Hart exam: T&T coach talks Gold Cup, fitness, ice baths and peanut punch

[SWF Reporter]

Hart exam: T&T coach talks Gold Cup, fitness, ice baths and peanut punch
By Lasana Liburd (Wired868)

“If you know deep down in your heart that you are not properly prepared, you will never be able to play good football,” Trinidad and Tobago National Senior Team head coach Stephen Hart told Wired868. “You will always have an excuse or you will be thinking ‘I am not sure if I can play 90 minutes.’

“You just cannot work fast enough when your body is not prepared to do what the brain is telling it to do.”

Hart sat down with Wired868 for a wide ranging interview into the state of the “Soca Warriors”, the 2013 and 2015 Gold Cup tournaments, his tactical and player selections and the Russia 2018 World Cup campaign.

This is Part One of our Hart-to-heart:

Wired868: Compare your emotions at the end of the 2015 Gold Cup and the 2013 edition?

Hart: First to begin with, the feeling was entering both competitions somewhat underprepared, which was frustrating. And like any other coach, it always worries you because you know deep in your heart you can be as prepared as possible but all goes wrong in the tournament itself.

USA and Guatemala are prime examples. They had fabulous roll outs up to the tournament and it went wrong for them during the tournament…

There was more a sense of relief in 2013 that we had managed to achieve getting to a quarterfinal and at the end of the day losing to Mexico in the 84th minute. I don’t want to say it was satisfactory but that is what it was. We did our best, we got to a quarterfinal and we came within minutes of probably going to a semifinal.

This time around, I was a little disappointed in the fact that we were growing from strength to strength in the tournament. I was worried for the Panama game about if we had recovered enough because we were playing a team that had two more days rest than we did.

I was so proud of the players with the fact that they were able to take it to the penalty situation, which quite frankly I felt was our best chance (of winning the match)… Even though we are disappointed, it is a situation you cannot train for. Because the day before nobody missed (in practice). But then again, there were not 80,000 people and you didn’t just finish playing a game for 120 minutes.

Wired868: Before the game against Panama, you spoke about the importance of keeping the ball. How did you feel looking on from the sidelines at how the game went?

Hart: I recognised pretty early that we were in trouble and the ability to keep the ball and do what we had planned to do was breaking down and it was a direct relation to both mental and physical fatigue.

We struggled to get hold of the ball in the first place. And then when we did get hold of the ball, we were not patient enough to try and rest with the ball sometimes. It is a big learning curve.

Wired868: In terms of the attributes of your players, was the squad constructed to be able to retain possession against a team like Panama?

Hart: Certainly not against Mexico. But I felt that we could do it against other teams. But the team was more or less designed to play a counter attacking type of game because I felt we were athletic enough and the technical players were further up the field that can bring that kind of goal scoring attributes.

So even though we did a lot of work on keeping the ball, we also worked on our variety in terms of how we would play. I wouldn’t say we had the ability to keep the ball against a team like Mexico. Their pressing and the organisation of their press reflects a team that has played at the highest level consistently. It was evident.

Wired868: What do you think about the Mexico coach being fired?

Hart: Well, I think a lot of things should have been considered. I’m not saying it is acceptable to strike a reporter…

Wired868: I’m glad you feel that way. (Both men laugh).

Hart: I can see the frustration though in what he went through. Also I think no consideration was given that when he took over Mexico (in 2013) they were literally out of the World Cup and he had one chance to prove himself (in the FIFA Play Off). He proved himself and gave a decent World Cup showing and then he won the Gold Cup…

So I really feel sorry for him. But I don’t think in the long run he was the coach a lot of people in Mexican football wanted. That is just my take on it because the getting rid of him happened so quickly. It was almost as if they had the excuse they wanted.

Wired868: What would you see as the main positive and negative in the 2013 Gold Cup?

