Dear Forumites,
I kinda stuck for words tonight because it is difficult to explain what transpired.........Nuttin really to write home about, and TT were unimpressive. In summary we won the game, but our play was not as good as the two previous games. In fact I watching the game now on tv6 just to make sure what I typing is accurate. But Congrats are in order, we have topped the group scored nine goals and conceded a goal a game. Keep the positive result fellas and keep tightening up and ironing out the kinks.
Tonight was a mediocre performance, improvement was made in some areas while in others we fell back big time. No player had an outstanding game, the fatigue and fitness creeping in and it was a workmanlike performance from the team.
Also Haiti was found out and I realised they only looked good due to the level of their opponents. It may be hard for some of you to fathom, but many people left the game steupsing, saying this side have real work, the side is shit etc. But some were just happy we won the game.
TT lined up in a 4-4-2 and Haiti did the same.
The starting line up was the same as Mondays game vs Martinique however Dwayne Jack was dropped and Makan hislop was the replacement.
Opening 5-10 minutes it was all TT on the attack, controlling the ball well, making diagonal runs, crosses coming in and Darryl Roberts looking very lively. Then Haiti steps up and matches the tempo and takes over.
TT finally win a free kick about 20 yards out and Hardest steps up to take it..........Folks I must congratulate Hardest for scoring his first goal of this Digicel tournament, it was on target and it scored, thats all that matters. It was not a fierce shot and he had assistance from the Haitian goalie who allowed the ball to slip tru his fingers and roll into the goal but who cares Goal TT...... Imagine, all forumites present were wondering how TI would be gettin orn.
After that TT fell asleep took their foot off the gas and let Haiti dictate the pace.
However Haiti was lacking ideas and had no clue as to what to do. The entire game went like this....back four make 4-6 passes across the back, switching the play with no pressure. A player comes up and hits a long ball to the flank or fwd. It is lost, the other team regains possession and does the same.
In the first half TT created three chances, two wasted by none other than Glasgow but he was involved in the best attacking TT play of the night........Hardest threads a ball for glasgow who traps one time and backheels for Roberts who has the goalie off his line and tries a one time shot that goes wide. It was another miss/throw away but it was the higlight of enterprising play in the first half.
Tiger got no ball on the left, Baptiste was quiet and we got few crosses in. However the standout for me was Darryl Roberts and his hard work on the field, was present in nearly every attack, hustled the ball well, screen shielded and played point man laying off the ball well and he was no bumped off the ball or shouldered off. I am very impressed with him.
Theobold had a workmanlike performance running back and forth demanding the ball and switching the play. Nothing extraordinary but simple and effective, still defensively it was a roll on the ground and beg, and he came second in many of the challenges.
Ti yuh boy Hardest was quiet, besides the goal and the pass to Glasgow, it was as if he was not on the field. He was the recipient of a few good jams, some of them nasty and deliberate and he was stretchered off the field. His best game thus far was the Bardbados match...(but he score ent! so its all good)
The defence give REAL REAL trouble tonight.....Seon Power finally got subbed in what was his best performance, but the man play good lala. Telesford wasn't as sharp and looked shakey at times and his heading ability is questionable. He was also at fault for the goal not covering properly and allowing the Haitian fwd to run past him and shoot. Daniel was overlapping a bit more today supporting the play and running fwd well but still he was having problems covering and tackling. Hislop big but slow also I don't know if its confidence or nerves but he was playing kinda frighten. Dwyane Jack came on as a second half sub and he start to give trouble too. Fellas I feel the man need a metronome to learn some timing....he cyar head a ball properly to save he life. He not judging the flight of the ball and misjumping. Also he do a piece of skill that was unnecessary and chupid at the same time. He playing last the ball bobbling up and two haitians closing down instead of clearing or playing to safety he turns and raises the ball six times skipping in a line before hoofing the ball out for a throw near the corner flag. Dem kinda antics is for circus.
MAN OF THE MATCH........Jean Michael Williams in Goal. That brother save some sure goal and some bullet to chest. there was one raid in particular where he collected three shots at close range and he smothered all up. He handled his stories tonight.
Up front Glasgow just turning unnecessarily, flicking the ball to nobody, throwing away.......but when yuh least expect it he popin up and scoring.......and good goals too. There was a time he had a simple ball to play to Baptiste and he turned into two players.....the entire Covered stand shout at that man and buff him....it was real funny.
Second half Haiti makes some changes and they put on a speedy fwd who has some fun with Power. The goal comes after Power loses the ball and the Haitian runs at telesford, body fakes him and curls it ever so skilfully past Williams at the far post.
TT then got serious and stepped it up a gear.....TT then starts to use the flanks and a cross comes in, Roberts flies in and challenges the keeper and heads it back across the goal. the keeper is beaten on the ground and Gary Glasgow is there to hit into an open goal.
The final goal came when a Haitian back pass was mistrapped by the last stopper. Roberts got a toe to it and passed it to glasgow who went racing one vs one with the keeper. Then when it looked certain to score glasgow runs wide...turns, the keeper and defenders recover and all looks lost...but then Glasgow picks his spot and with a neat chip, places the ball in the far V from an acute angle.....Wheeeeyyyyy.
and folks thats it.
I am concerned about our midfield not showing for the ball, not creating anything and the wide gap between the backs and the fwd. I do not like the long ball hit and hope and there were few crosses coming in from the wings. Tiger is our best crosser and when he pumped them in Roberts and Baptiste always looked dangerous on the recieving end.
Wiltshire came on for tiger ....and got no setta ball...i doe know if its a kinda conspiracy but the fella was open and they not giving him nuttin. Underutilized.
and Tinto came on for somebody I ent sure who it was but he got a 12 min corbeaux. He managed to shift some men and one body fake in particular had a Haitian on his behind inspecting the grass, he was the entertainment for the night.
We switching off and lapsing for long periods in the game and we are not dominating the pace of the game, but rather letting the opponents take the ball and come at us. Also we not imposing ourselves and our presence on the field in terms of tackling and ball possession. Also this long ball game we resorting to....I not sure how effective it is but Roberts is coping with it nicely and I think Sealy lorse his place on this side.
Till next time.