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The Trinidad and Tobago National Under-20 Team were left staring at 2017 World Cup elimination after a 1-0 loss to Costa Rica tonight in their Group C encounter at the Estadio Nacional in San Jose.
The defeat left Trinidad and Tobago with only a mathematical chance of getting out of their group. First, coach Brian Williams’ troops must defeat group leaders El Salvador when they meet from 3.30pm at the same venue on Saturday. And that’s the easy part.
(Copyright Carlos Borbon/Straffon Images)
The young Soca Warriors then need Bermuda, who were whipped 3-1 today by El Salvador, to beat hosts Costa Rica in the later game—but not too well so as to overtake the two island republic on goal differential.
At this stage, it is not a particularly realistic prospect.
In truth, the Warriors are paying the price for their failure to defeat Bermuda on Sunday when the two nations played to a 1-1 draw. Tonight, they did not do much wrong in San Jose. Certainly the teenagers did not lack heart and application.
Arguably, Trinidad and Tobago striker Nicholas Dillon, who recently completed a move from Central FC to Belgium second tier club K Patro Maasmechelen, was the best individual player on the field.
Often isolated upfront, Dillon was always a willing runner while his hold up play was solid and he was never shy to take on an opponent. At the back, Trinidad and Tobago’s central defensive pair of Taryk Sampson and Shane Sandy also did themselves justice.
Right winger Kathon St Hillaire looked lively in possession before he ran out of puff while, on the opposite flank, Noah Powder delivered some testing set pieces and almost scored with a cracking left foot effort.
(Courtesy Chevaughn Christopher/Wired868)
Otherwise, despite their bravery and application, Trinidad and Tobago just could not execute in possession and had no answer once Costa Rica went ahead in the 53rd minute.
If it is any consolation, Costa Rica’s lone goal of the competition was good enough to settle any contest.
After a Sampson foul on opposing forward Andy Reyes, Costa Rican playmaker Randall Leal stepped up and beat opposing goalkeeper Montel Joseph with a brilliant curling free kick over a static Trinidad and Tobago wall from 20 yards.
Joseph, incidentally, did not start the contest, as he lost his place after a blunder against Bermuda that led to their equalising goal. But his replacement, Denzil Smith, lasted just 11 minutes before he had to make way with a dislocated shoulder after a collision with Leal led to an awkward fall.
Far from rattled, Trinidad and Tobago went on to have their best passage of play immediately after the change.
Left back Kori Cupid forced Costa Rica goalkeeper Mario Sequira into a sharp low save to his right with a header off a Powder free kick in the 14th minute. And, within seconds, Sequira was diving to his left to execute another brilliant stop off a Powder drive.
T&T won 11-0.
(Courtesy Chevaughn Christopher/Wired868)
Sandy nearly conjured up something special in the 18th minute with a perceptive long range free kick that almost embarrassed Sequira, who had crept away from his goal line.
By then, the pattern of the game had been established with Costa Rica, who employed a 3-5-2 formation, hogging the ball without necessarily threatening while Trinidad and Tobago passed poorly but did create a few scares with a far more direct approach.
At the half, Costa Rica had 66 percent of the ball possession. Yet, Trinidad and Tobago outshot them by seven to five.
Nobody in a red shirt could produce a shot to match Leal’s free kick though. Stunned, Trinidad and Tobago momentarily dropped their intensity and Sampson and Joseph were forced into some fine defensive blocks to keep the Central Americans at bay during a frantic spell of sustained pressure.
The Warriors fought back though and even pinned Costa Rica in their end of the field for the final five minutes. Dillon, unsurprisingly, was the most menacing Trinidad and Tobago player and nearly grabbed an equaliser with a crisp low drive from 18 yards that just flashed past the far post.
T&T won 1-0.
(Courtesy Chevaughn Christopher/Wired868)
But Trinidad and Tobago could not do enough to grab a result. And, ultimately, it looks set to cost them a place in the next round.
Captain Jabari Mitchell needs to lead his teenaged band to their first win against group leaders El Salvador on Saturday. Then they must sit down and hope for a Bermudan miracle.
Acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams is not the only Trini with little more than a prayer to hang on to at the moment.
(Teams)
Trinidad and Tobago (4-2-3-1): 1.Denzil Smith (GK) (20.Montel Joseph 12); 2.Isaiah Garcia, 5.Taryk Sampson, 4.Shane Sandy, 8.Kierron Mason; 3.Kori Cupid, 13.Micah Lansiquot; 15.Kathon St Hillaire (19.Taofik Lucas Walker 72), 10.Jabari Mitchell (captain), 11.Noah Powder (14.Josh Toussaint 68); 9.Nicholas Dillon.
Unused substitutes: 6.Simeon Bailey, 7.Morgan Bruce De Rouche, 12.Joshua Sitney, 16.Rushawn Murphy, 17.Stephon Marcano, 18.Joshua Leach.
Coach: Brian Williams
Costa Rica (3-1-4-2): 1.Mario Sequira (GK); 19.Yostin Salinas (2.Diego Mesen 41), 3.Pablo Arboine, 13.Esteban Sibanja; 20.Eduardo Juarez; 4.Ian Smith, 11.Randall Leal (16.Marvin Loria 73), 14.Roberto Cordoba (10.Jonathan Martinez 79), 6.Luis Hernandez (captain); 8.Jimmy Marin, 9.Andy Reyes,
Unused substitutes: 18.Alejandro Barrientos, 7.Kevin Masis, 12.Juan Arguedas, 15.Bernald Alfaro, 17.Jostin Daly,
Coach: Marcelo Herrera
Referee: Kevin Morrison (Jamaica)
(Copyright Victor Straffon/Straffon Images)
2017 Under-20 World Cup qualifiers
Group C
(Wednesday 22 February)
El Salvador 3 (Roberto Dominguez 21, Fernando Castillo 65, Josue Rivera 67), Bermuda 1 (Mazhye Burchall 75) at the Estadio Nacional, Costa Rica;
Costa Rica 1 (Randall Leal 53), Trinidad and Tobago 0 at the Estadio Nacional, Costa Rica;
(Sunday 19 February)
Trinidad and Tobago 1 (Kathon St Hillaire 23), Bermuda 1 (Oneko Lowe 69) at the Estadio Ricardo Saprissa, Costa Rica;
Costa Rica 0, El Salvador 1 (Roberto Dominguez 65) at the Estadio Ricardo Saprissa, Costa Rica;
(Courtesy Sean Morrison/Wired868)
Upcoming fixtures
(Saturday 25 February)
Trinidad and Tobago v El Salvador, 3.30pm, Estadio Nacional, Costa Rica;
Costa Rica v Bermuda, 6pm, Estadio Nacional, Costa Rica.
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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.
Good points Simone. It won’t be correct to assume that any third division Argentine would star in the pro league though.
In positions where you need some athleticism or a trick, I’ve seen many a one paced south and Central America player struggle.
Third division Argentina players would star in TT Pro no doubt. Fourth division would be on a case by case.
Ask Mekeil Willuams about Gambetita Diaz his Argentinean teammate in Antigua when they won the Championship in Guatemala. I believe he came from Argentina fourth division and was getting $1,500/month in Antigua to start in his first season. He turned out top scorer. He was about to be acquired by Real Salt Lake, unfortunately he was one of the unlucky four players who tested positive for a substance all Antigua players were administered thinking it was legal including Mekeil but only four were unlucky at testing.
Simone, we have players by the boatload from Brazil and Colombia and a few from Mexico and Argentina over the years. I’ve seen them.
They will not star if they do not have the physical attributes or penetration depending on the role they play. It’s not just about technique.
I’m not saying they aren’t good. It is just what will be required of them and what they will be coming up against.
