Soca Warriors Online Discussion Forum

Sports => Football => Topic started by: Flex on December 08, 2010, 08:56:58 AM

Title: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: Flex on December 08, 2010, 08:56:58 AM
The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
By: Inshan Mohammed.


No doubt Russell Latapy was one of the greatest Trinidad and Tobago players of all time. His talent left many fans drooling for more. Whether he was playing in Portugal, Scotland or Trinidad & Tobago, Latapy’s talent and vision was something to behold.

As a coach though, Latapy is finding it very hard to transfer his knowledge and experience to his team. His overall performance as head coach of T&T proves that being a good player does not guarantee you becoming a good coach; especially if you circumvent the channels the majority of coaches embark on to attain an international appointment.

This is why if you asked Latapy which team he loves coaching against since his time here as head coach he'd probably say Antigua and Barbuda. Why? Maybe because in his 20 month tenure Latapy holds a perfect 2-0 record over our Caribbean neighbours, his best record to date against an international opponent.

Stats
With a total of twenty-three games, Latapy has managed to cough up nine wins against Martinique (1-0), Haiti (4-0), Guyana (2-1), St. Vincent and the Grenadines (6-2), St Lucia (3-0), Antigua and Barbuda (1-0 & 4-1), El Salvador (1-0) and St. Kitts and Nevis (3-2); three draws against Guyana (1-1), Belize (0-0) and Mexico (2-2); and twelve losses against Grenada (1-0), Cuba (2-0), Jamaica (twice, 3-1, 1-0), Panama (3-0), Costa Rica (twice, 4-0, 3-2), USA (1-0), Honduras (4-1) and Mexico (2-1).

Team selection
Let’s start with Collin Samuel. In Latapy's first game as head coach, Collin Samuel came off the bench and scored a great goal in the 63rd minute against Costa Rica during the 2010 World Cup campaign. T&T eventually lost the match 3-2, but nonetheless, Samuel’s goal gave the Warriors some hope and pride at the least. Samuel was an unused sub for T&T four days later when they played Mexico at the Estadío Azteca and was subsequently never called up by Latapy again.

Silvio Spann, a good player indeed, however Spann was released by his Welch based club Wrexham in early 2010 and stayed clubless for a few months. In October 2010 Silvio decided on rejoining his former employer W Connection and played in a game or two. Shortly after he was named on T&T's 2010 Digicel Cup team, Silvio accepted the offer and flew off to Martinique with his international team-mates. A day or two later Spann was shocked when he learnt that he was cut from the team and had to fly back to Trinidad. His place was taken by an unfit Cornell Glen, a player who has been recovering from an injury and was not featured much for his club team San Jose Earthquakes in the 2010 MLS season. When the Digicel Cup squad was announced, Glen was declared injured. Then two days later he was fit and a day after - Voila! Glen was on a plane to Martinique. Don't you just love T&T football?

I wonder what is the criterion for getting selected to the T&T team. Jamal Gay has been clubless for over six months after his German club Rot-Weiss Oberhausen released him back in March 2010. Gay returned to Trinidad and decided that he will not join any club for whatever reason. He had regular run-outs with Dream Team in the UWI Employees Super Football League, but that was about all Gay did to pass time and keep some manner of fitness. Latapy took a liking to Gay and called him up to join his team and in seven outings Gay managed just one item against none other than Antigua and Barbuda in September during a tri-nation President’s Cup Challenge. After the Cuba defeat though, Gay was never heard from again.

Good Start?
Did Latapy actually have a good start to his international coaching career? The former Falkirk star managed to pull-off some decent results against bigger teams in the region. But the results were all for the sake of pride and off course FIFA ranking. His team drew 2-2 with the already qualified 2010 World Cup bound Mexicans in June 2009. Latapy also garnered wins in a wooden spoon battle against El Salvador also during the 2010 World Cup campaign and an already eliminated Martinique team from the 2010 Digicel Caribbean Cup.

Always reluctant to communicate with the public and name his squad, Latapy loves to defend his tactics and players at whatever the cost maybe. Latapy has taken T&T to its all time lowest FIFA ranking in over a decade. In September of this year T&T were ranked 106, however, with a series of wins in the semi-final stage of the Digicel Caribbean Cup (DCC) T&T jumped twenty-eight places to 78 in October 2010 edition, a ranked T&T would find hard to defend.

The Soca Warriors were quickly brought back to reality and could not justify being the Caribbean’s number one team for too long. A team producing a lack luster performance and a coach who seemed to have been guessing from the sideline on what game play, formation or starting line he would use next paid the price. The Warriors felt the aftermath of Hurricane Thomas as a solid Cuban team whipped them 2-0 in the DCC opener.

To make matters worse, another hurricane was on its way in the form of Grenada. Coach Latapy quickly made changes to his team and formation and despite a better football display from his troops, Grenada punched the wind out of T&T with a 1-0 win. This result eliminated T&T from the regional tournament as well as the Gold Cup for the second consecutive time.

One would have to assume that a variety of hypothetical scenarios crossed the T&T head coach’s mind at the time, and one can also suspect that he was thinking of some of T&T's foreign based players who could have made a significant impact on this inexperience team.

T&T did however bounce back in a meaningless game against the host. The Warriors bowed out of the DCC tournament with a 1-0 win over Martinique that revived Latapy's hopes and everyone but the diehard Warrior fans was smiling again as if they had just won the Caribbean Cup. One wonders, does Latapy’s employer feel the same?

Technical Director Lincoln Phillips told the Express there was no need for "knee-jerk decisions" despite T&T's second successive failure to reach the final four of the Caribbean Cup and qualify for next year's CONCACAF Gold Cup.

"We need to look at the issues and not make any knee-jerk decision. We are not the only country (who has footballing issues)", Phillips added."

Recently reappointed TTFF President Oliver Camps also chimed in and stated that it would be premature to fire Latapy based on the results of the Digicel tournament.

Working Together
Latapy, who knew about the Digicel Cup Cup tournament months in advance said his team was unprepared and blamed the Pro League for having FA Cup and Pro League games during an international game week. In February 2009 when Latapy was still eager for success and fresh on the job he met with coaches and representatives of the T&T Pro League clubs at the Technical Department Offices of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation at Kantac Plaza.

Among those attending the meeting, were San Juan Jabloteh coach Terry Fenwick, W Connection’s Stuart Charles Fevrier, Mau Pau manager Brent Yorke, Tobago United’s Peter Granville, Caledonia AIA’s Jamaal Shabazz, United Petrotrin’s Philbert Jones and Police FC’s Muhammad Isa. Also present was Pro League representative Julia Baptiste.

Latapy described the meeting as one which served its purpose in exchanging and discussing ideas relating to the development of the League specifically as it related to the national teams from the junior to the senior level. He emphasized the importance of an ongoing healthy working relationship between the Federation and the League and his willingness to work towards the betterment of the sport in his capacity not only as a senior team coach, but one who will be assisting in the development of the game at the youth level.

It seemed deep down that none of the TTFF & Pro League members were on the same page and the idea blew away quicker than you can spell Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanokoniosis. But was Latapy's success or lack thereof a set up? Was Latapy trying to swim in a bucket of water? Did he get the tools and support to do his job? Was he offered help, but refused because of job security? What role did the T&T Federation heads play in Latapy’s poor performance as our national team coach? All these questions are surely being asked, but it seems no one will ever find the answers and we as supporters will always be left in the dark.

For the record TTFF special advisor Jack Warner came out in public and said ” Latapy would receive whatever technical assistance he needed. He has whatever players he needs and if as he goes along…  if he feels he needs help he will get it. If he feels he needs the help of the Jabloteh coach, we will do that. Latapy must decide that from his own judgment."

The Begining
From Scotland to Trinidad, the T&T legend went from coaching Falkirk's Reserve team to becoming head coach of the national senior team of Trinidad and Tobago. Latapy was first appointed the assistant coach to Colombian Francisco "Pacho" Maturana in September 2008.

At first “Pacho”  was not happy with Latapy joining his staff and declined his help stating that he already had his own staff and would prefer having Latapy take the field where he belongs. That eventually changed and Pacho had no choice in the matter, but to accept Latapy's help alongside him on the bench.

The moved seemed to have affected the Colombian’s plans and after some poor results Maturana was forced to resign as manager of Trinidad and Tobago. This came on the heels of Latapy's appointment as his assistant in April 2009.  Latapy was then named interim head coach the very next day. Upon his appointment he was told by CONCACAF President Jack Warner that he was on a trial run and that Latapy had just a few matches to make his mark as head coach before a new appointment was made.

Before Maturana left though, he did leave clues for Latapy. He mentioned that we had to try and heal the division within the team, because that division would have hindered its progress. The Colombian was in essence telling the TTFF there was disharmony between the locally-based players and the overseas-based players, and the locally-based players felt threatened when the overseas-based players came back to the fold.

No Man Is An Island
The “Little Magician” declined any help and decided to do it on his own and with only one win against El Salvador, a draw against Mexico and five defeats (against Costa Rica twice, Honduras, United States and Mexico) Latapy somehow passed Warner's trial run and got the job to lead T&T. In March 2010 the T&T federation named Mr. Russell Latapy its new head coach and he was quickly on his way to officially sit in the “hot seat”.

