Messages

91

Football / Re: Stephen Hart Thread

« on: July 04, 2023, 06:43:21 PM »

Yes I read Eve comments. In this case, it's not a Joe Shmo white man from Europe.. In this case, it is Hart, a born Trinbagonian who has proven that he can do the job.

Eve is a good man. He's tried. I think he has the potential to guide the team somewhere. I just think now isn't the time for him. The results show. But working in conjunction with Hart, might set him up for future success with the team.

Based on the current state of the TTFA, I will say this for now, if they can't get Hart, then keep Eve. If they TTFA decides to pursue another coach, I don't think they can attract anyone better than Eve.

92

Football / Re: Stephen Hart Thread

« on: July 04, 2023, 05:25:00 PM »

Someone let the cat out de bag. When stories like this comes out, there's usually an ounce of truth on both sides.

My guess is that the TTFA is considering approaching Hart. But they won't get rid of Angus with the "hope" that Hart returns. If some arrangement comes to be, I can see Angus being an assistant to Hart.

I think Hart will be back by the Nations league games. Eve will still be involved with the National team.

93

Football / Re: 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup Thread

« on: July 04, 2023, 01:46:15 PM »

Eve may have it wrong with the citizenship thing. Often when this topic comes up, most tend to group citizenship from the country, and FIFA guidelines to play for a country together.

Each country has their own process to get citizenship. This might be different than what FIFA allows. In this case, to play for a country, all the player needs is a grandparent, under FIFA guidelines.

To get the passport from the country, I believe a grandparent will qualify. BUT, I wouldn't be surprised that in Trinidad and Tobago, they may require the parent of the player to get their passport before the player gets theirs. I think this is what Eve might be talking about.

94

Football / Re: 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup Thread

« on: July 02, 2023, 08:12:50 PM »

As much as I have respect for the coach, I don't feel he's the right man for the job. His tactics are missing something.

Seems like his approach is of the era of choosing the best players vs choosing the right players. Choosing the right players means choosing the ones whos strengths and attributes can be exploited by the coach in order to build a solid unit. This is where coaching is now. He should've figured this out now.

Should the TTFA take the chance to go into the next set of games with him?

My ranking of the last 4 coaches:

1. Hart
2. Lawrence
3. Eve
4. Fenwick

Finally, the defense is in shambles. They are 2nd to the ball too often. Too many easy giveaways. They need that defensive midfield player that they can trust and do hard work. This is where Khaleem Hyland was an asset. I do believe if Daniel Phillips was there, he would have plugged that hole and the results would have been different.

95

Football / Re: 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup Thread

« on: June 26, 2023, 08:52:13 PM »

Concacaf has improved. The Nations League has benefited almost every team.

Regarding the T&T vs JA game, Jamaica will grow in confidence if they hold on to the ball and score. BUT, if they don't score early, the pressure for them to score will throw them off their game. Right now they are expected to win. This is where the expectation can be crippling. Especially when it's a game against their arch rivals.

This game should be in New York, South Florida or even Toronto. Not St Louis. Mexico and Honduras always get the Texas games that are always sold out. Concacaf is missing out on a huge opportunity to do the same for a Trinidad vs Jamaica game.

96

Football / Re: 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup Thread

« on: June 26, 2023, 12:08:55 PM »

I don't think it's because of the goal keeper. I like that
they keep playing like it's a final. Right until the end. This TT team needs to take a page from that.

Hopefully that remains true. The team is playing better. But still not playing with that "umph" that Haiti and Jamaica plays with. We get that going on, we got something special coming.

I hope your team makes it out the group. The Haiti and Honduras game should be a cracker. Honduras need a win. Meilleurs voeux les Grenadiers
 

97

Football / Re: Thread for T&T vs Nicaragua Game (27-March-2023)

« on: June 26, 2023, 11:27:48 AM »

Yep. They might consider that. But I wouldn't be surprised if FIFA gives them a punishment. The Gold cup expulsion is from Concacaf not FIFA. FIFA may take that action if they try to fight it.

Nicaragua's argument is that FIFA is retroactively applying a policy. The background to that is before 2020 FIFAs naturalization period was 2 years. FIFA updated it to 5 years in 2020. With this, it sounds as if Nicaragua has a leg to stand on.

Now this is where Nicaragua loses. Under FIFA guidelines prior to 2020, the player was required
to spend two consecutive years in the country they are becoming naturalized. The player in question Rodriguez, moved to Nicaragua in 2018, and got citizenship under Nicaraguas naturalization process. Whatever that was. This took place in either 2018 or 2019. What this meant is that Rodriguez never did his 2 consecutive years under FIFAs guidelines.

