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The final nail was hammered in the Trinidad and Tobago National Senior Team’s coffin in Panama.
To be brutally honest we were not good enough administratively, technically or tactically and we lacked the level of discipline required to qualify for a World Cup finals. This is not a new problem and Trinidad and Tobago football will continue to be terribly frustrating if we do not get serious.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/CA-images/Wired868)
This blog will be 25 pages long if I go through the games against Honduras and Panama meticulously. So I will highlight a few defining moments.
(Honduras)
I just couldn’t believe the lack of urgency and the sloppiness in our play. This was a hugely important game and this is when I expect the so called ‘big players’ to set the tone. But we were not sharp in the mind.
After seven minutes, Honduras played a cross into the box and I would expect goalkeeper Jan-Michael Williams to gobble that up and set the tone, just be nice and solid. He spilled it, it’s not cleared and Honduras score.
Yes, players make mistakes and I’m sure Jan-Michael would be bitterly disappointed with the role he played in it. Having conceded first and knowing the importance of the game, I expected a reaction.
We had a really good chance to test their keeper with a header from Sheldon Bateau but his effort was poor. I then expected to see us up the tempo. But we looked so disorganised that it beggared belief. Every time Honduras came forward, they looked like scoring and they duly did in the 16th minute. We didn’t do enough to stop Romell Quito’s cross from the left flank and Honduras were 2-0 up in no time.
(Courtesy Sean Morrison/Wired868)
Honduras were in control and if I’m honest we never looked like we had the desire or know-how to win the game. Of course we scored the penalty but we were inept and deserved nothing from the performance we conjured. It was nothing short of embarrassing.
(Panama)
Another poor performance and I question our focus and concentration here. We had a corner but yet we conceded 20 seconds later. Our defenders were not concentrating; they were watching the game and not switched on to potential danger.
I blame the coach, defenders and goalkeeper. It used to infuriate me when we had a corner and my defenders were just watching the game and not sensing danger. This tells me you are not concentrating and lack focus.
The second goal is also very avoidable. Again we don’t do enough to stop the cross but what I find inexplicable is that Carlyle Mitchell had more than enough time to have his body shape right. Instead he is facing his own goal and is so unaware of his positioning that he heads it in his own net.
It was a technical error that shouldn’t happen at this level, especially when you have enough time to get into a position where you can see the ball and the attacker. We could’ve easily been beaten 5-0 in this game.
(Copyright AFP 2017/Bienvenido Velasco)
I think people need to realise that qualifying for a World Cup finals is no mean feat and needs serious commitment from the players and staff. In 2006, we had a very experienced squad. Players who were playing at a decent level and who had been through a couple World Cup campaigns. We were also very disciplined and had a top coach in Leo Beenhakker.
There was not one incident from the 2006 squad regarding discipline. But yet we had incidents in this squad with Cordell Cato, for instance.
I just cannot understand how a player could not be focused and committed for something as life-changing as World Cup qualification. He let his teammates and the fans down. It should be a lesson learned for the boy.
Our campaign was doomed from the onset and the baffling decisions by David John-Williams also didn’t help. He sacks Stephen Hart and hires Tom Saintfiet. He then undermines Saintfiet publicly and hires Dennis Lawrence, while ignoring Terry Fenwick who was—without question—the best person available to give us a chance of qualifying.
DJW must do better and, if he is not up to the job of getting football organised, he needs to resign. I ask the question: What is his plan? How is he going to structure Trinidad and Tobago football to become a CONCACAF power?
(Copyright Allan V Crane/TTFA)
I know what needs to happen for sure and I have extended an olive branch to him. But he obviously thinks he knows what he is doing.
It is almost farcical where we are at the moment but I would warn the die-hard football fans that things may get worse before they improve—unless there are major changes and investment in a structured plan.
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Thanks again for the info??both good men not leaving out Jamal and also Good young Coaches coming up,future is looking positive
Terry’s last season was three years ago when he came in for the final quarter of Central’s season and they won their first title. The groundwork was already laid by Zoran Vranes but there was a little wobble and Sancho panicked and brought him in. That same year, Central won their first Caribbean Cup title when they beat W Connection in the final.
So he won two major titles in his last season three years ago.
I am sorry if it looks that way I am not meaning to pull down any Coach,but you are a man of facts, so I wanted a recent success from the Terry Fenwrick faithful for the National job??