Latapy then appointed a former teammate Marvin Faustin his assistant coach, but that appointment soon became a mystery as Faustin seemed to have fallen off the face of the earth. Ross Russell subsequently replaced Faustin, but even his actual role on the team was unclear.

Before the aforementioned appointments took place, former T&T player Anton Corneal was also T&T assistant at the time Latapy got the job and apparently Latapy's appointment did not go down to well with Anton's father- Alvin Corneal, another former T&T player and coach who was quickly off his seat blasting Russell Latapy’s appointment.

“It’s not personal really, Latas (Latapy) does not have a history of coaching, he’s never been to a coaching course. It is not true to believe that because you’re a good player, you become a good coach,” Corneal told CMC Sports while in Barbados conducting a FIFA coaching course.

Latapy's Ultimatum
In a September edition of the T&T Guardian. Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs and former TTFF enemy Anil Roberts threw out a challenge to the Soca Warriors head coach, which could have resulted in the former national player, losing his job. The out-spoken Roberts called on the former Porto and Hibernian star to lead T&T to a record ninth Caribbean Cup title, or consider quitting as national coach.

Roberts further underlined the importance of 2010 Digicel Caribbean Cup by stating, “The reason I say this is because the Government of T&T has made qualifying for Brazil 2014 a national priority. This is not just in works, but you will see in the next few months the kind of investment into football we will be making.”

“However, this government will not sit and have no say. We will have a say because investing money does not ensure success,” ended Roberts."

Trouble Ahead.
The trouble didn't end there and had seemed to have just started for the onetime T&T hero. Prior to the DCC it was rumoured that Latapy and his players were not paid in a year. To make matters worse, the possibility loomed that they would never get their money as the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation may cry “broke” again. This as a result of the ruling made by the Supreme Court in Port of Spain, ordering the TTFF to pay its 2006 World Cup squad 50% of all income the Federation promised the Soca Warriors for their World Cup appearance in Germany 2006.

Maybe there is a bright light at the end of the tunnel and all may not be doomed for Latapy and his team, but help may come from a strange place from none other than Sports Minister Anil Roberts himself. Roberts stated in October 2010 that a Cabinet note would recommend that the Ministry of Sport take over the payment of salaries of the national coach and his staff from Warner and the TTFF. He warned however that there will be conditions to the payment of elite coaches.

If the rumor is true, Minister Roberts may have to resubmit his budget to the T&T government as it was reported in the Trinidad Express that Latapy makes a hefty $248,000 a month, as well as a $72,000 housing allowance, $32,000 vehicle allowance and a $50,000 overseas travel allowance that will total $1,146,000 over the four-month period September to December.

Will we see Russell Latapy’s tenure as head coach come to an end later this month? Only time will tell, however my guess is we most likely will at some point, as rumours have already been reported that French coach Jean Tigana and former Dutch international Ruud Gullit have been shortlisted to take over from the “Little Magician”.

The Fans
How can we continue supporting a team that is a continuous disappointment; a team that plays with no heart and determination; a team that seems to always be underprepared and poorly coached? Many of the fans have turned their backs on T&T football as we seem to be stuck in the football wilderness. I however, am still a proud fan of T&T football and to discard what we have achieved since our inception in the game of football would be counterintuitive. So I would still hang in there and dream of Brazil 2014. But with the state of our football and World Cup qualifiers just around the corner, that dream may remain just that…a dream. 

Finally, after T&T failed to advance to the final four of the 2010 Caribbean Cup, Russell Latapy appealed to the T&T fans to continue supporting the Soca Warriors in what he described as a learning period. I however believe that if he hasn't learned anything significant in two years since his appointment, then he may have to go back to “school”. My humble recommendation would be to keep Latapy within the national set up, but not as senior men’s coach. A role as assistant coach or head coach of one of the youth teams may be more beneficial to both Latapy and T&T at this stage of his coaching career.

Whatever lies ahead for Latapy and T&T is uncertain at this point; however what is certain is that something needs to be done quickly if we hope to regain our pride and status as a Caribbean powerhouse.


Copyrights of the Soca Warriors Online - Any press using the following article written by Inshan Mohammed are welcome to do so providing they reveal the source and writer. Furthermore, no portion of this article may be copied without proper credit as well.
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: weary1969 on December 08, 2010, 09:00:47 AM
 :beermug:

U need 2 strt 2 charge dem.
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: Sando on December 08, 2010, 09:42:31 AM
Flex, your writing is emmaculate !!!!!

Excellent job and great read. In fact, I'll read it again.

 :applause:
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: Small Magician aka Wazza on December 08, 2010, 09:44:52 AM
Great Stuff Flex...

I hope these ungrateful TTFF people reading this as you summarized how it feels for every fan

Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: saga pinto on December 08, 2010, 10:09:39 AM
Much Respect Mr flex as you should be noted,great assesment great read in short excellent!!
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: FireBrand on December 08, 2010, 11:26:56 AM
Great analysis of the Magician and the madness surrounding our football Flex!!!  :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: Errol on December 08, 2010, 11:55:52 AM
This story is mesmerizing, at one time I though it was Lasana who wrote this.... ;D

Nice read indeed.

Properly thought out and well put together. Keep up the good work Flex.
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: Controversial on December 08, 2010, 12:14:18 PM
great job flex as always  :beermug:
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: Bally on December 08, 2010, 12:32:37 PM
great job Flex :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: Peong on December 08, 2010, 01:35:00 PM
Good read.  
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: Trini Madness on December 08, 2010, 01:46:12 PM
great article flex!  :beermug:
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: Bakes on December 08, 2010, 02:38:34 PM
Others have already said it... but great stuff Flex  :beermug:


I would only disagree with the title, since in my mind Latapy ent "fall" yet... this is just a minor blemish on an otherwise brilliant athletic career.
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: kicker on December 08, 2010, 03:50:12 PM
Latapy is still a legend. 

Hopefully he has a long coaching career ahead of him and he's just learning the hard way.
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: Sam on December 08, 2010, 04:52:20 PM
A HERO (http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-hero-sandwich.htm) is a sandwich and a LEGEND (http://www.edmunds.com/acura/legend/review.html) is a car.

Otherwise, one of the best articles you did, definitely in the top 5...
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: Star Child on December 08, 2010, 06:06:49 PM
Long, but worth the read !!!!

Excellent stuff Flex.  :applause:

I hope to see it published in the T&T press also.
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: Socapro on December 08, 2010, 06:45:02 PM
Brilliant!!

Well done Flex!!

Teach them T&T reporters how to write and how to be accurate with the facts!!  :thumbsup:

Hey Flex, please check your PMs!
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: Sam on December 08, 2010, 07:29:36 PM
So Jack Warner told Latapy if he needs Fenwick go ahead !!!! ..... hhhmmmmm that is interesting.... Latapy dont want to be outshined...

Flex, try getting an interview with Marvin Faustin !!
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: Sentinel on December 08, 2010, 08:36:13 PM
Very well articulated.....
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: Marcos on December 09, 2010, 08:58:16 AM
Flex, your writing is emmaculate !!!!!

Excellent job and great read. In fact, I'll read it again.

 :applause:

This about sums it up
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: Disgruntled_Trini on December 09, 2010, 10:05:02 AM
Well thought out and structured.

A bit long but a good read nonetheless.


Flex, try getting an interview with Marvin Faustin !!


Good idea.

I see him by Pie on Maraval Rd. last week drinking ah beer.
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: grskywalker on December 09, 2010, 10:07:25 AM
TTFF NEED TO SEND THIS MAN TO COACHING SCHOOL AND LET HIM WORK WITH THE YOUTH SQUADS RATHER THAN THE SENIOR TEAM. UNTIL SUCH TIME HE CAN PROVE HIMSELF IN A MORE FAVORABLE MANNER
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: Sam on December 10, 2010, 07:45:50 AM
Wonder what's Ross Russell take on T&T and Latapy ?

We never hear from him yet !!

Then again, Latapy recruited him, so he might be bias too.
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: Debbie on October 30, 2011, 06:25:07 AM
Hi Guys.

I have been reading quite a few articles in the pass week on this website which I have enjoyed all by the way, but this one in particular was very absorbing and well written, so I have decided to join the discussion to let you know that I have enjoyed it and to keep up the good work, we need writers like you in T&T.

I took interest in this piece, because I am very familiar with Russell since his T&T days, he was a sight to watch, not a dribbler, but a man with vision and great attacking runs.

I now live in New York and this site brings me home.

Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: FireBrand on October 30, 2011, 07:59:44 AM
Welcome to the SocaWarriors.net family Debbie!  :beermug:
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: Bakes on October 30, 2011, 09:02:08 AM
Welcome  :beermug:
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: Socapro on October 30, 2011, 10:56:34 AM
Hi Guys.

I have been reading quite a few articles in the pass week on this website which I have enjoyed all by the way, but this one in particular was very absorbing and well written, so I have decided to join the discussion to let you know that I have enjoyed it and to keep up the good work, we need writers like you in T&T.

I took interest in this piece, because I am very familiar with Russell since his T&T days, he was a sight to watch, not a dribbler, but a man with vision and great attacking runs.

I now live in New York and this site brings me home.

