Messages

1

Football / Re: Thread for T&T vs El Salvador (14-Jul-2021)

« on: July 14, 2021, 06:20:27 PM »

EL sal doin what we should be trying to do, make it difficult to move d ball

I saw them press maybe twice..

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Football / Re: Thread for T&T vs El Salvador (14-Jul-2021)

« on: July 14, 2021, 06:02:34 PM »

Eves tactics have been exposed..

You cant be playing this sit back and defend football, you will lose in the long run... tt should be playing attacking football, not this rubbish

Especially against el Salvador for gods sake.. they are not mexico

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Football / Re: Thread for T&T vs El Salvador (14-Jul-2021)

« on: July 14, 2021, 05:49:51 PM »

Are we happy with having el Salvador hold possession for such long periods of time?

I mean eve was a player that was very good in the box and could dribble and pass, I dont even know if this team can build an attack from the back

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Football / Re: Thread for T&T vs Mexico (10-Jul-2021)

« on: July 14, 2021, 12:59:36 AM »

So he decided to park the bus in advance
He play Phillips and mostly defenders and was going for a draw?

We couldn't string together 7 to 10 passes and couldn't dribble out the back but it was pure boom kick and clearing from the back.. we were lucky we were not down 2 or 3 nil tbh

That is not a masterclass, thats cowardly.. purposely playing for a Draw with Mexico is not what I call good football... its like he already did not have confidence to win which sounds like classic eve weak mentality

There was nothing to enjoy about that match where tt was constantly on the back foot from the beginning.. the midfield was non existent

Lemme guess, draw with Mexico and go for wins against the other teams?

Eve just lost my vote of confidence with that BS he pull, I don't care if we drew with Mexico it was bad tactics

 
Teams play to win tournaments. Points are awarded as follows: Win - 3 points, Draw -1 point. Losses - 0 points. (I am sure you now that)
I don't know you but if you are upset because Eve played to get a point in a game where he was overmatched in quality, talent, and experience, then either you are a mad man, you must think this was a fete match, or you have some personal motive to be a critic of Angus Eve.

Are you telling me that Eve should have played an open game with a traditional 442 or 433 line up and get a 5-0 drubbing?
The result is all that matters, not foolish bravado. Live to fight another day, not how you get there.

442 if used well and executed well can be a very defensive formation tbh.. Even having one drop back behind the target man can also work..

I have absolutely nothing personal against Eve, his tactical decisions is what I'm criticizing... now keep in mind ill give it to him we were under staffed and missing some key players but we also almost paid big time for his unorthodox approach..

It could have easily been two goals to nil for us.. Mexico 🇲🇽 had so many opportunities... I don't think we would have got 5 with the 442, it depends who's the holding mid for example... His non selection of Poon would have fixed that 442 formation for example if he had been selected..

I'm happy we got lucky but do I like what I saw, do I promote that type of football, NO I don't, its not something I support..

5

Football / Re: Thread for T&T vs Mexico (10-Jul-2021)

« on: July 11, 2021, 10:26:08 PM »

Those criticising the tactics and comparing it to the back to back draws when SH was in charge are clueless about football.
We were coming up against a team that would have scouted us; lots of our players were unattached, lots in lower leagues; short of vital match fitness, and fatigued after the games vs FG Montserrat compared to Mexico.
He surprised them with his tactics, formation and personnel. You could see them trying to deliberately breakdown our right back Jones. Again the either saw him as a weak link based on their scouting or their strong side. We defended and they couldn't beat us to high balls over the top, we were taller than them, they play their balls on the pitch and try to break the lines. They couldn't get through the lines as if was so congested so the tried to pull it back and have a shot but MP was brilliant.
I was surprised in the 2nd half that they didn't try anything different and then Eve hit them by bringing in fresher legs and changed the system again to hit them on the counterattack. It almost worked too but Moore lost his composure.
Then guys executed the game plan brilliantly and played with pride and heart.
Big up allyuh self fellas. Well done!

He took a huge risk mind you... it worked out with the grace of god..

It could have gone very wrong mind you.. everyone who knows football knew what he did, it was creative and very risky, I give eve that, he had the belly to do it and hes better than Fenwick by miles but it was still poor tactics

Defend defend defend is not the best football, if you watched the England match today, that's what happens to teams that defend and hold very little possession..

All we did was defend and yes there was 2 opportunities but we were lucky it wasnt 2 nil or 3 nil

So yeah I know football very well and what he did wasnt the best tactics and I dont support a move like that going forward

6

Football / Re: Lincoln ‘Tiger’ Phillips Thread

« on: July 11, 2021, 12:42:14 AM »

Lincoln Phillips appointed Ambassador of TTFA’s North America Talent Identification Programme.
TTFA Media.

The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association is pleased to announce the appointment of Lincoln Phillips to the position of Ambassador of the North America Talent Identification and Player Pool Programme (TIPP).

Phillips is a former outstanding goalkeeper for Trinidad and Tobago and a past Technical Director of the TTFA.

As TIPP Ambassador  Phillips’ duties will include:

– Improve public awareness and familiarity with the North America programme (TIPP) and it’s mission.

– Represent TIPP programme at events

– Assist recruitment of players to represent Trinidad and Tobago instead of another country.

– Communicate the value of the programme and what it means for a player to represent his/her national team.

– Work closely with the TIPP Directors.

– Build rapport with future scouts and assist in increasing TIPP’s scout pool.

– Maintain a positive image of the TTFA and TIPP programme at all times.

We are proud to have you once again formally associated with our country’s football and look forward to working with you.

In an immediate response to the appointment, Phillips commented, “I am delighted to be an ambassador for my country. I accept the offer and pledge to do my best to see Trinidad and Tobago get back on track.”

Phillips’ appointment follows that of Shaka Hislop as TTFA Ambassador which was announced in December.

“We are indeed pleased that Lincoln Phillips has accepted our offer to be appointed as an Ambassador for our Talent Identification and Player Pool programme,” TTFA President William Wallace said.

“He has a wealth of knowledge and experience and is highly regarded in the region, particularly North America where he continues to play an active role in the sport.  We certainly look forward to his contributions and advice as we set out on discovering new talent and recruiting players to represent our country through this programme which has already begun to bring positives with the additions of a few players to our Under 20 Women’s Team.”

Keith Look Loy, chairman of the TTFA Technical Committee, added, “There could be no better ambassador for Trinidad and Tobago football and for TTFA’s scouting programme in North America than Lincoln Phillips. His personal and football history are rooted in both our country and in the USA. He exploits on and off the field over the course of his lifetime bring instant credibility and status to TIPP. And his willingness to associate with our initiative is further evidence that we are on the correct path.”

Phillips who played in the North American Soccer League (NASL) and was head coach of Howard University’s NCAA Championship teams of 1971 & 1974,was recently presented with the  2020 Walt Chyzowych Lifetime Achievement Award.

Phillips won a Bronze Medal in the 1967 Pan-American Games with T&T and was once named the “Most Outstanding Goalkeeper in the Caribbean” and Trinidad & Tobago’s “Goalkeeper of the Century”.

In the area of great soccer camps in America, “The Lincoln Phillips Soccer School” (1975-2004) produced many US National Youth Team players while others went on to receive scholarships and play at top Universities. Lincoln’s “Top- Flight Goalkeeping Academy” produced some of the nation’s top goalkeepers and goalkeeping coaches. Among those influenced by Phillip’s coaching include United Soccer Coaches Honor Award recipient Mike Curry, former MLS goalkeeper Zack Thornton and current US Military Academy Head Coach Russel Payne.

Phillips was also appointed a  FIFA Goalkeeper Instructor (1995-96) conducting coaching clinics and workshops for FIFA in the Caribbean and Asia.

(Walt Chyzowych was the first U.S. Soccer Federation’s director of coaching, he designed the coaching and licensing programs, to educate and train aspiring coaches, which are still in use throughout the country.He coached the United States’ World Cup, Olympic and Pan American Games teams, a handful of the country’s national youth teams and was instrumental in bringing the 1994 World Cup to the United States.)

Congrats to Lincoln on this the only issue is Taylor is not a notable screenwriter so they will need a strong director in order to really keep the story strong on screen...

Taylor is more of a producer and hasn't done anything that warrants writing this script which needs a powerful base..

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Football / Re: Thread for T&T vs Mexico (10-Jul-2021)

« on: July 11, 2021, 12:33:13 AM »

I would like to really hear Seekers analysis on this tbh

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Football / Re: Thread for T&T vs Mexico (10-Jul-2021)

« on: July 11, 2021, 12:27:08 AM »

So he decided to park the bus in advance
He play Phillips and mostly defenders and was going for a draw?

We couldn't string together 7 to 10 passes and couldn't dribble out the back but it was pure boom kick and clearing from the back.. we were lucky we were not down 2 or 3 nil tbh

That is not a masterclass, thats cowardly.. purposely playing for a Draw with Mexico is not what I call good football... its like he already did not have confidence to win which sounds like classic eve weak mentality

There was nothing to enjoy about that match where tt was constantly on the back foot from the beginning.. the midfield was non existent

Lemme guess, draw with Mexico and go for wins against the other teams?

Eve just lost my vote of confidence with that BS he pull, I don't care if we drew with Mexico it was bad tactics

9

Football / Re: Thread for T&T vs Montserrat Game (2-July-2021)

« on: July 03, 2021, 06:47:50 PM »

Moore has potential.. he played well, never seen him play before tbh
I think eve should call up Cummings tbh, he will be a great addition to this squad..

Eves coaching was better than both DL and Fenwick..

Will wait to see how they perform against better opposition but its a decent start for Eve and the team compared to what we have been seeing ...

agree with the tempered outlook. i like how frederup, telfer, aubrey & moore played. without molino to put the team on a solid footing in the 1st half i think they would have struggled. the minutes under the belt  made for a generally more fluid 2nd half showing. wasn't a complex enough game to see change in tactics or anything, so can't praise or blame eve yet. i think he try a few guys who --moore worked well, but i didn't like peters, russel jr or marcus joseph. i still wanting to see jesse williams encouraged, as better than others chosen. good outing, but i hope the favorites talk isn't true and we don't continue to see men who visably don't have the gc levels

Molino broke the ice.. however I felt like we are missing Poon in that mid tbh

Too early to judge Eve on tactics and coaching bc he hasn't faced a stern test yet.. club to national is a different ball game but his subs were much better than Fenwick and DL..

Players missing for me was Poon and hopefully Cummings..

Eve has his favorites I've heard which to me is not good for national football but we will see.. FG he gets another chance to show what he can do.. Moore is a nice surprise and I think Cummings spoke about another player who DL left off who's talented enough to make the sr team..

I've never really seen Joseph impress me tbh, he's a decent player, and I agree with you, GC level players need to be on the team, curry favor is the worse thing about our football and selection

10

Football / Re: Thread for T&T vs Montserrat Game (2-July-2021)

« on: July 03, 2021, 06:41:37 PM »

Moore has potential.. he played well, never seen him play before tbh

His first was the pick of the goals for me. Commentator noted how hard he hit the brakes on the cutback.
Montserrat back line was criminal not following our runs for those passes in behind. They were playing quite a high line. But, if they refuse to adjust daiz dey bizness.
Anybody have a scouting report for FG?

Definitely the best goal for me tbh he had great control of the ball in the box

High risk football and they didn't cover, especially with forwards with good pace, you're gambling not making adjustments definitely

Don't know anything about FG... Tallman might know

11

Football / Re: Thread for T&T vs Montserrat Game (2-July-2021)

« on: July 03, 2021, 06:37:56 PM »

Moore has potential.. he played well, never seen him play before tbh
I think eve should call up Cummings tbh, he will be a great addition to this squad..

