

    • Well I just checked my sources no such meeting has taken place …..So huh?

    • Nor has it been sought by the staff. Do you want me to write the TT FA and suggest such a meeting. Who will convince the staff to insist on same. I sure I can ask the TTFA

    • Jamaal, why doesn’t DJW just walk into a training session again and demand a meeting? Lol. He got shy now?

    • There you go again. Where is Terry Fenwick star. Like I missing something here. Help help…. I need my glasses… Terry Fenwick come in ….
      .

    • ok tell us when could we get quality games with the best team ?

    • The only time is the Fifa window and one must check who will play us in that time. Are you saying a public statement of I want games should take precedence over a meeting between Coach and President so as to avoid what transpired

    • Hahaha. Jamaal, I’m not happy with the atmosphere around football now. It feels even less like our football than it has since Jack Warner abdicated.
      It is a secret society. Like a Lodge. And if this is how we are in early days before DJW has even brought one million dollar sponsor to the table, God alone knows where we are going.
      You know me well enough Jamaal. I won’t sugarcoat it. And I won’t do anybody’s PR.
      If this is the way the TTFA wants to go, then good luck to the body.
      I have loads of experience with bad administrators and administrations from my time as a journalist in this country. There is nothing really exceptional about what is happening here. I’ve seen it all before.

    • I would have suggested like we groom a B team with a separate staff then because for the current local crop to get efficient at that level they got to play at that level.

    • All this crap about losing if our lads not getting the exposure at that level they will continue to be naive .

    • You guys just want to beat up on DJW and the Staff must take no responsibility. Then point to a solution I gave two ideas for a solution

    • And I have seen what contributes to a run away horse. If people within the TTFA not just Staff now refuse to make and become part of the process and prefer to fight necessary battles hiding behind you flinging their purses that them.
      My Club have a vote and a voice and I intend to come back home and make my input. And I too old to hide behind anyone and I cannot use my wife purse

    • It’s coming across like Lasana look DJW lash meh ( in a most don’t tone) And he lash me just so . I ain’t do him nutten.

    • Come on Lasana you just placing the blame squarely on the shoulders of a man whose drive to get things done can also be his weakness on the job

    • But other persons must step up and take a stand in matters that affect them

    • I ask again you talking Mourinho let’s talk Terry Fenwick would he accept this?

    • The forum sounding defeatist like we waiting to fail to place the blame squarely on DJW. When we have a chance to make it right and qualify for a World Cup

    • I don’t think Terence William Fenwick would accept it. And I don’t think Bertille St Clair would accept it either.
      We are disappointed on the forum right now Jamaal. We thought democracy would prevail and campaign promises would be kept. It looks like another hard slog ahead.
      But say what. We accustomed to banding our belly here.

    • Ok but allow me to share an example from Jack Warner time.

    • Keith Look Loy was appointed head of a 4 man Committee to choose a coach to prepare TT for the 2010 Fifa U17 Girls Championship. The Committee chose Even Pellerud. ..
      Jack Warner called a meeting with Keith Look Loy, Richard Groden , Forde from North Zone and myself and tried to insist on Randy Waldrum. ….because the one dissenting voice on the committee Lincoln Phillips and Waldrum were pals. In those days Lincoln was TD and had the ears of Caesar.
      Keith stood his ground and so did Forde, Groden and coward me.
      Jack Warner submitted despite he wanting Randy.
      So while he had the veto the strength of our case and the manhood show by KLL and company in sticking to the task defeated Ceasar on that issue

    • Jamaal, are you suggesting that the coach groom his B team against a full Uruguay team?
      I think you’re joking. And I remember your coaching staff was unhappy about certain fixtures too. So I’m sure you can sympathize with the current staff.
      You can get teams to groom your B team against or teams for your A team.
      If you get Uruguay at a time when Trinidad and Tobago can’t field an A team and you take the game anyway, then I don’t think you care about the team at all. You just want to show that you can get Uruguay.
      This is about ego Jamaal.
      You cannot tell me with a straight face that a coach will groom his B team with largely Pro League players away to a full strength Uruguay team ranked ninth in the world and preparing to enter a tournament.