To put the nail in the coffin, Rodriguez moved to Paraguay in 2019 for 5 months. Meaning that he never spent his 2 consecutive years in Nicaragua and that if he was to follow FIFAs guidelines, his naturalization period would be restarted when he returns to Nicaragua. However since the policy was changed to 5 years, the mix up lies here.

Finally, Nicaragua was apparently warned about this. This is where they are using circular reasoning. Nicaragua's argument is that Concacaf knew about this matter and did not tell them that it was illegal. BIG 😆.

I can't seen Nicaragua finding their way out of this. If they try to fight it at the CAS, FIFA will hand them a ban from all competition.

98

Football / Re: 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup Thread

« on: June 25, 2023, 08:26:43 PM »

Haiti!!! Always exciting to watch. Good come back win. They are lucky Qatar did not get the two penalties. Group B look like the most competitive.

99

Football / Re: 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup Thread

« on: June 25, 2023, 04:21:25 PM »

We're giving up too much space before the 18yard box. Plus too much easy corners and free kicks. They can't afford to do this vs JA and USA.

Other than that, Eve gets a B to B+. Ok tactics against ST Kitts. Wednesday will be his true test though. I expecting JA to come out attacking and trying to control the game early.

The team gets a B+. Some plays were questionable. But I like that Auvray and Fortune are willing to hold the ball and attack. We need that.

Whatever happened to Hyland?

 Daniel Phillips is actually a top defensive midfield. Would have liked to see him line up against the four English players playing for JA.

Auvray, Gill and Fortune are the future.

Happy with the result. This is the confidence we need.

100

Football / Re: Thread for T&T vs Nicaragua Game (27-March-2023)

« on: June 24, 2023, 03:18:47 PM »

Nicaragua launched an appeal.

https://www.concacaf.com/en/news/decision-of-the-concacaf-appeals-committee-on-the-nicaraguan-football-federation/

101

Football / Re: 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup Thread

« on: June 22, 2023, 12:26:27 PM »

Yea. I go throw this into the mix, the foreign born might not be as passionate as the home grown. The home grown grow up wishing to represent their nation. Foreign born grow up wishing to represent their nation (Netherlands) before the nation of their parents or Grandparents.

The homegrown realize this is all they have when they're playing. But the foreign born know they gonna jump in a plane an go back to Netherlands where life is easy as a professional footballer.

102

Football / Re: 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup Thread

« on: June 21, 2023, 09:40:36 AM »

St Kitts!!!

I watched the game last night. ST Kitts football has improved tremendously. They took scalps from Curacao and French Guyana. Their goalie is a beast between the pipes. Good coach as well. I hope Eve was watching the game. Hats off to St Kitts and Nevis for making their first ever Gold Cup.

103

Football / Re: 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup Thread

« on: June 18, 2023, 11:11:22 AM »

PR well deserved that.

Overall the Dutch B and C teams don't look that mighty in my opinion. I thought they would be more dominant. But they both lost to League C teams. Yes by penalties. But with the talent they have, it should not have come to penalties.

This is how to beat the 'Dutch' born :

- play them in a hot humid climate
- don't give them the opportunity to organize themselves on the field
- play physical (the refs in concacaf allow a lot of things to slide, vs the refs in Europe)
L

104

Football / Re: 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup Thread

« on: June 18, 2023, 08:45:12 AM »

@Frico

Overall, the quality of football in the Caribbean has improved. We are seeing the results of having competitive games through the establishment of the Nations League. The Nations League tournaments has given teams much needed opportunity to play consistently.

As for the overseas, I think it may work for some, but not for all. The Dutch 'C' team (aka Curacao) was knocked out by a hard playing St Kitts and Nevis team. Puerto Rico did the same thing to the Dutch 'B' team (aka Suriname). Suriname fielded 11 players born in Netherlands that all play in top flights in the Netherlands and other countries in Europe. Puerto Rico had college boys and about 3 unattached players who don't even play semi pro.

This Gold cup has started out excellent. 3 penalty shoot outs. Two upsets. Two minnows slaying giants of the region.

105

Football / Re: 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup Thread

« on: June 17, 2023, 09:13:51 AM »

My analysis of the preliminaries

Guadeloupe handed Antigua and Barbuda 5 goals. Final score 5 - 0.

ST Kitts and Nevis 1 Curacao 1. ST Kitts and Nevis beat Curacao on penalties 3 - 2. ST Kitts has a BOSS goal keeper. He kept them in the game and saved 2 penalties in the shoot out.