I’m sure it is the same in every country.
Busquets is one of Spain’s most celebrated midfielders and there are some average premiership teams he might struggle in.
Here is Gambetita Diaz’s 6 of the 17 goals he scored in his first 21 games in Guatemala before getting screwed by Antigua and federation negligence. https://youtu.be/sfDJvcZNGVI
This is video in Argentina 4th division before going to Guatemala and scoring 17 goals in his first 21 games. I want to remind you that a top Trinidad striker went to Guatemala coming off of 14 goals in TT Pro League that same year and didn’t find it easy. https://youtu.be/I5Qrd1DUWnw
I am really hoping that my President David John-williams, Prof Jamaal Shabazz, Prof Keith Look Loy, and whoever else are being educated by your points and wisdom eh Simone Ghirlanda and take a page from the way the Central and South Americans run their leagues eh, hence the reason why their football is on the level that it is and also the same thing that I have been saying for many moons that our football needs to be in the communities in order to get the really passionate crowd support so that the level of our players and the Coaches will surely raise. Them really good yes.
What physical attributes are you referring to? Most TT Pro league players are unfit for professional football. Let me remind you Pumas combination of bench players and second team players, and U20s put 8 on W Connection, one of the top two teams in Trinidad. By the way Argentineans, Uruguayans and Mexicans play like warriors on the field. They are very different in their approach from Brazilians.
And this is where we must always measure our football eh, as to if we are really ready to compete against the teams in the real professional leagues abroad, not in our bootleg professional league eh. steeuuppss. Them really good yes.
Anyone honestly wants to tell me TT Pro is higher level than that video from Argentina fourth division? There are some gems in Trinidad, that’s why I have been looking at this market, but they are few and far in between.
Simone Ghirlanda you just committed sacrilege “most TT Pro league player are unfit for professional football ”
My good pardner Lasana ?? will take offence to that. … ??
Simone, you keep missing the point. Trinidad players are generally athletic and decent in one on one situations. Bring a one paced South American and tell him to run at Jevon Morris or Jelani Peters, they would eat him for breakfast. I’m not asking you. I’m telling you.
You obviously just started watching pro league football. But South America and Central America players are not new to us.
Nobody is saying that means Jevon Morris would be a top defender in Argentina. That’s the false equivalency you’re making.
Lasana don’t take offense. Trinidad has 1.3 million people while Argentina has over 40 million people and one of the top producing football countries in the world. Their first division is miles better than MLS. If we agree that USL (USA 3rd division) is better than TT Pro league which I think everyone does, then it’s only normal that Argentina 4th division is more competitive.
And also hence the reason why my greatest Coach Alex Ferguson only had the opportunity to hire Dwight “The Smiling Assassin” Yorke to play for one of the greatest real professional team in the universe eh, and he made certain that he recruited him at the age of 18 yrs old and it seems that it will take a vey long time again to see another one of our locally based players plying their trade in the EPL league eh Simone Ghirlanda. Them really good yes.
Please read my last comment Simone. You’re talking about hypothetical situations and I’m telling you about what has already happened.
If you don’t respect that then there is no more I can say really.
You just mentioned a centre back who was in the 8-1 vs Pumas. Should I pull the highlights and analyze who got eaten for breakfast? You are starting to sound like USL coaches bring Caribbean players into the league without even analyzing them just because they are supposed to be “athletic”.
hahahahahaha Well talk nah Mr. Live Wire. Them really good yes.
Eaten for breakfast: https://youtu.be/RQ8_a5k0u4g
If you listened to my point, you would understand why Premiership clubs won’t start a bidding war for Pedro. Why Mendieta flopped abroad. Why Mascherano was a reserve player at West Ham.
It isn’t that those players are not good. But different competitions require different things from players.
The only way your point makes sense is if Trinidad and Tobago and the Pro League are absolutely without any strengths or redeemable qualities. And that would be interesting.
Maybe your knowledge of Trinidad and Tobago football just doesn’t go back as long as you think.
Do you you know this country hosted Argentina Juniors in the Americas final, 30 years ago, and lost by a solitary goal?
Please watch the highlights and comment on the 1 vs 1 situations.
Lasana… everything cool…. we have to agree to disagree with others…. my opinion is that football is about.. knowledge. .. skills and endurance. … it’s not about one on one …who is good on one on one situations…. you must have a good grasp of the game …how it is played and why implementing a certain type of tactics will get you the result…and you must have the skill and endurance to implement the tactic….
Simone Ghirlanda that is because pumas set up different and used different style. I’d think that would be obvious. I’m done.
US teams vision of football. Let’s focus predominantly on athleticism so let’s fill up the rosters with athletic runners. My god there are more Jamaican players than Argentineans in USL. Do you know how absurd that is?
Now Mr Live Wire is talking about 30 yrs ago when we had the real footballers that was passionate about the game eh and the kind of monies that is available to the nowadays players wasn’t available back then eh, it was about the passion for the beautiful sport. Them really good yes.
Endurance exactly. Like I said Trinidad hopes is to win and secure games in first 30 mins of play. At the current stage, after that there is not enough oxygen for decision making. I also think you confuse speed running without the ball with speed of execution. American coaches don’t understand it either.
Well I guess that Mr. Live Wire really needs to attend some real professional Coaching courses eh, to understand what you is saying Simone Ghirlanda. Mr. Live Wire really good yes. hahahahaha
I get uncomfortable when someone says that you don’t know about Trinidad football ☺ we have to move away from that thinking and realize that we are on the world stage …. and we should be… we have been playing the game long enough
I think Trinidad players need to aspire to play like Colombians, not like athletic runners that are so liked by US soccer.
Or even like Chile and my Brazilians eh. Them really good yes.
Lasana I don’t know which players from Latin America came to Trinidad and from what divisions and at what stage in their career. That’s an important piece of information. But with salaries at less than $1,200 USD you have to find the right profiles and it’s not easy.
Thanks for your opinion Tony Maxwell Hatt. But I’m not giving an opinion. I’m stating as a matter of fact that we have had players from Argentina and Brazil who couldn’t cut it because of the physical side.
In no way does that mean they are poor players. And an agent should realise that when he is moving players around.
There might be a player I recommend for Portugal but not England because I know those leagues want different qualities for players.
But no need to belabor the point.
Argentineans tend to be strong and athletic though. I just don’t see what physical side you are referring to, many Trinidadians are very skinny and short.
Yes Simone. We had players like Jerren Nixon and Clint Marcelle and so on. But we don’t know about ability and athleticism. Now Trinidad and Tobago only knows about track players.
I’m accustomed to people coming here and suddenly thinking they are experts about Trinidad football and our history.
Do you know how many Concacaf finals Defence Force and Police FC played in?
Bet they were all thick, unfit track players right?
I’m good man.
Bermuda is more athletic, physical than El Salvador. But we saw last night why it’s irrelevant in football. El Salvador more than made up for it in technical ability, aggressiveness and hunger to win.
A matter of fact my president David John-williams should also organize a friendly against Colombia eh, since my uncle Tim Kee the ex president had organized the game against Argentina, so our Soca Worries can continue to test their level against some of the other South American teams eh and then Chile next and of course my greatest team in the universe Brazil.
Have you ever watched a Mexican top team with top South American ballers against an MLS side? Which side is more physically intense in your opinion?
Ricardo Montoya
What about Canada vs Mexico U20 the other day? Who won every battle on the field, every 50-50 ball? It’s like the stupid concept of American scouts asking for centrebacks at least 6’2 tall. Go tell that to Cannavaro or BARESI.
And if you’re so impressed with Mexican clubs then you’d be happy that our local club teams with totally local squads and a fraction of their budget competed with and bettered they’re teams within the last three decades. And Earl Mango Pierre knows this.