Hart: In 2013, I lacked that complete understanding of player relationships. I had a good idea of the Trinidad team but I didn’t really understand the players’ minds…

The only negative thing I found was that I knew I would have to get rid of some players who served Trinidad and Tobago football very, very well. And I needed to start replenishing the potential team for World Cup qualification.

Wired868: Why did you see that as necessary? Was that a matter of attitude or physical attributes?

Hart: No. It wasn’t a matter of attitude. But I felt we were starting to be in a situation where we were starting to lose some quality physically in very key areas of the field. And once you start having veterans in that situation, the managing of the situation becomes a little more complex.

It is very hard to bring people to your way of thinking if you were not part of their make-up over the years.

Wired868: Teaching old dogs new tricks?

Hart: Maybe a bit of that. But to be honest none of them gave me any problems. It was just a deep down feeling that the team needed freshening up.

Wired868: One of those would be Cornell Glen who said he never retired…

Hart: Cornell never gave me any real trouble. I would love to be in a situation where I could give the Trinidad and Tobago public the chance to say goodbye to both him and ‘Bleeder’ (Densill Theobald) who served us so well. But really and truly, I just felt it was time to freshen up and to give some other players the opportunity to move within leadership roles within the squad which they would not do if the older heads were there.

Wired868: And what were the positives of that campaign?

Hart: The results in being able to show we could endure a lot of footballing activity despite a lack of what is required at the highest level professionally. It meant that the players did have a certain mentality and love for the country. I think that was a huge positive.

And then the second thing was the way some of the young players stepped up to accept responsibility. And when I say young players, I mean players that would probably have been in the shadows and were not part of the 2006 campaign…  (Kevin) Molino, Andre Boucaud certainly came to the forefront as a team leader and the way Kenwyne responded to myself and the working relationship between the two of us.

He could have easily sat in his comfort zone. But the response was tremendous.

Wired868: What would be the negatives of the 2015 Gold Cup campaign?

Hart: I was disappointed in the individual recognition of players of where they should be physically to play international football. That was a big negative for me. It is almost the way football was in the 70s and 80s where they would let themselves slip on their off season and then have to work themselves all the way back.

My players knew they were going into a Gold Cup. They should not have been in that physical state. To me that was a huge negative and it affected their mental.

Wired868: How so?

Hart: If you know deep down in your heart that you are not properly prepared, you will never be able to play good football. You will always have an excuse or you will be thinking ‘I am not sure if I can play 90 minutes.’ You just cannot work fast enough when your body is not prepared to do what the brain is telling it to do. That is why we play old timers’ (football) today. (Laughs)

Wired868: And you are talking local and foreign based here?

Hart: I would say yes. The local players in general are far off the fitness levels required for international football. And the foreign-based players allowed themselves to slip too much.

Wired868: What have the discussions been like with Pro League coaches about issues like fitness?

Hart: It is hard for me to talk to the Pro League coaches about their teams and their players because that is not generally how I work. But the league itself does not demand that you are at your best for every single game. Because there are only two or three games that really push you (during the regular season), so it is easy to get through with bad habits…

When I say habits, I also mean simple habits like how to recover from games, the use of modern recovery methods, players’ sleeping habits, players’ eating habits… Players are arguing that they don’t want to go in and ice bath whereas every youth team from 16 years old are accustomed to those things. And they know the gains you can get from it. I have to fight with players to take a simple ice bath…

I have to let them know that I am not asking them if they want to take an ice bath. It is not an option. It is part of the recovery process.

Even the eating habits and the lifestyle. Players are actually thinking a punch is good for you and it is strengthening. It is absolutely ridiculous. The sugar and the milk… It is archaic.

I read the Dennis Lawrence interview in the (Trinidad) Express where he said part of the reason we are not seeing more Trinidad players in England is the mentality thing and I think he is right.

Right now, very few players can play in England. I think Molino and Kevan George can but very few others.

Wired868: What other tips would you give local players in terms of recovery from games?