Eves coaching was better than both DL and Fenwick..

Will wait to see how they perform against better opposition but its a decent start for Eve and the team compared to what we have been seeing ...

maybe if you took the time to visit the forum and read a bit instead inciting conspiracies theories then you wouldn’t be invoking cummings, cause you would have known that cummings is under a doctor’s care ATM and is waiting for further testing to be cleared to play again. In addition he has already contacted angus and has agreed that as soon as he is cleared he will be part of the team, ok. so no more cummings being pushed aside marching band, he’s in the team if or when he’s cleared.

Why so argumentative in tone brother? 

A simple Cummings waiting for results would suffice..

Been busy, after the whole Fenwick thing I had to take a break from the bullshit, plus I'm in post for my movie I shot in Morocco  🇲🇦

Hope Cummings is cleared and thats good news he will be a part of the plans going forward..

12

Football / Re: Thread for T&T vs Montserrat Game (2-July-2021)

« on: July 03, 2021, 01:54:51 PM »

Moore has potential.. he played well, never seen him play before tbh
I think eve should call up Cummings tbh, he will be a great addition to this squad..

Eves coaching was better than both DL and Fenwick..

Will wait to see how they perform against better opposition but its a decent start for Eve and the team compared to what we have been seeing ...

13

Football / Re: Keron Cummings Thread.

« on: June 25, 2021, 02:06:09 PM »

‘I will be back!’ ‘Ball Pest’ Cummings on his football education, silencing Mexico, and his international exile.
By Lasana Liburd (Wired868).

“I will be back on the pitch soon,” said Terminix La Horquetta Rangers playmaker and ex-Trinidad and Tobago international star Keron ‘Ball Pest’ Cummings. “So I hope Mr [Angus] Eve keeps a place open for me!”

Cummings was not among the 60 players selected by Men’s National Senior Team interim head coach Angus Eve in his provisional squad for next month’s Concacaf Gold Cup. And the omission followed his non-appearance at the Concacaf Futsal Championship in May, after a medical scare.

But the gifted 33-year-old maestro assured his fans that it is just a temporary hiccup.

Four days before the National Futsal Team’s departure to Guatemala, the players had a pre-tournament physical check-up inclusive of an ECG scan. On the eve of their flight, the results returned with a note of concern for the attacker.

Cummings and team doctor Dr Akash Dhanai immediately headed to see a specialist, but there was not sufficient time for the athlete to be cleared before the team travelled.

“They said my heart is large but they also said that is a normal thing for sportsmen,” said Cummings. “But for them to give me clearance, I needed to do a stress test first—and it was Sunday night and it would be 48 hours for me to get back the result. If I did that, I would not have been able to leave with the team.

“[…] The coach asked me to still travel with the team to help motivate the players, because of my seniority in the squad. So I went and said I would do the stress test when I get back.”

On his return, though, Cummings found a public health sector reeling from a surge in Covid-19 cases. More than a month later, he is still waiting for his medical appointment. He expressed gratitude for the Robert Hadad-led Fifa-appointed normalisation committee, which is helping him to navigate the health system.

A National Futsal Team technical staff member, who preferred to remain anonymous, confirmed Cummings’ account of the doctor’s visit in May.

“I went with Cummings and it is true that they told us that what they saw was not abnormal for athletes,” he said, “but they still wanted to rule out the possibility that it might be something serious. I think they wanted to be sure he wasn’t the one in a million case like [Denmark and Inter Milan midfielder Christian] Eriksen.

“[…] The advice at that time [from the cardiologist] was he could not authorise him until he did a stress test, a MRI of the heart, and a third thing that I cannot recall at the time, which would rule out the possibility of a particular condition. Those tests would have been able to confirm that it was just a case of him having that size heart-wall because he is an athlete.

“[…] It definitely is not a case where he can’t play anymore.”

Trinidad and Tobago football fans could breathe a bit easier then. Whether they will get to see him in national colours again is a different story. But, before we get there, it might be instructive to understand why this left footed maestro became such a cult figure in the first place.

Cummings’ entire national senior team career so far adds up to just seven starts and nine substitute appearances with three goals. He has made only one appearance more than forward Trevin Caesar and one less than left back Triston Hodge, who can hardly claim to have established themselves at that level.

But Cummings feels different.

Trinidad and Tobago have never lost a competitive match with Cummings on the field. And before you sniff suspiciously at those stats, his appearances comprise fixtures against: Cuba, Mexico, Panama, Guatemala, and the United States—only the final outing was played on home soil.

(Trinidad and Tobago lost on penalties to Panama in the 2015 Gold Cup quarterfinal fixture, but Fifa records games decided by penalties as drawn—even though the loser goes home.)

His three goals came in two matches against Mexico: a double in a thrilling 4-4 group stage tie, and then a single item in the rematch, which ended 3-3.

Cummings’ last competitive international appearance was also the last occasion in which the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) had anything resembling a sell-out crowd, as over 20,000 patrons watched the Soca Warriors play to a goalless draw against the United States on 17 November 2015—with thousands more forced to leave the venue, due to poor management of the gates and unholy lines.

But let’s go further back still to the birth of ‘Ball Pest’, near his home in Simeon Road, Petit Valley.

As a boy, Cummings would slip outside and down to the nearest recreation ground to watch minor league action at night. And, as the teams caught a breather during the intermission, he was one of several children who would snatch a ball and run on to the field—pretending to be football stars themselves.

“During half-time, I would take the ball and try to dribble everybody who would come out with me,” he said. “I remember a man there told me one night: ‘come off the field nah boy, you’re a pest eh!’ And it went from there to them calling me a ‘ball pest. And the nickname just stuck.”

Cummings played Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) competition with a talented East Mucurapo Secondary team that included Khaleem Hyland, Tyrone Charles, Ataulla Guerra, and Richard ‘Shaka’ Roy, who all went on to win national senior team caps. Current Soca Warriors stars Kevin Molino and Joevin Jones were two younger members of that school team.