When?? Mexican clubs usually send the B players and U20 players to Trinidad in Concacaf CL when I watched them. They won something like the last 10 CCLs in a row regardless. They eat MLS teams alive. MLS teams filled up with suburb kids from affluent background playing against hungry Latin Americans coming from poverty.,
Do your research. There was football here before you showed up Simone.
Yeah and as I recall Mexico sent not even there B players when Stern John scored his hat trick against them to make certain that we qualify for the 2006 World Cup eh, they sent a shit team steeuupps and they did so to return the favor to my corrupted uncle Jack Warner because he saved them from being ban from all competitions because of some illegal business that they did eh. steeuuppsss Them really good yes hahahaha
Just trying to understand the rationale here. Who was/is more athletic Cannavaro or Cyrus? I never heard Argentineans referred as not very athletic so I am trying to understand the rationale since 70% have Italian roots. Italians non athletic? Chiellini, Bonucci, Maldini, Nesta, Vieri, etc not athletic?
Abate is much faster than all Jamaican national team players and still he is a mediocre full back
Simone, what does more athletic mean to you when you compare and describe Bermudans and Salvadoreans? Thanks
Salvadoreans clearly phisically challenged in height and weight. They are almost all indigenous with very little European roots. Argentineans are almost 90% European Italians, Spanish and Germans so they are built stronger on average. But they win because they are highly technical and tactically organized and have balls. Them and Uruguayans play with so much effort just like Mexicans who physically are not as strong as they have less European influence.
Go look how they man mark in the box in Latin America, then look at TT Pro league with players standing 2-3 feet away.
K. Athleticism to me is based on speed, size, cardiovascular capacity, not just size and weight. I guess we all have different definitions.
Or watch how Chiellini marks in the box compared to American NT players raised in the suburbs.
Well cardiovascular capacity…Is that a basis for endurance? Because clearly it seems to be an issue with most, not all, Trinidad players.
Mexicans seem to have very high endurance. Must be the Aztecs blood.
Simone Ghirlanda I live here and dont know all tor most of the players. I am impressed man. How long did it take you to analyze all, or most players here?
3 years of following extremely closely.
K, so you’ve been to which Leagues beside the Pro League??
Havent seen the others unfortunately but i talk to the players and coaches
High altitude
If you don’t appreciate the cultural side of the game and why a top Brazilian player, for instance, might struggle in a lesser league like France. Well then it makes no sense to keep spinning in mud. This has nothing to do with overall quality of player or league he is coming from or going to.
But if you think Trinidad is such a rubbish football nation, then why bother with our players at all Simone Ghirlanda?
Or is it that you feel you personally make them decent players with two or three conversations and erase the horrible education they got locally?
If you judged Brazil football based on what you saw between 2010 and 2014, you might think they didn’t know how to produce a top striker.
And you would have no idea how laughable that is.
Sometimes when you don’t know the history of a country, it is good to listen sometimes Simone Ghirlanda.
I think there are some potentially quality players and I like challenges of finding them and helping them. For a country of 1.3 million people it’s not rubbish, but a lot to work on. Mentality one of the main things. Plus people like you and Earl Mango Pierre are great to argue with.
Man, if you have only seen the Pro League, you’re missing a bunch of talented players that would make you change your mind. I am not sure generalizing after just seeing Pro League games is an ideal way to state a case.. Something tells me if the Pro League and Super League get their financial houses in order, you’ll see more talent percolate, and your assumptions may change..
The overall perception on Brazil is actually not as high as Argentina anymore among the football professionals. Argentinean and Uruguayan players have a reputation for being safer investments in terms of mentality (stay away from party) and aggressiveness on the field.
Even then Brian Jordan, leagues have their good spells and poor spells.
I’d bet Simone would cringe if I judge Italian football based solely on the same time span that he judges Trinidad and Tobago football. N’est pas Simone?
Bet you won’t appreciate Leicester City lecturing to AC Milan on how to be successful. Say what. It is what it is.
By the way of course I was going for Trinidad yesterday and in this tournament. It helps me and every player from Trinidad I hope to help. But I was disappointed.
So Brian Jordan why do you think that there isn’t any supporters or real crowd support at the pro league games eh do you really think it is because of the distance from the communities eh, well if there was really a real professional product and real professional players there would have been more crowd support at many of the games, well let me put it another way if the other teams were like Central F C and W- Connection eh, well I can also include my Army team eh. Them really good yes.
*Leicester City coached by an Italian coach
This season there were some games ending 10-0. How am I supposed to make any sense of the scoring chart when I look at forwards?
The page is hot today. …some good points by everyone. ..I haven’t even had time for my afternoon nap
I was going for Trinidad against Costa Rica and my wife happens to be half Costa Rican and half Mexican (so my son is 25% Costarican) ???
hahahahahaha Hence the reason why wired 868 volley is really better than the Soaps eh Tony Maxwell Hatt. Them really good yes.
All I wanted for the last 3 years was to show that Trinidad players can make it in Latin America but it’s been a hard bumpy road. Now I start see why the Latin Americans have been so reluctant historically with Caribbean players.
If you take away one thing Simone Ghirlanda, I only hope you consider that watching pro league football for three or four years doesn’t make you an expert on Trinidad and Tobago football. You would just have a pretty decent idea of the current state of top flight players at present.
I am aware the money used to be better and probably the level. The same happens in other countries too. El Salvador used to run circles around Panama and teams like FAS, Aguila and Alianza were respected back in the days. But years and years of bad decisions at the top changed that.
Simone Ghirlanda and before I forget, do you know how long I have been also saying that our sweet country have real problems in developing finishers top of the line goal scorers eh and I really don’t understand what the Coaches in our sweet country are teaching the young players how to score goals eh. Them really good yes.
Earl Mango Pierre unfortunately I have to state that is a real problem in the Caribbean. It’s much easier to find a decent defender or midfielder than a good finisher. One thing I noticed is that most Caribbean forwards are null on headers. Kenwyne Jones is an exception. I have seen tall Caribbean forwards not hitting one header in Central American even if they are taller than the locals. This is especially true in Jamaica too. My first “sweetest country”‘s strikers are so good in the air even when they are not tall like Inzaghi was. It’s all about training from the youth.
From experience of seeing two top scorers at the TT Pro League level struggling to score goals in Central America, I can tell you that the main problem is how much time they get on the ball in TT Pro league during goal situations. It’s a rude awakening when they leave.
And to prove my point I started the $$$$$$ for the most goals scored and the boots of their choice and only 1 player my prolific goal scorer Devon Cool Droggy Jorsling representing the Army has won the prizes about three times since I started eh, and still 20 goals haven’t been scored in the three seasons or more but I am not giving up on them nah I believe in due time some young player will rise to the occasion and even score the 30 goals and receive the $ 10,000 monies and the boots of his choice eh. Lol . Them really good yes.
I forgot to add. Them really good yes.
hahahahahah Ah need to really get meh saying…..patent yes so that I can make plenty monies when it is being used hahahahaha
Simone Ghirlanda so would you say that our Coaches are not very tactical at all hence the reason why our goal scorers doesn’t score as many goals as they should during the football season? Especially the Coaches that is appointed to our national teams and that is proven when we see them playing in the youth tournaments eh and even the senior team Them really good yes.
Well if I look at the American continent as a whole football is not very tactical, but the Caribbean nations clearly less so than the rest. Even MLS is not very tactical by Italian standards, but it’s a lot more tactical than Caribbean football.
