Latapy lights up Falkirk's season

[Tallman]

Latapy lights up Falkirk's season
By Andrew Smith (Scotland on Sunday)

WITH dreadlocks tucked into a leather flat cap, Russell Latapy has the look of a celebrity as he takes a seat inside the Stirling University complex that has become Falkirk's temporary training facility. But like a typical footballer, he then places car keys and a mobile phone in front of him. Before, atypically, a pack of 20 Marlboro Lights follows suit.

The Trinidadian has been in smoking form for John Hughes' men, who entertain Premierleague leaders Hearts this afternoon. But there is little in the way of a new-found health regime behind the ability of the bon viveur to be a mesmerising midfield presence for last season's First Division champions at the grand old age of 37.

"I'm still going to enjoy my life off the pitch and I don't think that has interfered with my life on it," Latapy says, breaking out into the sort of mischievous grin that regularly lights up his face. "In still playing, my body does not allow me to do some of the stuff I did before. The reality is I can't do the two. But I will still go out for a meal and a glass of wine and smoke a cigarette if I feel like it."

Latapy supposedly used to feel like drinking, smoking and staying up to all hours more than was considered decent for any athlete.

He will never be allowed to forget the night on the tiles with Dwight Yorke that ended his Hibernian career and brought him a drink driving conviction. Or the well-documented wild parties the two Trinidad and Tobago internationalists hosted in their homeland. Or the lax attitude to time-keeping that brought charges of unprofessionalism when he was at Rangers.

"I understand some of the criticism from before," he offers without a hint of bitterness. "There were stages of my life that I overdid things but that is normal. Name someone who hasn't. The difference is that when you are in the spotlight everything is documented. I am responsible enough to put my hands up, and I've paid the price for it."

Until this season, the danger was that he would be remembered in this country less as the Little Magician and more the little miscreant. But Hughes' unswerving commitment to a passing game and his "gem" of a Falkirk player-coach are allowing Latapy's extra-special talents to put memories of his extra-curricular activities into context.

Hughes maintains that his playmaker - a man whose tippling he defends by saying Latapy "couldn't drink soup" - remains the "catalyst for everything that we do" and possesses "a knowledge of the game that is second to none". And the manager's faith in Latapy's judgment is evidenced both in his team's play and personnel.

Hughes' desire not to be a back-to-front side probably owes much to his backroom buddy's confidence that he can give him "a good 75 to 80 minutes most weeks". Meanwhile, Falkirk's ability to make a technical approach work must in part be attributed to Latapy's scouting missions to Portugal, where he remains a celebrated name after winning two titles with Porto.

These trips unearthed the capable pair Tiago Rodrigues and Victor Lima, regulars for Falkirk this season. They also whetted Latapy's appetite for a management role.

"I enjoyed going to watch games, trying to identify players who could fit into our system and who we could afford, and dealing with agents and clubs about their availability," he says. "When the two deals came off it was a good feeling. I am testing myself in a new area."

On a daily basis, Latapy is testing the club's youngsters. Infuriatingly unassuming on the training field, according to Hughes, the midfielder has his reasons for holding his tongue. "I think in Scotland it has been a thing for managers to have a go at young players," he says. "Sometimes you need to shout but I find I get a better response if I keep them as calm as possible.

"If I get on their backs too much they don't want to get the ball and become afraid of making mistakes.

"But I do lead them and that's fine after being skipper of my national team for three years. I try to get them to play the game the way we want it played. If we wanted the ball punted up the park we could get someone out of the pub to do that.

"I work with them on making angles, getting a good first touch and lifting their heads before playing the first pass. I love coaching and if someone takes on board what you say and improves by 2% it gives you the same feeling as scoring a goal."

Even if he can sound impressively like one, Latapy could never be your bog-standard coach. Not when he admits to "hating" running and taking a rather novel approach to pastoral care. The notion that he may be a classic example of poacher turned gamekeeper tickles him, indeed.

"I moan for fun but I still do the running," he says. "It is important to understand if you want to be successful there are things you need to do but don't have to like. Running is one of those for me. No matter what I was doing off the park, I played my best football when I was happy living my life as I wanted to do. So I say to the young players to do what you need to, but be intelligent about it.

"You don't do the crime if you can't do the time. If it is a Friday night and we are playing on a Saturday, do what you have to do to perform naturally. If that is going to the movies to relax instead of resting, don't go to the movies where people will see you. Make sure that whatever you do, you perform then nobody can point a finger."

There certainly isn't any finger pointing in Latapy's direction right now.

[truetrini]

Latas is ah real articulate fella eh?

I am very happy fuh de guy.

[Small Magician aka Wazza]

BOOOOOOM...10 10 10 10 10 10 10

[truetrini]

Falkirk 2-2 Hearts 
 
Craig Gordon was ordered off in the first half
A double from skipper Steven Pressley rescued a point for 10-man Hearts as their long winning run came to an end.
The visitors had goalkeeper Craig Gordon sent off on 24 minutes when he felled Darrly Duffy, who converted from the resulting penalty kick.

Pressley was then unlucky when the ball rebounded off his knee and a rolled into his own net after 68 minutes.