The Mucurapo stand-outs were not short of offers from Pro League clubs. Cummings chose W Connection in Couva.

“I was the only Port of Spain player there at the time,” he said, “and that was when they had all the Brazilians, like Gefferson Goulart and them.”

While Hyland went straight into the San Juan Jabloteh first team under then coach Terry Fenwick and won a professional contract in Belgium before his 20th birthday, Cummings’ rise was slower.

“For a young player in Connection at that time, it was hard to get into the team and I had to wait my turn,” he said. “But I think that’s the club where I learnt the most about professional football. From the Brazilians in particular, I learnt about professionalism, about developing your technique, and the sacrifice you have to put in for the game.

“At the time, we were travelling a lot and playing in the Caribbean Championship and so on. It was exciting and a really good opportunity for me.”

By then, Cummings already knew how he wanted to play. He offered a clue when asked to name his favourite player.

“I can’t name one favourite player—I have to name four,” he said. “My four favourite players are Ron La Forest, Russell Latapy, Kerwin Jemmott, and Nigel Pierre. I love technical players!

“[…] The game has changed now and it is just about energy. But before it was what you could bring to the table with your touch.”

North East Stars, rather than W Connection, finally unleashed Cummings on the Pro League. And there was plenty to appreciate about the slim ball handler with dancing feet and a booming left foot shot that could extend goalkeepers from almost any distance.

Eve, who was Stars’ head coach at the time, is not the type to encourage ball possession just for the sake of it, though. Cummings was a playmaker who relished attackers running off of him to create passing angles. Instead, Eve stuck him upfront as a ‘false 9’ and challenged him to become a finisher.

“Eve for me is one of the coaches who knows how to get the best out of you,” said Cummings. “He takes you out of your comfort zone. I was a creator before; it was not that I couldn’t finish but my game was built around trying to create for others. He brought out the goal scorer in me, by teaching me how to play with my back turned [to the opposing defence].

“One of my most exciting times as a player was with Eve playing me on top as a false nine.”

As it turned out, then National Senior Team head coach Stephen Hart was looking for just that sort of player, as Molino was out with a serious knee injury.

In June 2015, Hart selected Cummings for the first time in his provisional squad, just weeks before the July Gold Cup. Initially, he was back-up to Guerra—remarkably, all three Trinidad and Tobago ‘number 10s’ at the time were former Mucurapo teammates.

However, while Molino perfected the role of an advanced midfielder, playing in tandem with giant, talismanic centre-forward Kenwyne Jones, Guerra was often unwilling to follow suit. Instead Guerra preferred to drop deep or slide to the side of the field in search of a pass to feet.

Cummings, thanks to his new role at Stars, was a natural fit.

His first game under Hart was a 3-0 loss away to Jordan, after which the coach criticised the players for an ‘awful’ showing. Cummings said they were just jet-lagged. A few days later, they managed a 1-0 win over Haiti in a scrimmage before entering the competition.

“For the Jordan game, I feel after the hours we spent travelling we didn’t get to settle in so we could play properly,” said Cummings. “But for me when I got to see the level of those teams, I knew I could compete. Against Haiti too, I realised that these teams are beatable. They are not more talented than us; they just work hard and are a bit more focused.

“Once we applied ourselves, we could get a good result.”

Cummings was an unused substitute in Trinidad and Tobago’s Gold Cup opener, which was an impressive 3-1 win over Guatemala. But Guerra did not distinguish himself and was replaced by forward Willis Plaza in the 62nd minute.

In the second outing, the Warriors defeated Cuba 2-0 with both goals in the first half. Again, Guerra came off after just over an hour. On this occasion, Cummings replaced him.

For the final group match, the Warriors led Group C by two points and facing a Mexico team that were not used to being runners-up to Caribbean opposition.

With nearly 56,000 partisan Mexico supporters at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, Hart decided the time was right to give the then 27-year-old ‘Ball Pest’ his first international start.

“[Hart] said he wanted me to stay close to Kenwyne Jones to feed off the second balls,” said Cummings. “He kept stressing to me ‘stay close to Kenwyne and the chances will come’, and that is exactly what happened in the game.”

Mexico, as expected, went ahead through an opportunistic far post finish by Paul Aguilar in the 31st minute. Ex-Arsenal forward Carlos Vela put ‘El Tricolour’ two goals clear in the 51st minute with a fine solo effort, after a wayward pass by Jones (K).

But then the Warriors tore up the script. Jones (K) got a chance to run at the Mexican defence and played a square pass to Cummings who was at his side—just as Hart instructed—to tuck past the opposing goalkeeper.

Cummings was involved in the equaliser too, three minutes later, as he released Cordell Cato down the right flank and his cross was steered home by Jones (K). Then, in the 66th minute, Trinidad and Tobago scored the type or route one goal that was only possible with the big forward.

Jones (K) chested down an Aubrey David long throw and Cummings beat Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa with a sublime angled shot into the far corner.

The Warriors were ahead 3-2!

There would be three more goals in the last six minutes of the breathless affair, with defender Yohance Marshall tying the scores at 4-4 with a memorable stoppage time header off a Jones (J) corner kick.

Cummings was the only outfield Trinidad and Tobago-based player in Hart’s starting team that evening; and if that didn’t matter to you, it sure did for him.

“Honestly speaking, I don’t fear no player—I respect players for what they bring to the table, but I don’t fear any player at all,” said Cummings, after brushing shoulders with the likes of Giovani Dos Santos, Herrera, Andres Guardado and Vela on his full international debut. “[…] I wanted to do well for my people back home, to let them know I am representing them. I was also representing the local players in the Pro League.

“Many times, you don’t get a fair chance when you are fighting for your place against the foreign-based players. I wanted to show that the local-based players are people to respect too!”

In the Gold Cup quarterfinal, Phillip saved two penalties while a Panamanian kicker skied a third. However, Sheldon Bateau, Jones (J) and Daneil Cyrus all failed to score from the spot as the Warriors were eliminated on penalties.