Welcome Debbie!! Glad that you enjoying the forum and decide to post!  :beermug:
Btw ah like your Avatar/Profile Pic!
Which one is you?
Expect ah PM from Sam soon (see his Avatar above) but doh take him on!!  :devil:
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: Fyzoman on October 30, 2011, 04:13:02 PM
Welcome Debbie!!!

And if you used to watch Latas play ball, well lets just say you have two (or one?) lovely daughter (s) who look just like their mummy :)
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: warmonga on October 30, 2011, 04:34:30 PM
lawd fadda god all of a sudden this thread becomes a welcome thread .. allyuh fellas nah  easy nuh.. Unnuh gwan like sum pitbull mi sey.. anyway nice write up star.. Unfortunately Latapy had a wutless Bunch of fackers decking our colours.. anyway nice to see we have new posters comming in this forum...

war
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: Quags on October 30, 2011, 04:44:37 PM
Hi Guys.

I have been reading quite a few articles in the pass week on this website which I have enjoyed all by the way, but this one in particular was very absorbing and well written, so I have decided to join the discussion to let you know that I have enjoyed it and to keep up the good work, we need writers like you in T&T.

I took interest in this piece, because I am very familiar with Russell since his T&T days, he was a sight to watch, not a dribbler, but a man with vision and great attacking runs.

I now live in New York and this site brings me home.

Welcome Debbie!! Glad that you enjoying the forum and decide to post!  :beermug:
Btw ah like your Avatar/Profile Pic!
Which one is you?
Expect ah PM from Sam soon (see his Avatar above) but doh take him on!!  :devil:
6 runs sheer class .
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: Small Magician aka Wazza on October 30, 2011, 08:23:22 PM
Legend footballer, Forgettable and Regrettable Coach for T&T

He was the victim of his own downfall, only wanting to play a "Barca" brand which in his mind is the way football should be played as he is in the category of a total football player with 1 touch football and quick passing but shockingly what he didnt pick up from all this was the need for structure and organization, particularly defensively .. we had no urgency to win back the ball when it was turned over and we also didnt have the players necessary for technical football at a high passing level

Play to your strengths , he tried the impossible, admirable but suicidal

Wish him well in the future but I just dont think it will ever work with him in the hot seat again due to my above mentioned reasons and also his lack of desire in his body language... our players need an enthusiastic but fierce character to lead them with a real coaching background and sorry to say but with a non trini tounge .. overseas players not coming back here to listen to a Trini coach.. it will never work in my opinion



Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: Deeks on October 31, 2011, 05:12:18 AM
Very good article and pretty much on point. But I don't see Latapy as a failure. Yes he failed to deliver in 2010. But that is the norm. Only the exceptional ones have done it all. Maybe he is not exceptional after all.  Maybe you guys have put him on such a high pedestal that you unable to accept "failure" from him. I imagine Latas must be in OJ, Lawrence Taylor, Bob Hayes category!!!!!! Put the word FALL in quotes.
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: Debbie on October 31, 2011, 05:44:13 AM
Welcome Debbie!! Glad that you enjoying the forum and decide to post!  :beermug:
Btw ah like your Avatar/Profile Pic!
Which one is you?
Expect ah PM from Sam soon (see his Avatar above) but doh take him on!!  :devil:

Thanks to all for the kind welcome notes. I am the one in the light blue and... I will have to remove my Avatar, right Sam (lol), but I didn't see a Holy Faith Convent logo in there ?

Mr Socapro, you would not believe this, 5 minutes (yes 5 minutes) after I made my first post, I got a personal message from Sam inviting me to a curry-q in Brooklyn on Sunday, he said he lives in NY and sent me his phone number to call him, the other things he said was funny as hell, who is this Sam character ? is he for real ?

And for the guy who said I have a daughter, please, I am not that old, I am 28, well actually, I am up there.... lol

I did see Latapy play and most of it were on Video. The only time I saw Latapy in action in real life it was against Guatemala and Mexico in 2005, I think, he had dreads then, which didn't take him I felt, but he was exciting to watch.

My Dad is a big time football follower and he showed us videos of Latapy in his days and I automatically fell in love with the way he played, I grew up knowing about players like Arnold Dwarika, Toussaint, Glen, Roberts, Julius, Latapy, Yorke, Tasha, Mollon, Cordner, Attin-Johnson, sexy Carlos (off course) and Kenwyne.

I also saw some Pro League games and I like Hughtun Hector, Jerrel Britto, Marchan (a relative) and Anthony Noreiga, I can't remember the others, there were a few more that impressed me.

When Latapy first got the job, my Dad said he would fail because he would never get the support like a foreign coach would.

But after I read Inshan's article above, I got a clearer picture that it was a mixture of things that caused Latapy to fail.

I printed this article for my Dad to read, he is or was obsess with Russell Latapy (as a player).

Do you guys have any vids with Russell ?

Anyways, guys, I am off to work now, have a nice week.
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: dinho on October 31, 2011, 06:20:29 AM
Mr Socapro, you would not believe this, 5 minutes (yes 5 minutes) after I made my first post, I got a personal message from Sam inviting me to a curry-q in Brooklyn on Sunday, he said he lives in NY and sent me his phone number to call him, the other things he said was funny as hell, who is this Sam character ? is he for real ?

Wheeeeyyyy..... lolol
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: kicker on October 31, 2011, 07:28:01 AM
Wow Debbie proper blowin' up man spot...

Someone hadda give her the forum etiquette run down. 
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: asylumseeker on October 31, 2011, 07:40:29 AM
... a thoroughly entertaining breach of protocol. Trini hospitality at its finest.
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: FF on October 31, 2011, 07:51:41 AM
Men out here ent wasting time at all  :rotfl:
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: Socapro on October 31, 2011, 08:25:09 AM
Welcome Debbie!! Glad that you enjoying the forum and decide to post!  :beermug:
Btw ah like your Avatar/Profile Pic!
Which one is you?
Expect ah PM from Sam soon (see his Avatar above) but doh take him on!!  :devil:

Thanks to all for the kind welcome notes. I am the one in the light blue and... I will have to remove my Avatar, right Sam (lol), but I didn't see a Holy Faith Convent logo in there ?

Mr Socapro, you would not believe this, 5 minutes (yes 5 minutes) after I made my first post, I got a personal message from Sam inviting me to a curry-q in Brooklyn on Sunday, he said he lives in NY and sent me his phone number to call him, the other things he said was funny as hell, who is this Sam character ? is he for real ?

And for the guy who said I have a daughter, please, I am not that old, I am 28, well actually, I am up there.... lol

I did see Latapy play and most of it were on Video. The only time I saw Latapy in action in real life it was against Guatemala and Mexico in 2005, I think, he had dreads then, which didn't take him I felt, but he was exciting to watch.

My Dad is a big time football follower and he showed us videos of Latapy in his days and I automatically fell in love with the way he played, I grew up knowing about players like Arnold Dwarika, Toussaint, Glen, Roberts, Julius, Latapy, Yorke, Tasha, Mollon, Cordner, Attin-Johnson, sexy Carlos (off course) and Kenwyne.

I also saw some Pro League games and I like Hughtun Hector, Jerrel Britto, Marchan (a relative) and Anthony Noreiga, I can't remember the others, there were a few more that impressed me.

When Latapy first got the job, my Dad said he would fail because he would never get the support like a foreign coach would.

But after I read Inshan's article above, I got a clearer picture that it was a mixture of things that caused Latapy to fail.

I printed this article for my Dad to read, he is or was obsess with Russell Latapy (as a player).

Do you guys have any vids with Russell ?

Anyways, guys, I am off to work now, have a nice week.

Yes Debbie, he is for real! The man has posted many of his mad adventures right on this forum, highly entertaining stuff!! :laugh:

Glad my quick advice helped to prepare you for Sam but exposing him like that on the forum will only help to make matters worse!!  ;)

Just to let you know that Sam is a highly experienced wild meat hunter who knows all the tricks in the book, yuh not going to get away now for exposing him like that, he has a ‘rep’ to live up to!!

Ah even hear that Sam and Scrunter used to hunt together for wild meat every weekend when he was living in Trinidad and they would sit down and write parang tunes together to document their wild meat adventures after a successful hunt!!

Check this tune for example, it was written by Sam and Scrunter together after a successful wild meat hunt but Sam allowed Scrunter to take all the credit!

http://www.youtube.com/v/AAjUs0de21s

Notice what the chicken not wearing? Well that was Sam's idea!!   :P
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: Ngozi on October 31, 2011, 10:59:34 AM
I think the title is inaccurate .. so he didnt do well coaching the national team ... it does not constitute the fall of a legend. Ridiculous!
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: Fyzoman on October 31, 2011, 12:50:38 PM
Yeah the article was kinda mis-leading in truth...but small thing man!

Debbie my bad, ah try to do ah lil deductive reasoning (and see whey ah end up) and figured if you used to watch Latas play yuh couldn't be as young as dem two girls in the picture.

So ah thought yuh was their mom and just use their pic as yuh avatar.

Hear nah Sam really invite de girl to a Curry-Q??

Enjoy we forum girl, yuh in for quite a ride :)
 
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: Big Magician on November 01, 2011, 04:20:57 PM
oh god Sam...hahahaha
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: Sam on November 02, 2011, 05:15:53 AM
Not me pappa, that gul could lie sah..... :devil:
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: Sam on November 02, 2011, 05:22:18 AM
I think the title is inaccurate .. so he didnt do well coaching the national team ... it does not constitute the fall of a legend. Ridiculous!