To put things into context, Antigua was in league B,  ST Kitts league C. So a league B team lost to another league B team. And a league C team beat a league A team. Seems like anything can happen. We'll see what happens today.

Majority of Curacao's players play in top flight in Netherlands and other countries. They didn't have any Curacaoan players playing. Their team was a strict import from Europe.

After watching Curacao play ST Kitts, I will say they are not as powerful as we expect them to be. They got the talent, but they have trouble playing a tough Caribbean team that hits hard.

Way to go ST Kitts and Nevis

106

Football / Re: Thread for T&T vs Nicaragua Game (27-March-2023)

« on: June 13, 2023, 12:00:18 PM »

Now that the team is in, they need some prep matches. The preliminaries were supposed to be preparation for the Gold cup. We need a team to play.

107

Football / Re: Thread for T&T vs Nicaragua Game (27-March-2023)

« on: June 13, 2023, 05:26:36 AM »

Hard luck for Bahamas. By right they should be in the playoffs. They probably declined the opportunity because of the time needed to put a team together. 

108

Football / Re: Thread for T&T vs Guadeloupe Game (16-June-2023)

« on: June 09, 2023, 10:53:42 AM »

From what I understand, Concacaf hasn't made a ruling on this as yet because they are waiting on Nicaragua to provide the documents. Usually it's a 24hr to 7 day period to provide the documents. So some news should come out by Monday. Concacaf would be stupid to have the match played, only to make the results of the Guadeloupe game mean nothing. Also, Bahamas would be missing out on a chance to qualify, if Concacaf demonstrated complete oversight on this

109

Football / Re: Thread for T&T vs Guadeloupe Game (16-June-2023)

« on: June 07, 2023, 09:10:08 AM »

I feel de same way. Guadeloupe have a very strong defence line. 2 players playing in serie A and 3 in Ligue 1. Compare that to we back line. Yikes.

110

Football / Re: Thread for T&T vs Guadeloupe Game (16-June-2023)

« on: June 06, 2023, 01:53:23 PM »

That's right Frico. Nicaragua ain't reporting this. But actions speak louder than words. Their FA 'removed' him from the squad for their upcoming games. I expect something soon on this. I can't see Concacaf allowing Nicaragua to play in the Gold Cup after this.

Interesting thing about Malouda is that he is actually born in FG, and Concacaf still took action. FG is an overseas department of France. Them along with Guadeloupe and Martinique used French expats in the past. I believe Angloma played for Guadeloupe in a Gold Cup too. But Guadeloupe wasn't penalized.

What happened to Khaleem Hyland. That midfield looks a little thin. We need a brute who can hit hard and a midfield magician. I don't see none of them players playing that role.

111

Football / Re: Thread for T&T vs Guadeloupe Game (16-June-2023)

« on: June 04, 2023, 01:42:40 PM »

Check two posts above. I on that already

112

Football / Re: Thread for T&T vs Guadeloupe Game (16-June-2023)

« on: June 04, 2023, 12:14:38 PM »

Eve is all we have at the moment. I really don't know who is available that can replace him.


Let's see if this game takes place.

113

Football / Re: Thread for T&T vs Guadeloupe Game (16-June-2023)

« on: June 03, 2023, 05:20:21 PM »

Apparently Nicaragua may be facing a huge sanction for this. Their FA knew that the player had citizenship, but not naturalized under FIFAs conditions. FIFA can define this as 'cheating'. Which means that they can get a suspension.

In the majority of these cases, the national teams usually played less than a handful of games in a short while, before finding out that the player is illegal. Someone in the Nicaraguan FA knew what was going on. Their FA turned a blind eye for 4 years. Wow.

There's no way Concacaf is going to let this one slide. I expect a swift response next week by Concacaf to disqualify Nicaragua from the Gold cup, and give Bahamas the green light to get ready for the Guadeloupe game. If Concacaf doesnt take action, this will set precedents for other teams to take their chances with fielding illegal players. Inaction by Concacaf will destroy the integrity of their competitions.

I expect FIFA to fine, or suspend Nicaragua. Then possibly relegate them to League C. Or possibly all of the above.

114

Football / Re: Thread for T&T vs Guadeloupe Game (16-June-2023)

« on: June 03, 2023, 02:49:53 PM »

I think the Nicaragua FA overlooked the fine print in the FIFA document that requires the player to live in the country for 5 years, before becoming a naturalized citizen. Nicaragua does have a short naturalization process for someone with a special skill, in this case, it is the trade of a footballer. Citizenship through this way requires him to live in the country for 2 years.