Mexico went on to win the 2015 Gold Cup. But they were not done with the Warriors yet. The Mexican Football Federation (FMF) rang the TTFA and proposed a return match on 4 September, at altitude in Salt Lake City, to see if Trinidad and Tobago could match them a second time.

“I had an abscess in my mouth and I remember Hart saying: ‘Cummings, you sure you could play with your mouth swell up?’” said Cummings. “And I said it is not if I want to play; I have to play! Plenty people were saying it was a fluke. It was the greatest game in the history of the Gold Cup and people thought we couldn’t do it again.

“I wanted to show them!”

The Warriors were ahead after just seven minutes as Cummings dribbled between two opponents and his right footed shot deflected off a Mexican defender and looped into the air, before being headed in by forward Jonathan Glenn.

And, six minutes before halftime, Cummings doubled T&T’s lead with a close range finish after flanker Lester Peltier stole the ball from the dozy opposing left back.

This time, Mexico were the ones who had to claw their way back; and they did. Jones (J) scored a second half free kick but the game finished 3-3.

Cummings was wearing number 20, but the ‘number 10’ role—at least in Molino’s absence—was his. He played for 90 minutes in a 2-1 friendly win away to Panama, as the Warriors continued to defy the Concacaf’s top nations.

Then, Orlando City offered him the chance to play alongside Molino for the Major League Soccer (MLS) club.

“I was training with them and it was going well,” said Cummings. “They wanted me to stay with the team so I could fit in with their players, and they would sign me for the next season. But then we had the game coming up against America.

“So far, all my games for my country were away and I didn’t feel the people in Trinidad really saw the level I was playing at. I mean they saw me on tv but it is always better to see someone live. So I asked [Orlando] to let me come home.”

Cummings played from the start in a 2-1 World Cup qualifying win over Guatemala in Guatemala City on Friday 13 November. And, with Hart starting a slightly more conservative line-up against USA on Tuesday 17 November at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, the attacker featured for just the closing 10 minutes in a goalless draw.

He was still in Trinidad, biding his time to return to Orlando and become a MLS player when he went to a boat cruise put on by a Pro League colleague.

“After two months outside and hardly doing anything, we decide we will take a little go out,” he said.

Cummings was shot in the leg by an unnamed assailant after the party, just outside his home, on the morning of Sunday 27 December. By the time he recovered fully, Hart had been sacked while the Orlando City offer was a distant memory.

His international heyday lasted just six months, between June and November 2015.

He got two subsequent caps as a substitute for Lawrence against Barbados and Grenada in 2017. But he never felt the former World Cup 2006 hero had confidence in him.

“I had a good Gold Cup and then I had an unfortunate injury—and after that you don’t see Cummings again,” he said. “It was the same for Ataulla [Guerra]. You keep asking yourself, if you were getting success with something and the players are still there; how can you turn away from that and pretend that there aren’t people to do the job, even when you’re losing games?

“I remember when [Tom] Saintfiet was here and Tyrone [Charles] got picked. He was playing amongst the foreign-based players and showing form. Then a new coach comes (Lawrence) and you don’t see Tyrone again; and you ask yourself why are you not seeing Tyrone?

“There are local players who have the ability to do well and are not getting a fair chance. Football is not forever [and they are denying us our opportunity].”

He slammed Lawrence’s decision to leave him out of the national squad for the remainder of Trinidad and Tobago’s 2018 World Cup campaign, the 2019 Gold Cup, and the 2019 Concacaf Nations League. The Warriors finished bottom of the table in all three competitions.

“You saw me play [for Central FC] against ‘Army’ in the [2018] First Citizens Cup final,” said Cummings. “Did I look like I had lost it to you? Can a man in bad shape play like that?!

“A coach can give any excuse and say anything in the press and people will just go with it. That’s unfair.”

Cummings left Central for Terminix La Horquetta Rangers in 2019. The style of play there—Rangers play a direct game at high speed—is not tailor-made for the silky playmaker, but he found a way to fit in.

He hopes Rangers provide him with a launchpad to return to the national team.

As Rangers managing director Richard Ferguson and then Warriors head coach Terry Fenwick butted heads over the national team’s training schedule, with the former refusing to release his players, Cummings turned temporarily to Futsal.

National Futsal Team manager Nigel Roberts said he is still heartbroken that Cummings could not play. He suggested that American coach Constantine Konstin’s decision to take him as a non-playing team member was a master stroke, though.

“Cummings played an invaluable role for us at the Futsal Championship,” he said. “I never knew he had that side to him. He has such a calm demeanour and he is very analytical, and also assertive when he needs to be. Whether it was in the hotel, at training, or on the field, he was excellent with the players and they responded to him.

“Had he been able to play though, it would have been a different story. We were depending on him to make a difference on the court, but if we didn’t carry him at all it would have been a huge disadvantage.”

Cummings, he said, would make an excellent coach in the future. But the player still believes he can have more glorious adventures on the field.

“I have goals that I still want to achieve,” he said. “I’ve never stopped training. The doctor said I can do fitness work at 70 percent, so I keep doing work. I am looking forward to getting back on the team.

“[…] My ambition is to get back on the pitch as soon as possible and compete for a pick with Mr Eve. He asked me about the health scare and he knows I am waiting to do the medical tests. He said once I get the clearance, I can compete for a pick.”

At 33, it might seem unlikely that Cummings can reclaim his international place—after six years in the wilderness. But then Mexico might have thought they had nothing to worry about with a 27-year-old debutant who was still a Pro League player.

And we all know how that went.

The Simeon Road kid dismissed any suggestion that his international career was over. Ball Pest has no intention of being chased off the football field.

