Missing the Latapy factor

But could any sane person tell me why the Soca Warriors, playing the most important game in the history of this country, did not field its most gifted and talented player? I hope as a country we have settled down from the “distraught-ful” joy of only losing 2-0 to England and someone is willing to ask the hard questions about Latapy’s absence from what may probably be (and I hope I am wrong) the most important game of football we have ever played.

For all Mr Beenhakker’s coaching wisdom, experience, savvy and ingenuity, I think he got this one wrong and terribly so. Why? Firstly, I think he overestimated the skill, talent and ability difference between the “mighty” England and us.

And what was worse was the fact that even after the first forty-five minutes, he did nothing about it. He made our team play an overly conservative game (too European and nothing West Indian, only Warrior no Soca). It was as if our players were thinking that England had to score, so let’s just see how long we can prevent it! Even in a conservative design Yorke needed someone else on the pitch like Latapy with the skill, talent and experience to handle all the pressure being dished out.

Imagine, Yorke had to take all the free kicks and corners instead of positioning himself to score with Latapy taking the free kicks and corners. Regardless of all the talk about upset and shock, Did Leo really expect anything but a loss in this game?

There isn’t a better reader of the game and passer of the ball than Russell Latapy among all our players. In the game against England nearly all of the final passes to the one or two attacking forwards were off target not giving us a chance. The only on target delivery to a forward was from Cornell Glen (that feisty little player from Waterhole Cocorite who should have come on immediately after the break) to Stern John that ended in a goal that was ruled just off-side. Sadly, we can only imagine what Latapy might have been able to do in those conditions, even if Beenhakker had given him a mere 30 or 35 minutes it may have been enough. I honestly believe that the Don has erred and has robbed us and the entire World Cup.

Let me say that I do believe that we should have played a very defensive game but I would like to have an explanation as to why Russell Latapy could not be part of such a defensive set-up. He can hold-up the ball and screen it and slow down the play better than any other member of the team. His control, touches and execution of passes and managing of the mid-field would have surely secured the other seven-eight minutes that we needed to hold out for the draw at least. He has the uncanny ability of making something out of nothing. That alias “the Little Magician” was not bestowed upon him by chance, it is the sum of what he has done and can still do on the field. The good Lord alone knows what magic pass or passes he would have been able to deliver to Stern or Cornell to create a shock result, which was very possible.

Finally, just as Sven Ericksson recognised that Rooney was desperately needed, Beenhakker should have seen that Russell was indispensable in that game