    • The whole B Team idea is total nonsense. The national team is no place for grooming. Whoever did not expect these results then they are not paying attenttion. What this tour did is hammer into these players that they are not ready. And they need to reboot and come again. Everyone here knows the probable team for september. So why the big fuss. These guys are really playing for about 2 or 3 places.

    • And there are enough Fifa dates in a year to get our team proper games. Or games where the same guys can work together.

    • well a lot of countries have a B team but call it an A Team. In the case of the English FA they even have a C team. There must be an avenue created to expose talents on the fringes of national selection so that they can challenge for a spot in the team. It’s called widening the pool.
      If a country like TT can get a top quality opponent during the Fifa window and have our best team that is the ideal. But that is not always realistic. And our team even at full strength will go through a period when we will lose to the better teams who do not understand that better wake up.

    • And Jamaal Shabazz, can you point to one instance in the history of football where England’s second team (whether ‘A’ or ‘B’) was used to play against a top strength team in FIFA’s top ten list?
      Show me one example in the 100 years or so of the England FA and I will concede.
      By that same token, if you cannot show me an example. Then you should concede that it is nonsense for Trinidad and Tobago–not even Germany or Argentina or Brazil–to send a ‘B’ team to challenge a team ranked over 40 places higher than it is.

    • Exactly. You could do more damage to a player mentally throwing him under a bus like they did.

    • Australia name under-strength 23-man squad for England friendly http://dailym.ai/1rFLa3Z via http://dailym.ai/android

    • And Kendall Tull, you think that answers my question?

    • Kendall, the story points out that it was controversial when Germany did it. And England was a lower ranked nation. The other story says New Zealand could not get players so it was the exception.
      And are you are now saying that those cases mean it SHOULD be done?
      Do you want to give more examples of understrength teams playing against full strength teams accompanied by articles clearly pointing out that it was unavoidable, disrespecftul or controversial?

    • No – just pointing out it happens quite frequently.

    • I am talking about football Kendall. And each of those cases are controversial, unavoidable, considered disrespectful or shows a top team playing a weakened side against a lesser team.
      So I do not change my stance on it one bit. The opposite instead.

    • But our games weren’t in the window so it was unavoidable as well.

    • Kendall, do you think that article shows the TTFA was right to play a B team against a full strength Uruguay? And that those articles suggest we should have more of the same?
      Or is it an error in judgment or scheduling that creates that blip from time to time?

    • And I am sure that there are more examples. I just looked for recent ones.

    • Kendall, it was avoidable because those games were not scheduled a year or two years ago. They were scheduled earlier this year when it was known that our players would not be available.

    • Again, Kendall. Let us be clear. Are you saying that we should copy controversial errors of judgment or scheduling by other nations?
      Or are you saying this is actually a good thing?

    • Boss – I am just adding context to show it isn’t unusual in ANY sport.

    • I don’t agree with your hard stance though.

    • I think you are wrong Kendall. Because something happened before doesn’t mean it is unusual.
      If I told you that my neighbour ate his son, you could go online and find loads of examples of it having somewhere else in the world. Does that make it NOT unusual?
      How many fixtures per year have you gone through to say that such games are not the exception to the rule?

    • How can your story say this:
      “Germany are not showing England “a lack of respect”, Joachim Löw insists, despite awarding an international debut to a 33-year-old goalkeeper and resting several stars from Friday’s draw with Italy: the Nationalmannschaft’s nemesis.
      The senior keeper summoned to give Manuel Neuer, of Bayern Munich, a night off is none other than Roman Weidenfeller, the No 1 at Borussia Dortmund, so Löw has plenty of ballast for his argument.
      But Germany’s decision to promote “upcoming players” for a game against the ancient foe is bound to be seen as a judgment on the respective threats posed by Italy and Roy Hodgson’s men.
      One German columnist observed that Löw had downgraded the traditional rivalry from “a classic to a benefit match” for his fringe players.”
      And yet you say it proves it is not unusual?

    • Boss – I don’t agree with your stance as I said. I quoted articles from a very limited search in 5 minutes that shows it isn’t unusual. The opinion on the Germany article is a UK view and that German team beat England. There are ALWAYS varying views from different perspectives. I don’t have the time or inclination to research further. You made very strong statements that I showed weren’t accurate. Your opinion remains yours and I wasn’t trying to change your mind.