Hart: Well, (fitness coach) Tobias Ottley brought in a dietician and I think the players learned a lot. But whether or not they took in a lot of what they were shown and directed towards, I am not sure. But for them understanding the absorption of carbohydrates when you can maximise it, what quantities you need, why you need it, etc, etc.

If your whole dietary intake is not planned properly, they can go back to eating wrong foods or having a sequence of eating that is the wrong way…

I would advise players: Seek every edge possible to give you an advantage. Outside of drugs, of course. For example, one of the players was telling me that he didn’t like leather boots because they were heavier than the boots he liked. But the real question is the difference in weight between a leather boots and an ordinary synthetic boots is minimal if your body is not prepared the boots as efficiently as possible in the first place.

So why don’t you seek the same advantage with your body, which is really the engine for your work and not the boots?

Wired868: What do you take as the big positive of the campaign?

Hart: One, the willingness of the players to do what is necessary. Also the competition for places within this squad. I think that is positive and it is more positive for players who accept they must constantly be at their best in order to be part of this squad. And also to understand that every game is different and players will be utilised due to the tactics required for that game. So if you are dropped it is not necessarily that you were playing badly. It could mean we require a different type of player…

I do think the camaraderie was commendable. It is not easy to have players together for an entire month eating together and living together with just a couple hours off in between. But I must say the players were fantastic.

That was a huge positive. Even the players who came off the bench brought a mentality of doing everything possible to advance the team.

Wired868: You said during the 2014 Caribbean Cup, once the players’ minds moved to financial issues, their concentration never fully returned. Were there any issues this time?

Hart: It started to become a problem. They kept me away from it.

Wired868: What do you mean?

Hart: I think it is important that I stay away from things like that. I cannot be dealing with money and then turn around and coach the players as well. So management has to deal with that. But it did become a problem during the tournament.

The only thing I said to them was go out and show that you deserve to be compensated properly. But to make it in such a way that players have to first go out there and play without knowing they would be compensated…

We have to show more respect for our players than that. Because they have families to feed, they have lives outside of football. They are not children. They have their own children and mortgages to pay and car payments and everything everyone else has…

[Controversial]

Brilliant...

Like I said to a number of posters on this board... The players need to take their training and fitness seriously outside of football.. In the off season.. Diet is important.. Drinking red solo and punch will destroy their fitness and health...

Imagine if our team had taken care of themselves better what they can achieve..

I really hope the dietician and an improved training regime sticks with these players, also recovery..

I believe this group will do extremely well if they work hard at their fitness and the TTFA and MOS give them the prep they need and money they deserve..

[kounty]

tht was a real good interview. and part 2 look even more interesting.

[Controversial]

tht was a real good interview. and part 2 look even more interesting.

Coming this Sunday...

[Cocorite]

I truly hope TTFA hold on to this Coach oui. He has T&T football at heart. He is competent. Great understanding and excellent work ethic. More than a National Team Manager, he cares about the people and their welfare first.

Excellent interview Lasana

Thanks to both

[Controversial]

I truly hope TTFA hold on to this Coach oui. He has T&T football at heart. He is competent. Great understanding and excellent work ethic. More than a National Team Manager, he cares about the people and their welfare first.

Excellent interview Lasana

Thanks to both

I'm surprised more members are not commenting/sharing their thoughts on this thread...

[FF]

I feel people waiting for part 2.
Really nice interview and good read. Hope the powers that be are paying attention.

Also glad to see he highlighting our cultural and social issues. Re: men ent want to take ice bath, recovery, nutrition etc. I think a lot of this mentality goes beyond football administration

[Controversial]

I feel people waiting for part 2.
Really nice interview and good read. Hope the powers that be are paying attention.

Also glad to see he highlighting our cultural and social issues. Re: men ent want to take ice bath, recovery, nutrition etc. I think a lot of this mentality goes beyond football administration

I hope so too brother.. There's that saying that you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink.. I hope our players are taking heed of the valuable lessons they are learning and it stays with them..

