Since this is a thread on A.John, check this article, which is along the same lines as Shaun Fuentes' piece:
John caught in T&T pay dispute
By Kyle McCarthy / MLSnet.com Staff
Avery John has been unable to play for Trinidad & Tobago in the Gold Cup. (Martin Morales/MLS/WireImage.com)
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- As the final seconds of Tuesday night's 1-1 draw between Trinidad and Tobago and Guatemala ticked away, one can't help but wonder what New England Revolution defender Avery John was thinking.
John probably would have been on the Gillette Stadium field he sees most weekends as part of the Revs, playing for his country instead of watching from the stands.
But a conflict between the World Cup players and the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation concerning World Cup bonuses has left John and his fellow World Cup teammates on the sidelines watching a domestic-based team gain only one point and fall out of the tournament at the group stages.
"It's not a good feeling," John said. "It's been almost a year since the World Cup. To see things they way they are, it's not good. It's very difficult to watch."
The two sides have bickered over the amount of bonuses since the conclusion of the World Cup. After the federation promised the players a sum of money as a reward for qualification, it reneged on the deal and offered the players lower terms.
John said that it is important for his group to hold its ground in order to bring the federation up to international standards as T&T attempts to qualify for its second World Cup in 2010.
"For me and the rest of the guys, it's bad," John said. "We're trying to get things sorted out for now and for the future of Trinidad and Tobago football."
But those qualification efforts have taken a massive hit with the Gold Cup performance. A Trinidad side expected to challenge for the title has fallen out at the first hurdle.
"It has had a definite impact," United States manager Bob Bradley said. "That would hurt any team. It's played a definite role in our group."
The lack of success in the tournament has tempered the enthusiasm from the success of the country's first World Cup campaign last summer, according to John.
"You have all the momentum and you want to build upon it," John said. "Everything has crashed right now. It's really disastrous. It can't get any worse."
With the regulars out of contention, the TTFF called up players from its domestic league. U.S. fans might recognize a pair of former MLS players: Keyeno Thomas (San Jose) and Gary Glasgow (Kansas City).
John said that in the long run, the dispute may help the national team program by developing players that can contribute on that level.
"It gives the other guys a chance to gain exposure," John said. "We don't have a large group to select from. It's a learning experience for them. Hopefully, the guys that are there can see what it takes. Then they can go home and say that we're way below where we need to be."
Improvement will require continued focus on the domestic league in Trinidad. The league currently operates on a semi-professional basis, with players struggling for fitness in major tournaments such as the Gold Cup.
"They understand we need a little bit more to go any further," Trinidad and Tobago manager Wim Rijsbergen said after his team was eliminated. "We need to work more. We need a little bit more in the league."
John believes continued investment and faith in cultivating soccer in the country is necessary to grow in stature on the world stage.
"We have a domestic league that needs investment," John said. "It is a third world country, but it's developing. It is just a matter how much the culture can take the progress."
Progress will involve getting the first-team regulars back into the international fold. John expects that the two sides will return to the bargaining table soon in order to thrash out a compromise.
"All communication has broken down," John said. "I think after the Gold Cup, it will pick up."
Rijsbergen expressed confidence that the federation could settle the claims prior to the World Cup qualification efforts scheduled to start next year.
"We will try to get the best team together for the next games," Rijsbergen said. "Hopefully between now and the end of the year, we will have some discussions for the boys."
After missing out on the Gold Cup, John has been given a chance to earn back his place in the Revolution lineup. Despite starting the first four games of the season, John has fallen behind James Riley in the defensive pecking order.
With Michael Parkhurst with the U.S. national team, John should have a spot in the team for Saturday's contest against Columbus.
"While it's disappointing [not to be there], I can stake a claim for a place in the team here," John said.
Revolution boss Steve Nicol said that while the situation was unfortunate for John, it has the potential to help the club as it seeks to return to its winning ways on Saturday.
"It gives him an opportunity to step onto the field," Nicol said. "It's good for me that I can turn to Avery."
Kyle McCarthy is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