The footballer in question moved to Nicaragua in 2018 and started playing for the national team in 2019. What this tells me is that the Nicaraguan FA thought that their process of naturalization was aligned with FIFA's. However, every country in the world has its own period of naturalization which can be anywhere from 2 years to 30 years (Liechtenstein). This is why FIFA went with a blanket policy of 5 years.

Usually an illegible player is identified in a short time. But for some reason, the Nicaraguan FA got away with this for 4 years.

115

Football / Re: Thread for T&T vs Guadeloupe Game (16-June-2023)

« on: June 03, 2023, 12:44:24 PM »

I don't know how this one flew under the radar. My guess is that someone knew about this well before this came to light, and decided to release this information right before the Gold cup preliminaries, right before the point when nothing can be done.

If this information came out after the Gold cup, then it's after the fact. . Nicaragua would have already played in the Gold cup, and the only penalty for them would have been removal from League A Nations league. Or maybe even relgation to League C, depending on the number of points they would be deducted.

Nicaragua continued to play the player knowing he was illegal. Now that the story is out, the player is no longer on the roster for the coming games. Looks rather suspicious.

Btw, Group A Gold Cup includes USA and of course Jamaica. Group D has Canada, Cuba and Guatemala. So pick your poison.

116

Football / Re: Thread for T&T vs Guadeloupe Game (16-June-2023)

« on: June 03, 2023, 05:55:41 AM »

Just did some research into the issue of the illegal player. Looks like Nicaragua is GUILTY of fielding an illegal player. The man requested citizenship through naturalization in 2018. He never spent 5 years living in Nicaragua as he took up residence in Costa Rica and Paraguay in 2019 to 2021. Meaning that he did not get his 5 years living in Nicaragua to qualify for naturalization. Additionally,  his citizenship would have been approved in 2023 if he met the 5 years requirement. However, he played in the 2022 Nation league games. Even if they allowed his 5 years naturalization include living in Costa Rica and Paraguay, he still played in the 2022 Nations league games. This means that Nicaragua will be deducted their points and we will qualify for the Gold cup and League A of the Nations League.

Nicaragua even removed the player from their upcoming games. Which speaks directly to this issue.

I can't see FIFA allowing this. I expect the resolution of this within 7 days. I believe Bahamas may get the match with Guadeloupe once this is dealt with the way it's supposed to.

https://www.fmfstateofmind.com/2023/5/30/23739659/nicaraguas-national-team-richard-rodriguez-mexico-zendejas-case-concacaf

The only way for Rodriguez to get citizenship to play for Nicaragua is through naturalization. He does not even have a parent or grandparent who is Nicaraguan.

117

Football / Re: Stephen Hart Thread

« on: October 15, 2022, 11:38:49 AM »

Nothing wrong with being nostalgic. In fact everyone on this site who hope for a second coming of 2006 is nostalgic. .

Alright so Hart will never be returning from what it sounds like asylum. Thank you

118

Football / Re: Stephen Hart Thread

« on: October 14, 2022, 09:03:42 PM »

Breds, he better off riding for ah St. Pierre and Miquelon than heading to the site of the trauma and unpaid salary. HFX acted with a brand of grace unknown in T&T. Patriotism cut nuff throats.

If salary is the issue then I see what you mean

119

Football / Re: Stephen Hart Thread

« on: October 14, 2022, 06:55:09 PM »

With DJW long gone, just maybe. .

Before or after hell freezes over?

You don't think a return is possible? I'm pretty sure many are entertaining the idea. . No DJW, TTFA getting their finances together, and Eve (2nd to Hart). If Hart is still owed some money, get him on the phone and resolve it. I'm sure Hart will be open to it.

I think this might be the storyline we need.

Great, but what's in it for Hart?

What's in it for Hart? Hmm, let's see.. A job

How about: A HEADACHE!

Yeah, but remember Hart did not quit. He stayed in the position for a long time and tolerated the bs and headaches. Things went south when you know who got involved.

Do you think Hart would be open to having a discussion with the TTFA now that, you know who, is not in the picture? My answer is yes.

120

Football / Re: Stephen Hart Thread

« on: October 14, 2022, 04:28:20 PM »

With DJW long gone, just maybe. .

Before or after hell freezes over?

You don't think a return is possible? I'm pretty sure many are entertaining the idea. . No DJW, TTFA getting their finances together, and Eve (2nd to Hart). If Hart is still owed some money, get him on the phone and resolve it. I'm sure Hart will be open to it.

I think this might be the storyline we need.

Great, but what's in it for Hart?

What's in it for Hart? Hmm, let's see.. A job