I'm just stunned at the fact that we were the least prepared team, we lacked in fitness and diets and we still did well..

Hopefully when the players turn it around, get the games, improve their diet and fitness , taking some self initiative .. I could imagine how well we would play.. It's exciting because I don't think we have seen them at their best yet...

Hart wasn't kidding when he said we can play any team... He was really that confident ... I agree..

[maxg]

Wired868: Before the game against Panama, you spoke about the importance of keeping the ball. How did you feel looking on from the sidelines at how the game went?

Hart: I recognised pretty early that we were in trouble and the ability to keep the ball and do what we had planned to do was breaking down and it was a direct relation to both mental and physical fatigue.

We struggled to get hold of the ball in the first place. And then when we did get hold of the ball, we were not patient enough to try and rest with the ball sometimes. It is a big learning curve.

Wired868: In terms of the attributes of your players, was the squad constructed to be able to retain possession against a team like Panama?

Hart: Certainly not against Mexico. But I felt that we could do it against other teams. But the team was more or less designed to play a counter attacking type of game because I felt we were athletic enough and the technical players were further up the field that can bring that kind of goal scoring attributes.


Think this is a little contradictory, given the state, we were in, especially against panama.  A different team make up might have been better utilized.

[davyjenny1]

I truly hope TTFA hold on to this Coach oui. He has T&T football at heart. He is competent. Great understanding and excellent work ethic. More than a National Team Manager, he cares about the people and their welfare first.

Excellent interview Lasana

Thanks to both

After TTFA election things may change.

[Mose]

Wired868: Before the game against Panama, you spoke about the importance of keeping the ball. How did you feel looking on from the sidelines at how the game went?

Hart: I recognised pretty early that we were in trouble and the ability to keep the ball and do what we had planned to do was breaking down and it was a direct relation to both mental and physical fatigue.

We struggled to get hold of the ball in the first place. And then when we did get hold of the ball, we were not patient enough to try and rest with the ball sometimes. It is a big learning curve.

Wired868: In terms of the attributes of your players, was the squad constructed to be able to retain possession against a team like Panama?

Hart: Certainly not against Mexico. But I felt that we could do it against other teams. But the team was more or less designed to play a counter attacking type of game because I felt we were athletic enough and the technical players were further up the field that can bring that kind of goal scoring attributes.


Think this is a little contradictory, given the state, we were in, especially against panama.  A different team make up might have been better utilized.

Suggestions?

[palos]

Wired868: Before the game against Panama, you spoke about the importance of keeping the ball. How did you feel looking on from the sidelines at how the game went?

Hart: I recognised pretty early that we were in trouble and the ability to keep the ball and do what we had planned to do was breaking down and it was a direct relation to both mental and physical fatigue.

We struggled to get hold of the ball in the first place. And then when we did get hold of the ball, we were not patient enough to try and rest with the ball sometimes. It is a big learning curve.

Wired868: In terms of the attributes of your players, was the squad constructed to be able to retain possession against a team like Panama?

Hart: Certainly not against Mexico. But I felt that we could do it against other teams. But the team was more or less designed to play a counter attacking type of game because I felt we were athletic enough and the technical players were further up the field that can bring that kind of goal scoring attributes.


Think this is a little contradictory, given the state, we were in, especially against panama.  A different team make up might have been better utilized.

Suggestions?

Come een Coach Max 

[soccerman]

Very insighting read, coach Hart really understands the mindset of our players and he seems like the man to instill a change into our national players so they can do what they need to gain a competitive advantage. I too hope we can keep him on board as our coach in the long run.

[injunchile]

Mental fatique- Which coach in the world can change that mindset. Someone should ask the coach about this team's football intelligence. Excellent interview and looking forward to part 2

[Deeks]

Last Saturday gone the QRC annual Outa De Blue fete was held in DC.Well, Silver Spring to be exact. Spoke with LP briefly. He has high praise for Coach Hart, and think he is the right person to take us out of the doldrums. We did not talk much with the heavy soca jammin in the background. The session was well attended. Excellent "Inclusive" party. Plenty good food, with open bar. It was held at the Fillmore, a nice small amphi theatre in downtown Silver Spring. Thanks to all the people who supported our endeavour. Love and God Bless!

[grimm01]

Part 2 up on the site and it's also a good read.

http://wired868.com/2015/08/09/hart-exam-tt-coach-talks-philosophy-squad-selection-and-the-2018-wcup/

[Jack Horner]

Hart was better for T&T players before he signs a extension to his contract, he wants to see a plan.

Guarantee you he will sign whether he sees a plan or not.

Guys, I heard some good news today, Jack is not going anywhere.

Remember, I told you so.

[SWF Reporter]

Hart exam: T&T coach talks football philosophy, squad selection and the 2018 W/Cup
By Lasana Liburd (Wired868.com)

“I think football is about creating a balance,” Trinidad and Tobago National Senior Team head coach Stephen Hart told Wired868. “The first thing you need to know is how you are going to recover the ball. If you cannot recover the ball, then you are in trouble.
“And when you recover the ball, depending on the part of the field you are, knowing how to play. Do you keep it or do you look to launch a counter-attack?”
Hart sat down with Wired868 for a wide ranging interview into the state of the “Soca Warriors”, the 2013 and 2015 Gold Cup tournaments, his tactical and player selections and the Russia 2018 World Cup campaign.
This is part two of our Hart-to-heart:

Wired868: What was the trick with Kenwyne Jones? He seemed to have worked with you better than any other coach…
Hart: I think you would need to speak to Kenwyne about that. I try to always advise Kenwyne along certain lines and let him know if I am happy with what he is doing or if I am not happy with what he is doing. But I am also aware of the enormous strain he is under from the Trinidad public, which I think is unfair.
People don’t take into consideration the kind of attention other teams pay towards him. And what I’ve found is it has been very difficult to find a partner for Kenwyne who could create the type of service he would require.
He is not the typical Trinidad and Tobago striker who could pick up and make room for himself or beat his man. He requires service. So the difficulty was to create situations where the service was close enough to him to exploit the space he creates by being double marked and/or to feed off things that come off of him, which is what (Kevin) Molino did so very well.

Wired868: You think Kevin Molino is by far the best partner for Kenwyne?
Hart: Yes. Because Kevin played close to Kenwyne. The other ‘number 10s’ (attacking central midfielders), so to speak, have a habit of playing close to the midfield. And, quite frankly, if a team is defending and the (opposing) ‘number 10’ is playing in the middle of the park, they have done their job.
But if the ‘number 10’ is finding room on the top of the penalty box, then it creates a problem. And Kevin has the ability to find room on the top of the penalty area.

Wired868: Jonathan Glenn didn’t play a minute at the Gold Cup and I think he only played 10 minutes in the Caribbean Cup. What is the value that you think he brings to the team?
Hart: He is an excellent finisher. His finishing ability is probably the most composed in the squad. I think he will get his chance but Kenwyne was playing so well…
Glenn is a ‘nine’. He said he rarely ever plays wide. It is just a matter of biding his time and when he gets the opportunity…

Wired868: The younger players, Rundell Winchester and Kadeem Corbin, didn’t get a look in. Is it harder for new players to grow on you?
Hart: No. It was unfortunate but the way the team was playing at the time, it didn’t make sense changing up the squad for the sake of giving them experience in a tournament.
That is what happens with Trinidad and Tobago football at every level. We are going to tournaments for experience and the (part where we properly prepare players beforehand and provide them with the) experience so they can play in a tournament is severely lacking.
So it is very difficult for me at that point to know what would be coming off the bench with those younger players, even though Rundell is not so much of a risk as Corbin.