    • Kendall Tull, this was my statement: “can you point to one instance in the history of football where England’s second team (whether ‘A’ or ‘B’) was used to play against a top strength team in FIFA’s top ten list?”
      You can go back and read it again and see it is not edited.
      Which game shows that my statement was not accurate?

    • Are you suggesting that your statement wasn’t really a generalisation about major teams not doing it? You even said in the last hundred years if I recall.

      I repeat – this is not infrequent in any sport. The few examples show that. Whether you think it disrespectful is another matter and I am not trying to change your viewpoint. I disagree and I am allowed to do so.

    • You are allowed to do so. Shabazz pointed out that England has a B team. I said the point of England’s B team is not to play against full strength opposition that is of an even stronger level than its first team.
      And I asked him to show me an example of that in England’s 100 years.
      So if you can see that England was a generalisation, then you should also be able to see the point I was making. And that is that ‘B’ teams are not meant to play opposition even tougher than your ‘A’ team.
      And once we understand that point, you might be able to see where your articles don’t address this. They are not norms. They all point to extraordinary circumstance.
      Of course you are allowed to disagree. And I stand on my point as well.
      You can show me where England did it, if you want to hold me to my exact words. If you want to look at my general point, then show me a nation that purposefully decides that it is a good idea for its B team to play opposition miles stronger than its A team.
      To do that, you have to show England deciding to play a full strength Germany with its B team. Or Scotland choosing its B squad to face England.

    • Further Kendall. Apart from the initial point about whether it makes any sense for teams to use B teams to play against stronger nations than their own full strength teams.
      If you want to add context, you can point out that even an England C team would be made up completely of Premiership players who compete against some of the best players in the world on a regular basis. And you would even get Champions League and Europa league players in such squads.
      A T&T ‘B’ team is mostly Pro League players who, in my opinion, cannot be considered to be competing on the same level as guys in the Eredivisie, Russia Premiership and England Championship.

    • Lasana Liburd – I am not arguing with you. I am also not trying to change your mind. Didn’t I make that clear?

      Forget this and come sweat this evening. We can even take 2 beers afterwards if you promise not to raise this matter. Lol

    • Hahaha. Not arguing. Just trying to see if we could reach a consensus on whether it is a good idea to have such games or not. That sweat sounds good though! If Darryl Smith will be there, should I bring shin pads? Lol.

  10. Not much Hart could have done … Didn’t help that the games were outside the window. Was always going to be tough with an inexperienced young team . Hope they learnt their lessons but must say most of them approached it so causally and they should have been much hungrier. You are playing for the national team man. I’m glad in a way, at least the coaching staff see who doesn’t have the heart and guts for international football because believe me , September 2nd onwards it’s going to be a war. Those points require blood and sweat and when you accumulate those .. Tears of joy

  11. So one of the stated strategic objectives of the new president was to maintain a ranking of below 50 and use that as leverage for better games and improved financial terms. At 64, we are heading in the wrong direction and it begs the question about management goals and strategic execution. I just am not seeing the alignment, and am not surprised that we are failing.

  12. Aye, allyuh stop arguin. Trinidad scored 4 goals in their defeat to China. I am very happy that these matches took place because we can see other talent and what development is needed. Those errors on the pitch are very fixable. On the other hand,and in fact, the President has come down from the ivory tower to ask for more matches, the head coach can oblige and surely enough field 50 players if he wanted. it is important that 3-4 players in any position understand their roles in the setup of a final squad so that the style and tactics wont be affected too much for a positive outcome of games. The boys did very well considerin…

  13. Still not worse than the December debacle…

  14. We didn’t score three goals in all?

  15. Everybody will say it’s a learning experience. …let’s say that than

  16. and the time before that i think is when we played with a local team and lost 2-0 i think at Ato Boldon.
    if im not mistaken

  17. That was essentially the best squad we had at the time.

  18. Sebastian, this is the last time we played Peru:
    Friendly International
    March 26, 2013
    Friendly x Peru at Lima. 0-3.
    T&T: 1.Marvin Phillip; 4.Curtis Gonzales, 6.Daneil Cyrus (5.Kareem Moses 88), 19.Carlyle Mitchell, 2.Aubrey David; 14.Kevon Carter (8.Jason Marcano 74), 7.Chris Birchall, 18.Densill Theobald (captain) (15.Darren Mitchell 83), 16.Keyon Edwards (9.Kenwyne Jones 61), 3.Joevin Jones; 13.Cornell Glen (12.Marcus Joseph 71).