How Ngozi ?

The rise (to T&T coach)
Fall (now fired)
Future (what now)
He was a T&T football legend, a legend has fall as T&T head coach.

Me eh see de big deal to call a boss article Ridiculous anyway (even if you have a point) ! allyuh men doh write but quick to condem.
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: Flex on November 02, 2011, 08:09:51 AM
I think the title is inaccurate .. so he didnt do well coaching the national team ... it does not constitute the fall of a legend. Ridiculous!

How Ngozi ?

The rise (to T&T coach)
Fall (now fired)
Future (what now)
He was a T&T football legend, a legend has fall as T&T head coach.

Me eh see de big deal to call a boss article Ridiculous anyway (even if you have a point) ! allyuh men doh write but quick to condem.

Well said Sam...

As a writer or player or whatever your goal maybe, constructive criticism is always welcomed as its the only way to improve at what you do, but to say the title is inaccurate and ridiculous (in public) adds nothing positive nor respectable and a bit disappointed that a senior poster would say this, one I have known and respected for many years.

Laterz.
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: Socapro on November 02, 2011, 02:35:05 PM
I think the title is inaccurate .. so he didnt do well coaching the national team ... it does not constitute the fall of a legend. Ridiculous!

How Ngozi ?

The rise (to T&T coach)
Fall (now fired)
Future (what now)
He was a T&T football legend, a legend has fall as T&T head coach.

Me eh see de big deal to call a boss article Ridiculous anyway (even if you have a point) ! allyuh men doh write but quick to condem.

Well said Sam...

As a writer or player or whatever your goal maybe, constructive criticism is always welcomed as its the only way to improve at what you do, but to say the title is inaccurate and ridiculous (in public) adds nothing positive nor respectable and a bit disappointed that a senior poster would say this, one I have known and respected for many years.

Laterz.

Hey Flex, maybe you need to add a tool to the board to allow the Moderators to downgrade posters from ‘Hero Warrior’ back to ‘Junior Warrior’ as punishment for disappointing posts like that!  :devil:
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: Sando on November 03, 2011, 05:39:39 AM
Well said Sam...

As a writer or player or whatever your goal maybe, constructive criticism is always welcomed as its the only way to improve at what you do, but to say the title is inaccurate and ridiculous (in public) adds nothing positive nor respectable and a bit disappointed that a senior poster would say this, one I have known and respected for many years.

Laterz.

Sometimes Flex, you really do not know the men you dealing with here, they find fault with everything but yet they do nothing in support of T&T football, what yourself and Tallman do here is unpayable that alone speaks volume and with written articles its always a bonus.

Your article is very well written Flex unlike the ones we get in the T&T dailies.

Ngozi comment was not the best even if he didn't agree.
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: Ngozi on November 03, 2011, 07:07:28 AM
I think the title is inaccurate .. so he didnt do well coaching the national team ... it does not constitute the fall of a legend. Ridiculous!

How Ngozi ?

The rise (to T&T coach)
Fall (now fired)
Future (what now)
He was a T&T football legend, a legend has fall as T&T head coach.

Me eh see de big deal to call a boss article Ridiculous anyway (even if you have a point) ! allyuh men doh write but quick to condem.

Well said Sam...

As a writer or player or whatever your goal maybe, constructive criticism is always welcomed as its the only way to improve at what you do, but to say the title is inaccurate and ridiculous (in public) adds nothing positive nor respectable and a bit disappointed that a senior poster would say this, one I have known and respected for many years.

Laterz.

I choose to reply to you Flex since it was your article but naturally my response will also address the other posters who may or may not agree with my comments.
I think men taking things out of context, my disdain for the choice of the title has nothing to do with my level of respect for you or to embarrass you and I know that you know this so I won't harp on it.

Men say I should get downgraded lol .... like a title does make the man ... had to shake meh head and chuckle at that one.

First of all sound article, plenty of facts,  both sad as well as infuriating, but, I maintain my stance "I think the title is inaccurate .. so he didnt do well coaching the national team ... it does not constitute the fall of a legend. Ridiculous!".
I normally choose my words carefully (if not always wisely) I said nothing of the article, simply about the title of it ... and I added the 'ummphh' on the end because that is what I felt about it
First of all the article pretty much deals with Latas unfortunate tenure at the job circumstances of which any other coach at that time would be and always is exposed to when it comes to the ttff.
Basically he tried to do it his way and when you do it that way you only have two options  .... 'sink or swim' ... he sank and landed with a thud .....  what if he had succeeded ... despite the ttff!

I'm an arsenal fanatic so naturally I'm abused when we get our ass handed to us (but the time is coming)
... but Arsene Wenger believes in a philosophy and he sticks to it steadfastly, he also understands that to do that means to accept repercussions with wins or losses and he does in a small way Latas  did that all he knows is attacking ball (knows nothing about defense and never will)
The title can be misconstrued like he had all this talent then he went on the wrong path by trying to 'help' his national team and then crashed and now all that he was  is now blurred because he wasnt able to parlay his talent onto the national team ... basically a title like that would match the maradona story when he eventually went out the game due to drugs and yet ... the same man is now coaching in Saudi Arabia.
I felt the title does not accurately portray what Latapy has meant to the game in TT despite his inabilty to coach the team well.
What Latas did after fantastic service to the country as a player was try to take it even further and help coach the team ...  Latas aint perfect .... but the one thing yuh cyah deny is his love for the game and his love for passing on his experience to the youths.

The title in my opinion too singularly refers to the failures of one man when in truth and in fact what it should have portrayed was simply the continued failure of our system in totality.

So I disagreed with it and stated it in no uncertain terms .... I thought that is what this board was for?
I would expect no less from any article that I wrote or anybody else on the board for that matter.
I give honest assessments about things the way I see it ..... it's not a universally popular concept sometimes .. you toe the line at times..
I go with the crowd only if what the crowd is saying makes sense to me if it does not .. I will not.
Again apologies to who was offended  it wasn't meant... but ....  sound article , misleading title.

Sam I go take the cuss but wha I go do ... I stand by the statement.
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: andre samuel on November 03, 2011, 07:29:09 AM
Not me pappa, that gul could lie sah..... :devil:

Do yuh ting Sam............Socapro playing blocker to get in the good books!!  :D  :D  :D  :rotfl:
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: Bakes on November 03, 2011, 09:11:46 AM
Doh study it Flex... it comes with the territory.  I agree that constructive criticism is preferred.  Ngozi, "ridiculous" is just unnecessarily dismissive of everything that was said, yes you explained later that your disdain was only for the title, but hard for anybody to really interpret such a minimal statement in such an expansive way. Even so, as simplistic the application of "fall" might be, it's still applicable nonetheless... the creative use of it seems to have been done with an attempt to craft a headline that encapsulates what the article is about, while drawing the interest of readers. On that front I think you'd have to admit that it was pretty effective.
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: Ngozi on November 03, 2011, 09:44:11 AM
Doh study it Flex... it comes with the territory.  I agree that constructive criticism is preferred.  Ngozi, "ridiculous" is just unnecessarily dismissive of everything that was said, yes you explained later that your disdain was only for the title, but hard for anybody to really interpret such a minimal statement in such an expansive way. Even so, as simplistic the application of "fall" might be, it's still applicable nonetheless... the creative use of it seems to have been done with an attempt to craft a headline that encapsulates what the article is about, while drawing the interest of readers. On that front I think you'd have to admit that it was pretty effective.

Agreed  .... I'll be nicer next time  ... !!
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: Socapro on November 03, 2011, 10:21:44 AM
Men say I should get downgraded lol .... like a title does make the man ... had to shake meh head and chuckle at that one.

That was meant to be a joke Ngozi hence the :devil: emotion!

Glad you had a chuckle!

Nuff said in your post, you have explained yourself and I am sure Flex will forgive you now and would reconsider downgrading you back down to a "Junior Warrior", what a humiliation that would have been!  ;)
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: Ngozi on November 03, 2011, 06:04:59 PM
Men say I should get downgraded lol .... like a title does make the man ... had to shake meh head and chuckle at that one.

That was meant to be a joke Ngozi hence the :devil: emotion!

Glad you had a chuckle!

Nuff said in your post, you have explained yourself and I am sure Flex will forgive you now and would reconsider downgrading you back down to a "Junior Warrior", what a humiliation that would have been!  ;)

lol
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: Flex on August 15, 2015, 09:00:59 AM
https://www.facebook.com/ctntworld/videos/10153021258712826/

Title: The Book of Elie: What U-17s exit says about Latapy, DJW and T&T’s football path
Post by: SWF Reporter on September 22, 2016, 05:35:30 PM
The Book of Elie: What U-17s exit says about Latapy, DJW and T&T’s football path
By Lasana Liburd (Wired868.com)


The Trinidad and Tobago National Under-17 Team’s fading 2017 World Cup dreams were finally put to rest at the Hasely Crawford Stadium last night, as Suriname clinched the final available CONCACAF berth despite a 2-1 loss to Cuba.

