Columbus Crew's George added to T&T squad for Gold Cup 'quarters'

[Flex]

Columbus Crew's George added to T&T squad for Gold Cup 'quarters'
By Shaun Fuentes (TTFA).

Trinidad and Tobago head coach Stephen Hart has summoned Columbus Crew midfielder Kevan George to join the National team in Atlanta ahead of Saturday’s CONCACAF Gold Cup quarter final against Mexico  at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.

Hart made the call and the Tobago-born player, who lined up for T&T during the final round of the Olympic qualifiers in Los Angeles last year, is expected to join the team camp at the Westin Plaza on Wednesday night.

T&T are missing the services of Midfielder Khaleem Hyland who returned to Belgium on Tuesday on a request from the club while midfielder Kevin Molino is suspended on two yellow cards. Competition rules only allow for one yellow card to be wiped out at the end of the group phase.

Middlesbrough defender Justin Hoyte is also sidelined with a groin injury and will not be ready for another five days or so.

For the 2013 season George has made four starts for the Crew and has appeared in a total of eight matches so far this year.

T&T were scheduled to train at the Emory University on Wednesday evening. The squad arrived on a charter flight from Houston the previous evening and checked in at the 73-floor Westin Plaza hotel in Atlanta.

Already there were Mexican TV crews and media correspondents camping out at the Westin Plaza, awaiting the team’s arrival and they plan to attend every training session this week.

“You always know when a team like Mexico or Costa Rica are your opponents because their media tends to show up everywhere the team goes,”  National Team media officer Shaun Fuentes said.

“Of course we have to monitor it because it can tend to become a distraction to the team, so there are measures in place to manage this. We’ll have only 15-minute windows for the media at the start of the training sessions but the Emory training site is opened doors with no fencing so it’s not very easy to keep the media out but we’ll arrange to suit utilizing the competition security and officials that are available to the team” Fuentes added.

“The interest in the Trinidad and Tobago team has grown from US and Central American media after the performance against El Salvador and also the presence of Leo Beenhakker in the contingent has brought some additional attention. There’s also been some interest from international opponents to face us following the team’s progress in the quarter-finals,” Fuentes added.

The spirit is an upbeat one in the camp, mostly because of the team’s progress out of the group phase. Saturday’s assignment against Mexico, though without some of their more senior players, is expected to be a tricky assignment for the “Soca Warriors.

“It’s a tough game but it’s the kind of game you want to play in a tournament like this especially for a team like ours that is trying to get things right and prepare for future competition,” forward Cornell Glen told TTFA Media.

“I thought we really put a lot out in the last game and it showed that with the right approach and effort we can get good results. We’ll be aiming to try to keep it up so that our performances have some consistency in it. This only comes with more games under our belt,” Glen said.

The Georgia Dome in Atlanta, will host the knockout stage’s first doubleheader on Saturday with Panama taking on Cuba at 3:30 p.m. ET, followed by an encounter between two-time defending champion Mexico and T&T at 6:30 p.m. ET. The doubleheader was originally scheduled for 3 p.m. ET and 6 p.m. ET, and has been moved back by 30 minutes.

[Bitter]

Fuentes quote himself extensively in that article...

[FF]

Harty yuh wukking

Fuentes quote himself extensively in that article...

lol

[Sando]

What confusing is, how can you add a player who is not listed in the prim squad of 35?

What can we do with him or is this just for training as he lives in Atlanta ?

[maxg]

What confusing is, how can you add a player who is not listed in the prim squad of 35?

What can we do with him or is this just for training as he lives in Atlanta ?

yeah, this..Tallman ? Eman?

[OutsideMan]

Was he listed on the provisional squad?  It'll be a shame if this gets denied just because he wasn't on the provisional player list. 

Anyway, the more options we have at our disposal the better. 

[D.H.W]

I would hope they know this?

[OutsideMan]

Please pardon my ignorance on this, but what I don't understand in the above article is where it states in the 3rd paragraph, "Competition rules only allow for one yellow card to be wiped out at the end of the group phase." 

So if that's the case, then Kevin Molino should be able to play in the Quarter finals, since he got his two Yellow cards in the first round Group stage...in which ONE of those cards should be wiped-out as of the end of the Group Stage 2 days ago.  Therefore, he should be qualified for the Quarter finals --- at least that's what I'm inferring from that line in the article.

Can someone shed some light on that to set me straight?  Thanks!

[fordy]

Ah wonder what time they practicing in Emory?

[fordy]

Please pardon my ignorance on this, but what I don't understand in the above article is where it states in the 3rd paragraph, "Competition rules only allow for one yellow card to be wiped out at the end of the group phase." 