    • And the earlier match:
      February 7, 2013
      Friendly x Peru at Ato Boldon Stadium. 0-2.
      Goals: Claudio Pizarro 29, Rinaldo Cruzado 86.
      Trinidad and Tobago: 1.Marvin Phillip (21.Cleon John 73); 11.Carlos Edwards (second vice-captain), 17.Daneil Cyrus (6.Kareem Moses 83), 19.Carlyle Mitchell, 4.Sheldon Bateau; 12.Darryl Roberts (2.Aubrey David 63), 8.Khaleem Hyland (13.Curtis Gonzales 73), 18.Densill Theobald (captain) (14.Keyon Edwards 68), 15.Kevon Carter (16.Jemel Sebro 76); 7.Ataullah Guerra; 9.Kenwyne Jones (vice-captain) (10.Devorn Jorsling 73).

    • Can’t remember Sebro in that squad at all na. Wow

  19. Yep, and also we just had a good goal cup ,so we probably was judged based on our last tournament

  20. Sebastian Mckay, we had Kenwyne Jones and the gang the last time we travelled to Peru. We just played badly.

  21. i wouldve agreed with your last statement Lasana Liburd but how many times in the last 3 years have we played Peru.
    they almost always seem willing to play us with our local based players.

  22. You see the last few words you said there ” forget about asking them for another game”. That’s my problem right there. That was the point I was making to some of my friends. This is madness and we will struggle to get games against world class opponents in the future.

    • You are very mistaken David. The traditional powerhouses in Comnebol are Brazil, Argentina, Columbia, Chile and Uruguay. Right now, some of those teams like Brazil struggling. Bolivia, Peru and Venezuela are at the bottom of the standings.

    • I think we should stop playing Games of these Cali bar, unless we Restructure our Own Football home!! Start with the Pro League and go down etc…..its embarrassing for people to say its a learning experience, and we get whipped playing like we never kick ball or even educated in football, yet teams like Arg or UK or even South American teams , always Debuting players and they always Win with WC Protege attach to them!!! Fix our Home league first and then we can see about International teams of these Calibar

    • Agree and disagree a bit. We really need to improve locally ,lord have mercy lol. But I think we have to kill two birds with one stone in the process , we have to compete with our national team whilst improving locally,playing against 4th,5th,6th place south american teams is still reasonable to me , if we play with full strength squads , and then we can bring in new prospects in those games.

    • See that’s the thing, we don’t, our League has no blueprint, beside this Eldorado Gold fantasy or signing players and then selling them to make millions on transfer’s!! perfect eg: look at Joveins, when the man played with W Con, all you cud hear is he has talent an he dis , but you never saw it cause the man played like shit for the National team.!! he gone USA, now he balling like Roberto Carlos Horn Child looking for Daddies approval, etc etc and it goes with most players. i agree with 4 and 5 an 6 place teams, but also i agree that we must not embarrass our selves with the kind of play we see from this Tour!! we need to have a Joint Plan on where we taking football in this country based on style an culture etc etc, but also we must invest in a Locally based international Team ..like it had some years ago.. where that Team consistently plays only Pro League Players, that comes into the team, when playing Teams above us, that team will always be match ready an always be fit an will be of a constant and consistent flow of performance and games , that wen slipped in to the National team , it wont have the coach sitting in class with ah chalk in his hand saying u have the kick d ball so , or pass the ball so and to use yuh brains etc etc………..That’s is jus my take…….Local teams should never play such Big teams unless they are mentally , physically and Skill set ready to a pack.!! and no im not alking about there Mouth skills, which only does is talk talk talk!!

