So we went down 2-1 against Jamaica in the first Digicel encounter. And what I am hearing from the coach is that the Soca Warriors happened to allow the Jamaicans two soft goals and will have to raise their game in the coming encounters against Cuba and Barbados if they wish to reach the Gold Cup finals.
Soft goals? This coach has to be suffering from delusions and one is left to wonder how he sees what he sees. Before the World Cup qualifier against the USA on Ash Wednesday, this is what was said in this space about the game of the Soca Warriors:
I have witnessed all their games to date and I am horrified at the low level of technical capability which is reflected in their lack of confidence and their inability to possess the ball for extensive periods of time, moreso to pass the ball efficiently.
What is someone doing on a national team preparing for World Cup games but cannot pass the ball?
The coach talks incessantly about discipline and one gets the impression his concept of discipline is limited to deportment, how players behave on and off the field, how they comport themselves, and not the creative discipline needed to maintain structure; shift quickly from mode of attack to mode of defence and back; how to play when off the ball, etc.
The point is that deportment is really a function of management and administration, while the coach is about instilling creative discipline while developing technical competence
We lost to the USA and now we have gone into the Digicel Cup against teams like Jamaica who are out of the World Cup and nothing changes; we are still completely deficient in terms of maintaining structure and in shifting gear from mode of defence to mode of attack.
This coach is deluded if he sees the Jamaican goals as soft goals.
The Jamaicans scored precisely because they were able to move swiftly in sufficient number from defence to counter-attack.
Their first goal came because they were able to get up to support each other in attack, outnumbering in the process the defence of T&T.
In fact they should have scored about three more goals for precisely this reason. It was happening over and over and the Soca Warriors on the pitch lacked the mettle to comprehend what was happening to them and rectify the situation.
The Jamaicans functioned more intelligently on the day, plus they were fitter and faster to the ball than we were.
Their second goal was a beauty of a gliding header. It came from a corner kick and while the T&T defencemen were waiting for the ball to come, Andy Williams did the opposite, he went to meet the ball and executed the header.
Over and over again we were caught waiting for the ball to come and seemed surprised when the opponents went to it and intercepted.
T&T Soca Warriors had their fair share of counter attacks but the play was never supported in numbers enough to get the ball at the back of the net.
Our weaknesses are so glaring that one wonders what we do in the course of our practice sessions.
The move from defence to attack in sufficient numbers has to become instinctive. Otherwise our goals will always turn out to be more a reflection of individual skill, like Nigel Pierres, rather than a reflection of collective focus and purpose.
Creative discipline is the answer, Mr St Clair, creative discipline and intelligent functioning. But wait, is football or culture we talking?