Up close with Patriot.
T&T started off quickly, from the kick-off in fact. They attacked the Grenadians and seemed intent on preventing them time to settle on the ball as well as try for an early goal. While we clearly had the edge in possession, there were few clear-cut chances. The Grenadians rarely threatened, although the few times they did, our keeper Daurance looked a bit shaky. In and around the 20th mins, after some nest interplay, Fitzpatrick dribbled into the area and was clumsily fouled by a Grenadian defender. From the resulting penalty kick, Nigel Pierre converted, 1-0 T&T. I felt the team eased off the pace a bit at this point and the Grenadians stepped up theirs. Nonetheless it was Glen who got a clear run on goal but fired into the side netting with only the keeper to beat. Very little to comment on in the 1st half.
Our second half was POOR! Grenada actually managed to launch some quick counter attacks, using the length and breath of the field to change sides more effectively than WE were doing! However it would be T&T with a quick counter-attack who would go up 2-0. A goal scored by Cyd Gray about 10 mins into the half. Gray collected a throw in and raced past the Grenadian left-back, and placed the ball past the keeper. After this, Fitzpatrick had a glorious chance laid on a platter for him but shot over from just outside the box. He was NOT the only one ! Glen would muff another chance as well. At this point I should mention that our left-wing was pretty impotent, with Derek Phillips showing little pace and unable to deliver much by way of crosses either. It was no surprise that he ended up being replaced by Aver John, who immediately made an impact sending a glorious cross into the box which Pierre (Nigel) failed to get a boot onto. Jemmott WAS impressive, although our forwards did NOT read some of his clever passes. He was then replaced by Micheal Lee Celestine soon after. T&T then made a MAJOR faux pas, taking off Glen and bringing in Odelle Armstrong. This guy would proceed to "UNSCORE" several easy chances !! In fact by our 3rd sub, Grenada manged to sieze control of the game and were actually pressuring us !!! However the T&T defence stood tall and again had our 3 strikers converted, the scoreline could have been MUCH better for us.
T&T starting line-up:
-----------Daurance Williams---------
-----Thomas----King-----A Pierre---
Gray--------Fitzpatrick---------Phillips-
---------Jemmott---Theobald--------------
------------Pierre----Glen----------------
Player Ratings:
| Daurance Williams: Has a good kick-out, but comes out his box too swiftly and displayed some errors in judgement that could cost us against stronger oposition. Also did not call (keeper!) or communicate with his defence much. |
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| Derek King: Was a decent player, nothing fancy, but read the game well, and put in tackles, while mobilising the defence. |
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| Keyeno Thomas: Made some crazy tackles, was slow getting back but played hard. |
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| Anton Pierre: One of our best players on show ! Still SLOW, but more than made up for it with excellent reading of the game, tackled much better and great distribution out. |
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| Cyd Gray: Scored, over-lapped well, showed that he had a lot of speed, crossed pretty well. However, he STILL tackles like a madman, for which he was later booked in the 2nd half. |
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| Derek Phillips: Slow, going forward AND coming back ! Has good ball control and CAN dribble, but is simply NOT a winger. |
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| Leslie Fitzpatrick: Ran hard, pressured the Grenadians when they were in possession and tackled well. Also intercepted a number of passes and launched T&T's attack. Ran out of steam in the later stages of the 2nd half though, needs to work on his fitness if he is to be added to the WC team next year. |
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| Denzil Theobald: Made some great passes and combined well with Jemmott in the centre. Was a bit slow in going forward and needs to speed up his delivery of balls as well, BUT deserves his sopt in the WC roster. |
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| Kerwyn Jemmott: Showed class and confidence on the ball, proved quite a handful for the opposing players and delivered some beautiful balls from midfield. He also tackled and pressured the Grenadians when they were in possession. Can add something to the WC team. |
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| Cornell Glen: Could, AND SHOULD have scored a double tonight, but his conversion rate tonight was BAD !!! I maintain this guy will serve us MUCH better on the wing, where his pace and dribbling ability will improve our penetration, and take some of the striking pressure off him too. |
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| Nigel Pierre: At 200 lbs he CAN be forgiven for NOT running down balls, but how could he play 90 mins ??? Answer, we were practically playing a man short ! IMAGINE THE MAN TOOK 88 MINS BEFORE HE TOOK HIS FIRST SHOT ON GOAL. |
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| Subs: | |
| Avery John: Following his RED card last week he picked up another yellow tonight. STILL plays too wild, but his crosses and willingness to run AT players was a useful change on our left-side. |
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| Michael Celestine: Played in the middle and really did little to impress me. In fact his presence was barely noticeable. Did not stand out. |
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| Odelle Armstrong: For a DEFENCE FORCE striker, this guy showed little strength, wasted 4 FOUR clear cut chances, including one where he turned the last defender, pushed the ball past the keeper, but conspired to take SO long to shoot ANOTHER defender manged to recover and clear the danger, He was not fast NOR did he shoot particularly well. In MY opionion this guy should NOT even be on the bench !!! |
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All in all T&T played 1 decent half and one REALLY bad half. Of the non-WC players there, ONLY Jemmott, Fitzpatrick and Anton Pierre can seriously be considered. Replacing Eve, Rahim and Rougier respectively in the middle. Gray adds pace, but is TOO much of a loose canon. Besides Glen, we CANNOT depend on the other 2 strikers I saw tonight. Maybe Conrad Smith should have been given another shot, at least HE seems capable of scoring !
To be honest, after tonight, it will be PAINFUL to sit through another game on Sunday...still Andre Samuel and Raul were great company, we get nuff kicks !!! :