Pressley immediately prodded a goal in at the right end and later tapped home from close range in the last minute.

Hearts remain top of the SPL table, with a three point lead over Celtic, but their eight game winning streak is over.

And Hearts will now be without Scotland international Gordon for the league visit to Celtic.

Both sides were knocking the ball around confidently in a cagey opening period and, while there was much to admire about the crisp passing, neither goalmouth was threatened.

Falkirk playmaker Russell Latapy fired a 20-yard free kick just over the top and his opposite number 10, Paul Hartley, also went close with a deflected set-piece.

Gordon eventually saw some action after 18 minutes but he dealt with Latapy's swerving shot from distance comfortably.

The game suddenly burst into life when Duffy raced on to a Latapy pass and was upended by the outstretched hands of a diving Gordon.

The 'keeper was shown a red card and Duffy slotted the spot-kick past substitute Steve Banks, with striker Michal Pospisil being withdrawn by Hearts. Latapy was enjoying a lot of possession and Banks had to look smart to smother the veteran midfielder's low shot.

There was a further blow for the SPL leaders when Julian Brellier went off with a rib injury ten minutes before the break - youngster Lee Wallace was his replacement.

Duffy outpaced the Hearts defence early in the second half but hit his first time shot straight at Banks.

Hearts got their first glimpse at goal after 56 minutes when the ball broke to Rudi Skacel in the penalty box but the Czech midfielder blasted it against Bairns 'keeper Matt Glennon from 10 yards.

The loose ball broke to Edgar Jankauskas only for the striker's shot to be headed away by Craig Ireland.

 
Duffy is sent sprawling by Gordon's challenge

Despite being a man down, the visitors were looking more menacing as Falkirk lost the passing rhythm that had served them so well.

However, Hearts' luck ran out when captain Pressley knocked in a bizarre own goal.

Banks did well to race from his goal and block a shot from Duffy but the ball cannoned off his knees onto the back-tracking Pressley and ricocheted into the unguarded net.

Falkirk substitute John O'Neil almost made an immediate impact when his fierce angled shot was well beaten away by Banks.

Four minutes later, Pressley dragged his team back into the game when he lunged to steer in a flashing free-kick from Skacel.

Hearts were pouring forward and leaving huge gaps at the back but Falkirk could not add to their tally despite a number of promising breaks.

And the home side were caught out in injury time when a defensive mix-up allowed Pressley the simple task of knocking the ball into an empty net.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Falkirk: Glennon, Lawrie, Rodrigues, Ireland, Milne, O'Donnell (O'Neil 69), Lima, Latapy, Steven Thomson, Gow (Moutinho 86), Duffy (McBreen 83). Subs Not Used: Hill, McPherson, Scally, McStay.

Booked: Rodrigues, Lima. Goals: Duffy 27 pen, Pressley 68 og.

Hearts: Gordon, Neilson, Pressley, Webster, McAllister, Camazzola (Cesnauskis 77), Hartley, Skacel, Brellier (Wallace 38), Jankauskas, Pospisil (Banks 26). Subs Not Used: Simmons, Mikoliunas, Elliot, Tall.

Sent Off: Gordon (25) Booked: Jankauskas. Goals: Pressley 72, 90.

Att: 6,342

Ref: I Brines

 

[monty]

The man is d boss

But, arguably, Latapy's moment of truth came two minutes into the second half when the 37-year-old was required to show his mettle, man to man, against a Brazilian 14 years his junior.

There was blood in Samuel Camazzola's eyes when he chased Latapy to the left touchline. It was not a threatening area on the field or a particularly crucial passage of play but the chance to set the tone for the second half. To show the "wee man", who had bossed the first half at walking pace, that Hearts were not to be trifled with.

And, by the way his legs gobbled up the ground as he charged Latapy, one got the feeling that Camazzola was looking forward to teach this lesson.

Latapy ran in an acute angle towards the touchline with his chest facing the crowd and much of his back to Camazzola and the rest of the field. Buttocks clenched all around the ground in anticipation of a bruising crash.

Latapy knew he was coming, of course. The dreadlocked player fanned over the ball with his right foot, as if to cut across his opponent, and then lowered his left shoulder to dart down the flank.

Surely, he could not beat the younger player in a foot race. Camazzola tightened his muscles in preparation for the burst of speed but hesitated. It was a bluff...and the Brazilian had guessed right.

You could almost see Camazzola's smirk as Latapy hooked the ball behind his right ankle with the left boot to change direction. The Brazilian lunged. Only the Laventille-bred player was no longer there. No sooner had Latapy pulled the ball back with his left foot, you see, that he pushed back in the very direction he came from with his right.

Even before Camazzola decided to tackle, Latapy anticipated his move and had already countered it in his mind. It is like playing chess against the computer or tennis against Roger Federer.

No one in a maroon Hearts jersey had the stomach to do battle with Latapy thereafter and he was allowed to stroll through the remainder of the game unmolested.

somebody could draw a stick diagram of this or what? Or better yet provide a video?

[morvant]

THAT SOUND LIKE AH REAL DREAD BEAT BOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[JERSEY TRINI]

That sound like the de man had the defender skatin on he bam bam right off the field dey wee