Wired868: And what about another newcomer, attacking midfielder Keron Cummings, who got into the team after injuries to Molino and Hughtun Hector?
Hart: I think his attitude was good in that he came in listening… I told him there are  two potential positions you could play and if you do this you would have a very good chance of playing.
But even in the first half of the Mexico game, he started off doing what I told him I didn’t pick him in the past for. Which is he was getting comfortable with the midfielders (and playing too deep). (He would) bounce a ball and get it back but really not do anything (to effect the game).
At half time, the basic knowledge passed to him was get close to Kenwyne and feed off anything that comes to him.
(Cummings went on to score twice in the second half with both goals coming from assists by Jones).
Read more: http://wired868.com/2015/08/09/hart-exam-tt-coach-talks-philosophy-squad-selection-and-the-2018-wcup/

[maxg]

Wired868: Before the game against Panama, you spoke about the importance of keeping the ball. How did you feel looking on from the sidelines at how the game went?

Hart: I recognised pretty early that we were in trouble and the ability to keep the ball and do what we had planned to do was breaking down and it was a direct relation to both mental and physical fatigue.

We struggled to get hold of the ball in the first place. And then when we did get hold of the ball, we were not patient enough to try and rest with the ball sometimes. It is a big learning curve.

Wired868: In terms of the attributes of your players, was the squad constructed to be able to retain possession against a team like Panama?

Hart: Certainly not against Mexico. But I felt that we could do it against other teams. But the team was more or less designed to play a counter attacking type of game because I felt we were athletic enough and the technical players were further up the field that can bring that kind of goal scoring attributes.


Think this is a little contradictory, given the state, we were in, especially against panama.  A different team make up might have been better utilized.

Suggestions?

Come een Coach Max 

Sorry, we had Nationals..Suggestions:  Playing/picking a particular team to facilitate one strategy or other, depending on the Team you're facing. Bun men as skilful as they might be, ain't counter-attacking.  I think in essence this is what he tried to do.eg. Cyrus on bench for Mexico etc.. except, Cyrus for Panama wasn't or couldn't counter. As much as I like him, a change was in order. Don't worry, I trust Coach Hart decisions and support them. Yet as published, I don't think that was what was meant or what we saw was what was supposed to be executed. Certain he(Coach Hart) on the job still doh. Supporter Max always in the correct corner.

[palos]

Sorry, we had Nationals..Suggestions:  Playing/picking a particular team to facilitate one strategy or other, depending on the Team you're facing. Bun men as skilful as they might be, ain't counter-attacking.  I think in essence this is what he tried to do.eg. Cyrus on bench for Panama etc.. except, Cyrus for mexico wasn't or couldn't counter. As much as I like him, a change was in order. Don't worry, I trust Coach Hart decisions and support them. Yet as published, I don't think that was what was meant or what we saw was what was supposed to be executed. Certain he(Coach Hart) on the job still doh. Supporter Max always in the correct corner.

I believe Cyrus missed the Mexico match and played against Panama

[maxg]

Sorry, we had Nationals..Suggestions:  Playing/picking a particular team to facilitate one strategy or other, depending on the Team you're facing. Bun men as skilful as they might be, ain't counter-attacking.  I think in essence this is what he tried to do.eg. Cyrus on bench for Mexico etc.. except, Cyrus for Panama wasn't or couldn't counter. As much as I like him, a change was in order. Don't worry, I trust Coach Hart decisions and support them. Yet as published, I don't think that was what was meant or what we saw was what was supposed to be executed. Certain he(Coach Hart) on the job still doh. Supporter Max always in the correct corner.

I believe Cyrus missed the Mexico match and played against Panama

yes my bad..corrected

[davyjenny1]

I truly hope TTFA hold on to this Coach oui. He has T&T football at heart. He is competent. Great understanding and excellent work ethic. More than a National Team Manager, he cares about the people and their welfare first.

Excellent interview Lasana

Thanks to both

After TTFA election things may change.

TTFA; Potentially a new Presidential candidate on the horizon soon to be release.