I never said he was the only candidate so I don’t understand why you ask me to single out him from all the names I just posted.
Kurtwyn, ask those people yes. But you’re a football man yourself. If you saw his teams before then you’re either impressed or not. Anyone can have an opinion.
Okay my friend so on recent coaching sucess can you share with me Terry accomplishments that he should be given the National team as mentioned consistently by many voices
Kurtwyn, right now Derek King has North East Stars near the top of the table. He set a points record when he won with Joe Public and he was last coach to win Caribbean title with men’s team.
Would you say Stuart is better just because he has more titles? That would be a skewed argument. Angus Eve has Club Sando neck and neck with W Connection right now. If you look at the roster for both clubs, you would appreciate why that shows that Eve is over-performing if anything.
Kurtwyn, he has the most titles–although he has coached longer than anyone else outside of Jamaal Shabazz. But the Pro League is 16 or 17 years old now and most of his titles were in the first decade.
I’m not saying that you shouldn’t consider him. His name will always come up when you are talking about the top local coaches. But I think the reference to his titles doesn’t stand up too well when others have more titles when you look at a shorter, more recent time frame.
It would be like creating a super tournament for top teams in Europe and inviting Greece on the back of their Euro title.
Lasana Liburd but is he not the Coach locally that has achieved the most accolades locally?
I can be proving wrong but is W .Connetion FC not a top contender to win a championship with Stuart at the helm since the Professional league started Mr Lasana Liburd ?or are Those names that you mentioned consistent favorites to win the league…I have nothing against Terry it’s just if we going local it’s in that order my opinion ??
Right. True. They won the first million dollar prize that year Colin. But Connection have not been a dominant force in the league for a long time. In the last seven years, Central won three titles, Army won two and Connection won one. That’s off the top of my head but I think that’s pretty close.
But national team appointments in no way reflect form or titles. Another good example would be Angus Eve who is performing at Pro League and SSFL level. Consider the experience Shawn Cooper has amassed yet is no way involved with elite programme.
Lasana Liburd If my memory isn’t deserting me – didn’t connection win league in 2013/14 under Stuart – when Joevin was dominating playing as an attacking midfielder?
Kurtwyn, Stuart’s last league title was about five or six years ago. Since then, Ross Russell, Terry Fenwick/Zoran Vranes and Dale Saunders have all won league titles.
QUOTE: He then undermines Saintfiet publicly and hires Dennis Lawrence, while ignoring Terry Fenwick who was—without question—the best person available to give us a chance of qualifying.
Kelvin,
These are words of wisdom. I couldn’t agree more!
#DJWOut
#shambles
It’s not the players. We had a decent chance but was totally let down by the administration. Poor decisions on and off the field. Same problem seen in WI cricket too.
Just as in the cricket I wish some of the past (noteable) pros like Kelvin Jack would come back take charge of the administrative side of things.
Was trying to go Russia but will have to settle for a Tokyo 2020
Earl Mango Pierre I really don’t understand how DJW is to blame for the results of the games when we conceded a lot of elementary goals as Kevin explained,I was also very proud of the 2006 players for getting us to the World greatest stage,but to be honest our team was very discipline and played for the Flag but wasn’t playing outstanding football without the magician on the field,I liked the work Mr. Hart did up until the boat rider problem came about….I don’t believe in giving Terry Fenwrick the Job in front of Stuart Charles because I believe Mr.Charles have been producing results locally consistently…If I have to nominate someone I would send my resume tomorrow ?
Do something to fix it na Kelvin Jack. The past pros like urself have a better chance to fix it. We the defenseless football public have to suffer…
I think we had the personnel to get to Russia, whether it was an automatic spot or via play-off. It’s just that when we got to the point where we had to take it to another level, we plummeted instead. I don’t know if Hart took the team as far as he could, or if DJW is just ah blight, or if the players all of ah sudden became very slack, but the team was showing great promise, and then we imploded.
I’m leaning towards Hart took them as far as they could
He probably knew that too hence why at start of hex he was trying to get Bostock and MLS trio since none of local players as now proved we’re good enough to challenge incumbents in order to improve team
For example, I think Bostock could have made a huge impact. Too bad for the administrative SNAFU.
I think hartie was the guy to get is there. The players focus waned because they became complacent because of how far they had gotten. Problem is ….they forgot the things that got them there. ….effort and discipline without it …you have this skeleton of a national team …repping us ….