In case you are interested, this is Mexico Segunda Premier (third tier) current top striker. He scored 15 goals in the Apertura in 15 games and 8 goals in 8 games in the Clausura thus far and counting. This is essentially the USL equivalent for Mexico with the likes of independent teams trying to achieve promotion to Ascenso (second tier) and the B sides of the Liga MX teams who cant achieve promotion. It’s the division where Jerrel Britto played last year for one tournament although he missed half of the games through injury and finished with 4 goals in 9 games played. It’s a player who at 25 hasn’t yet established himself in Ascenso so Atlante currently second in Ascenso loaned him to Cancun in the third tier. He must be earning $1,000 US equivalent per month. Important to state that’s a U25 only league so in June either he makes it in Ascenso or will have to look abroad because in Mexico from third tier down it’s only for U25 which tells me that the Mexicans figured out like Earl Mango Pierre was saying that if a player at age 25 has not yet “made it” he is not worth the time and investment moving forward . https://youtu.be/4SlYhOFQmAI
Yep and I observes that alot in our sweet country eh, but I don’t say nutten to them eh, because some Coaches lacks the tactical awareness and doesn’t even know , that they don’t know, they still depends on the players abilities in order to win the games for them. Them really good yes.
And look at the supporters nah supporting their players in th 3 tier eh in Mexico nah. and our professional league cannot even have about 50 folks at every game I wonder what tier would our professional league be considered in Mexico eh Simone Ghirlanda. Them really good yes.
And one can see that the Mexican player is a real prolific goal scorer eh, he was developed properly at a very younger age
You want to see third division Italy top striker? https://youtu.be/5ghV7xepW-U Please take a look at how he crushes it on headers, sense of goal, speed of execution, etc. This guy would score 15 goals in first season in MLS but here in my second sweetest country they prefer to say they are signing a National Team player of whatever country like Darren Mattocks of Jamaica. They don’t consider that Belotti (Torino) was in Third Division and now is Serie A top scorer, or Pavoletti (Napoli) and Lapadula (Milan) were also in third division only 2-3 years ago. Them really good yes.
Lasana Liburd see what I mean by third division in established football nations. Plus isnt Baucaud now in 5th division in England? Wouldn’t he be the best midfielder in TT Pro league?
Again Simone, my point was never ever that there isn’t good talent in those divisions. Would Boucaud be the best midfielder in the Pro League? Right now? Yes. But not if Ataulla Guerra is playing locally or when Keron Cummings returns to his best form.
And for the same reasons as I gave above. Boucaud is in the old fourth division btw. And T&T didn’t players from such low divisions just a decade ago.
Ligue 2 is 4th. He is in one below that right?
He was League Two as far as I know. Below that is the Conference.
He was in League Two last season. They were relegated
Yes, you’re correct. I thought he had found a new club. Well that’s embarrassing. But such is football. Balotelli didn’t have a club at all recently. It didn’t make him crap though. And he was better than strikers in many leagues and not just the Pro League.
Guys watch the defender here ??? https://www.facebook.com/concacafcom/videos/1437997476242534/
Simone Ghirlanda Very youthful defending.. Wouldn’t expect this in U16 much less U20..
I be we’ll see him
in USL soon because he is a “National Team” player
Not going to judge him on one play man.. May be way better than that..
Simone Ghirlanda Nah man, nah man I cannot believe that is the 3 rd division in Italy man and look at the kind of support the players are getting nah really great stuff.
Well in all fairness Lecce used to be in first division a few years ago when Nacho Piatti was there. Now he is an MLS star for Montreal Impact.
Brian, Kirwin and Sean, I was thinking about some of the players who were NOT in Costa Rica for a variety of reasons:
Jabari Boyce, Yohannes Richardson, Anthony Herbert, Joshua Marshall, Andrew Rullow, Keston Julien, Tyrel Emmanuel, Kareem Riley, Quinn Rodney, Levi Garcia, Isaiah Hudson, Jared Dass, Renaldo Boyce, Chaz Burnett, Jerren Nixon Jr…
Also Joshua Leach and Rushawn Murphy are there but unused and Jardel Poon-Lewis did not make the 20-man team.
Any of them could have contributed?
For the life of me, I cannot understand why Joshua Leach hasn’t played for a minute yet. And I really think Rushawn is as good anyone there in central midfield.
Last night I wondered about Morgan Bruce who sat unused on the bench as well
Yeah. Bruce is a decent passer and crosser of the ball.
I am reluctant to criticise because I don’t know how guys are applying themselves in training. But in the case of Rushawn, I think the under-20s are using him in the wrong position.
I thought he was ordinary when I saw him play once or twice as a winger.
Then I saw him playing in central midfield for Rangers! The kid is a very commanding player. He is an ordinary winger but he has good potential in central midfield.
Constructive criticism is healthy Lasana
I taped the game and watched it between 1:30 and 3am this morning…As tired as I was I was really impressed by the effort and fight these young men displayed…And so I watched from start to finish…Our MAIN weakness is in MIDFIELD…Poor transition from defence to attack also as the commentators repeatedly pointed out our flanks were constantly left vulnerable to counterattack…And I think you are correct Lasana a lot of those midfielders NOT in the squad would have made a SIGNIFICANT impact on the teams performances…FYI I was also impressed by right-back Garcia’s LONG throw…Is he Levi”s younger brother?
Isaiah is Levi’s cousin, Brian. Very versatile player. Although he is still pretty raw.
We took a good number of versatile kids to Costa Rica and are using pretty much the same group so far. Seems a little odd not to get the midfielders in particular rotated in a sense. This format lends itself I think to smart utilization or you run the risk of being predictable and tired legged. In the end, the coach has to trust his charges to execute his vision
I know they’re from the same general area but not sure on relation. He is pretty good but has work to do on handling right footed attackers though
He played as a winger himself. In fact I remember Dexter Francis would use Isaiah in a variety of roles.
Now he is essentially learning to be a specialist in one position. I think he is still learning the game.
One thing I must say impresses me is this is the first T&T team in awhile which possesses some relatively QUICK defenders.
A wide array of talent. Molding it properly into a finished product is where we contually struggle. Look at talent on the bench, and talent that didn’t make the training squad…but yet not results time after time. It’s dissapointing.
Although i have limited knowledge about why they were not selected , Pappy and Quinn would’ve been on that team.
Lasana Liburd you of all persons should know apart from Richardson, Pappy and Quinn a good bit of the other players u mentioned are injured or were not granted permission by their respective schools
If we criticise the senior team, with some justification, for not trying enough. I feel we can at least credit the under-20 players for really giving it their all.
You can’t ask more of them than that.
Beyond application, you have to look at things like tactics, technique, game understanding… And a lot of those things aren’t the players’ fault alone.
..and team selection
??
I hope that one day in my life time, T&T would stop underestimating the value of a coach. This was a side that had enough talent to get out of CONCACAF.
When a team is not fit they make mental mistakes.
Lasana ? is pressha ah giving you ?
Michael Chin Leung Fatt it starts from the administrator .. Denzil Smith is the best under 20 goalkeeper he has been injured for the entire college league with his shoulder and you will tell me that they could not get proper medical attention for him
Someone did mention that to me this morning. Very unfortunate and well spotted.
Football gets a huge percent of the national allocation budget but always very poor results to show ..
Yes
Same old story…watch how they going and beat El Salvador and CR going and rest bout 4 on Bermuda. Another failure by a local coach…but that’s just me.
This team had a lot of issues and didn’t carry a lot of good players with them. I won’t blame it all on the coach. But there is a wake up call in here somewhere.
The people involved in the depth of T&T youth football knows very well that these youth teams doesn’t have the best of T&T in their roster it’s a fact. To much politics and egos killing our youth teams.
