Tonight, a player that was deserted in the wilderness finally came home, showing Beenhaker and the 800 present at the Larry Gomes Stadium what a soujourn in the German leagues can do.
Forumites, Evans has matured and finally "Wised" up and he is one of the many stories of the night.....but he shall get his own paragraph later down.
I was quite fortunate to get a lift to the game with Patriot and we headed up the highway around 6pm. We eventually arrived around 6:30 and we passed a Bus carrying the Grenadian technical staff and their supporters on the highway.
However this same Maxi also carried two English scouts who came to observe the game. They were both old in appearance. Caucasian in race and they both had on England jackets with a big EFA on the back. They also had efa note pads, fancy pens and clip boards( the usualscouting paraphenalia) and they took a seat in the VIP box area with the other Grenadian officials.
Upon entering, Patriot and I headed for the pie man, we picked up some beverages and I bought a cup of pineapple chow....so yes tings nice!
Walked up the steps and the stands were empty. About 20-30 or so people and both teams were on the field warming up.
We proceeded to the second tier of seats and snug on the half line was Oconnorg, Troy piloy and their female companions. All clad in Warrior nation shirts. Later on Shotta and friend joined in . The Magician family was present....BigM in his Latapy jersey and SmallM representing the number 14. as was Jayerson in his red jersey and family....Only the South crew were missing.....as for me I was representing in meh blue Arsenal Away kit Grin
By now it was about 1/4 to 7........ TT warming up on the side near the scoreboard clad in their white adidas training gear. Grenada on the other side in they yellow, green and red kit.
I missed most of the warm up and at that time tt was in a line doing a simple running exercise in pairs. Sprinting to a cone and jogging back slowly in a line.
Grenada on the opposite side had men in a group stretching and doing small shuttles.
Then the teams went in the tunnel and by that time the stands started to fill up. People walked across from the uncovered section and I would estimate about 800 people were present.
Then the teams came out of the tunnel...TT in the red Adidas kit, Black shorts, red socks. Grenada in a Yellow Top, Yellow shorts with a green and red trim.
Grenada's players sang their national anthem and TT had the luxury of a pan rendition played over the P.A.System.
The Grenadian players were physically bigger than ours in terms of size but only two of them were tall and imposing.
Our starting 11 comprised of 4-4-2 Diamond Formation on defence....3-5-2 on attack
------------------Ince
Spann----Atiba----Avery---Cyd
Rougier
Baptiste----Whitley(c)----Theobold
Glasgow---- Wolfe
Whitley was the captain and it didnt take long for him to show his stuff....early in the first half he got a ball started to tun up a grenadian on the line. Skipped past another near the corner flag and played a ball neatly to the top of the box.......which Baptiste fired...a perfect bullet from 18 yards into the goal.
Then TT started playing lazy. I do not know if the players were not motivated, but the game was slow and at times very relaxed at walking pace. TT kept posession well but did not go forward very much, bringing the ball to midfield and then stopping...turning around and then stroking it to the other side of the field.
I dont know if Grenada's team was the best opposition...and all due respect to them. But a PFL 11 could have dealt with this Olympic squad easily. The TT players who were on the team were just coasting and going tru the motions while the newcomers had a sense of urgency. But at the same time TT could not stamp their authority on the game and make it convincing in the first half.
TT looked very lethargic and the only telegraphed play we had was spann to Baptiste back to spann on the half line who would then swing it to the stopper or keeper and switch the play.
Spann was the poorest player on the TT team tonight. He seemed unmotivated, his touch was off, he did poorly in the right back position, made some unnecessary bad passes and was blown past for speed by the Grenadian winger. A game he would like to forget.
Atiba did not do anything to suggest he should make it to Germany, he looked average and made the simple things look hard. He was not convincing in any of his challenges but he did what was required. There were a few times when he was caught out and had to scramble back but he was one of the better defenders tonight.
Cyd was just cyd....wild tackle, grit and determination. Nothing like his Bahrain and Mexico games....and more like his old Gold Cup self. He also didnt have the spark and urgency in him.
Now sometimes when the back morphed into 3 players Avery would sometimes drift inside and play stopper. He stayed at home. Calm and composed. Didnt venture fwd. Nothing special tonight.
Rougier.....get boo, get cuss and then he stepped up his game in the second half. He is the strongest TT player on the field and he stamps his authority, winning balls, spreading the play and making the simple passes. However he is a tad slow. But I can see why Beenhaker wants him to dictate the middle and protect the defence. In the first half he was Trying too hard to please.....he made 4 bad passes in a row and was trying a long ball bullet pass. But after he settled down he did well and was appointed Captain after Whtley left the field in the second half.
Theobold was a total waste on the left side. He has gotten bigger and put on size, but he still got bounced off the ball. Made some poor passes and did nothing while out wide. Theobold is just not a winger and it doesnt make any sense playing him there. It is hurting both him and the team. However to his credit he was moved into center midfield in the second half he upped his game big time and he showed flashes of skill...passing ability and good judgement. Denzil must either play in the middle or not atall.
The second goal came from a Denzil tru ball...he cut inside and played a tru ball to Glasgow who expertly trapped and hit in one motion from the top of the 18 yard box. It beat the keeper, just grazing the inside of the far post and into the net.
Glasgow has improved as well and put in a good hardworking performance.
Baptiste impressed me while he was on...good attempted shots to goal, moved off his marker well and ran the line. However he is a flyweight and got bounced off the ball also he is not really that fast...But I thought he should have been there instead of Wolfe.
Wolfe didnt do too bad but he didnt do too good, nothing special and the first half didnt have that much attempts to goal or excitment. I not too sure of him as he didnt stand out given the level of opposition.