Watch Keron Cummings - T&T international - July 2018 amazing match First Citizens Cup

Watch Mexico vs. Trinidad and Tobago - 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup Highlights

Watch MEXICO VS TRINIDAD Y TOBAGO 3 - 3 AMISTOSO 2015 Resumen

Like I said before, Lawrence didnt want to win, he saw Kerron and left him off the squad.. right there is sabotage

14

Football / Re: Thread for T&T vs St Kitts & Nevis Games (8-Jun-2021)

« on: May 14, 2021, 12:59:29 PM »

Perfect opportunity for Cummings to be inserted into the lineup if his club will allow him

15

Football / Re: Robert Hadad Thread

« on: May 02, 2021, 10:49:48 AM »

This is what TT gets for selling out and throwing look Loy under the bus...

16

Football / Re: FIFA Ranking Thread.

« on: April 11, 2021, 11:55:28 PM »

Not one African team in there and never a caribbean team..

That alone should tell both regions they need to break away ... no progress

17

Football / Re: Levi Garcia Thread

« on: April 08, 2021, 11:44:20 AM »

Another club player in the making?

Definitely not country. He make a man from Puerto Rico manhandle him for 90mins..... a baseball country handling a man playing in Europe top league for de entire game.

 

Up to now, Fenwick and Lawrence haven’t used Levi properly yet, so I disagree strongly with you....

18

Football / Re: Keron Cummings Thread.

« on: April 07, 2021, 12:10:09 AM »

This player is a baller.

Always interesting to hear players reflecting on aspects of their game that they had previously neglected.

At this stage of the proceedings, I wouldn't think twice about Cummings. Bring him! He's a weapon. No pun intended.

He's also a rhythm player.

Exactly but Cummings don’t want to burn his bridge with his club from what I’ve read above

19

Football / Re: Keron Cummings Thread.

« on: April 07, 2021, 12:08:59 AM »

We could use Kerron in that midfield presently

Curious why he wasn’t even selected

where have you been mate? the la horqetta rangers owner did not release his players to train with the national team so fenwick moved on, can't say that i blame him. i think i heard that just before the team was getting ready to leave for the DR mr ferguson was in a war of words with terry over him not selecting his players, then he challenged terry to a match citing if terry won he would give the national team $100,000.

some how i can't get past the childishness of these local trinidadians who hold some influence on that big stone in the atlantic, it's always some rigmarole over the smallest things and in the end it's only the innocent who gets hurt. that is why we languish on the bottom of every sport discipline, these jokers always put their self interest to the fore front and ignore their responsibilities to the nation. you already know the deal.

Yeah I missed that, the ttfa should have taken the 100k and played the match but Fenwick is afraid to lose..

And in the process Kerron gets left off the team, but we have never played with a full strength team in a while, or our best players.

Plenty egos in TT and little consideration for the players and our football

20

Football / Re: Keron Cummings Thread.

« on: April 06, 2021, 01:02:26 AM »

We could use Kerron in that midfield presently

Curious why he wasn’t even selected

21

Football / Re: Judah Garcia Thread.

« on: April 04, 2021, 11:52:54 PM »

I guess beatsing is a strong tradition in the garcia family.

It used to be a strong tradition in the "Trinidad & Tobago" family. But sadly, instead of it being honed and used effectively, it seems to have been discouraged by some European clubs.

When fourmites talk about the Trini brand, beatsin' is a great part of our DNA, and part of what they intend to retain.

Well the easiest way to dumb something down and make it easier to play, is getting rid of the flair and creativity in order to level the playing field

22

Football / Re: Terry Fenwick Thread.

« on: April 04, 2021, 11:50:12 PM »

Sometimes I wonder if/when Non TTians read this site, they might think TT and football is the worse ppl and attitudes in the world. I won’t bother to grab quotes to show what causes me to think so. I know better, and I don’t wish no noise or debate. It’s just a thought.

The truth hurts maxg, but we have squandered and undermined and thrown away many opportunities, destroyed careers and there is no unity

Plus they support sellouts on top of that that ruins our chances and local football

So per capita I would say yes it’s by far one of the worst in the world... 

23

Football / Re: Terry Fenwick Thread.

« on: April 04, 2021, 11:46:36 PM »

This is mostly true, but we will always fight an up hill battle as what clubs in their right mind send scouts to our region? We've got a collective population similar to Argentina in the Caribbean but with significantly higher costs of travel, worse infrastructure, worse coaching coaching poor FAs. Our players often go abroad via the US, random agents, and optimistic flights abroad for a trial.

Prior to the pandemic, scouts went everywhere.  Besides....technology rendered much of that travel moot.  If you’re good.....word gets around.  Teams are ALWAYS literally scouring the earth looking for talent.  The Caribbean is no exception.

We’re just not good enough.  Which is interesting because I’ve heard the perception is players from the Caribbean are athletic, strong, and quick.  Characteristics they look for in modern football.

Competition is more stiff today than in Dwight Yorke days......and he was an anomaly. 

Today de yute from Maloney Gardens in competition with yutes from Nigeria, Ghana, Japan, etc.  Not easy.


As for Mexico....the Mexican league is considered an elite foreign league.  At least on par with MLS

Scouts everywhere... but the Caribbean and Oceania. There's a reason it took so long for Joevin Jones and our other players to get discovered. Foreign scouts rarely visit.

Players typically get opportunities overseas through the small number of agents active in the region, or because some team has a Trini/Carib player and takes a chance on their recommendations. When we do well internationally also helps - Yohance Marshall stopping Leonel Messi from 8 yards helped kick off a spate of Central American transfers for example.

Technology hasn't helped us as so few of the FAs actuallly stream games, let alone get accurate stats. It's the biggest issue and one I highlighted 7 years ago (after attending a confidential briefing from Man City's scouting department as part of Football Manager) - the big clubs need that appearance/goals data to run through their software. We can't even get reliable lineups for our games. Global soccer Database have partnered with the National Super League and that has hleped immesurably, but the Pro League is still a total load of crap when it comes to that. How many games did Joevin play in 2012 for W Connection? I can find out how much some random player playing in the 7th tier of English football played in 2009, but we have basically no figures for our top flight.