I was thinking about some of the players who are not there and wondered if they are missed: Jabari Boyce, Yohannes Richardson, Anthony Herbert, Andrew Rullow, Keston Julien, Tyrel Emmanuel, Kareem Riley, Quinn Rodney, Levi Garcia, Isaiah Hudson, Renaldo Boyce, Chaz Burnett, Jerren Nixon Jr, Justin Sadoo, Renaldo Boyce, Joshua Marshall…
Also Joshua Leach and Rushawn Murphy have not been used and Jardel Poon-Lewis was not selected.
Maybe one or two of those guys would have helped.
Lasana that’s a whole next team you called there. I just wonder about the details of the infractions committed by the three who didn’t get selected?
I reach ah stage now where I don’t even know what else to say…if this team had qualified I would have been surprised — and happy — as hell…but with all the training camp in Colombia and players not getting picked because of this or that I just resigned myself to exactly what is happening now.
Buh A A don’t tell me that the young Soca Worries only took one shot at the opponents goal keeper because all I saw in the video clip was the Costa Rica free kick and the goal eh, and the keeper didn’t even make any attempt to save it but he really saved another goal from scoring eh, when the opponent was unmarked as usual in the 18 yd box eh. Them really good yes.
Costa Rica took 15 shots and T&T took 13. Costa Rica had 6 shots on target and T&T had 3.
I remember back in days playing the beautiful game, the Coach use to say that the team that have the most shots on goal was the team that usually wins the game eh, I wonder if this is still true in these times eh, and although there is nothing in place in our sweet country, these teams doesn’t beat us up to bad nah, well except for when my sweetest second country beat up the U 15 girls 22- 0 and if only the bootleg Coaches and the TTFA in our sweet country really get their acts together and put things in place especially in the getting our players really prepared (Fitness) to play the beautiful game and as Simone Ghirlanda mentioned our young players are really lacking the technical ability and the tactical discipline and of course the overall “DISCIPLINE” for some of them to become the real professional players abroad in the real professional leagues the EPL and other top flight leagues in order to earn plenty of monies, hence the reason why we presently doesn’t have any players playing in the EPL and amongst other things, we will really be a force to be reckon with once more like back in the days eh. Them really good yes.
Simone Ghirlanda, I think the Caribbean is changing and new nations are stepping up. But they would lack tournament experience. And their FAs will lack tournament experience.
I think nations like St Kitts and Antigua and Bermuda getting here will develop the game further in those countries. I’m not too worried for Caribbean football.
In the last Gold Cup, all four Caribbean teams got to the knockout round and Jamaica went all the way to the final.
I’m worried for T&T because we might have a real fight on our hands right in this region if we don’t lift our game! In fact, I think that has already happened…
These other Caribbean countries have put proper youth systems in place. We have nothing in place.
BOOM
Jamaica just failed to qualify for this U20 tournament losing to St Kitts and we saw St Kitts level. At Senior level Jamaica went 10 games or so without scoring a goal.
A team like Jamaica will have more tournament experience though and they would not have lost as heavily.
For instance, Brazil didn’t qualify for Under-20 World Cup and Venezuela did. But I bet Venezuela’s results there would be less impressive than Brazil’s might have been.
All part of the growing curve I think. I’m pleased for St Kitts to get the chance.
Lasana we need within the pro league a U10, U12, U14, U16, U18, U20, then reserve league prior to entering the pro league circuit keep the hopes alive for the youth with talent that would have missed his actual age group and then ends up lost in the system due to the street life. I have said this for several years now to every seminar I attended.
The more football, the better. But the balance has to be right to ensure they have time for studies.
I think players should be able to play SSFL football until they are 16. Thereafter, the TTFA/Pro League should have a more competitive environment for them.
All schools have the opportunity to put an after school study programme in place for their athletes, unfortunately the focus is on winning the title and then let the chips fall where they may for the affected youths. Eg, the player that was vey instrumental in the early school success of Kevin Molino was shot not too long after leaving Mucorapo, did anyone really care about his future
How on earth could a school principal feel comfortable to see half of his winning team graduate with 2 O levels, CVQ and Social Studies, they are give away subjects.
TTFA has nothing to do with that, the point is that the students represented a school, whwn Keishon Walcott played intercol for Toco Composite there were guys just showing up for games when you go to Toco to play at home. I personally witnessed this
Raoul, Dwight Yorke played his first international game at about nine years old. Players like Shaka Hislop, Russell Latapy and Lyndon Andrews had international caps before they were 12.
That is what the TTFA can do.
Agreed, In the mean time the Pro League could set the stage for all categories, and as I stated some days ago the zones had their competitions running also U 12, U14, U16 and so on that is how Ancil Elcock and they were discovered coming out of Harlem via the Central Zone
So we now have Pro League, Super League Central Zone North Zone, East Zone all focusing on mainly senior players, without proper development of the youth, there is a saying, “Too Many Chiefs and No Indians”
Precisely. I know Keith Look Loy has spoken a lot about the need for the Super League to have a proper youth competition. So I’d expect they would put that in place soon.
????? Toyally agree with both of you guys points of views Raoul Roger Romain and Lasana Liburd.
Where in the world kid’s are only playing football 4 to 5 months a year outside of tt youth pro league and ssfl these kid’s are not doing anything
Very good point Dion. But even our adult footballers don’t play enough.
The Pro League is essentially seven months for the most. That’s five months off!
Most leagues have ONE month off and then it is time to report for pre-season.
Very true. The Pro league has 10 teams only just like in Honduras and Panama. Costa Rica, El Salvador and Guatemala have 12. Why not playing Apertura and Clausura like everywhere in Central America. That guarantees 18 regular season game each tournament which is 36 each season. Top 4 teams going to playoffs.
Also they need to introduce relegation and a second and third division asap. Only way to get teams to feel the pressure.
They have got to try something. I’m not sure if the short league is due to financial constraints too.
Jamaal Shabazz, can you shed any light on that?
Been bleating on that one for years Simone. But turkeys won’t vote for thanksgiving.
They need to understand that relegation would lift the value of their competition.
Guys move the games out of the empty stadiums. Look at Pasaquina in El Salvador. You do not need a stadium, you need a community supporting its local team and paying the $5-10 USD to watch the games
Relegation is why MLS is not taken seriously yet. Teams underperforming and coaches getting confirmed year over year without too much pressure. Mediocrity at its best. Don’t even get me started on USL and NASL which are competitions without promotion to MLS on the line.
The holding mid of El Salvador U20 for instance plays for Once Lobos in Second Division. It’s a much better environment to play in a professional second division team pushing for promotion than playing U19 level. http://www.transfermarkt.com/walter-chiguila/profil/spieler/489155
Carrying the league will incur a greater operational cost on the teams, secondly salaries must be improved people
It’s all a messy situation, this need to be well thought through
Lasana who is the manager of the u15 national team
Salaries will improve naturally with the level improving. But believe me many youngsters in the Central America first divisions get paid less than USD $1,000/month. In second divisions is $500 at most.
I want people to see what it’s football in Central America. A small team like Pasaquina where Dwane James (you can actually see him in recent postings and by the way he is playing well going 90 mins every game) is currently playing, a town of 20,000 people at most has more than 10,000 followers on the facebook page. They even receive money from Salvadoreans in USA to help pay salaries. They came up through the ranks from third to second to first division with the support of the fans. https://www.facebook.com/Pasaquina-FC-Oficial-667147133379344/
They go and compete against teams like Alianza where Willis Plaza played with hundreds thousands supporters. https://www.facebook.com/Alianza-F%C3%BAtbol-Club-187850333980/
Another important aspect of Central American leagues is that they bring coaches from Argentina, Uruguay, etc. Many of them have played first division in those countries, they just didn’t get the opportunity to coach at top level there so they are better off in Central America first divisions. But they bring a lot of real football knowledge and experience..
Don’t think for a second they are all making great money. Some make $2,500/month to coach first division in Central America.