One piece of action was the Grenadian goalie, who chest trapped a back pass from his own player over his head...and had to turn and scamper towards the goal to retrieve it other than that, the 1st half was an ordinary affair.
Also there was a bullet by Whitley or Baptiste that cannoned the bar and was tiped away by the goalie. Glasgow also came close a second time after he missed a low driven cross from the wing.
The second half is where the action Began.
The two goal scorers were subbed......... Glasgow and Baptiste for The STAR of the night WISE and I think Trent Noel.
The third goal came off a corner and Rougier connected inside the area.
Fellas. Wise just simply was Evans wise of old...skill for days...but he grew a brain. Played simple, intelligent and he was the crowd pleaser. You could see he was just a different level to the rest of men on the field and the gap between Pro, Pfl and amature was apparent.
Evans brought something special to the field and if Colin Samuel could get a Germany trip from one performance against Iceland...then Evans certainly deserves another run against Grenada and Peru.
The man is jest a Star...he have the walk and swagger. When the ref tell him tuck in he jersey...he tuck in the front and have the back blouse. He in he red puma boots and the man just have the confidence and know he have the skills!
His first touch of the ball he was sandwiched between two players on the line. A tock-tock beat later and a belt...he comes out unscathed and he did not lose possession once. He played simple effective one touch football. slowed the play when necessary. Interchanged with Avery John and recovered when needed and he delivered a few quality cross balls into the area. One of which resulted in a goal after he tun up two men raced down the line and squared it in for Wolfe to tap home.
He can screen the ball and he has put on size. He is not the fastest player but he has enough pace to blow down the wing.
There was one play in particular that was simply amazing...he got a ball on the line spun around a Grenadian and turned towards the field..... he cut inside and then just stopped. .....in one motion he turned nearly 360 degrees the other direction and curled the perfect diagonal ball towards the corner flag beating the grenadian offside trap and sending theobold on a run to goal.
Hear nah Even Beenhaker get up out off the bench walk up to the coaching area smile and clap. I see him turn and watch Whim...as if to say "this fella good."
After that with the game winding down Whitley came off to give Rahim a sweat and Cyd came off for the other wolfe brother.
The second wolfe brother was real shakey and lacked confidence. Howeve Rahim looked very lively, however he did the usual...nuttin special...simple passes...one-two knock all in all a good lil 15 min run. Good account of himself.
The best Goal for the night was scored by Grenada.
Grenada got a free kick on the half line and instead of playing the ball regularly short into play......... A grenadian sub let fly a mighty hoof and the ball Lobbed Ince from the half line.
Ince was talking to his defenders and just managed to scramble backwards before being strung up.
He feel shame...he sit down on the grass a good 2-3 minutes composing heself.
But apart from that blunder he communicated well with his defence. Stopped a few good bullets getting down low to save a shot in the area. He kicked and distributed the ball well and had a decent game....but that String up boy!!! Whey SaH
Imagine a Ronaldinho Brazil vs England WC kinda string....something so but from half line and from a free kick with no danger.
I also looked at Whim on the bench.....the man watch Beenie and then he started writing something in a notepad he had there.
After that it turned into TOOLUM TIME
it was all WISE...the crowd start to bawl.....give the ball to Wise.....Wise for Germany! and he just collect and wait....when man expecting beat he slip a clever tru ball. When men looking to mark...he hittin one two...fast, fast counter no slowing down of the play no killing off no attack.
He penetrating to goal and when men ready to close him down and blade him.........BEAT SHARING LIKE WIND! and he getting tru with ease.
The crowd pleaser of the night was he wait for two Grenadians...call them...... administer the Dreadest and fastest spanner ever with he left foot between both of them...... and skip tru the space. HEar nah LArry Gomes MAsh up with that.
The next best spanner for the night was performed by a Grenadian in the first half, the fella hold on to Cyd and snake one tru he legs neat neat on the line. But Cyd to his credit after he ketch heself hit the man a mighty blade cleaning up both ball and player.
Well that was it game blew off and we proceeded to the Car park....WISE is the man and he was the buzz on everyones lips.
Beenhaker have to make space for Wise...I feel wolfe go get cut, Atiba ent show nuttin and Sancho and cox could cover so he better watch out. Rougier get captains armband and he go play a role. Spann have to buck up big time and theobold have to step up too. Samuel and all could get leave out for Wise....Yes he is the special X factor and all the men who cyar belive it....Wise get the Wisdom!
The Warrior Nation started to work and Troy, Patriot and Oconnorg were interviwed by Shabbaz and will be featured on Total football. I opted out of the interview....I lil camera shy nah. Plus I didnt want to be spoilng the shot as all of them in red warrior nation and I in Blue Arsenal.
Then Oconnorg got an Interview with Corneal, Theobold and Guess what .....we see Hardest and was going to ask him some pertinent questions to make TI jump for joy. But Hardest was liming with some killers and he didnt look like he was in a good mood so we didnt bother.
Also doe get vex eh...but like east people lacking some common sense or they jest doe business. I went to games in every stadium in TT and people does park they car between the white lines. But in the East they park all in the center blocking people so they cannot come out and causing gridlock. Come nah man alyuh do better than that nah. STeups it was real traffic and horrors to come out the carpark because people just ent care and park where they liked.
Anyway folks alyuh have to give props to the Warrior nation crew...interviews, working hard setting up stuff behind the scenes and have no fear...pictures and interviews will be posted soon.
Until the Peru game.
Laters!!!!
Last ting.....Like East girls doe come to watch football?.....the quality and quantity on display was real scarce.