I think Hart would have gotten us there, he had the understanding of our culture but found a way to demand excellence and discipline. He recognized that we needed to improve and tried unsuccessfully to recruit the players required for the HEX level. I maybe romantacising however he worked with players whose understanding of nutritional preparation included peanut punch, he worked with players who initially refused to take ice baths. I think those that were anti-Hart when the teams results soured do not remember from where he started. Progress is not measured from where you are but from where you started.
Sean Powder That is what good coaches do. It looks from my perspective that DL has not looked at the players individually and try to focus on what needs to be taught or motivated. Then again he may not be in a position to make changes. Inside these sports organizations there are a lot of people on personal power plays. DL may be in a very compromising position and if he is not then he does not have the experience.
Nigel Myers Sean Powder Kirwin Weston Earl Mango Pierre Lasana Liburd Kelvin Jack Brent Bennett
I recall while I was at game in Colorado that first half when Lawrence dropped that surprised 3-4-3 formation and how it kind of caught USA ?? by surprise and Arena admitted that much in post presser when I asked him
All I could think of was alternate reality where if Hart was still coach & was able to recruit the aforementioned players – that formation could have been very potent
Jan
Innis Bateau Mekeil back 3
De leon & sheanon Williams at wing back
Bostock & khaleem in middle
Joevin & Molino behind Wright Phillips
DJW must Go Amen
Our football is in shambles at present the quality football being produced at this moment at local level the tt pro league and super league last Sunday at Arima velodrome santa Rosa vs cunupia fc cunupia fc keeper was sent of a player went in the goal because a penalty was awarded after the penalty the cunupia coach made a change he sent in the second choice keeper and the player who went in goal to the penalty kick went back to his position on the field wich ment a player had to be taken off the velodrome was in laughfter because the coach did not no what to do an these individuals coaching present Rangers year after year same results take a careful look at north east stars football an they are winning wich shows you the level of the other teams and this is where our national selection are choosen from
It’s a sht side
The players selected and coaches were not good enough however I think comparitavely our eligible pool of potential players was good enough but many were not called and some opted not to make themselves available. In this HEX there are only 2 quality teams; Mexico and Costa Rica. The USA is struggling with a throw back team coached by a throw back coach after Klinsman. For me with a strategic plan, stability at coaching position and proper administration the 3rd spot was possible and 4th likely. I believe this largely because of the weakness of all teams other than Mexico and Costa Rica. Amazingly we have a Director of Football and a Technical Director with no plan in site, it will get worse before it gets better.
We had John Bostock, Greg Ranjitsingh, Bradley Wright-Phillips, Nick De Leon… Gimme some more Colin Benjamin. And that is without mentioning boys already capped at senior and youth level like Jonathan Glen, Ataullah Guerra, Cornell Glen, Neveal Hackshaw, Keston Julien, Noel Powder… Even Levi Garcia wasn’t in the squad with the campaign on the line.
Ryan Innis
Please no more names, you already have me vex and frustrated
Lasana: Sheanon Williams, Skylar Thomas, Tyler David (Steve David son), Shaquell Moore (Wendell Moore son). It have all kinda people out dey. Not all may be quality and suitable, but we eh go know unless we serious about proper scouting.
Sheanon Williams right. Kelvin what do you think of some of those options?
Lasana Liburd and Nigel Myers I am out of El Dorado 15 Yr so please stop, Malbec will not stop the pain
Yea was going to mention sheanon
Maybe Ryan innis – but I think it’s was noted by hart at time he didn’t want to play for TT
Sean, why yuh so specific wit de brand of rum? When better cyar be done, let de worst continue.
nah tomorrow ah guh regret it
The good news is that list is young so the future could be bright if we get this right in the manner suggested by Jack and Brian Harry
Lasana.. I always felt it would have been really difficult to qualify as our core wasn’t good enough. We didn’t have someone to compliment Kenwyne; a goalscorer. The players you called are ok but would they make a massive difference? Not really.. maybe Bradley Wright would’ve.. I maintain we need a structure to football in our country
When does DJW tenure as ttfa president end ? Hoping it’s sometime soon
Have about 3 years again… ?
Jesus! DJW and KCR? Deh go kill we!?!
