Soca Warriors need strong game area.

[Flex]

Soca Warriors need strong game area.
By Alvin Corneal (Guardian).

Within just a space of five days, the picture which seemed challenging to many, hoping the team gets to Russia in 2018, appeared to have changed, together with the immediate thaught of adjustments to the team’s training pattern.

The Warriors had a few practical tests leading up to the World Cup Qualifying fixtures against Costa Rica and Honduras, two teams which have been doing very well in the competitive stage in international activity.

In hind-sight, we are now aware that both our opponents were superior, both in technique and tactics, leaving us all with the apprehension as to whether the warriors are capable of matching strides with these advanced countries.

Everyone saw the matches and may still have some reservations of the differences in standard between the quality of play by the Central Americans and ourselves.

From that stage, the objective ahead must be a very difficult one, knowing that there has been no strong area in our national team’s performances which will indicate that they can close the gap on the opponents.

Already there are questions of what the next move will be. Will the administrators make any changes that will close the gap in terms of results? If so, a new plan will have to be formulated and stringent sessions are necessary if the quality of our players must bring better results.

Whatever route is chosen, the essential ingredients needed for competence must be a vast improvement in the physical capability, the basic fundamentals of accurate passing, retaining possession for long periods and executing these values in the opponents half of the field.

The major lesson that should have been learnt by the Soca Warriors and coach Stephen Hart, could be based on the demonstrative chemistry and player capability to gain maximum possession for the purposes of going into organised attack.

Costa Rica gave us a lesson on methodical build-up with a classy variation of the use of passing lanes mainly through excellent player movement in and around their opponents.

Honduras was even more aggressive and mixed no matters to recognise the weaknesses of the Warriors by capitalising on their errors and making use of precise creation of space.

Where do we go from here? Maybe Hart will consider communication with the Technical Committee as to what plan he has in mind as an effort to get results to re-enter the race for Russia.

There are four months to our next World Cup encounter, which is sufficient time to bring some improvement to the players individually and collectively. I was actually surprised from their lack of physical capability, knowing that the players are with professional clubs and within their season.

A sports psychologist to enter the minds of the players will go a long way towards providing more efforts, both physically and thoughtfully. I have heard enough about systems, none of which seemed to work well. The reason for this problem is simple. Systems of play do not win football matches...players do.

Unfortunately, no one seems to share some dialogue with regard to why our team failed to produce results which could affect our opponents.

If they decide to ask themselves questions and study the videotapes which will expose the deficiencies and effectiveness of our players.

[Flex]

Soca Warriors looking down the barrel.
By Alvin Corneal (Guardian).

Having looked at the journey for the next two matches, the task must be approached with the view of financing primarily, knowing fully well that the TTFA is seriously indebted to coaches who have done excellent work and have not yet been paid.

To add to this dilemma, the T&T Guardian reported on Thursday that a company is seeking a Court order to freeze the TTFA bank account, until a debt of over $1.2 million is paid.

Unfortunately, this debt may have been on the books well before the current administration had taken office. But the debt must be paid, a policy which we have recognised from the principled commitment when governments change hands.

So we have to ask ourselves how much money do we have in order to honour commitments to players, coaching staff, hotel, airfare, and preparation camps and friendly international matches prior to match days.

Despite these obstacles, I would assume that the chosen coach will have to revert to viewing the local players who play in the T&T Pro League, the National Super League and the zonal leagues.

While many will say the quality being produced in these leagues is of a moderate standard, it does not mean that there are no talented players among the lot.

Admittedly, the quality of teamwork in the professional tournament is short of what is expected, but obviously, there are quite a few outstanding players who can be invited and taken through paces which can bring the necessary improvement to their already established skill and creativity.

Four months of work under an organised coach for local players will be the ideal to increase the enthusiasm of those who were previously overlooked, to make that extra effort to show their worth.

Five friendlies during that period against teams like Denmark, Bolivia, Venezuela, Canada and Jamaica will allow the coach to assess their performances and the level of improvement.

The results may shock many who have not looked in that direction in the past.

The new coach will now be able to judge these new boys against the previous ones, who produced moderate and lethargic efforts on the field, as seen against Costa Rica and Honduras.

Following that, these guys may now be able to offer a new challenge against the more advanced countries like Panama and Mexico.

If the progress brings a new picture to our chances in the HEX, that is achievement. If they don’t, then we shall have a new look group with 13 international matches in their repertoire, all with vast experience and relatively young.

This will allow us to enjoy two CFU finals, two Gold Cup Tournaments and the qualifying for the 2022 World Cup Finals, knowing much more than this previous group of players whose inconsistency was probably their worst enemy.

Part II

If the progress brings a new picture to our chances in the HEX, that is achievement. If they don’t, then we shall have a new look group with 13 international matches in their repertoire, all with vast experience and relatively young.

[pull stones]

that's very noble of you mr corneal, but at the same time extremely naive of you to think that these boozoos could find a good replacement in a month particularly on the eve of a gold cup qualifying round let alone assess the player pool effectively enough to bring about positive results.

it's also quite troubling to think that this penniless federation could land a quality coach let alone competitive friendlies against top teams like demark and venezeula when they could hardly keep their heads above water financially, equally naive is to think that this World Cup campaign is some how salvageable when it was derailed before it got off the ground.

as for the big boss man with the guava whip, this bloke reminds me if an African dictator, he went out of his way to unsettle the coaching staff only so that he could have his way unoppossed, how could he and the people who voted him in have any claim on the love of football and country when their actions propose otherwise.

I remember on the election of this man kenwin and Jan Williams was very wary of his appointment and spoke in no uncertain terms as to how they view his leadership with suspicion. Now here we are at the cross roads of his leadership and we have already taken many steps backwards in terms of progression. could we honestly say that this man has made any positive affect on football in this country since his appointment? I'm smelling jack and camps all over again.