And what good does that do us if no games are streamed or available to watch? No scouting software has access to our local games, so why would scouts spend several thousands of pounds on the off chance someone's decent here? Scouting in person is mostly the last stage - scouts will see a player in person between 2 and 8 times, but the head of scouting or someone who makes the final decision will see them only once. I'm telling you from personal experience and contacts in the game - it's bloody difficult to know if a Trini player is good or flattering to deceive from outside Trinidad.

I don't buy into the "athletic, strong ,quick" vibe, it's usually a cover for racist attitudes towards black players that have existed for decades. Any country can produce players with those attributes (just think about how many countries, mostly black-majority, this type of stereotype applies to), just check the athletics track - smacks of the old failures highlighed by "Moneyball". One of our advantages is that our youth are blooded in competitive football young and have some of the competitive drives that other nations sorely lack, but often this advantage tapers off as they get old. Unless players leave to get full-time professional coaching this potential dies on the vine, as has happened so many times (Ross Russel Jr., Cyrus, Joevin Jones and Devon Jorsling to an extent off the top of my head).

Competition from abroad would be a non-factor if our youth had a competitive game to develop in domestically, with full time coaches and a full-time job. Even without the English players, Jamaica has been better than us for years now and it's becoming embarassing just how much they have progressed despite the shit-show that their local FA is.

Pro league was streaming games, I had a meeting I believe prior to 2006 to suggest it but the stats are not available nor any real database

But many great points here and a great post.. how can you scout players if you can’t see them, my friend who’s a scout in London was asking but really it was mainly word of mouth and he cant go by that...

24

Football / Re: Terry Fenwick Thread.

« on: April 04, 2021, 11:14:10 AM »

Bear in mind, there is NO domestic football.

THIS 🤞🏾

Beyond that.....no domestic football for over a year.

We delude ourselves into thinking we have this abundance of football talent in T&T.

If that were truly the case, wouldn’t others recognize it and sign them to contracts?

There’s a reason that other than Levi Garcia, not a single one of our players Under 23 have been picked up by an elite foreign club.

There is an abundance of talent locally, but why play in a catch ass league where you have the dictator as one of the big fish?

Where is the incentive to play local football? There is none, you cannot support your family. TT have too much talent and it’s going to waste because the govt, private sector and football admin is the worse thing ever...

No money, no support and plenty of fight down

Plus most of these local coaches can’t identify talent properly ...

25

Football / Re: Terry Fenwick Thread.

« on: April 02, 2021, 11:49:46 PM »

From what I've seen....Fenwick brings a lot of perspiration but little organization or structure.

He wants intensity, deep pressing, hustle, from his teams.   These are good things.

He doesn't seem however to be able to have any sort of organisation or structure in any third of the field.   He eschews the technical in favour of effort and graft.

In other words....what you would expect of a stereotypical English coach.

I agree somewhat, he's a self proclaimed admirer of Terry Venables.
Plus all Bertille St. Clair's team played like that. The structure to them was secondary to man management, pace, power, pressing and supreme fitness. If you listen to the Burdie and Barney podcast when asked about his preferred formation he Bertille couldn't say. He said something akin to Get it, Give it and something else is his philosophy.
Marcelo Bielsa  uses a similar idea everywhere he goes and now at Leeds. He loves a 4-3-3 formation with a high, relentless press.
Look at what Terry did when he came to TnT, he shook up the whole league with that style.
If Terry gets the players with that level of fitness he can impress i think but I believe it's a tough one with the national team at the minute.
Fingers crossed

Yeah but does that style of football fit our players and will it produce results for us?

Last time I checked, Leeds placed out of the top 10 ...

This just clearly shows you know little to nothing about football.
Mate, you come on here just spouting bile at everyone if they have a different opinion to you.
Yet you don't know that Leeds was only promoted to the Premier League after 16 years in the Championship and League 1 in the current 2020/2021 season
So you are dead wrong that they "placed out of the top 10", when in fact this is just there 1st season back and they are currently 11th in the table with 9 games to go. This is a great standing for any newly promoted team especially one with no big money spends.
Under Bielsa they play an a stereotypical attacking brand with a high press all synonymous with him.
Hart isn't coming back, get over it!

So because you are following Leeds more intently than I am means you know more about football than I do 

Yes I know they were promoted but even with 9 games left they are not finishing in the top 3 and Fenwick is not implementing the brand of football that Bielsa is trying to implement... Nor are we seeing our team play well in this formation under his coaching, and no I am not advocating for Hart fool..

It’s called comparing and analyzing how previous coaches used our players compared to the current coach.

Here’s a deeper question for you, did we succeed under the 433 at anytime under Lawrence or Hart? In the gold cup under Hart what was our most successful formation? If you really want to talk formations

26

Football / Re: Terry Fenwick Thread.

« on: April 01, 2021, 02:46:51 PM »

From what I've seen....Fenwick brings a lot of perspiration but little organization or structure.

He wants intensity, deep pressing, hustle, from his teams.   These are good things.

He doesn't seem however to be able to have any sort of organisation or structure in any third of the field.   He eschews the technical in favour of effort and graft.

In other words....what you would expect of a stereotypical English coach.

I agree somewhat, he's a self proclaimed admirer of Terry Venables.
Plus all Bertille St. Clair's team played like that. The structure to them was secondary to man management, pace, power, pressing and supreme fitness. If you listen to the Burdie and Barney podcast when asked about his preferred formation he Bertille couldn't say. He said something akin to Get it, Give it and something else is his philosophy.
Marcelo Bielsa  uses a similar idea everywhere he goes and now at Leeds. He loves a 4-3-3 formation with a high, relentless press.
Look at what Terry did when he came to TnT, he shook up the whole league with that style.
If Terry gets the players with that level of fitness he can impress i think but I believe it's a tough one with the national team at the minute.
Fingers crossed

Yeah but does that style of football fit our players and will it produce results for us?