So if that's the case, then Kevin Molino should be able to play in the Quarter finals, since he got his two Yellow cards in the first round Group stage...in which ONE of those cards should be wiped-out as of the end of the Group Stage 2 days ago.  Therefore, he should be qualified for the Quarter finals --- at least that's what I'm inferring from that line in the article.

Can someone shed some light on that to set me straight?  Thanks!

If he only received one card in the group stages then it would of been wiped out but since he received 2 he has to serve a one game suspension.

[FF]

Ah wonder what time they practicing in Emory?

Right now... 4:30-7 p.m.

Tomorrow morning 9:30 a.m. - noon ... then a closed door session in the evening

[palos]

Was he listed on the provisional squad?  It'll be a shame if this gets denied just because he wasn't on the provisional player list. 

Anyway, the more options we have at our disposal the better. 

IF this addition is accepted, I'm thinking a prime reason why George was added is because he's been playing fairly regularly in MLS with the Crew.

Makes little sense to bring in a player at this stage who isn't match fit and perhaps George is one of the few (if not the only one) who fits that particular bill.

[Flex]

George is a defensive midfielder and therefore his selection is understood, however, he was not on the provisional player list, how can he be added now, is that allowed?

[D.H.W]

Mafia thing , doh study it. We must be have secret Dons at work in the background 

[maxg]

Must have been on the list, they not mad.


5. Provisional List of Players
Participating National Associations must provide their “List of Players”
on the official form provided, to the office of the CONCACAF General
Secretariat, at least forty-five (45) days prior to the kick-off of the
opening match. This list is binding and shall contain the names of thirtyfive
(35) players. The release list shall at a minimum contain, the full
last name(s), all first names, popular name, place and date of birth,
passport number, name and country of the club, height, weight, number
of international caps won and number of international goals scored. The
released list shall be published by the CONCACAF General Secretariat
and will be made public

7. Teams qualifying for the Quarter Final Phase will be permitted to amend
the twenty-three (23) players roster to replace up to four (4) players
from the provisional list (as stated in clause 5 above) at latest twentyRegulations
in English (24) hours following the completion of the First Round of the Final
Phase. Only these players, set out in Clauses 6 and 7, will (except in the
case of force majeure recognized by the Organizing Committee for the
CONCACAF Gold Cup and as set out in Clause 8 below) be permitted to
compete in the Final Phase. The final list shall be published by the
CONCACAF General Secretariat. Any additional cost associated with the
change of player roster will be at the expense of the teams.
8. A listed player may only be substituted in the event of serious injury up
until twenty-four (24) hours before his team’s first match, after
CONCACAF has received a detailed medical assessment in English and
only after acceptance by the CONCACAF Sports Medical Committee
and/or the Gold Cup Organizing Committee that the injury is sufficiently
serious to prevent the player from taking part in the Competition. The
National Association shall then immediately nominate the substitute and
inform CONCACAF accordingly. The substitute shall be selected from the
provisional list of thirty five (35) players. Any replacement at this stage
will not compromise the right of the team to replace four (4) players as
set out in clause 7. Any additional cost associated with approved player
replacement will be at the expense of the team.
11. The associations shall be responsible for fielding only eligible players.
Failure to do so shall lead to the consequences stipulated in the FIFA
Disciplinary Code.

[FF]

Maybe he was the mystery player. Remember it had some honduran or something so on we list of players

[g]

This smells like an administrative fowl up

Watch this space, if he only takes the field we are disqualified

[FF]

This smells like an administrative fowl up

Watch this space, if he only takes the field we are disqualified

wouldn't reach to that. each player has to registered and given a pass to even access the stadium and dressing rooms

[Peong]

Maybe he was the mystery player. Remember it had some honduran or something so on we list of players

Yes we had José Walther Williams Castillo a Honduran in our list and I never saw that cleared up.
Somebody call Hart just to make sure.
Where Nashy

[Trinidogg]

Maybe he was the mystery player. Remember it had some honduran or something so on we list of players

Yes we had José Walther Williams Castillo a Honduran in our list and I never saw that cleared up.
Somebody call Hart just to make sure.
Where Nashy

Yea interesting I taught that player was suppose to be Bostock... It probably was him by the look of things but will of be nice if Fuentes had explain that in the article.

[royal]

“The interest in the Trinidad and Tobago team has grown from US and Central American media after the performance against El Salvador and also the presence of Leo Beenhakker in the contingent has brought some additional attention. There’s also been some interest from international opponents to face us following the team’s progress in the quarter-finals,” Fuentes added.

guess Tim Kee achieve his objective.

[D.H.W]

Was thinking the same thing. I'm hoping for more sponsorship

[FireBrand]

This explains it... kinda.