I was just being the devil’s advocate in making my statement, that’s the first thing we as Trinidad. Speak of “how much you paying? “
Because of the devaluation of certain currencies against the USD many coaches from South America are settling in Central America and Mexico third division for very low money. I am talking coaching for $2,000 USD per month.
And players as well. Think Venezuelans first division players who saw their currency going to the floor and making $2,000 USD now is great money. Or second division players in Uruguay not making more than $1,500 USD per month, like third division players in Argentina. Heck even fourth division Argentina players would lift the TT Pro league level. Mexicans who are locked out to play third division at age 25, so if they dont make Ascenso, they immigrate as well. I am talking decent players who would come play in Trinidad for $1,000-1,500 USD per month. All this would raise level and interest in the TT Pro and bring a different approach to football as these latin americans tend to play with high intensity and a lot of ⚽️ ⚽️
Maybe you can ask Dwane James about his teammate at Pasaquina, Paraguayan Lezcano. I bet he is there playing for $1,500/month and he is way better than USL level players.
It would limit the spots for local Trinidad players on the TT Pro teams so that only the better ones play first division. Right now there are players who do not belong anywhere near a first division. That makes it extremely easy for average players to outperform in the TT Pro league. Them really good yes. Earl Mango Pierre
What happens now is partly up to the players. They aren’t owed a spot on the senior team. They have to keep developing and hope to earn it.
If they are hungry I’ll hear from them and they impress vs El Salvador next game and then try to score a contract there to get their professional career started. Let’s be honest no Costarican club will come calling after tonight
I thought the Costa Rican team was pretty average and maybe had less individual talent than we did. Better football sense? Sure.
But I think from an individual standpoint that Nicholas Dillon, Shane Sandy, Taryk Sampson and even Kathon St Hillaire would have caught the eye.
That is one of the least impressive Costa Rican teams I have ever seen. And, yes, I know that fact isn’t really a plus for our effort.
Yet I bet at least 3 of the CR players will be playing in Europe this summer.
I’d bet none of those three make it more than two or three years. Lol. Unless it is the goalkeeper. We should keep tabs and see.
You would be surprised. The striker Andy Reyes is a 1999 and has 6 goals thus far this season in Costa Rica first division which we know is not worse than MLS. I think he has a precontract with Genk for when he turns 18 and can travel to Europe. http://us.soccerway.com/players/andy-josue-reyes-vado/425796/
If he is young and promising and among the best in his age group, of course he would play in Costa Rica.
Whether he has something different that would attract a foreign nation is something else entirely.
The problem is not school football. School football is doing what it is supposed to do. The problem is the TTFA is not providing opportunities for the boys to improve outside of school and the TTFA and the clubs are not doing enough to develop youth football.
One hopes this elite youth development programme helps. But it is early days and the start seems to have been rocky.
I agree with TTFA role however I see value in Raoul point that our education system doesnt prepare us for solving problems…the cognitive processes are absent. It is evident in football but also in many other sectors
Of course it is school football in tandem with TTFA Lasana, schools are cheating and forging documents for titles.
Lol. What were you seeing? Mind you this was about 30 minutes into the game.
What will happen to these players now?? I hope we dont throw them to the side as has happened with other teams
That self
The ability to take instructions on a white board and then transfer it to the field of play is difficult at that stag, due to functional illiteracy. And please I’m not generally calling anyone children functional illiterates, it’s just how our student athlete programme is designed.
I find it diffict to disagree though I think it extends beyond the student athlete
Well said monty
Raoul I agree with you. I coached three National teams last year in middle and long distance running. The ability to understand concepts like periodization, tempo, cadence and technique was very slow with the Carifta team (under 19). The teaching of specific sports in schools is flawed.
Tony you are speaking very complex topics, some of which even coaches and administrators don’t understand fearless for the student and athlete
Raoul that is coaching 101… Level 1 stuff ..very basic
It’s basic to your mind, coaches should be doing refresher courses prior to going to the next level at least every 2years
Coaches here accumulate a bunch of levels and don’t coach…. they just want to be called ‘coach’…. in order to move to another level you should have experienced some club coaching and produced athletes. … you shouldn’t be allowed to move to another level with only theory and no practice
A 20 year old literally bullying his was through a U18 tournament based on average age would be mentally immature and would have difficulties transitioning, and then come the issue of academic where they would eventually come out with literally 1 to 3 O levels
Sean it goes back to the College football that is an under 21 league still, and the average age of the players are approximately 17 years old. Coaches and players glorify themselves when they win these titles, when our Concacaf opponents have half their team playing on the big stage in Europe just saying.
Almost ran again!!!!!
Are our local coaches really up to the task??????
They need to fire the fitness Coach eh, oh well I guess that it’s back to the drawing board again eh.. Them really good yes.
When you have around 30 percent of the ball, you’re bound to get tired.
True but I have seen teams coming up on top without possession.
Guys what is stopping Caribbean teams from having the confidence to just play against non Caribbean opposition?
I would have hoped the Colombia tour might have helped. But I don’t know how that went. They would need more experience of playing abroad and possibly in competition settings.
Honesty is technical ability and tactical discipline
Sean Powder the reason is that the wrong Coaches are being picked to Coach our national youth teams and to much favoritism is another problem in our sweet country when it comes to picking the right players, and in some of the other countries the developmental program is way advanced compared to our developmental program and as I always say when our Coaches enters these tournaments and they come up against the real professional Coaches from these other countries it’s a done deal eh, it is always back to the drawing board because they are not really serious about the beautiful game and that is the TTFA that I am speaking about. Them really good yes.
Them really good yes ???
They more than really good yes, they should stop all the sports in our sweet country and only concentrate in having the Partying/Carnival eh, and make it into a World Cup competition and only then the whole country will be very serious about winning and we might really win but our completion will always be Brazil eh, because their carnival is always of the hook the same Them really good yes. hahahahaha
Earl you are one of the main reason why I follow these boards ??
Hahaha
Earl really good yes lmaoooo
hahahahaha I learn’t the beautiful game from the bestest eh, from my first really professional Local Coaches Jan Steadman, Papa Everad Gally Cummings, and Warren Archibald, and also when I attended Boys High School in Brooklyn from my Coach Mickey Cohen (Israel) and when I got my Soccer scholarship to attend Long Island University….Arnold Ramirez (Costa Rica) and Dieter Ficken (Germany ) and I am very happy that I am one of the reasons that you follow these boards Simone Ghirlanda because your wisdom that you share about the beautiful game is always on point and I am positively certain that your contribution is very well appreciated by others because you really understand the subject hence the reason why your passion is being a football agent to help some of our players to fulfill their dreams of becoming real professional players but I know that it isn’t easy eh, but don’t give up on them. LOL. Them really good yes.
Earl Mango Pierre doh let me get into that fitness level thing eh ?
Earl Mango Arnold Ramirez is a class act. I go to meet him a few years back as he was doing some training for my second son U14 team. What a Coach? WoW. have to steal one of yuh BOOMs!
We look at our fullbacks being beaten with a ball over their heads for all their lives right up to senior team level, at junior level we recover easily in the carribbean against opponents, however at concacaf level and beyond it’s where our goals come from. My point is that is a major technical shortfall that must be corrected at age 5yrs
I question what we teaching. The level of maturity in our culture is low. Grown men often behave and react like teenage boys to conflict and hardship. I observe an inability to focus and concentrate for long periods of time. I do not know the cause but our “hard luck” response to important issues on and off the field is worth analysis.
Freekicks are just as painful as penalties
Another thing that Simone and Tony Maxwell Hatt seem not to have factored in is that any team with barely 30 percent of the ball is bound to get tired sooner or later.
Good point. But sometime you cant help that. But you can run more.
Lasana every single player coming straight out of Trinidad usually looks unfit when they join teams abroad. I heard that in USA, Mexico and even in El Salvador
We have yet to commit to proper nutrition and rigourous training. Bertille St. Clair used to be considered cruel by some but his teams were never considered unfit
Lasana they had 30% of ball possession because they could not sustain for 90 minutes. If they were a fit team that would change. Many times they used the long ball passes but the fowards were not able to get there in time.
Absolutely incorrect Tony Maxwell Hatt. You’re big on fitness but this is about tactics.
From the first minute, we were playing long direct passes and chasing the ball.
They played that way by choice and probably because the coach felt we didn’t have the technique to pass the bell through the midfield.
That doesn’t mean they were not fit to start with. But their style of play was deliberate and not forced due to fitness.
Lasana I have no problem with the tactics. The long ball could work against Costa Rica. What I am saying is that it was obvious that in the second half they couldn’t run under the long balls. They were very tired which was obvious to everyone including the commentators. By the way …. you cant have tactics without fitness 🙂
Right. But they had roughly 30 percent ball possession in the first half too Tony Maxwell Hatt.
And you could see the way they were tactically set up from the first 15 minutes.
So it might be very true that they were unfit. Maybe.
But they tried to play without the ball from the moment they came out of the dressing room.
That was their tactics and was not due to fitness.
I like you 🙂 always have the right answer to match your opinion 🙂 so in the second half when you as a coach saw the players walking and unable to run under the long ball … would you have changed the tactics
Costa Rica had 15 shots and Trinidad and Tobago had 13. So the coach might argue that he did a decent job with what he had. We were still one set piece away from a result despite all the issues with how the team looked.
Personally, I’d have liked if we showed more variety and kept the ball a bit–even if it was just to take a breather and it was negative possession.
I also thought our direct play was largely hit and miss.
But I think the team was picked and set up to play that way. You can’t ask Leicester to play like Barcelona next weekend. It isn’t that easy.
I’m curious what tactics Tony would have changed to if he were the coach.
Brian Jordan every team being it Leicester or Barcelona have to be fit. That is the prerequisite for any sport including table tennis. It is obvious that our system here does not include a through fitness regimen. This was a comment from Carolina Morace “The former Italian and Canadian Women head coach said she saw potential from the group but pointed out there was need for more work on the fitness level of the players.
“Many players showed up which is good because it shows there is a lot of interest in women’s football and wanting to represent the country,” Morace told TTFA Media .
“The players have to work on their fitness level. If you want as a player to show your ability then you need to be fit. The technique alone is not enough. We have to also work with the local coaches in order to improve these things. Sometimes it is just a little suggestion that makes a huge difference,”she said.
If we want to progress we need to get a tailored fitness program in place for all National players.
And she continues ; “Morace, who coached the Canadian women’s team to the Concacaf championship in 2010, said another observation she made was that the local players were not fit. “What we can say is that the players are not fit. They need something. If you want to show your ability you have to be fit.”
You would swear Morace just stepped out of heaven. Tony, unless you want to tell me that the players tired themselves out walking from the dressing room to the field, then it makes no sense to say that their lack of ball possession was down to fitness when at no time during the game did they try to hold the ball.
And we have had better coaches than Morace on this island. And we have qualified for World Cups with other coaches and Morace would hope to do as well as they did.
So how did Bertille St Clair, Anton Corneal, Zoran Vranes and Leo Beenhakker get us to those World Cups then Tony?
Doesn’t answer my question Tony..
St Clair and Beenhakker were vigilant about fitness. I don’t know about the others I never saw them in sessions. Lasana I hope you are not saying that we can get to World Cups by skill alone.
Brian Jordan you adapt your tactics by the level of fitness that your players are capable of playing with … not vice versa
St. Clair story: During youth national team training one of goal keepers began to vomit during the physical session. St. Clair walks over to him and kindly asks, “Did I give you permission to vomit in my session?” The keeper wiped his face and continued to run. Story told to me my the keeper, name withheld to save his blushes.
Tony, Trinidad and Tobago has won CONCACAF Club Championships and played at the highest level before. It is a joke to talk about fitness as if we have never heard about it and a disrespect to our football history.
That would only impress people who do not about our football.
And you pick tactics based on many variables Tony. It seems like you are fixated on one thing. As if fitness is a a winning formula and some great new age tactic.
Very generic Tony. Thought you may have had specifics but oh well..
How could Leo Beenhakker be vigilant about fitness when he had the team for five days before each World Cup qualifier Tony Maxwell Hatt? Again, you are wide of the mark. Very very wide of the mark.
Sean Powder I am at the practices at Manny Ramjohn and Ato Boldon stadium from Monday to Thursday together with my teams of runners and I see the level of fitness so can make a first hand comment rather than men commenting on fitness from looking at a game on TV 🙂
Yes Tony. You saw the women’s team train. We hear that from you all the time. But there is a lot more to football than that. And if you knew our football history you won’t act like Morace is Socrates because she said fitness helps.
Brian Jordan no I don’t … I am a athletic coach … a very good one … so I am judging the teams fitness levels.
Lasana Liburd I see Brian and his team at Ato Boldon stadium when we are there too. I am not judging the teams by the comments made by Morace. We have to have a better understanding of the requirements needed to reach international fitness levels. When players leave here to go to Europe they spend at least a month or two in attaining the fitness level required. They have the skills and the talent and that is why they are drafted with the intention that once they get fit they can do more with the talent and the skills.
Tony i am not disagreeing that fitness needs to improve on all teams, I think a point that is being missed as I listen to Latapy and Archibald is that a lot more football seemed to have been played in the past which would have demanded more fitness. I think our 4 months or less is part of the problem with our fitness. The players then fail to see the need to remain at a high level year round.
Well, I’m glad you understand that coaches sign the player because of his ability first since anyone can get fit. Which is why I said ages ago that there is nothing to worry about if the women’s team is unfit a full year and a half before their qualifying tournament.
Tony Maxwell Hatt, Defence Force won the CONCACAF Champions League based largely on fitness, athleticism and tactical discipline.
It hurts when people show no appreciation for what we have done as a football nation and would allow anyone to hop off a boat and act like they are going to teach us the sport. That is part our self-esteem problem as a nation.
What you should ask yourself is WHY our teams are not fit. Not pretend like they never heard of fitness.
Tony Maxwell Hatt Tony I appreciate that you are an athletic coach, I have my sons participate in track and field as part of cross training so I recognize the value. However, what I see absent in our approach to fitness is interval training and fitness done with the football. No football needs to run 2 miles without the ball. The type of short burst required for football playing require a different type of fitness training that I do not often see incorporated.
Our youth players play for three or four months for the year. Our senior players play for six or seven months.
Everywhere else, leagues run for closer to ten months and players get one month off and spend another month in pre-season.
Other than that, Pro League wages don’t allow a lot of players to concentrate on the game full time and makes it harder for clubs to squeeze that extra bit from them.
You can also have more education for youth players in terms of nutrition and fitness and so on.
That should be your focus.
Tony seems to have fitness in a vacuum when truth is fitness is actually the least of our national football issues in my humble opinion.
Morace’s statement is very superficial. “You play better when you’re fit.” Well isn’t that illuminating… That doesn’t address our circumstances here at all.
I agree with you… the football association has to make those changes and realize that it is important to develop the players on a year round basis . Ha ?? I didn’t just get off the boat ?
Lasana Liburd In the last five years I have not had a family vacation because of the commitment to my three son’s football. In the USA the kids play 11 damn months. Fall, League, Winter tournaments, every Holiday have tournaments and Summer Select plus late Spring to Summer USL which overlaps with regular club football. Of course not all of it is quality but its endless.
And that’s how you learn. By repetition. Of course there must be time for development in there. It won’t be positive to only play games. But, yes, we are well, well behind.
Fitness, like Brian said, is not even our first, second or third biggest problem.
Bear in mind that Rene Simoes said the Jamaica football players were like a bunch of seals with no football IQ whatsoever and he turned them into a World Cup team within two years.
Anyone who believes that was failed by the school system.
Foreign coaches have their own reasons for pretending that they invented football on that particular stop of theirs.
Don’t allow yourself to be colonised Tony.
Sean I agree with the comment about interval training for football rather than short bursts of running. .. here is a comment from a club I was helping out yesterday
“Yesterday was the club’s 3rd session with coach Hatt. Programmes handed out with slight modification . After warm-up and streching we did repeats of 6 minutes duration and 3 minutes of rest. Fitter runners completed 5. Purpose was to help athlete find his/her rhythm and develop sense of pace while developng cardiovascular endurance. . According to coach, judging pace is always a problem with beginners. Warm welcome to Ishta Rampersad and Kevon Michell who had their first session under Coach Hatt. Of note is that the coach has been able to monitor runners of different abilities workng out at the same time on the track using his watch and a whistle. Next session is on Ash Wednesday at the MR Stadium at 5.30 pm.”
Intervals are needed for football training….in the Under 17 and Under 20 I saw no interval training. … the coaches had them doing situs and short sprints.
Shuttles and so on were bread and butter for me just in school football. I doubt that the under-17 and under-20 teams didn’t do them. They probably focused more on that earlier in their preparation. Surely.
Lasana I am the least likely to be colonized….that is a crass comment. My observations are based on my looking at the teams at practice from Latapy…Morace to Brian… I am not a follower I am a leader in getting athletes to internstional level and Olympic competition hardly a follower.
I don’t mean to insult you Tony. I’m just saying that if you understand our history and you also understand why the foreign coach is here, you would know when to apply a grain of salt.
You are a big fitness man and you’re Trini. And surely you know other Trinis who also believe in fitness. It is not a foreign concept to us on this island that fitness helps.
Tony, I try to not make authoritative commentary on athletics or tennis or sports where I am not in depth. I watch them a lot mind you but I know by watching I am just scratching the surface of what it takes to be successful. That’s just me though..
My concern Lasana is that the Administrators are so slow and distracted by other priorities that they think that part time football works for National teams.
Yes. And that is a deeper problem Tony. I agree. It might also be that the administrators simply don’t know how to solve certain problems and won’t admit it.
Nah Lasana …I have worked with Administrators here ….they understand what is needed but they are not proactive or afraid to be.
Ok. Fair enough Tony. Although to expand the league and to play more international games and have more camps, they also have to be able to raise money. And budget effectively.
Not sure if they have those skills.
Ok Lasana… that brings up another concern of mine. Why do people apply for positions on Boards without a solid resume. I think that to be elected one should have to present his resume and expand by giving a snapshot on what skills he or she has that would enhance the organization. Then they should be selected based on the requirements of the organization.
I see so many people on sporting boards that are just filling a seat because they support the President.
The board comprises of representatives for the various sporting bodies and clubs. And some are short on the necessary expertise.
They can still appoint the necessary expertise on the standing committees though. For some reason, that isn’t done.
The President of the particular sporting body usually picks a slate to include bodies that will gather votes for him/her to accede to the ‘throne’
Let’s say a man in Tobago can get 80% of the club’s to vote for the President slate of officers, then that man is considered an asset.
That goes for each region within the country. So you end up with a bunch of ‘yes’ men. That is the reality in its simplest form.
And it becomes about retaining power rather than advancing the sport. I know the cycle.
The only way to break it is to get an administrator with vision who can get stakeholders to see that improving the sport will benefit everyone.
Lasana … top down does not work … we in Trinidad concentrate on the top and forget the bottom … we didn’t just start to play football last year .. we doing this dotishness for years …we should have learnt by now … that is why I have no respect for the Administrators and the coaches …. same old thing every year
As others I may not agree with all coaches decisions but the staff has done a reasonably good job and should be commended. Fitness is important but the thing I see most absent in our football is Leadership on the field, off the field and on the sideline. Our football as a whole lacks confident assertive INTELLIGENT leadership, at some point we must develop a confidence and believe that is based on something. I watched a Haiti team that didnt believe in their quality so they sat their two most dangerous attackers only to being them on while down 1-4. On a fundamental level, I think we believe we are inferior or at least they are superior.
Not enough fitness to think
Pretty sure Simone is a “he” … lol
We looked unfit, indisciplined and as Lasana said one-dimensional. The players gave their best efforts, but a lack of focus/meaningful investment on player development at the youth level means that unfortunately they just aren’t good enough to compete with teams at this stage.
That’s why we NEED European coaches to be successful. E.g zoran vranes
Mexican or Central Americans would work too as they know Concacaf well
Local coaches need to invest in their own development as well. I would be interested to know to what level our current crop of coaches are certified.
I am sick and tired of being sick and tired whenever we continue to say , what a courageous performance the lads executed. That translates to nothing as far as qualifying to a tournament goes. We were very much aware since the first round stage that the technical tactical and fitness aspect was lacking.
The technical aspect is ok. Trinidad is the only Caribbean nation overall with above average technical skills. The problem is mostly fitness and tactical second.
This is more than certification buddy, the friend thing has to stop
Simone no disrespect, we must really stop comparing ourselves to the rest of the caribbean, because they too going no where fast, as Lasana stated a couple days ago tho Antigua has a youth in England at one point between England and Scotland we has approximately 10 players comfortably, This is not a caribbean stage it’s a world stage
Agreed with you. Caribbean competition is nothing. No Caribbean team in this tournament managed to get a point against non Caribbean opposition.
Why do Alyuh think that I always call them the Soca Worries eh and some of our bootleg Coaches eh. Them really good yes. hahahaha
That’s why I respect Mr Gilbert bateau. I think he should with every national set up dealing with fitness and preparation for international football
Agreed
Lmaooo she rubbing it in
Our most composed cm is playing center back (sandy)
simone we did not disgraced ourselves
Costa Rica missed 3-4 chances in front of the GK
Darron Davis now I realize that you is really one of the folks that does give credit to mediocrity type of football eh, come on nah man time to wake up and smell the coffee eh or whatever kind of rum that you drinking eh change the brand nah man. You really good yes.
I saw no attacking knowledge from this team where to me it looked like men was more concern about team shape even after going 1-0 down and 10mins to go
Avery courageous performance by the boys it goes to show if this team had prepared two years earlier the dividends would have been alot better. Credit to coach williams though iam an admirer of his style of play and his defensive structure. Hes a guy that should remain in the football setup
Not sure what you mean by courageous. Easily satisfied I guess.
Well you know how dem 3rd World fellas does speak, so you have to excuse dem eh Simone Ghirlanda. Them really good yes. hahahahaha
No they dont. At all levels. The only hope for a Trinidad team to win a game against non Caribbean opposition is to secure the win in the first 30 mins with 3 goals like they did with Guatemala in Gold Cup. After first 30 mins it’s walking around and hoping for the best.
For the current investment in this team they have been a reasonable return on investment. Evidence that we have a long way to go on many fronts.
Yes I know that but do the coaches and players know that.
You dont gain fitness in 2 weeks. You gain it year round.
I am wondering now what the team was doing in Columbia and the training camp it had in Trinidad.
I just want to point out that no Caribbean team has managed to get 1 point against non Caribbean competition thus far
I am so tired if lamenting that our teams don’t spend enough time on fitness … I saw the women’s National team tonight working exclusively on fitness
Coaches need to be held accountable but it starts with the players. Most of them have the wrong mentality about what it takes to be a successful football player.
So close yet so far