    • Yes and I agree with you. The thing is that we are competing with mexico now (even though mexico dipped a bit) . look at our games against them with the best team we had recently. They did well which means there is an improvement. There is just to much politics and nonsense going on in our local football arena. Money!!! Lard is a big problem. Agoodnd for many reasons we don’t have it pumped into football. Now, you said we must invest in a locally based team and i agree but playing Uruguay ? With a local team just beforehand copa america ?.. All I can say is lol. Also , I agree with having a style , I have Been saying this for years now. We should be playing a more south american type of football and I believe this because we don’t have much physical European type players and were apt to play a small touch football naturally. I hate when we had European type coaches. Its like teaching us a new way to play football. Barcelona is a perfect example. Their youth players are groomed in playing within a system that the first team is playing ,so its a smooth transition from the under 18 to the under 19 to the B-team to the first team. Lasana Liburd..what do you think

    • Well, look at big nations like Argentina and Brazil who sometimes lack fluency. A national coach can’t just throw players from so many different leagues and style of play and expect results.
      So our style is functional yes. And just try to use our strengths as best as we can while players gel. Bigger nations than us do that.
      It’s only when you have a national team with six players from the same club or guys who played together since youth team that you get real fluency I think.

    • We should have a local team playing regularly. I remember under Bertille St Clair, we would play tough low budget teams like Martinique and Honduras with mostly local squads. And it helped a lot.
      Look at Marcus Joseph, poor fellah chase the ball for three games. He has a tremendous left shoot but right now even he probably forget that! Lol.

    • Curtis Charles That part of the Barcalona Example is what im crying for to see in TNT football structure!! and you can see it in there Main team where there is no confusion or disorder.

    • Argentina tried to play like Barcelona and failed miserably. And they have Messi! It ent as easy as it looks.
      I think our style of play is improving, judging from our last WCQ.

    • Good point Lasana Liburd . that’s why I knew Spain would have won the worldcup and euros that year. But if we look at the south Americans , all their club teams play similar, small touch type football . why is that? Is it the federation having some sort of influence ? Ensuring that these type of coaches are coaching the clubs?

    • Curtis, those teams figure that is their best chance of winning matches. The Pro League has no relegation or promotion and most of the coaches are embedded in the clubs and have little chance of being fired.
      Our Pro League needs to be more competitive.

    • Lasana Liburd please don’t remind me of that failed experiment :/ , it was woeful to see them play so!!! even with all there Pep begging to be coach at that time :/

    • I don’t think Argentina tried to play like barca. I believe sabella played his own thing because in that last world cup they were very good defensively and I didn’t think they looked like barcelona .

    • Not Sabella Curtis. Sergio Batista did it when we played the Copa in Argentina. It was a disaster. We have no Xavi or Iniesta in midfield.

    • I don’t understand the comment that we should play the 4th to 6th teams in Comnebol. Isn’t that teams like Chile and Uruguay?

    • Kendall Tull Na more like bolivar and venezuela and Ecuador etc etc

    • Kendall Tull …..we can play them but with a full strength national team. Playing them with local players is absolute nonsense . I think it would improve the full strength national team.

    • Kendall Tull like Curtis said but i would rather our local play those teams i call which is the the bottom rong of that federation block !!! etc i would never throw local to the lions den

    • My point was we are losing to the bottom teams in Comnebol. We would fare much worse against the 4th to 6th place teams.

    • As an aside, you cannot improve playing against lower opposition and at some point, we have to assess our locals against quality opposition. We played badly. Full stop. Our full strength team has played badly at times. It happens.

    • Yes Kendall Tull we are losing to the bottom teams but looking like we are under 16 players . I don’t think that we will beat them but it will improve the full strength national team.

    • I think the suggestion is that our full strength teams play the mid level South American teams Kendall.
      And, again, our local team drew with Grenada away two months ago. So what would be lower opposition for them?
      I’d say El Salvador or even Belize is certainly now lower level opposition for a largely home-based T&T team.

    • Did you see our full strength team play Peru in the Ato Boldon? It was just as bad. We had poor performances but that doesn’t mean we should turn away from higher ranked opponents.