George replaces Hyland on Warriors roster
Wired868.com

Twenty-three-year-old combative Columbus Crew midfielder Kevan George will replace Trinidad and Tobago midfielder Khaleem Hyland for the rest of the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

George received a SOS from the Trinidad and Tobago national football team head coach Stephen Hart and is due to meet the squad at its Atlanta base tonight. The Tobago-born player represented Trinidad and Tobago in the 2012 Olympic qualifiers last year and has started in four of Crew’s 19 Major League Soccer (MLS) games this season with another four appearances off the bench.


The Gold Cup tournament rules allow up to four players to be replaced after the group stage. However, national teams are only allowed to select from its initial shortlist of 35 players.

George was not named in Trinidad and Tobago’s pre-tournament shortlist, which included Clyde Leon (W Connection), Keyon Edwards (Caledonia AIA), Jason Marcano (Central FC), Ataullah Guerra (RoPS—Finland), Hughtun Hector (Song Lam Nghe—Vietnam) and John Bostock (Toronto FC—Canada) as midfield cover.

“Teams qualifying for the quarter final phase will be permitted to amend the 23 players roster to replace up to four players from the provisional list at latest 24 hours following the completion of the first round of the final phase,” states the Gold Cup regulations. “Only these players, set out in Clauses 6 and 7, will (except in the case of force majeure recognized by the Organizing Committee for the CONCACAF Gold Cup and as set out in Clause 8 below) be permitted to compete in the final phase.”

TTFA press officer Shaun Fuentes told Wired868 this evening that CONCACAF had approved George’s call-up. It is uncertain what, in this case, constituted a “force majeure” or unforeseen circumstance that allowed Hart to bypass the six midfielders and a total of 12 players who were already on his official reserve list.

Continue

[g]

I'm no legal expert but the only case i seeing providing a basis is Guerra being unable to obtain a visa to enter the US. Essentially the ability to effectively call up Guerra as a replacement is prohibited by his inability to enter the US border and as such it is beyond the control of the federation to resolve and a suitable alternative outside of the provisional list may be justifiable.

[OutsideMan]

Please pardon my ignorance on this, but what I don't understand in the above article is where it states in the 3rd paragraph, "Competition rules only allow for one yellow card to be wiped out at the end of the group phase." 

So if that's the case, then Kevin Molino should be able to play in the Quarter finals, since he got his two Yellow cards in the first round Group stage...in which ONE of those cards should be wiped-out as of the end of the Group Stage 2 days ago.  Therefore, he should be qualified for the Quarter finals --- at least that's what I'm inferring from that line in the article.

Can someone shed some light on that to set me straight?  Thanks!

If he only received one card in the group stages then it would of been wiped out but since he received 2 he has to serve a one game suspension.

Fordy, I hear yuh, and thanks, bredz.  But this is what I also knew. 

Anyway, I think that quote from the article was poorly constructed, since it insinuates that if a player accumulates 2 yellow cards in the Group Phase, then 1 of those cards will be 'discarded' at the end of the Group Phase --- as such the player will be entering the Quarter Finals with not 2, but only 1 Yellow Card, thus technically allowing him to avoid the one-game suspension.

Maybe it's just my anal-retentive-Grammar-Nazi side coming out...hahahahaha 

[Quags]

Wow what an honor being invited ,even though I cant even play ,cool.

Unless its just ec,,,,ah nevermind.

[Flex]

Sancho: TT need perfect game vs Mexico
By STEPHON NICHOLAS (Newsday).

FORMER national defender, Brent Sancho, believes the Soca Warriors need to improve significantly to stand any chance of beating Mexico in their Concacaf Gold Cup quarterfinal match on Saturday.

The Warriors earned a spot in the last eight for the first time since 2000 after finishing the group stage with a win, draw and a loss but facing the Concacaf giants is a different proposition.

“We’ve had some good results in the group stage but we haven’t played particularly well for stretches. In knockout football there’s always an opportunity to get a result but they will need to do better.

We need to be more compact, physical, aggressive and assert ourselves and not allow Mexico to play their game. We must also finish our chances when they present themselves. If we can get everything together and play the perfect game we stand a chance of getting a result,” Sancho declared.

The Central FC managing director, who earned 43 caps for TT and played in the 2006 World Cup, also believes the TT defenders need to be on the same page against Mexico to limit the amount of shots they will have on goal.

“Defensively we need to show cohesion and keep our shape better. Individually, I rate all our defenders highly but collectively we’ve not been great,” he explained.

Sancho also bemoaned the loss of Khaleem Hyland (returning to play for Genk in Belgium) and Kevin Molino (on a one game suspension) but urged the other players to step up in their absence.

“These are massive losses for us. With the addition of Andre Boucaud (in the middle) that freed up Hyland and Molino to be more effective offensively. We have people within the ranks that can come in and give creditable performances though. At this level you need to have depth,” he pointed out.