The players selected and coaches were not good enough however I think comparitavely our eligible pool of potential players was good enough but many were not called and some opted not to make themselves available. In this HEX there are only 2 quality teams; Mexico and Costa Rica. The USA is struggling with a throw back team coached by a throw back coach after Klinsman. For me with a strategic plan, stability at coaching position and proper administration the 3rd spot was possible and 4th likely. I believe this largely because of the weakness of all teams other than Mexico and Costa Rica. Amazingly we have a Director of Football and a Technical Director with no plan in site, it will get worse before it gets better.
We stood a chance however bad choices killed us off
Djw is the cameron of football
Barely a year or so ago the team that drew 4-4 with Mexico was the best performance and team I had seen inclusive of the strike squad and the team that went to Germany. We had a bad start againt the current group leader Costa Rica and that was all DJW wanted. Look at sh*t now.
Maybe a foreign coach can make a difference, as he would not easily influenced by some players and admin officials opinions on other players. Time to select an Under 23 local squad to train for the next World Cup including foreign based talents like Levi Garcia.
Move DJW.
Conflict of interest DJW
Bruce Aanensen the reason why things went smoothly in 2006 it was because you was the manager eh, and for the first time in the history of our football we had a real foreign base professional eh, but the only thing that he got wrong was that he didn’t play our greatest player who was responsible for getting us to the 2006 World Cup in the first place and I didn’t care if we had gotten a million goals or even lost all of the games because we didn’t go to the World Cup to win it and we couldn’t even score 1 goal farless to go to the second round and I honestly believe that things would have been different had he started in all of the games especially against England. Them really good yes.
Well given that so much blame is being put at the feet of DJW, I’d be curious to know how those with voting power are going to ensure that a different personality type heads the FA after the next election.
They’re not ….because they’re spineless cowards!
Well as I said from day one when my dictator president was crowned the president of the corrupted TTFA that it was really a bad move because he owns a professional team in the league and it would have been a conflict in interest, so Alyuh cannot blame him for the outcome of this disastrous football campaign eh, blame the bootleg players and the bootleg coaches that were selected after my greatest local/ foreign base Coach Hart was fired because of their own agendas. Them really good yes.
No change is coming …it doesn’t work that way because you will continue to have people fulfilling their personal obligations. Football comes after.
I agree with kelvin Jack.it is noticeable that discipline is a major concern.
It wouldn’t be T&Tfootball if that were not the case. Where in this country do we see discipline at or near the top of the list?
I’m patiently waiting to tell my all from my secondary school days to national selection trials to national team trainer/ therapist to FIFA U17 WWC 2010 duty as therapist to Referees and More recently national FUTSAL
Yawn
Williams, you wasting we time. Time for you to pack up and ride off into the sunset, before night time catches you unprepared. Thank you, but LEAVE NOW NAH!
He tells it like it is….straight to the point. But do you think Administrators care about what someone else has to say….not on your life.
When someone criticizes the sport … being as thin skinned as they are… they attack. It happens in track and field too.
Critize them or offer an opinion and they single you out.
Kelvin J is brutally honest.
In this part of the world we have a low tolerance for people who are ‘brutally honest’…..
Ah! How perceptive! How very true!
Good reading. ….. sound and to the point.
it all starts with DJW
DJW needs to go plain and simple.
Kello, you are so right. The level of discipline, commitment, intensity, togetherness, respect and I would add love that we had in the 2006 team is what saw us through.
We spent quality time together, shared views supported each other in tough times, and on the road for 42 days, there was never an incident between team members. Each member looked out for the other, helped out when necessary even if it was not your job.
There were challenges, but we faced them together. There is too much ME in our football today. Trinis have become a very selfish people.
You know of what I speak.
True friends for life.
“Trinis have become a very selfish people.”
I’ve been around a little while with my eyes wide open so I don’t need to be told that. I wish you would tell us, Bruce, when in your opinion the selfishness started in earnest and why. That would be a major contribution to an understanding of life on this rock and a major stepping-stone towards achieving the kinds of progress we need to make as a society.
Total agreement.
Saw them play Grenada in Grenada, and barely scrape a draw. The players we more concerned with buying alcohol and tackling the store clerk on their way back to T&T than their embarrassing piss poor performance.
Hart was the best chance we had of winning points.
Fire everybody!
Overhaul everything and start over.
Big stueps ….why ya didn’t leave Hart as coach smdh
Well said Kelo
Well written
Can’t agree more. Exceptional article, quite factual
…couldn’t agree more.
Kelvin I support u on that