Last time I checked, Leeds placed out of the top 10 ...

what style do we have in TT oh looney one? I’m really tired of hearing “our style of football” which is what exactly, run dow the flank and try to beat The Whole defense while losing possession in the process? or is it get the ball in the box and kick as hard as you can when the opportunity presents its self?

I watch a lot of these local players and IMO they are quite predictable. In the game of football you have to out play your opponents in every which way, it also includes rapid ball movement in the final third. it’s not always about shooting at goal the first chance you get, sometimes you have to look for the open man and getting a few touches in discombobulating the defense and the keeper which opens up gaps for better scoring opportunities.

 I guess what I meant to say is that our players for the most part are one dimensional, and they need to be a little more cheeky and a little less obvious. I hope I didn’t lose you.

You tend to go to extremes I notice, TT has always had a strong creative mid which is absent in this team. No creativity or strong mid presence in our matches... and no it’s not one dimensional, it depends on the coach, under Hart, under beenhakker and even at times under maturana it was unpredictable creative, progressive football that was organized And had a  style to it..

So I disagree strongly

27

Football / Re: Terry Fenwick Thread.

« on: April 01, 2021, 02:41:05 PM »

From what I've seen....Fenwick brings a lot of perspiration but little organization or structure.

He wants intensity, deep pressing, hustle, from his teams.   These are good things.

He doesn't seem however to be able to have any sort of organisation or structure in any third of the field.   He eschews the technical in favour of effort and graft.

In other words....what you would expect of a stereotypical English coach.

I agree somewhat, he's a self proclaimed admirer of Terry Venables.
Plus all Bertille St. Clair's team played like that. The structure to them was secondary to man management, pace, power, pressing and supreme fitness. If you listen to the Burdie and Barney podcast when asked about his preferred formation he Bertille couldn't say. He said something akin to Get it, Give it and something else is his philosophy.
Marcelo Bielsa  uses a similar idea everywhere he goes and now at Leeds. He loves a 4-3-3 formation with a high, relentless press.
Look at what Terry did when he came to TnT, he shook up the whole league with that style.
If Terry gets the players with that level of fitness he can impress i think but I believe it's a tough one with the national team at the minute.
Fingers crossed

Yeah but does that style of football fit our players and will it produce results for us?

Last time I checked, Leeds placed out of the top 10 ...

what style do we have in TT oh looney one? I’m really tired of hearing “our style of football” which is what exactly, run dow the flank and try to beat The Whole defense while losing possession in the process? or is it get the ball in the box and kick as hard as you can when the opportunity presents its self?

I watch a lot of these local players and IMO they are quite predictable. In the game of football you have to out play your opponents in every which way, it also includes rapid ball movement in the final third. it’s not always about shooting at goal the first chance you get, sometimes you have to look for the open man and getting a few touches in discombobulating the defense and the keeper which opens up gaps for better scoring opportunities.

 I guess what I meant to say is that our players for the most part are one dimensional, and they need to be a little more cheeky and a little less obvious. I hope I didn’t lose you.

I know you’re lacking attention at home but why you always on my posts chatting a bunch of garbage that make no sense... Tallman also commented and many others about the lack of any organization in our football but your ass is quiet with those posts?

Another reason why TT struggles is bc they have hypocrites like yourself that are two faced and narcissistic that are running our country and football and trying to silence the truth seekers...

Get a life brother and go study football tactics and strategy you might actually have a constructive conversation to come back with..

I have little patience for people with low intelligence like yourself.. it’s  just wasting my time typing to you 

28

Football / Re: Fire Terry Fenwick

« on: April 01, 2021, 02:28:16 PM »

Terry might not be a mancini or a wenger but he has the lads playing organized.

   Organized?

Ah wouldn't like to see your interpretation of disorganized 

Pullstones adores Tom Saintfiet, so anything above that level is organized for Pullstones 

29

Football / Re: Fire Terry Fenwick

« on: April 01, 2021, 02:24:33 PM »

The match was winnable.

Indeed, we WERE winning despite not playing well and despite a player having a genuine opportunity to cement the proceedings to make it 2-0. Yes, there are a litany of problems in T&T football, but players do not need a coach to tell them that the clock is ticking towards the final whistle and that urgency is needed. That was a match in which our wounds were self-inflicted.

If you had said to Hyland, today you all don't have a coach, you pick an XI, go out there and WHIP Puerto Rico' s ass and btw play for pride and don't lose because we have NEVER lost to this territory, how much worse could Hyland have done? Guaranteed the job would have been done and there would have been more attempts on goal.

So essentially you are saying here that we didn’t need a coach to produce this result, the players could have won without Fenwick and coached themselves with my least favorite player, Hyland lol

Which to me Its saying, Fenwick is worthless and backs up my thread 

30

Football / Re: Terry Fenwick Thread.

« on: March 31, 2021, 11:53:33 PM »

From what I've seen....Fenwick brings a lot of perspiration but little organization or structure.

He wants intensity, deep pressing, hustle, from his teams.   These are good things.

He doesn't seem however to be able to have any sort of organisation or structure in any third of the field.   He eschews the technical in favour of effort and graft.

In other words....what you would expect of a stereotypical English coach.

I agree somewhat, he's a self proclaimed admirer of Terry Venables.
Plus all Bertille St. Clair's team played like that. The structure to them was secondary to man management, pace, power, pressing and supreme fitness. If you listen to the Burdie and Barney podcast when asked about his preferred formation he Bertille couldn't say. He said something akin to Get it, Give it and something else is his philosophy.
Marcelo Bielsa  uses a similar idea everywhere he goes and now at Leeds. He loves a 4-3-3 formation with a high, relentless press.
Look at what Terry did when he came to TnT, he shook up the whole league with that style.
If Terry gets the players with that level of fitness he can impress i think but I believe it's a tough one with the national team at the minute.
Fingers crossed

Yeah but does that style of football fit our players and will it produce results for us?

Last time I checked, Leeds placed out of the top 10 ...