I could not help but feel depressed at the end of the England match yesterday.
What transpired on the field did not surprise me, as the problems which were evident over the past few games continually cropped up. But I felt we could have kept the score line a bit more respectable and we should have taken at least one goal in this match.

Needless to say it is the best TT performance of Maturana’s tenure thus far, scoreline not withstanding. There were less errors, more attempts at getting fwd, I saw some composure in the back, we tried to knock the ball and maintain possession and I think we can beat Bermuda on current form. However we are not ready for Guatemala, Cuba and USA as yet.

Let us remember the caliber of opposition we were playing, a far cry from Barbados and Grenada. But at the same time England took their foot off the gas. They did not really tackle us or pressure us, they gave us a level of room and respect that would not be afforded by our Concacaf neighbours and they waited for us to make the mistake and then regained possession.

But lets go back to the story shall we.

I was really hyped after seeing the England training and all the reports online and in the news.

Woke up early, instead of getting the morning paper near to my house I took a drive round the stadium and it was a buzz of activity, (Its about 8:30am) Vendors setting up, tstt setting up some small goalpost inside the stadium, men putting up railings, music firing up. I say yes it looking busy.

After getting a few phone calls, members of my squad went down from 12 to secure a good seat and I left my house clad in my White Latapy Jersey, My red puma shoes and a tall red and white socks. My iron drinking cup and my small drum/rattle completed the outfit.

The intention was to park on the Ave and walk in but I was greeted by No parking signs and a wrecker was patrolling. So I decided to pay for a bit of piece of mind, parking in the Princess Elizabeth center and $30 poorer walked to the front of the stadium.

It is now 1:00 and everyone was clad in white. A few wore their red Trinidad jerseys, some locals in a white England kit, a White Manu or Arsenal but a lot of people have purchased the new white TT kit much to my surprise. It was funny though as the Warriors did not play in the kit being offered by Francis fashions, but rather they came out in something looking like a training kit with the TT crest hurriedly sewn on the center.

I had an extra ticket to scalp and after disposing of it. I held my remaining ticket aloft, walked tru the long metal gates by St Johns Ambulance and was frisked by a security officer. After passing them I was now in the Crawford compound and I received 2 little scrolls to win some competition or the other. A smiling TSTT beauty handed me a white rag. Then the scent of horse dung alerted my senses. Skipping thru the hay filled obstacle course I makkoed the lunch and lime fete…which was a total BUSS in the JP complex. Not a person inside.

After walking away I looked at some English visitors string up a green and white TSTT goalkeeper in a white small post with makeshift field. Nice interactive touch by tstt.

After getting my ticket scanned and getting the green light. I received a match program and I made my way upstairs to the action.

Truth be told I reach late…it is now 1:30 and the entire half line section and 18 yard areas were completely filled. Only corner flag and behind the post seating was available and everyone was holding seat for they pardner. I found my crew sat down and waited for the action to start. It was overcast, weather was muggy but we got a spell of rain that brought out the umbrellas from some and sighs of relief from others. Strong men started to strip down, The white outfits started to print out and the eyefood started to be shared in heaping portions.

The Big Flag that was being used to shade those underneath had to be rolled up quickly when the rain came down and it was a beautiful sight contrasting against the white background.

I had a pack of cards on me, the squad had a dominoes set, but as the seats were wet it didn’t make sense so we killed time “Trini” way. Cup get rinse, ice was filled, scotch start to pour and then it was all good. My bamsee then started to get corn from sitting in the seat for so long so I used the opportunity to walk about. Met quite a few friends who I have not seen in ages and the time passed by quickly. I was also introduced to a new concoction. Potent, a tad sweet but enjoyable….folks alyuh try Puncheon and Sorrel Shandy…It guaranteed to Beam To You Up after 3 sip.

Anyways the team came out on the field to warm up and then I noticed the atmosphere.
It was dead, not lively, no setta jammishness, no kinda vibes, no passion as compared to previous games. Without getting into it, lets just say grounds had a different demographic and ethnic composition. I suspect that the Online ticket system coupled with the price of admission was used as a Social Filter and the attendance was also younger and seemed new to football and how to support.

The speakers in the grounds section were not working properly so the announcer and the music was not too audible. Exodus, the Tassa group and maximus were not heard and poor maximus was trying to get the problem fixed thinking it was the mic and trying to whip up support in the crowd but people ent take him on too much.

TT warm up was starting XI near to grounds stretching doing passes and a small sided game. The subs across by covered stands. Keepers being put tru their paces by Brow and the English in three separate groups defence, mid, forwards doing their own passing and running drills.

Again Stern and Kenwyne aside we were generally smaller than them in stature.
Crouch got some boos, Beckham got the loudest cheer whenever he touched the ball and after the teams went back in the tunnel the embarrassment began.

England comes out with a Huge flag nearly the size of the WN big flag, held by 6-8 children. TT standing next to it has a regular sized flag held by two children….OH dear it looked so poor. We are home….chants of our flag too small, our flag too small filled the air and SPALK had to piggy back and say Look up at the big Flag in the Stands to
Help deflect the glaring embarrassment. Anthems played on Steel Pan and TT patrons sang the anthem loud and true.

Then they announce the officials and Dignitaries and Gary Hunt get the loudest collective BOO I have heard. They announce Jack after and he get applause. Yes he get a few murmers of discontent and steups but generally he get clap. Yorke get a clap, Hasley Crawford get a clap.

TT played a 4-4-2 in a white Kit that looking like a training uniform. England played a 4-4-2. as well morphing into a 3-5-2 at times.

TT: Ince, Cupid, Lawrence, Hislop, Farrier,
Carlos Edwards, Hyland, Whitley, Daniel, John, Jones.