Coach Russell Latapy’s team needed Cuba to win by two clear goals if they were to limp into the next round as the Caribbean’s fifth placed team. Instead, they finished sixth with just one win against Bermuda from three group matches.

And even that triumph was anything but straightforward as the young Soca Warriors trailed 2-0 at halftime and needed an injury time winner by Jaydon Prowell to see off the Bermudan minnows.

Latapy, in his second spell as an international coach, now has as unenviable record as the first National Under-17 coach in Trinidad and Tobago’s history to fail to get his team among the Caribbean’s top five counties.

The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) were unrepresented at CONCACAF level twice before in this millennium. But when coaches Ron La Forest and Nigel Grosvenor faltered in 2002 and 2004 respectively, there were only two spots up for grabs.

Latapy had more than twice as many to aim for. And, although he was in charge for barely a month, his record does him no favours, particularly when placed alongside his senior team’s limp exit in 2010 when they were eliminated from the Caribbean Cup in the group stage after a 1-0 loss to rank underdogs, Grenada.

Has Latapy advanced in the interim?

In the six years since he left the senior Warriors, Latapy apparently went on to get his UEFA Pro coaching license while he worked as assistant manager at a few professional Scotland clubs.

And the diminutive maestro—one of the most creative footballers that Trinidad and Tobago ever produced—has always been someone who thinks profoundly about the game. Undoubtedly, Latapy should be an asset to the local game, even though he still has to prove whether his best contribution would be made as a football coach.

Wired868 was informed that there were rumblings of discontent from the players as regards the National Under-17 Team’s 23-man squad as well as Latapy’s starting XI. And some of these concerns were shared by even the independent onlooker.

Latapy said he wanted physical stature in his midfield trio against Haiti. But, as it turned out, his most creative player was the pocket-sized Che Benny who came on to rescue the game against Bermuda.

Arguably the national youth team’s most gifted player, Kishon Hackshaw, started the tournament on the bench and played in four different positions in two and a half games. In fact, central defender Jesse Williams and holding midfielder Jodel Brown were the only outfield players to start the tournament in the same role that they begun it.

And there were raised eyebrows too at Latapy’s unstinting faith in W Connection attacker Isaiah Hudson, who has experience at National Under-20 and CONCACAF Champions League level but did not justify his star billing.

Whether Latapy might have done a better job should not distract from the real architect of this fiasco. And that is the bombastic figure of Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) president David John-Williams.

On 20 June 2016, then National Under-17 coach Ken Elie downed tools after the TTFA president had ignored his request for feedback regarding stipends promised under the previous administration.

Surely Elie’s time was worth something? Did John-Williams not respect the post of national coach enough to discuss the issue? Was the TTFA sufficiently bothered by the welfare of its under-17 squad?

John-Williams never responded. Instead, he made a public statement which suggested that he believed Elie to be a volunteer.

It is not the first time the TTFA president said something so monumentally stupid and dishonest that it forces right-thinking people to sit down and catch their breath.

If you believed that Elie was a volunteer, then did his email not alert you to your error?

John-Williams suggested that the TTFA could not afford to pay Elie—without hearing what the coach wanted, which was confirmation that he would be paid rather than an immediate lump sum.

And then, without appreciation for irony, honesty or compassion to his former under-17 coach or other national coaches, John-Williams announced that Latapy would take over the job on a two-year contract.

The two months between Elie’s departure and Latapy’s arrival significantly dimmed whatever prospects this youth team had of advancing to the India 2017 World Cup.

And, in no uncertain terms, John-Williams’ decision to offer paid contracts to Latapy and his technical staff suggests the lack of respect he has for every other national coach under the employ of the TTFA—barring head coach coach Stephen Hart, who was given a contract extension by former president Raymond Tim Kee.

If technical director Muhammad Isa, general secretary Azaad Khan, women’s coach Richard Hood and men’s under-20 coach Brian Williams are all interim appointments while Latapy gets a two year vote of confidence, then what does that say for John-Williams’ faith in their abilities?

And, for all the TTFA president’s boasts of being a “football man”, there is plenty of evidence to suggest that he either knows much less than he thinks or the job of grooming international stars is much more difficult than poaching talented youths from rival clubs.

Under John-Williams’ presidency, although the senior teams have been relatively steady, there have been alarming results at youth level:

The Women’s National Under-15 Team went from third in CONCACAF to a group stage exit in the same competition, which included a record 22-0 defeat;

The Women’s National Under-17 Team went from reigning Caribbean champions—under the previous regime—to finishing third at CFU level and failing to qualify from the region at all;

The Men’s National Under-15 Team failed to get to the CONCACAF stage for the first time in 10 years;

And, although the National Under-20s are still very much alive in the competition, few believe they can retain the Caribbean crown won under former coach Derek King during the previous regime.


To be blunt, Tim Kee was voted out of office for his failure to raise funding for the game, provide the necessary support for players and coaches and for his failure to ensure that the TTFA’s various committees were functional and allow democracy in the working of the board.

In almost every aspect, things are now worse.

How ironic that John-Williams dedicated so much time to subtly criticising Hart’s handling of a curfew breach by Kevin Molino, Joevin Jones and Mekeil Williams when his football body cannot even put on a football match without torturing paying fans.

The only successful team that the TTFA has is the National Senior Team. So why does John-Williams spend so much time trying to destabilise it—from antagonising players in salary discussions to attempting to undermine his coach’s match selections or disciplinary decisions?

If John-Williams knows so much about football, then why are none of his appointments delivering any success?

The less said the better about the TTFA president’s vow to quit if he is proven: to have walked on to the field during a training session and asked Hart to leave so as to petition players to reverse their coach’s decision; or to have used the TTFA money in his unsuccessful attempt to become Caribbean Football Union (CFU) president.

But Wired868 stands by both stories. And, bizarrely, John-Williams admitted to using TTFA funds—without board permission—for his Caribbean football league pitch, which was delivered a week before he formally announced his bid for the CFU presidency and to the same Caribbean football delegates that he was wooing.

Evidence, mind you, that was shared face-to-face with John-Williams and TTFA vice-president Joanne Salazar in an I95.5FM ‘showdown’.

The National Under-17 Team’s fate shows the danger of not safeguarding football teams from an egotistical larger-than-life administrator. And, for that, the TTFA’s board members should take a long hard look at themselves.

The current TTFA board of directors comprises: David John-Williams (president), Joanne Salazar, Ewing Davis and Allan Warner (vice-presidents), Samuel Saunders (Central FA), Sherwyn Dyer (Eastern Counties Football Union), Karanjabari Williams (Northern FA), Richard Quan Chan (Southern FA), Anthony Moore (Tobago FA), Joseph Taylor (Trinidad and Tobago Football Referees Association), Dexter Skeene (TT Pro League) and Sharon O’Brien (Women’s League Football).

Presumably, Latapy will now be given the necessary support to prove if he is indeed up to the task—that is once John-Williams doesn’t believe his contract was written with invisible ink like former technical director Kendall Walkes’ deal.

But what about the other coaches and teams? The Women Soca Warriors have not had a single session since their 5-0 Olympic qualifying defeat to the United States on 19 February 2016.

Does anyone care?

John-Williams’ role is to set a path for the local football body over the next four years. It is Khan’s responsibility to handle the administrative aspect of this vision.

The TTFA’s board members must ensure that decisions are made and implemented in the right way while the relevant committees should supervise everything from fund raising and marketing to the hiring and firing of coaches.

And, last but not least, it is the job of the coaches and players to make the most of the tools they are given to deliver success on the football field.

Should deviations from that blueprint become standard fare, then you’d better be prepared to continue reading from the Book of Elie.

CFU Men’s Under-17 Group A Results

(Friday September 16)

Bermuda 2 (Rahzir Smith-Jones 30, Tokiya Russell 81), Jamaica 6 (Raewin Senior 5, Kaheem Parris 17, 72, Kendall Edwards 36, Nicque Daley 42, Tokiya Russell 90+1 [own goal]), Ato Boldon Stadium;

Trinidad and Tobago 0, Haiti 2 (Nael Elysee 22, Steeve Saint-Duc 68), Ato Boldon Stadium;

(Sunday September 18)

Jamaica 0, Haiti 0, Ato Boldon Stadium;

Trinidad and Tobago 3 (Che Benny 70, Jaydon Prowell 73, 90+2), Bermuda 2 (Tokia Russell 11, 26), Ato Boldon Stadium;

(Tuesday September 20)

Haiti 5, Bermuda 0, Ato Boldon Stadium;

Trinidad and Tobago 2 (Nion Lammy 47, Jaydon Prowell 57), Jamaica 3 (Raewin Senior 13, 74, Nicque Daley 36), Ato Boldon Stadium.

