Men's U-20 Football Team Thread.

[Deeks]

ffisback, let's be honest, defensively, the team play was poor. So Eve strategy did not work at all. Apart from Roka, I did not see any real standout defenders. I may be wrong but point one out to me. I think Real and Khan and the striker who scored 4 goals can be the type of players Hart was asking about. They can take on opponents. But they need something more. Physical fitness and strength.  TTFA has to offer more.

You touched on a valid point as far as defenders go.
It's hard to imagine that there are no better defenders in that age group in the whole of TnT.
Added to that, it's hard to imagine that in the two combines in the US, they couldn't find any better -- foreign-based defenders -- than those that were selected.
It's hard to imagine that out of the 30-plus players looked at in the combines that they couldn't find at least 4 or 5 defenders who were comfortable controlling and passing the ball, in addition to their defensive abilities? I was really hung up on that during our games.

it's hard to imagine that out of the 30-plus players looked at in the combines that they couldn't find at least 4 or 5 defenders who were comfortable controlling and passing the ball, in addition to their defensive abilities? I was really hung up on that during our games.

They can go over the videotapes of the overseas sessions and reassess the overseas players again.

[asylumseeker]

ffisback, let's be honest, defensively, the team play was poor. So Eve strategy did not work at all. Apart from Roka, I did not see any real standout defenders. I may be wrong but point one out to me. I think Real and Khan and the striker who scored 4 goals can be the type of players Hart was asking about. They can take on opponents. But they need something more. Physical fitness and strength.  TTFA has to offer more.

You touched on a valid point as far as defenders go.
It's hard to imagine that there are no better defenders in that age group in the whole of TnT.
Added to that, it's hard to imagine that in the two combines in the US, they couldn't find any better -- foreign-based defenders -- than those that were selected.
It's hard to imagine that out of the 30-plus players looked at in the combines that they couldn't find at least 4 or 5 defenders who were comfortable controlling and passing the ball, in addition to their defensive abilities? I was really hung up on that during our games.

it's hard to imagine that out of the 30-plus players looked at in the combines that they couldn't find at least 4 or 5 defenders who were comfortable controlling and passing the ball, in addition to their defensive abilities? I was really hung up on that during our games.

They can go over the videotapes of the overseas sessions and reassess the overseas players again.

Who should be the "they"?

[Deeks]

ffisback, let's be honest, defensively, the team play was poor. So Eve strategy did not work at all. Apart from Roka, I did not see any real standout defenders. I may be wrong but point one out to me. I think Real and Khan and the striker who scored 4 goals can be the type of players Hart was asking about. They can take on opponents. But they need something more. Physical fitness and strength.  TTFA has to offer more.

You touched on a valid point as far as defenders go.
It's hard to imagine that there are no better defenders in that age group in the whole of TnT.
Added to that, it's hard to imagine that in the two combines in the US, they couldn't find any better -- foreign-based defenders -- than those that were selected.
It's hard to imagine that out of the 30-plus players looked at in the combines that they couldn't find at least 4 or 5 defenders who were comfortable controlling and passing the ball, in addition to their defensive abilities? I was really hung up on that during our games.

it's hard to imagine that out of the 30-plus players looked at in the combines that they couldn't find at least 4 or 5 defenders who were comfortable controlling and passing the ball, in addition to their defensive abilities? I was really hung up on that during our games.

They can go over the videotapes of the overseas sessions and reassess the overseas players again.

Who should be the "they"?

 "They" means, Angus, the technical committee, coaches, whoever the NC has coaching the teams etc. They need to assess both local and overseas players again.

[ffisback]

The president of Concacaf is a puppet for the U S A I hope Mexico and Costa Rica and the other country's protest that these 2 teams automatically qualify for the Olympic games in 2024.

[Deeks]

The president of Concacaf is a puppet for the U S A I hope Mexico and Costa Rica and the other country's protest that these 2 teams automatically qualify for the Olympic games in 2024.

How can they protest when they go along  with whatever he proposes. Concacaf is run by a cabal that is financed by US and Mexican money. Both CR and Mexican teams lost fair and square .... on the field.

[ffisback]

MEX and CR thought it would not effect them but they were wrong there is no way JA and DR should be playing each other to go to a WC Guatemala and DR will get a good cut tail when they play in the WC.

[Deeks]

MEX and CR thought it would not effect them but they were wrong there is no way JA and DR should be playing each other to go to a WC Guatemala and DR will get a good cut tail when they play in the WC.

ffisback, you know, everybody was predicting that US, Mex, CR and Canada(maybe Panama) would be going to the U20 WC. And also the strong possibility that Mex and US going to Paris Olympic. Well, so much fortune for the prognosticators. They were wrong on 3. Only one came thru. I would never have guess DR going to the semis far less to Paris.

The tournament was going thru to form until the round of 16 started. Before that though, I was hooked on Haiti to upset the "mango cart" after seeing them battle Mexico to a goalless draw. Then up come JA who beat them. Unfortunately for Haiti, their keeper made two mistakes to gift JA the victory. Then up comes DR and beat JA. Then Mexico got beat, Canada got beat. Honduras got beat. And the US and DR battles for championship honors. That was never in the fortune teller's card.

DR was able to advance because they were training and playing despite covid. As a matter of fact, concacaf allowed DR to be the Caribbean "bubble". Haiti has been playing all their international home games in the DR. And I think TT did play some WC games there. JA, PR, DR and Haiti were the teams who were training despite the covid. On the other hand all the other Caribbean islands who ENFORCED their Covid protocols performed badly.

[asylumseeker]

MEX and CR thought it would not effect them but they were wrong there is no way JA and DR should be playing each other to go to a WC Guatemala and DR will get a good cut tail when they play in the WC.

ffisback, you know, everybody was predicting that US, Mex, CR and Canada(maybe Panama) would be going to the U20 WC. And also the strong possibility that Mex and US going to Paris Olympic. Well, so much fortune for the prognosticators. They were wrong on 3. Only one came thru. I would never have guess DR going to the semis far less to Paris.

The tournament was going thru to form until the round of 16 started. Before that though, I was hooked on Haiti to upset the "mango cart" after seeing them battle Mexico to a goalless draw. Then up come JA who beat them. Unfortunately for Haiti, their keeper made two mistakes to gift JA the victory. Then up comes DR and beat JA. Then Mexico got beat, Canada got beat. Honduras got beat. And the US and DR battles for championship honors. That was never in the fortune teller's card.

DR was able to advance because they were training and playing despite covid. As a matter of fact, concacaf allowed DR to be the Caribbean "bubble". Haiti has been playing all their international home games in the DR. And I think TT did play some WC games there. JA, PR, DR and Haiti were the teams who were training despite the covid. On the other hand all the other Caribbean islands who ENFORCED their Covid protocols performed badly.

Iz more than Covid, Deeks. They have been building strategically for the better part of a decade - on two fronts, at home and bit by bit, abroad. As far back as ~2016, I vooped and reached out to Atlético Pantoja to see whether they would be interested in a T&T player who had USL quality ... they were all set with players whose resumes were more compelling.

DR is a top to bottom revolution rather than ground up. Within the past months, a Panamanian player asked me to reach out to technical staff at 2 DR clubs, thinking he would have an easier path than in Panama ... not the case. Things have only ramped up. Gone are the brief days when a 2nd/3rd division Panamanian might have commanded immediate attention there. And those who would feel that the DR gehhin licks at the WC or Olympics means they haven't really accomplished anything, would be missing the point.

As you suggest, commitment to play during Covid is also an indicator of placing a premium on football. Nicaragua is another to the list you mentioned. Similar positives for them. Our mess is of "our" making.