Subs: Phillip, Roberts, Telesford, Smith, Adams, Guerra, Tinto, Yorke.

England: James, Johnson, Ferdinand, Woodgate, Bridge, Beckham,
Barry, Gerrard, Downing, Ashton, Defoe.

Subs: Hart, Lewis, Warnock, Wheater, Jagielka, Bentley, Young, Huddlestone, Crouch, Walcott, Agbonlahor.

Well lets just say after the touch TT tried to play the ball around and England just waited for them to make mistakes. The errant pass was picked up by the English midfield and they start to spread it and run at us with pace.

We lost the game due to a non existent tackling midfield and poor wingbacks. A problem that I have not seen corrected since Maturana has been in charge. It is a player selection issue.

No steel in the middle and no tacklers allowed England to pass the ball freely. Keon Daniel played on the wing and did not tackle or track back. Beckham was wide and free as a bird whole night and kept on swinging in cross after cross under No pressure.

Poor Cupid, what can I say..he get a 2.69 on BBC player rater and men in the crowd Christen him “To Who” …..as that is all they was shouting everytime he attempted to pass the ball or when he lost it.

He has struggled consistently. He was rescued by being subbed vs Jamaica, He redeemed himself vs Grenada and he was average vs Bdos but he is not ready for this level of ball yet. Let him get experience in the club system and let him put in his dues in his national team age group.

Hislop try a thing back was shakey, Lawrence was not concentrating and move a bit sloppy at times. Farrier try but the difference in quality was evident.

The problem is/was is that once the midfield not tackling and loafing wide or wherever the defence under pressure right tru. Is a setta last ditch effort and lunging tackle save us.

We still not creative going fwd and Stern, kenwyne for the few minutes he was on Roberts, Forbes etc never got a good ball or opportunity going fwd.

Keon Daniel hit Johnson a push pull beat on the flank and Hyland hit Gerrard a spanner in the middle but these individuals things did not transpire into any clear cut opportunity.

The first goal was a nice interplay of passes by England cross comes in and Barry looked to score a flying header or volley past Ince. Now I knew we would concede eh…but so early? I mean we supposed to weather at least a 20 min.

The second goal was real poor. Midfield ent tackle, Cupid back off…Ince shouting at him to cover and tackle and Defoe score a simple side footer far post from the top of the 18.
A real soft goal defence and midfield standing up arguing and watching.

However I find Ince save real good. He stop some certain goal, he save some bullet, he went down by men feet and save some 1v1 . He even gallery heself by chest trapping a header from Crouch then collecting it and throwing it upfield. He was off his line well, he was communicating well with his players giving instructions, he distributed well and came for all the corners and crosses that I saw. Is only the 2nd goal I vex with him for.

Kenwyne coming off was a real disappointment and to me it looked like James caught him on his shin or knee with a boot. Roberts came on and looked lost, he ent get no passes and even though he made the correct fwd runs. Nothing came his way . Imagine he got subbed at the ½ for what?

After that England overs and just play out the rest of the game. I don’t even think they tried. They knock the ball around, didn’t go into any tackle, all fouls were some pull jersey/ big body kinda screen and they look disinterested.

TT on the other hand then tried to string passes together but mistakes, poor communication and players STANDING UP and not supporting resulted in our attack being stifled. We were our own worse enemy. Not doing the simple things, not running off the ball, not tracking back and pointing and blaming each other. I detected a star boy mentality on the field and I saw Edwards, Stern and the other overseas players gesticulating and being aggressive to their local conterparts. While it was deserved you could see the chemistry and cohesion not there.

Whitley play like a boss. Tackling intercepting and trying to go fwd but he could not do it alone. Hyland showed what he was made of but…he tried to hard and some things just didn’t work or he was overeager making mistakes.

Carlos showed his touch and beat were there but I fault him for taking too long and not doing the play simple or moving fast enough but he was one of the few looking like he had a clue.

Stern realized he was not getting any service up front and dropped back to help the midfield, to try to slow up the pace and to try and bring out the ball. I find as a senior player he tried and did what he could I cant fault him this game.

The rest….just tried the best they could and there is no shame in that.

Farrier try, Smith come on and make some bad pass but he clean up in the back, he even breed crouch falling down. Telesford was the best sub, showing aggression, running into space, supporting and making room. But he come on too little too late.

Dwight Yorke…is still the boss and I feel we have a WCQ campaign in him still. His touch was on, the screening ability, the way he took pressure off the side and his passes were crisp. We could still use him.

Now a sub came on a #12 didn’t get his name but he was running fast and looking useful….he try a ting but get some jam.

Forbes had zero impact. But the damage was already done.

Throughout it all we had about 3 opportunities to score…and we should have put them away. One in the first half and about 2 in the second. Somebody blaze over bar and other was cleared off the line by a defender.

I did not see Englands 3rd goal as I was downstairs in the bathroom and by the bar. It probably happened right as the 2nd half started. I didn’t hear anything so I was shocked when the final whistle went and I looked up at the scoreboard and saw Eng 3.
I had to ask all around me when that happen, who score and how it transpired.

All in all we did not get a cutarse, but we could have made the game more competitive, we should have scored and I think we could have been able to keep a clean sheet and frustrate the English longer.

There are positive signs, we have improved since the first game and players are now understanding their role. However lack of midfield aggression, lack of creativity going forward and our defence is cause for concern. We do not have the time to groom a player…WCQ is this month. We trying them against poor opposition and they struggling, we need to bring back Birchall, Cyd, and Sancho to help out and provide experience and their talents.

Jamaica game is on this Saturday. But to pay the same price as England…$300. I ent sure it worth it. Especially as I intend to go to the more important Bermuda qualifier.
Anybody with a Oval pass could organize a link for me?

Till next time.