Title: Re: The Book of Elie: What U-17s exit says about Latapy, DJW and T&T’s football path
Post by: lefty on September 22, 2016, 07:56:42 PM
nuff proof right here dat people butt dey head big time when dey back DJW, Timkee's failings as an administrator on the office side of things was adequately offset by his selection of coaching and relative hands off approach to on field business thereafter.......now we having failure on and off d field and man on here praisin DJW because d finances supposedly in order....steups youth football crumblin and d woman back to gettin blade in concacaf .....hope he term done fast oui.....but by den d damage would be more than done.
Title: Re: The Book of Elie: What U-17s exit says about Latapy, DJW and T&T’s football path
Post by: asylumseeker on September 22, 2016, 11:17:09 PM
Lasana, was comment solicited from Ken Elie?
Title: Re: The Book of Elie: What U-17s exit says about Latapy, DJW and T&T’s football path
Post by: palos on September 23, 2016, 10:00:15 AM
Quote
The less said the better about the TTFA president’s vow to quit if he is proven: to have walked on to the field during a training session and asked Hart to leave so as to petition players to reverse their coach’s decision

Either this was a big unsubstantiated LIE

OR

EVERYBODY fraid DJW bad bad bad

If is not a lie....why has no one spoken up to support the allegation? 

If it is a lie....why hasn't DJW instituted a lawsuit against the perpetrator?


Title: Re: The Book of Elie: What U-17s exit says about Latapy, DJW and T&T’s football path
Post by: Tobago28 on September 23, 2016, 10:11:00 AM
Quote
The less said the better about the TTFA president’s vow to quit if he is proven: to have walked on to the field during a training session and asked Hart to leave so as to petition players to reverse their coach’s decision

Either this was a big unsubstantiated LIE

OR

EVERYBODY fraid DJW bad bad bad

If is not a lie....why has no one spoken up to support the allegation? 

If it is a lie....why hasn't DJW instituted a lawsuit against the perpetrator?

Palos if a man say he going to quit, you can not force him to follow his own threat upon himself. DJW was cunning when he made those threats of quitting because he threatened himself.
Title: Re: The Book of Elie: What U-17s exit says about Latapy, DJW and T&T’s football path
Post by: palos on September 23, 2016, 10:17:22 AM
Palos if a man say he going to quit, you can not force him to follow his own threat upon himself. DJW was cunning when he made those threats of quitting because he threatened himself.

Yuh lorse meh dey bro.

De man essentially say prove that I did what was reported and I will quit.

He essentially DARE everybody that was there to contradict WIRED868's report that he never walked on to the field during a training session and asked Coach Hart & his coaching staff to leave so as to petition players to reverse their coach’s decision not to play against Equitorial Guinea.

And nobody has publicly uttered a PEEP.

So he must be telling the truth and the story is a complete fabrication.  And if so.......why has DJW not slapped a lawsuit on WIRED868 for libel?
Title: Re: The Book of Elie: What U-17s exit says about Latapy, DJW and T&T’s football path
Post by: Tobago28 on September 23, 2016, 01:20:02 PM
Palos but the players, coach and various others confirmed that DJW did walk on the field and hold a private audience. The story was not retracted and no lawsuit filed by DJW because he knows their are witness.

My point is DJW promised to do X, if Y. When Y was proven you only have his promise to enforce. Can you enforce another person's promise?
Title: Re: The Book of Elie: What U-17s exit says about Latapy, DJW and T&T’s football path
Post by: palos on September 23, 2016, 01:29:49 PM
Palos but the players, coach and various others confirmed that DJW did walk on the field and hold a private audience. The story was not retracted and no lawsuit filed by DJW because he knows their are witness.

My point is DJW promised to do X, if Y. When Y was proven you only have his promise to enforce. Can you enforce another person's promise?

You can call them out on it.  If they refuse to make good on their promise...then everybody knows for a fact that person's word is worthless
Title: Re: The Book of Elie: What U-17s exit says about Latapy, DJW and T&T’s football path
Post by: SWF Reporter on September 25, 2016, 10:46:54 AM
Lasana, was comment solicited from Ken Elie?

Yes. We interviewed him twice in the last two months or so. Those stories are on the website.
Title: Re: The Book of Elie: What U-17s exit says about Latapy, DJW and T&T’s football path
Post by: SWF Reporter on September 25, 2016, 10:49:54 AM
Palos but the players, coach and various others confirmed that DJW did walk on the field and hold a private audience. The story was not retracted and no lawsuit filed by DJW because he knows their are witness.

My point is DJW promised to do X, if Y. When Y was proven you only have his promise to enforce. Can you enforce another person's promise?

You can call them out on it.  If they refuse to make good on their promise...then everybody knows for a fact that person's word is worthless

Several witnesses are stunned that DJW would pretend that this never happened. But he knows that anyone who speaks out will be risking their own future with the national programme. So it is a calculated gamble.
Even more important is the fact that TTFA funds was used to aid his unsuccessful bid to be CFU president. And WITHOUT board approval. That story might not be as sexy but it is Jack Warner behaviour. And he seems to be getting away with it because the board grumbles but does not act.
Title: Re: The Book of Elie: What U-17s exit says about Latapy, DJW and T&T’s football path
Post by: Sando prince on September 25, 2016, 11:38:25 AM
Steupse if you have evidence bring it! who are the players, when did this happen? where did it happen? If there are funds was used as you claimed then you need to explain in detail with facts.

Like DJW if you have evidence to support your claims then he will step down but until then this whole thing is childish.  He dared anyone to bring evidence and up until now all the accusers cannot bring one damn thing. Allyuh make him look good in this situation! Before yapping yuh mouth have the facts ready and present it
.
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: Flex on January 16, 2017, 06:28:35 AM
Latapy heads TTFA wishlist to replace Saintfiet; but Warriors want Hart, Fevrier or Fenwick.
By Lasana Liburd (Wired868).


Former Trinidad and Tobago football legend Russell Latapy is believed to head the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association’s (TTFA) wishlist, as the technical committee ponders its replacement for outgoing coach Tom Saintfiet.

However, the Soca Warriors are pleading with the local football body to return Stephen Hart to the helm.

Saintfiet, who lost both 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup playoff matches to Suriname and Haiti on 4 and 8 January respectively, informed the public that he had resigned his post on Wednesday morning, just one month into his tenure.

The journeyman Belgian, whose former jobs included the Bangladesh, Malawi and Namibia National Teams, blamed TTFA president David John-Williams for creating an environment that made it impossible for him to be successful.

Wired868 understands that, even before Saintfiet quit, Latapy—who served as the Belgian’s assistant—had already been offered the job. However, this was not confirmed by either party and, even then, the approach was said to have occurred after the Warriors lost to Haiti on Sunday night.

There is no suggestion that Latapy did not fully support Saintfiet during the latter’s short-lived stint as head coach. However, if Latapy does take over the top job, it would be the second time that he inherited the position after serving as assistant to his predecessor.

On 8 April 2009, then head coach Francisco Maturana resigned and claimed that there were “differences of opinion in the last couple of games with Latapy” and there was “never one belief” with his assistant.

Then TTFF special advisor Jack Warner appointed Latapy on an interim basis with Zoran Vranes as his assistant. Vranes was subsequently replaced while Latapy kept his place for a total of 20 months.

In 13 competitive matches, Latapy led the Warriors to five wins, one draw and seven defeats and was eventually relieved his place after Trinidad and Tobago were dumped out of the 2010 Caribbean Cup at the group stage with defeats to Cuba and Grenada.

Latapy’s return to international duty, last September, was also a disappointment as Trinidad and Tobago were eliminated in the group stage on home soil in the Caribbean Under-17 Championship after losses to Haiti and Jamaica.

Latapy, a former World Cup 2006 player and Porto and Glasgow Rangers playmaker, barely had three weeks with the youth team before the competition.

And, if one of the country’s most iconic players gets the nod from the TTFA technical committee, it will be another devilishly difficult task with Trinidad and Tobago needing at least four points in Port of Spain against Panama and Mexico to kickstart their campaign on 24 and 28 March respectively.

Pro League CEO Dexter Skeene chairs the technical committee, which also includes Dr Alvin Henderson (vice-chairman), Muhammad Isa (technical director), Errol Lovell and Jinelle James. Former 1991 World Youth Cup coach Bertille St Clair has taken leave from the committee for health reasons.

Notably, Latapy is not the players’ choice—although nine members of the current Warriors pool ran out under “the Little Magician”, six years ago.

In an email to John-Williams and TTFA vice-presidents Joanne Salazar and Ewing Davis, the national footballers urged the local football body to reinstate Hart. The email was sent by Central FC goalkeeper and players’ representative Jan-Michael Williams but was said to represent 23 unnamed national players who all collaborated in the message.

“We, the players, come to you with utmost humility, asking for your consideration with regards to the selection of a new coach for the National Men’s Senior Team. We have accumulated a list of four names for special and serious consideration for the position of Head Coach and Assistant Coach.

“We KNOW it is not our decision to make, neither is it our place to make such demands, but we—23 current players—have pooled our knowledge, resources and ideas together to come up with a few names for your immediate consideration.

“We can all agree that we the players have interacted with these names at some level, so we can safely say our knowledge can be used in this regard.”


The coaches identified by the players are: Hart, W Connection coach Stuart Charles-Fevrier and former Central FC and San Juan Jabloteh coach Terry Fenwick.

Trinidad and Tobago national players are not usually given a say in the selection of coaches but there is precedent. In 2005, Warner hired Englishman Ron Atkinson to replace Bertille St Clair—three games into the Hex—and, as a matter of courtesy, informed the senior players before revealing his choice to the media.

However, the senior players, led by captain Dwight Yorke and goalkeeper Shaka Hislop, refused to play for Atkinson due to his previous run-ins with Yorke and racist remarks the controversial manager made about former France World Cup winning captain Marcel Desailly.

