Smart says Lawrence must use squad depth

Lawrence was appointed on January 21 as the head coach of the national team. Smart, who has 50 years experience coaching in football, likes the decision to appoint Lawrence but knows it may be challenging for the former national player.

Smart said, “It is a good appointment, but I believe they giving a boy a man’s job to do. I don’t know if Lawrence has the experience but I would like to test him. I am not against any young persons.” Despite a dismal start to the final round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying Smart believes Trinidad and Tobago can still qualify but says the squad of players must be fully utilised.

“Yes (we have a chance to qualify), they have eight games (left).

You must have a working system.

You have to look at the time span between the games, you also have to know the set of games, when are you playing them, how you preparing the players. Sometimes you have to use height, weight, size, speed and different methods for different teams.” Smart, who coached former national striker Stern John as a youngster, explained, “You can’t go and play Germany with fellas five feet eight. You have to have fellas six feet and over. You have to be able to mix the players to suit. You have to know the style that Costa Rica coming with, you have to know the style that Mexico coming with. You have to know all these things as a coach going into a game and adjust to suit, that is why you have 22 men so everybody on the bench would get a chance.” TT will face Panama on March 24 and Mexico on March 28 when the World Cup qualifiers resume.

Both matches will be played at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain.