Dear Forumites,
I was rather pleased with the showing of this new young team and it was a stark contrast to the Guadeloupe game played on Ash Wed.
There were plenty positives coming out of this match and while there are things to work on with time this can be corrected.
I left town at 4:15 and went Bar hopping in the east. The traffic was bad but I eventually arrived around 6:45. The Main road leading down to the Marvin Lee was jam pack with cars and it was a better bet if you parked on the Main road and walked in.
From the number of cars I say ...hrmph....like they get a crowd.
After walking in I greeted with a Free bag of Chow...Mango or Pineapple and opted for the mango. I did not see the Richards Bake and Shark, I bought 3$ worth of pholourie which was missing split peas and I refused to pay 4$ for a doubles. The 5$ pie was apparently sliced by a Cheese knife and I washed that down with a 8$ juice that was selling 2 for 15.
Reaching up into the stands I could not believe it...Marvin Lee Ram OUT
The entire stand was full, the bleachers behind the goal post was full and the jokey stand by the corner flag was full....I say wheeeeyyyy like Jack oversell tickets here or wha?
It was so bad a new stand was created by the public who could not get seats. The entire Roof that covers the walkway from the main stand and cafeteria was used as a balcony and that and all was ram out.
I stood up for the whole match behind the last row of seats leaning up on the press box...all the aisles were filled and people were seated on the steps...MAJOR FIRE HAZARD. Also at the end of the game only one small gate was opened for people to exit the facility leading to a massive jam. Why are the authorities so stupid when it comes to exiting. It always occurs when ever a game is finished why cant they open more gates or larger ones....Lord help us if there is a fire or an emergency.
So I would estimate the attendance at 3,000 People.
Anyway back to the game.
TT line up (taken from Flex report)
T&T: – 21.Marvin Phillip, 2.Kern Cupid, 4.Keston Williams, 19.Keon Daniel, 9.Aurtis Whitley (capt), 15.Akeem Adams, 6.Khaleem Hyland, 5.Makan Hislop, 8.Kerry Baptiste (17.Silas Spann 77th), 7.Jamaal Gay, 11.Randi Patterson.
Subs that did not play: – 1.Glenroy Samuel, 3.Akile Edwards, 13.Kevon Neaves, 12.Justin Fojo, 16.Daniel Cyrus.
We lined up in a 4-4-2 and the El Salvador team played a 3-5-2.
Physically all the men on the TT team were nashy and thin. Only Patterson had any meat on his bones, but the El salvador players all were either good actors or just sufferring from a doubles paper finish. Them fellas fall down with every challenge...wasting time and just killing the flow of the game at every opportunity.
Now I know it is still early, and maybe my eye is untrained, but I have not seen a difference in style or tactics between Beenie/Wim and Maturana.
TT played the ball in the back keeping possession at all times, tried the flank, if it was not on... we go backward and then we spread the ball to the other side of the field.
I was pleased with the possession, no errors, no bad passes, good control and players fighting and hustling for the ball. They would try a little beat to create space and they would play safe if needed.
However let us be mindful that El salvador did not pressure us too much, the game was a relatively clean one, and plenty of time and space was afforded to both teams. One worrying thing for me was that there was Whitley was alone in the middle and while playing as the defensive midfielder had to do all the attacking work as well, he had no support and took the team on his shoulders, directing the play and slowing down or speeding up as the case may be.
So at times the backs and fwds syndrome and long ball hoof was the order of the day.
Also TT made good progress in the first 15 minutes..making 1-2 going into the box creating chances, but then the El salvador mid shut us down with the extra man and for the remainder of the period we could not come out of our half of the field. Also worrying was that it was only the two El salvador fwds keeping us at bay and running hard amongst our back 4.
However we knocked the ball and kept possession well and did not make any mistakes.
In the second half EL salvador upped the tempo and we matched them...playing the offside trap well and physically putting them under pressure.
I must say that the back 4 on display was the best I have see thus far since our Germany showing. These 4 fellas were all composed on the ball...fast...good in the tackle...good at reading the game...and they would actually step fwd and tackle and not point and shadow players. I like the number 2 Kern Cupid in particular, speedy and was good going fwd. They communicate well and show no shakeyness or panic.
The middle two are tall and decent in the air...only concern is that they need some size.
In terms of stand out players Randi Patterson the number 11 was the best player on the field...he has a better build than the rest, was evidently fit and was notch faster, stronger on the ball and had a element of hustle that no others had. He has a good first touch, can skip away from tackles well and was useful taking on his opponent. Also he ran off the ball well and created plays, he knows how to make the diagonal and circular runs that Gay did not do.
After him Whitley and the Goal scorer Keon Daniel had good games, good passing, hustling getting into the mix good understanding.
Keon Daniel scored a beauty of a goal from about 20 yard out...a left foot curler around the wall which the Keeper could only stretch and tip onto his post and into the net. It was a great kick, something we should do more often.
Finally the number 2 in the back were my standout players.
Hyland was absent for me and had a forgetable game, Baptisite was another one that was quiet on the night.
I was unhappy with the performance of two players...the Goal Keeper Phillip and the other fwd number 7 Jamal Guy.
Phillip did not command his area well and was jumbieing his defenders by hesitiating, coming out, retreating, coming out etc....is either yuh go and clean up or yuh stay on yuh line. Also he let some cross balls pass in front of his area and honestly if El salvador had competent men up front we would be made to pay for his hesitation.
The number 7 was just out of it....he was the pullstones for the night and the funny thing is...football does follow pullstones right tru.
He missed 2 crosses that looked like goal and he was slow and lethargic. He was thin getting knocked off the ball and did not make the proper runs up front to get in the mix. His control was also off but to his credit he made a couple pretty beat and flick near the corner flag.
The sub that came on to rapturous applause was Silas Spann for Baptiste...Full of energy and promise. However his contribution for the night was two attempted dribbles...TWO JAM. End of story.
Certain section of the crowd were calling for Fojo but he never took to the field. Maturana opting instead to give all the players a good workout and not tinker with selection and rhythm in the final minutes of the game
That was it..a few scares from the El slavador #14 in the final minutes but good back tracking and blade by the defenders had him skipping and putting the ball overbar.
This young team would have been nice to see in the Digicup and I think we can use a few of them as subs later on or groom them bit by bit to take over in the next few yrs. However they still have work to do and those with promise should go abroad immediately and bulk up and take jamming. The experience and fitness is needed. I would keep mixing the pros with this batch and instead of picking man on name and past glory go on form. The youths hungry and they showing the fight and had we lost the match I would still be pleased with the showing and fight put forth by the fellas last night.
I dont think we will do too bad vs Jamaica and this is a nice group to work with.
Till next time.