    • You said ” at times” we played badly with full strength teams, which implies that we played well sometimes. But will local players we will play badly all the time and it would break the spirit of the players and they won’t improve

    • Kendall Tull your not understanding!! What im saying is that you are playing local based teams more internationally against teams like Venezuela or Bolivar and so on that doh matter if we get beat, it will be of a learning curve for them that, the more Games we get against such teams will be better for the constant Influx of Pro League or Super League Players in the B team,,, so When it comes to the National team where the Big Boys play, and such player is called from the B team. he will not be out of Sort and he will already be up to International standard and Performance etc etc,, so in the end everything will be like you making wine.. before you put in the Bottle to sell which is Trinidad and Tobago National team………….that is what im saying

    • Kendall, let’s say Trinidad and Tobago asked Barbados for a friendly match. And Barbados sends a second or third strength team and we thrash them without raising a sweat.
      Would you invite Barbados back?
      It is disrespectful to play teams at our level and better with weakened teams. We would every right to be angry if even Jamaica sent a weakened squad to play our full strength team.
      Would you agree?

    • I disagree. Losing to superior opposition should act to spur them on. If it doesn’t, they are poorly suited to live in this competitive world.

      But that’s my opinion. YMMV

    • I wasn’t talking about what Peru might think Lasana.

    • I think that is another point though Kendall. I listed that among the cons for this tour.

    • There is the physiological part of the game that cannot be ignored. Your morale can be broken when you play against teams that are way out if your league. This brings issues like nervousness, low confidence etc. ..growth comes gradually . if you start playing a sport ,youre level is assessed first before they assign you to a group. You are not dumped with the advance players because the learning curve is to steep and you would damage the morale of the players. So , our national team cannot be matched with Argentina ,Germany,france etc. .

    • I wonder if we got a game with Argentina again, if they would sent this T&T squad to play with the game being beamed live across the world.
      That would only damage our brand.

    • I mean psychological part of the game ..

    • But even Coach Hart said BEFORE we left to go on this tour that HIS main aim was to see which if any of these players could compete for places in the National team…had he NOT taken this “weakened” team the results might have been better but a lot of these same players would have been left out and complaining that they dont get a chance to show what they can bring to the team…Now Hart and the country has seen what happens if we have no Kenwyne Joevin Bateau Molino Hoyte Jan-Micheal (and today Hyland Garcia)…so IMHO it puts a 4-2 loss to China in perspective when our team is without 8 starters no? As far as psycological damage goes if being beaten by a superior team doesnt inspire you to work harder and improve your ability for the next occasion then you are mentally weak and should probably get into a less competitive environment…I mean how long Dwight was on Villa bench before he got his chance? You have to work HARDER and just keep trying to be better with each game learn from your mistakes and work on your weak areas…even the players with the greatest natural ability have to do this…you ever read how Beckham would stay back after team practice to work on his free kicks? Ask any local player if he doesnt dream of playing for Real Madrid or Barca or ManU or even Chelsea? well it will remain a dream if they not prepared to do MORE…just my 50 cents

    • Let me ask you something Brian Springer. Do you think Hart was going to say, via the TTFA Media, I don’t want this tour and it isn’t the type of games my team needs right now?
      Smh.

    • Fair enough Lasana Liburd I guess he’s just trying to make lemonade and with the amount of lemons the TTFA giving out man could be drinking lemonade for the rest of 2016 easy easy…

    • He made some valid points . he didn’t go easy on us at all.

  23. Curtee, it is like taking a primary school child and giving him form five work to do. For me, the cons far outweigh the pros. And we can forget about asking any of those nations for another game.

  24. Honestly , I don’t like that we play teams of such quality with local players. We may claim that it is good experience but when your opponents are way way ahead of you and basically running over you , i dont think that it is beneficial.

    • Yes I agree but these things you’re talking about has a lot to do with money… And yuh know when it comes to money then were in real problems ..

    • Yeah true that eh, well we just have to continue to get our players that are really serious about playing real professional football in the real professional leagues abroad eh, because if our present foreign Base players didn’t apply their trade abroad hence the reason why their standards raise eh, they would have remained the level that we are seeing with some of our local players and the reason why Ato Boldon and other runners made it on the World stage eh was because of my second sweetest country the America eh and the real professional way with the way we do the sports starting with our facilities.

    • I blame it on the situation we are in . no money !! How do you expect a player to give full commitment when you’re getting $3000 a month? The ones that made it internationally has hope and would act more professional because they ate paid like a pro. And remembering where you came from ,you won’t want to lose what you have. Its sad but the situation is also demotivating for local players

    • Thank you , and i totally agree with this…

    • Steeuuppss so alyuh really feel that our foreign Base players wudda really made a difference eh against meh Chinese, Koreans, and meh Japanese, eh. Alyuh really good yes hahahaha

    • Yes they would , certainly they wouldn’t play as terrible as a local based team. Are you saying the local based team and our full strength squad with molino, Levi Garcia, Kenwyn, joevin Jones , etc would be as bad as this local based team?