So, Warner did an about-turn and eventually returned with former Real Madrid and Netherlands coach Leo Beenhakker instead.

In this case, the Warriors are suggesting who they would like to have as coach rather than who they do not want. The 23 players stressed too that, although Hart was their first choice, they had not decided on the preferred candidate between Fevrier and Fenwick.

Fevrier, a St Lucian by birth, spent most of his adult life in Trinidad and coached in the local top flight since 1999. He spent six months as Trinidad and Tobago coach in 2003 but was replaced before ever leading the team into competitive action.

His record of two wins, three draws and three losses was seen as credible at the time against largely decent opposition like South Africa, Venezuela and Morocco.

However, Fevrier was replaced by St Clair at the supposed insistence of a few senior players led by star striker Stern John. Although the St Lucian is a widely respected local coach, his proximity to Connection owner John-Williams could potentially be a double-edged sword.

Fenwick, a former England World Cup defender and Tottenham Spurs captain, has never coached a national team but is a multiple Pro League Coach of the Year and is widely regarded as one of the best—if not the best—coach on the island.

His teams are athletic, aggressive and tactical flexible and he worked with most of the current squad including Khaleem Hyland, Kevin Molino, Sheldon Bateau and Williams. But his relationship with John-Williams is strained while his blunt, brash style has divided football stakeholders.

Interestingly, Fenwick and Fevrier were believed to have been on the technical committee’s shortlist, even before the appeal from the national players.

Serbian coach Zoran Vranes, who led Trinidad and Tobago at the 2009 Under-20 World Cup, and Colombian Francisco Maturana, who coached his native team at the 1990 and 1994 World Cups and is a former South America Coach of the Year, are also believed to be on the TTFA’s radar.

Fenwick, Vranes and Maturana all applied for the national post, two months ago, but were overlooked for Saintfiet.

Wired868 understands that Maturana, who steered Trinidad and Tobago into the Hex for the 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign, will not return as a stop gap measure and is only interested in the post if he has the opportunity to rebuild the national team.

Fenwick is believed to be also disinterested in a short-term appointment.

If the TTFA insists that its next coach—like Saintfiet—will only be guaranteed employment until the end of March, it is likely to thin their options even further.

At present, Latapy, who is already employed by the TTFA as a national youth team director, seems to be the preferred candidate. But the players have other ideas.

The Warriors stressed, though, that they would give full support to whoever is selected by the local football body.

“We pledge our full support regardless of who is selected to the position, even if it a person or persons outside of this list, as we know that we the players play an integral part in helping the team to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.”

There was one other request from the players. They want team doctor Terence Babwah and paramedic Dave Isaac gone due to a supposed breakdown in trust, after the two staff members claimed that Hart used Williams against medical advice for Trinidad and Tobago’s last World Cup qualifier away to Honduras.

“We would also like that the duo of Dr Terrence Babwah and Dave Isaac be replaced with IMMEDIATE EFFECT, because of the lack of trust that we the players have in them,” stated the players. “We look forward to working with you—the Federation—hand in hand to reach our goal, which is qualification for the 2018 World Cup.”

(Full statement from 23 Trinidad and Tobago National Senior Team players)

Good day Members of the TTFA,

We hope this message meets you all in good health and spirits.

We, the players, come to you with utmost humility, asking for your consideration with regards to the selection of a new coach for the National Men’s Senior Team. We have accumulated a list of four names for special and serious consideration for the position of Head Coach and Assistant Coach.

We KNOW it is not our decision to make, neither is it our place to make such demands, but we—23 current players—have pooled our knowledge, resources and ideas together to come up with a few names for your immediate consideration.

We can all agree that we the players have interacted with these names at some level, so we can safely say our knowledge can be used in this regard. We pledge our full support regardless of who is selected to the position, even if it a person or persons outside of this list, as we know that we the players play an integral part in helping the team to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.

We also ask that we be treated without prejudice, neither for the composition of this list nor for allowing it into the hands of the media, as we believe it will be treated with the seriousness it requires when we do so. The list is as follows:

Head coaches for consideration:

Stephen Hart

Stuart Charles-Fevrier

Terry Fenwick

Angus Eve (Assistant Coach)

We would also like that the duo of Dr Terrence Babwah and Dave Isaac be replaced with IMMEDIATE EFFECT, because of the lack of trust that we the players have in them.

We look forward to working with you—the Federation—hand in hand to reach our goal, which is qualification for the 2018 World Cup.

Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: Sam on January 16, 2017, 08:32:11 AM
Hiring Latas is a big step backwards.

Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: Deeks on January 16, 2017, 09:14:50 AM
Sam, in your right mind, you could see DJW having a news conference welcoming the return of Hart? The only way he coming back is if a new admin is installed. Unless you know something we don't know, DJW is in charge(lord help us) for the next for years.
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: trini_stallion on January 16, 2017, 09:52:31 AM
We're going back to 2010 guys...DJW not risking connection success by appointing fevrier...and he dont like fenwick...so is between maturana and latas...
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: asylumseeker on January 16, 2017, 10:18:53 AM
Hiring Latas is a big step backwards.

There should be no dilemma as to whom to choose between Latapy and Lawrence. None.

Also, if the final pool of candidates is accurately said to be narrowed to Stuart Charles-Fevrier, Terry Fenwick, Russell Latapy, Dennis Lawrence and Francisco Maturana, that would indicate the absence of proper process.

In addition, Maturana was much maligned regarding language competence. How is he on the  shortlist and Luis Fernando Suarez was discarded?
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: maxg on January 16, 2017, 11:34:58 AM
What is Lawrence experience. Especially most recent. Where is he coaching and overall, who has he coached ? Don't know enough about him. I knew he was with Everton club at one point, but not sure what he did there. Fill me in please.

Wiki only has this
"Coaching career[edit]
Lawrence joined Wigan Athletic as a coach in October 2010 after impressing Spanish manager Roberto Martinez on a trial during the 2010/11 pre-season.[6] When Martinez was appointed as manager of Everton, Lawrence was appointed as first-team development coach.[7]"


Hope that's not all .
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: Controversial on January 16, 2017, 12:27:12 PM
Hiring Latas is a big step backwards.

There should be no dilemma as to whom to choose between Latapy and Lawrence. None.

Also, if the final pool of candidates is accurately said to be narrowed to Stuart Charles-Fevrier, Terry Fenwick, Russell Latapy, Dennis Lawrence and Francisco Maturana, that would indicate the absence of proper process.

In addition, Maturana was much maligned regarding language competence. How is he on the  shortlist and Luis Fernando Suarez was discarded?



That's the million dollar question, no money for the men's team in the Dictators effort to sabotage our football, yet Suarez can't make the shortlist? But maturana can lol   :D
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: Controversial on January 16, 2017, 12:34:55 PM
What is Lawrence experience. Especially most recent. Where is he coaching and overall, who has he coached ? Don't know enough about him. I knew he was with Everton club at one point, but not sure what he did there. Fill me in please.

Wiki only has this
"Coaching career[edit]
Lawrence joined Wigan Athletic as a coach in October 2010 after impressing Spanish manager Roberto Martinez on a trial during the 2010/11 pre-season.[6] When Martinez was appointed as manager of Everton, Lawrence was appointed as first-team development coach.[7]"


Hope that's not all .

Didn't a recent article point out tallest is an asst coach for the Belgium national team? Correct me if I'm wrong
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: maxg on January 16, 2017, 12:43:47 PM
What is Lawrence experience. Especially most recent. Where is he coaching and overall, who has he coached ? Don't know enough about him. I knew he was with Everton club at one point, but not sure what he did there. Fill me in please.

Wiki only has this
"Coaching career[edit]
Lawrence joined Wigan Athletic as a coach in October 2010 after impressing Spanish manager Roberto Martinez on a trial during the 2010/11 pre-season.[6] When Martinez was appointed as manager of Everton, Lawrence was appointed as first-team development coach.[7]"


Hope that's not all .

Didn't a recent article point out tallest is an asst coach for the Belgium national team? Correct me if I'm wrong
again Wiki says
"As of November 2016, a crew of over 20 RBFA employees guides the player group,[153] including their Spanish manager Roberto Martínez, his assistants Graeme Jones and Thierry Henry, and goalkeeping coaches Erwin Lemmens and Ińaki Bergara.["
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: Controversial on January 16, 2017, 12:50:54 PM
http://www.sportsmax.tv/?q=articles/2017/01/14/tt-again-look-belgium-national-coach (http://www.sportsmax.tv/?q=articles/2017/01/14/tt-again-look-belgium-national-coach)
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: asylumseeker on January 16, 2017, 12:54:52 PM
Await the Sportsmax retraction.

Regardless, maxg would you consider Marcel Desailly as NT coach?
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: Controversial on January 16, 2017, 12:56:36 PM
Await the Sportsmax retraction.

Poor journalism you say?
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: Mose on January 16, 2017, 12:58:36 PM
Apparently he isn't.

http://www.belgianfootball.be/en/red-devils-staff
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: maxg on January 16, 2017, 01:01:10 PM
Await the Sportsmax retraction.