Sancho also called on the relevant authorities to use this good run in the Gold Cup as a platform to revive the interest in local football.

“It is a positive because for the last 12-13 years we haven’t come out of the group stage at the Gold Cup. What we need now is to ensure that we build on it. In the past we’ve done well at tournament (2006 World Cup) and did not build on it.

“The first thing we need to do is identify the lenght of time (technical director) Leo Beenhakker and (coach) Stephen Hart will be with us for because they will be key,” he added.

[Flex]

List of all roster changes made for qtrs.


HONDURAS
IN: Erick Norales (DOB: 11-Feb-85; Pos.: Defender; Club: Marathon; Jersey No.: 24)
OUT: Johnny Palacios (DOB: 20-Dec-86; Pos.: Defender; Club: Olimpia; Jersey No.: 4)

MEXICO
IN: Jose Maria Cardenas (DOB: 2-Apr-85; Pos.: Midfielder; Club: Morelia; Jersey No.: 24)
OUT: Darvin Chavez (DOB: 21-Nov-89; Pos.: Midfielder; Club: Monterrey; Jersey No.: 5)

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
IN: Kevan George (DOB: 30-Jan-90; Pos.: Midfielder; Club: Columbus Crew; Jersey No.: 27)
OUT: Khaleem Hyland (DOB: 6-May-89; Pos.: Midfielder; Club: Racing Genk; Jersey No.: 8.)

UNITED STATES
IN: Omar Gonzalez (DOB: 11-Oct-88; Pos.: Defender; Club: LA Galaxy; Jersey No.: 3)
OUT: Corey Ashe (DOB: 14-Mar-86; Pos.: Defender; Club: Houston Dynamo; Jersey No.: 3)

IN: Alan Gordon (DOB: 16-Oct-81; Pos.: Forward; Club: San Jose Earthquakes; Jersey No.: 9)
OUT: Herculez Gomez (DOB: 6-Apr-82; Pos.: Forward; Club: Club Tijuana; Jersey No.: 9)

IN: Eddie Johnson (DOB: 31-Mar-84; Pos.: Forward; Club: Seattle Sounders; Jersey No.: 18)
OUT: Jack McInerney (DOB: 5-Aug-92; Pos.: Forward; Club: Philadelphia Union; Jersey No.: 18)

IN: Matt Besler (DOB: 11-Feb-87; Pos.: Defender; Club: Sporting Kansas City; Jersey No.: 5)

OUT: Oguchi Onyewu (DOB: 13-May-82; Pos.: Defender; Club: Sporting Lisbon; Jersey No. 5)

[OutsideMan]

List of all roster changes made for qtrs.


HONDURAS
IN: Erick Norales (DOB: 11-Feb-85; Pos.: Defender; Club: Marathon; Jersey No.: 24)
OUT: Johnny Palacios (DOB: 20-Dec-86; Pos.: Defender; Club: Olimpia; Jersey No.: 4)

MEXICO
IN: Jose Maria Cardenas (DOB: 2-Apr-85; Pos.: Midfielder; Club: Morelia; Jersey No.: 24)
OUT: Darvin Chavez (DOB: 21-Nov-89; Pos.: Midfielder; Club: Monterrey; Jersey No.: 5)

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
IN: Kevan George (DOB: 30-Jan-90; Pos.: Midfielder; Club: Columbus Crew; Jersey No.: 27)
OUT: Khaleem Hyland (DOB: 6-May-89; Pos.: Midfielder; Club: Racing Genk; Jersey No.: 8.)

UNITED STATES
IN: Omar Gonzalez (DOB: 11-Oct-88; Pos.: Defender; Club: LA Galaxy; Jersey No.: 3)
OUT: Corey Ashe (DOB: 14-Mar-86; Pos.: Defender; Club: Houston Dynamo; Jersey No.: 3)

IN: Alan Gordon (DOB: 16-Oct-81; Pos.: Forward; Club: San Jose Earthquakes; Jersey No.: 9)
OUT: Herculez Gomez (DOB: 6-Apr-82; Pos.: Forward; Club: Club Tijuana; Jersey No.: 9)

IN: Eddie Johnson (DOB: 31-Mar-84; Pos.: Forward; Club: Seattle Sounders; Jersey No.: 18)
OUT: Jack McInerney (DOB: 5-Aug-92; Pos.: Forward; Club: Philadelphia Union; Jersey No.: 18)

IN: Matt Besler (DOB: 11-Feb-87; Pos.: Defender; Club: Sporting Kansas City; Jersey No.: 5)

OUT: Oguchi Onyewu (DOB: 13-May-82; Pos.: Defender; Club: Sporting Lisbon; Jersey No. 5)

Thanks for de update, Flex.