    • Ok then my point will be proven if or when we make it to the World Cup again in 2018 in Russia or 2022 in Qatar eh.

    • And as I have been saying that our professional league needs to raise it’s standards and the football needs to be in the communities where the real crowd support is located , our players needs to be given a real professional atmosphere the like the real professional leagues abroad, real professional coaches, real professional monies, and real developmental programs and only then our players will definitely be able to match the real professional players in meh foreign Base countries eh I am a believer. We shall definitely rise again.

    • Yeah just imagine a boots cost that amount that you mentioned eh hence the reason why we still try to help by donating boots to our players but ooggooddd the nowadays boots and them expensive eh just like the American sneakers and them that they are making a killing now with the price and them eh and then some of our players also have families with kids to eh and yuh know when the women needs the monies to mine the kids eh dem eh want to hear nutten eh and last but not least some of our players does be going to practice on hungry bellies to practice on mornings eh and the owners and coaches want results eh by any means necessary. Them really good yes

    • Hence the reason that I have been saying that we need to return to the back in the days eh when our players have a 9 to 5 jobs and then practice after work now that all the fields have lights eh, and we use to have players that made it professionally abroad eh and the professional teams can also continue to give them a salary eh so now they can really make ends meet with their both jobs…….Boom

    • Look at the Greece World Cup team eh, many of their players are local players eh and the foreign Base players have to return and fight for their spots eh and this is the reason why I keep on saying that we have to raise the standards for our local players because they will always give more because they will be trying to make it to the real professional leagues abroad compared to players who made it already because as you said they don’t want to lose what they have so they have to play the game smartly because when they get injuries eh yuh think that the TTFA will care about their welfare eh. Them really good yes

    • Earl Mango Pierre i understand what your saying eh!! but as i does say!! How people expect money and crowd to come in if our Structure is very banana republic.??? how can we have what you said like professional money and all them stuff yet our players are more ego and Gyalist than professionals. heck some just use the pro league as a ends meet……..if our standards are to rise,we need people who are professional and will breed that environment in to our structure…………Money doh come unless there is a Brand and a Constant flow of Buzz Generating!! in your Days Uncle Earl when it had no internet and sponsorship money and even Co operate Support!! ent the teams of that Time and era could of stand toe to toe with some of the Teams from Brazil an other big teams especially how Leroy and Steve David is Legends in USA football for there Contributions with pele an all d other Greats?!!! … my point being back then was a real desire and love for football and a passion of 100 percent devotion to the game , now is Gyalist mentality and SSFL fame has our Structure and football in this state. that when come to kicking a ball they have to re learn on the National Stage!! you don’t need all what you saying about money and so on…………what you need is passion an desire etc once everyone who is a player has that the rewards will come…….the money will come. d sponsorship and International Clubs will come , why cause they kept themselves to a Professional standard and even try to better themselves everyday to reach the high’est of el messi or neymar or zabaletta etc etc………and you no an i no we doh have that here again!!

    • Curtis Charles i expect a player to give full committment no matter the money cause in the end his dream should never be trinidad lame Pro league but the Premier league or La liga, instead of focusing on that he should focus on upping his game consistently striving for that international excellence, so when they Big teams come he can tell these Dunce Head Club Adminstrators!! HYM so an so and walk away with he big 100,000 pounds ah week etc…………………but most or all of our players doh see that………they want big pay, or motivation to play professional, yet is them who want to make it a profession………so is like you wanna be a teacher but i have to pay you to be a better teacher na man :/

    • Your right ,but forgetting that money one of the biggest motivators. That’s why people change jobs, that’s why when you get a big raise on your salary your motivation escalates to the highest of highs. When your employer doesn’t raise your salary in ages but cost of living is escalating you become demotivated. If these guys can get a boost in their salaries they will be motivated even more , the love of the game is one thing but when you have bills to pay,children to fake care of , thats a whole other story…