Regardless, maxg would you consider Marcel Desailly as NT coach?
and even so, undercover asst coach with Wigan, Everton and Belgium, not enuff nah..well except that Roberto Martinez like yuh around...but say wha, still a step up from ah Saint and maybe ah disciple, I guess   ???
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: Controversial on January 16, 2017, 01:01:36 PM
Apparently he isn't.

http://www.belgianfootball.be/en/red-devils-staff

Hmmmm.. sportsmax as bad as our journalists home... now that is a world class staff, something Trinidad football should have invested in, a full staff to support hart
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: Controversial on January 16, 2017, 01:07:20 PM
Await the Sportsmax retraction.

Regardless, maxg would you consider Marcel Desailly as NT coach?

He still campaigning for Ghana head coach?

He has way less experience in the coaching realm than tallest, no comparison really in that category
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: asylumseeker on January 16, 2017, 01:39:21 PM
Everyone starts somewhere. And, there has to be reasonable balance between credentialing and gaining experience.

Desailly and Lawrence attained their Pro Licences at the same time.

We have to be careful not to minimize what are difficult achievements.
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: maxg on January 16, 2017, 03:12:49 PM
Everyone starts somewhere. And, there has to be reasonable balance between credentialing and gaining experience.

Desailly and Lawrence attained their Pro Licences at the same time.

We have to be careful not to minimize what are difficult achievements.

ADD: To the question of Desailly over Lawrence
nope, but it will depend on who the other candidates are. However, Imho, Tallest trumps Desailly. I think we need someone who knows our region in depth. You were in mexico, it doh have no good Mexicans or Costa Ricans ? We dun reject a Trini-Canadian who knew culture, people, players, regional competition, thus anybody else will be less prepared, but who else is out there that will be best suited ? Anybody with some level experience who can be hired on a long term (5 + years), regardless of short term results. This fly in, lorse, fly out business won't get us consistently playing no different than how we play now. As a matter of fact, which team in the world today, outside of say the top 25, can  guarantee a consistent positive result over 5 years ?  Bigger and more dedicated countries than us, Countries throwing more funding into programs, Cannot. Yet we expect our dreams to be real, every year. And want to fire everybody who "fail" us in the limited time  (not based on any facts, just throwing thoughts out there.) No consistency in any program - good or bad, yet we expect consistent positive results.
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: palos on January 16, 2017, 03:55:56 PM
It doesn't matter who is named head coach


I'm stating this here:

Whoever is coach will have the foreign pros back for the games against Panama and Mexico.  It won't matter. 

T&T WILL NOT DEFEAT PANAMA ON MARCH 24

AND T&T WILL NOT DEFEAT MEXICO ON MARCH 28

After those 2 games, the publicly stated "plan" will be to "rebuild" for the 2022 campaign.   

Local based players will form the core of the squad for the remaining Hex matches in the hopes that some will attract a foreign contract

T&T public will largely forget about football and go back to what they normally do

A few die hards will continue to follow the team and local football

And the downbeat goes on.  We jammin still
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: Controversial on January 16, 2017, 06:53:18 PM
It doesn't matter who is named head coach


I'm stating this here:

Whoever is coach will have the foreign pros back for the games against Panama and Mexico.  It won't matter. 

T&T WILL NOT DEFEAT PANAMA ON MARCH 24

AND T&T WILL NOT DEFEAT MEXICO ON MARCH 28

After those 2 games, the publicly stated "plan" will be to "rebuild" for the 2022 campaign.   

Local based players will form the core of the squad for the remaining Hex matches in the hopes that some will attract a foreign contract

T&T public will largely forget about football and go back to what they normally do

A few die hards will continue to follow the team and local football

And the downbeat goes on.  We jammin still


Players getting contracts, match fixing, bribes and underhanded activities will resume as usual after the dictator delivers the check mate
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: Controversial on January 16, 2017, 06:55:43 PM
Everyone starts somewhere. And, there has to be reasonable balance between credentialing and gaining experience.

Desailly and Lawrence attained their Pro Licences at the same time.

We have to be careful not to minimize what are difficult achievements.


I agree but tallest know the culture and have experience under Martinez, desailly has what experience?
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: sjahrain on January 16, 2017, 08:13:46 PM
Fellow Warriors this not rocket science ...Straight up its Hart of bust
Nothing other than Hart taking us to the world cup...Put that in your pipe and smoke it
Without Hart it's 2022 we looking at...And as can be seen that is no guarantee
Me I am playing for now..Why .. Because that's what is in front of us
Anybody other than Hart it's over ...Trust me
Let the joker carry on...The joke is on his time
Power corrupts absolutely......In every level of our society
He who laughs last laugh best
Rastafari
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: asylumseeker on January 16, 2017, 08:42:09 PM
Everyone starts somewhere. And, there has to be reasonable balance between credentialing and gaining experience.

Desailly and Lawrence attained their Pro Licences at the same time.

We have to be careful not to minimize what are difficult achievements.


I agree but tallest know the culture and have experience under Martinez, desailly has what experience?

Desailly was not a proposal. It was question to prod maxg to a "better" response than his initial response.
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: Controversial on January 16, 2017, 10:16:11 PM
Everyone starts somewhere. And, there has to be reasonable balance between credentialing and gaining experience.

Desailly and Lawrence attained their Pro Licences at the same time.

We have to be careful not to minimize what are difficult achievements.


I agree but tallest know the culture and have experience under Martinez, desailly has what experience?

Desailly was not a proposal. It was question to prod maxg to a "better" response than his initial response.

Duly noted my friend...
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: Tiresais on January 17, 2017, 03:39:38 AM
The real question over Latapy is "has he learnt anything in the intervening years that would make him more successful than the last time?"

Given the debacle of the U17 team, I can't say I'm sure of that.

Same for Maturano - he's barely had a job since his last appointment so what's the proof or measure of progress?

If these two are the only "experienced" options, then we need to take a chance - madness is repeating the mistakes of the past. In that vein, Fenwick, Lawrence and Fevrier are the superior options.
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: maxg on January 17, 2017, 09:52:22 AM
..............Desailly was not a proposal. It was question to prod maxg to a "better" response than his initial response.
Ah boy, yuh use ah cattle prod on meh an throwmeh in with "The HERD" or what ?   :devil:  :rotfl:
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: Sam on January 17, 2017, 09:53:00 AM
Hiring Latas is a big step backwards.

There should be no dilemma as to whom to choose between Latapy and Lawrence. None.

Also, if the final pool of candidates is accurately said to be narrowed to Stuart Charles-Fevrier, Terry Fenwick, Russell Latapy, Dennis Lawrence and Francisco Maturana, that would indicate the absence of proper process.

In addition, Maturana was much maligned regarding language competence. How is he on the  shortlist and Luis Fernando Suarez was discarded?


I don't want Lawrence either.

Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: Controversial on January 17, 2017, 11:15:50 AM
Hiring Latas is a big step backwards.

There should be no dilemma as to whom to choose between Latapy and Lawrence. None.

Also, if the final pool of candidates is accurately said to be narrowed to Stuart Charles-Fevrier, Terry Fenwick, Russell Latapy, Dennis Lawrence and Francisco Maturana, that would indicate the absence of proper process.

In addition, Maturana was much maligned regarding language competence. How is he on the  shortlist and Luis Fernando Suarez was discarded?


I don't want Lawrence either.



Any reason why?
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: Sam on January 17, 2017, 03:22:43 PM
Not as head coach, maybe assistant.

There must be a reason why Roberto Martinez didn't take him.

What Lawrence doing now?

Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: asylumseeker on January 17, 2017, 03:38:56 PM
Not as head coach, maybe assistant.

There must be a reason why Roberto Martinez didn't take him.

What Lawrence doing now?

Because Thierry Henry has insight and pedigree regarding national team football within UEFA would be a clear obvious. Martinez lacks that. And Henry offers the ability to add rigour to attacking components tactically, given his former playing position. Martinez lacks that. There are a couple other reasons I can think of, but perhaps someone should ask Dennis and he could pronounce on the issue.
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: Tobago28 on January 17, 2017, 03:56:53 PM
Not as head coach, maybe assistant.

There must be a reason why Roberto Martinez didn't take him.

What Lawrence doing now?

He is not luggage, Martinez can not take him everywhere.

The make up of a club is vastly different than a National Team, the structure and demands likely did not have room for him since Belgium was not changing U15, U16, U17, U18, U19, nor U21 coaches as they have confidence in their development plan.

I am not sure where Dennis is, note that Martinez did take three persons with him but those guys were with him at Swansea, Wigan and Everton.  Dennis was an a valuable assistant to Martinez but not a the level of Graeme Jones.
Title: Re: The rise, fall & future of a T&T football legend.
Post by: Sam on January 17, 2017, 04:51:10 PM
Not as head coach, maybe assistant.

There must be a reason why Roberto Martinez didn't take him.

What Lawrence doing now?

He is not luggage, Martinez can not take him everywhere.

The make up of a club is vastly different than a National Team, the structure and demands likely did not have room for him since Belgium was not changing U15, U16, U17, U18, U19, nor U21 coaches as they have confidence in their development plan.

I am not sure where Dennis is, note that Martinez did take three persons with him but those guys were with him at Swansea, Wigan and Everton.  Dennis was an a valuable assistant to Martinez but not a the level of Graeme Jones.

Swansea, Wigan and Everton.

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