1) Smith is not to play right back for the return game. The 2 goals came from attacks down that wing. Bermuda had a plan to attack him and it paid off. if he has to play, we need a change in tactics.
2) Lawrence should never be playing left back.
3) PLEASEEEEEE, get our set plays in order. We had a million corners and free kicks around the box and not once did we genuinely threaten the Bermuda goalie. For the return where we know Bermuda will defend for their lives, this is even more important. And on the topic of set plays, when we get corners and the 2 sweepers go up, just be careful as Whitely and Smith who sit back could be compromised by a team planning for this.
4) At times yesterday we looked like backs and forwards - 4 men up front in the opposition penalty box, and when we get break down, no T&T players till almost back on the half line - there was always a gap in our structure. Very apparant as the game wore on, fitness should not be an excuse.
5) I have said it a million times - T&T looks pathetic whenever we come up against a set, half field defensive unit. We have no idea how to play a condensed half field game. the key to that is patience, which we seem to lack, and also CONSTANT OFF THE BALL MOVEMENT. This was the most glaring thing yesterday other than wasted chances - we looked dull, no energy. Fitness should not be an issue now. There were so many times the back 4 were screaming for an open pass, but no off ball movement, we were so predictable it was a crime.
6) To beat Bermuda in the return, we need excessive flank play, its the only time we looked dangerous against them, plus it will open up their set defense.
7) F I N I S H I N G ! Work on that all week long. Despite the fact that we had a sub standard display yesterday, we should still have won the game 3-2 or 4-2. We also need Stern and Scottie to play more decoy roles, as they are consistently marked solidly. the Whitelys and Edwards and Hylands have to step up.
INTENSITY. We were flat yesterday. Not a totally pathetic display, but a definite sub-standard showing. We looked listless. We showed much more energy for the Ja game, man was scrapping for every ball and fighting. We didnt even get a yellow yesterday, noting even close. We need to come out and start from kick one as if our lives depend on it and take no prisoners.
Last time T&T was in a situation like this was in 1992 when ja surprised us 2-1 in POS. We all had optimism for the return but could only draw 1-1. That is a very real possibility again. We need to stamp out authority on this game from ball one and go into it with the intention of running Bermuda off the pitch in the first 5 minutes.
No excuses, we are now a WC team, we should be beating these teams 6-0.
last time we played Bermuda in Bermuda, we won 5-0 I think, which was a friendly during the 2002 qualifiers just after the USA beat us in the US. We need to take lessons from that and just plain and simple over power them.
We are a better team no doubt, but we lacked the energy, which for T&T usually brings all other positives into the mix.
Our mindset should be nothing less than SHOCK AND AWE in 6 days time.
I will be extremely relieved with a 2-0 result, but we need to send a signal as well and aim to rout them.