    • Curtis Charles Compare Trinidad and Tobago to places like Brazil or Argentina or some of the biggest teams in South America and show me one player who was born from a rich family!! or had money as a motivator!! messi come from the slums, suarez comes from the slums, ronaldhino comes from the slums etc and i go on an on.. and they had family to see bout also but where are they now????? think of it!!?? these guys here still have to use other things as motivator to up there game…if i was a baller and i know i cud player for one of the biggest team as my sold goal to attain i wud do everything to reach that heights by getting on to my national team an always upping my game etc……………..but Nope it doh work so

    • like i said Curtis Charles look at players like Leroy and dem guys who was wway off an worst than the players now .. and where they went as players yet locals are still here playing amature league…big difference……….only decider is if your willin to make that sacrifice or not

    • They in Brazil know that they have a shot because the world is shopping for Brazilian talent , you stand a bigger chance of getting notice in Brazil than in this pro league . don’t even try that Brazil one eh..lol …

    • Curtis Charles That’s why the structure has to change but the players are the Brand lol they have to upp there Brand and the Scouts will come calling!!

    • What ever rum you drinking change the brand eh David Gintoki Aguillera do you think that we have football academies in our sweet country like in Bracelona, or Brazil etc etc where the players like Messi and Renaldo and others was part of and everything was done for them to be real professionals eh what you think that those academies didn’t have to find the monies to run their business eh and when they also sold their players eh they received millions eh well once the organizers came up with this professional league business eh and you know who was behind that and yes meh uncle Jack Warner because in order to have any youth World Cup tournaments in our sweet country eh there must be a professional league eh therefore my players have to get paid their monies in order to take care of themselves and their families eh and not that kind of small monies eh so yes I understand what you is saying about being passionate about the sport but we are living in a different time compared to the days in the past where the players were more passionate about the ball and wasn’t making any monies for doing so only the fellas who exploited them like the corrupted Jack Warner and his cronies and always went to the banks smiling eh. Them really good yes

    • And I will continue saying that our football needs to be given back to the communities if the professional league and teams cannot get about 3000 spectators at every game to support our players but the 3000 spectators is already in the communities and I done talk eh. Them really good yes

    • Yeah Earl Mango Pierre… We just in a real mess and this is why a player will play football but smoke a little weed and drink some beers . in Brazil they still make a decent living whereby they can at least provide the basics for their family but here ? What the hell you could do with $3500? And most of these players I sure have a pickny or two….when you making a decent living you wouldn’t want to risk that for a few beers and a weed smoke.lol David Gintoki Aguillera

    • Them really good yes and when I calling the league bootleg eh they does be vex with me eh but I will continue to support meh players and the league eh until I return to meh father God eh hahahaha

  25. Hodge seems to be the only real stand out in this exercise and he got injured…

    * we have learned that transition play is way too slow in the pro league….a point laid bare on this tour

    * we have learned that we in trouble if we are to depend on “pro leaguers” to man the midfield and defense …Bakr not withstanding and he had a poor tour…I think though that the deficiencies of the defense in general made him look worse then he really is.

    * too slow in transition
    * too slow in transition
    * too slow in transition
    * too slow to press, if at all

    sad fact is a pro league 11 now would probably be beaten just as badly by our own first team…….such is the apparent gulf in quality between the two, not holdin mih breath but ah hope the pro league, team coaches and more so we goodly pres and Skeene take note

    d pro league needs work ……….bad!

    • I agree mostly. Triston Hodge only played about 45 minutes on the tour. So I won’t go as far as to call him a stand-out, even though he was promising. But we do need to lift the Pro League. That’s a lot of work though and not just by the clubs.

      • I made a point of him being a standout or promising expressly to contrast his 45min with what was offered by everybody else, De Silva should be kept……many have been saying that Cyrus and Plaza should be discarded…..but I don’t know, Cyrus as a second choice winger maybe….have no opinion on plaza though, except that he doesn’t seem to do much well before today.

        • I wouldn’t discard any of the players who were there before. Hart already knows what they can and cannot do. Plaza can sniff out a goal but his hold up and work rate can be poor.
          Cyrus is fast and aggressive. But his positional play is not the best.
          Both can still be useful at times. We have a small player pool.

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