Trinidad & Tobago is in last place in the CONCACAF Hexagonal round of World CUp qualifying, but the Soca Warriors are about to get a big boost with the addition of two European-based players who have committed to play for them.
Fulham striker Bobby Zamora and Bolton defender Jlloyd Samuel have received their T&T passports and will join Trinidad & Tobago for its crucial qualifier vs. El Salvador on Wednesday.
Zamora will help give T&T an imposing strike force alongside Kenwyne Jones as T&T looks improve in its current total of two points in qualifying.
For those of you wondering, the U.S. national team travels to Trinidad & Tobago on Sept. 9 for a World Cup qualifier. The Americans defeated T&T, 3-0, in their other qualifying meeting, on April 1.
Here are some other stories to get your Saturday going:
Real Madrid routs Toronto FC
Kaka made his Real Madrid debut as the full assortment of Galacticos were on display in Madrid's 5-1 thrashing of Toronto FC on Friday night.
A pair of goals from Raul and a finish from Cristiano Ronaldo gave Real Madrid a 3-0 lead after just 26 minutes, which let the visitors coast to the finish as Karim Benzema and Arjen Robben added goals.
Toronto FC avoided the shutout when Gabe Gala ran onto an O'Brian White pass to make the final score 5-1.
Real Madrid wraps up its tour of North America on Sunday when it takes on D.C. United at Fed Ex Field.
Everton eyeing Obinna
Tottenham and Everton have joined a growing list of teams interested in Inter Milan striker Victor Obinna.
If the name rings a bell, it should. He was one of the stars of the Nigerian Olympic team, yes the same team that eliminated the United States last summer. Obinna is also being targeted by Schalke and Parma.
Aquilani sidelined for two months
Rafa Benitez might want to invest in some horseshoes and four-leaf clovers because his luck hasn't been that good lately.
After losing Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid, Benitez was able to secure Roma midfielder Alberto Aquilani, but now he will have to wait two months to see his new midfielder play because Aquilani is sidelined with an ankle injury.
Liverpool will have to turn to Brazilian youngster Lucas Leiva to handle the midfield duties while Aquilani recovers. Nevermind the possibility that Javier Mascherano could still wind up at Barcelona.
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What do you think of these stories? Think Trinidad & Tobago still has a chance to qualify for the 2010 World Cup? Did you watch the Real Madrid-TFC match? Starting to wonder if Liverpool is doomed to have a down year?
Share your thoughts below.
Before you call in John Terry to defend T&T, Bobby Zamora in 36 games had 4 goals.
harry, your thoughts are convoluted and irrational. No one is saying adu should do anythin except get consistent minutes. Besides, his not doing well even though hes a “wunderkind” means that US fans ARE rational and fair. Ching has a prticular skill set that translates well for the US. Right now, freddy adu does not. He’s rusty and out of form.
Zamora’s and Samuel’s situation is similar to Arturo Alvarez’s who will be playing for El Salvador by Wednesday against T&T or in September against us in Rio Tinto
Jones and Castillo had already shown for Germany and Mexico in Friendlies. Zamora and Samuel have no call ups. They are not Federation tied. There is no paper work that needs to be put in besides the initial federation paperwork unlike Jones and Castillo. Don’t you guys follow proper Fifa rules?
Posted by: Iammetro | August 08, 2009 at 05:34 PM
Zamora appeared for the English U21’s, as did Samuel. Under the old FIFA rules they would have been tied to England just like Castillo and Jones were tied to Mexico and Germany, respectively.
But i digress, why do we need Jones? We have Bradley, Clark, Feilhaber, Edu, Dempsey, Donovan, Holden and Kljestan.
Posted by: ISAF | August 08, 2009 at 04:07 PM
Bradley and Clark are two great CM but what if one goes down?
Feilhaber is great but what if he goes down?
Edu is still injured.
Dempsey and Donovan play on the wings or up top.
Holden is still green and is not at Jones’ level.
Kljestan needs to develop both sides of his game. Not even USMNT level
Ok, if Bobby Zamora and Jlloyd Samuel can play for T&T this Wednesday, why do Jermaine Jones and Edgar Castillo have to wait until October? F*ck you Sunil Gulati
Posted by: Brian | August 08, 2009 at 03:33 PM
Jones and Castillo had already shown for Germany and Mexico in Friendlies. Zamora and Samuel have no call ups. They are not Federation tied. There is no paper work that needs to be put in besides the initial federation paperwork unlike Jones and Castillo. Don’t you guys follow proper Fifa rules?
Yea yea………now it seems like i hate brian Ching… and i think its funny, now that somebody mentioned Freddy Adu..people would bash the crap out of Freddy Adu to the point where he should retire at 20…….and thse same posters would say as a disclaimer “and i like Adu too!” but when somebody does it to an MLS veteran its cuz i somehow really really hate him…….somethig of a double standard?…it just figures into what i thought along. if your associated with MLS you get a pass……….
Jermaine Jones 2007 highlights, watch the whole thing, it gets better
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMNjqyt9YVM
oh, and watch for the part where he loses the ball, then runs a FULL ON SPRINT! to get it back, hmmmm, havent seen that in our team lately
Well, Toumba, Adu does have that… what is it called? Oh yeah, skill…
Also, hearty LOLz to whoever cited Ricardo Clark and Sacha Kljestan as reasons we don’t need Jermaine Jones. There’s a huge drop-off after Bradley and Benny and JJ would instantly be our best CM/CDM.
I like how Harry tells us to stop over hyping MLS and its players…..but when it comes to Freddy Adu….Harry is the over-hype mouthpiece of the century.
I think it says a lot about someone if they don’t like Brian Ching and their favorite young player is Freddy Adu.
I guess it is OK to dislike a big, slow guy for losing the ball and to defend the hell out of a small quick guy who loses the ball even more. Strange logic.
For the record Jllyod Samuel is from trinidad he moved to england at a young age and got called up by the english youth team.
What’s a link to those highlight tapes? What has he accomplished in Germany so far? I’d say it’s risky to bring him in so late, if he’s injured even for a month or 2, it rolls back his integration into our starting XI. To me I’d say we’re better without him, let’s keep our current team and press them for better/
Newsflash: Harry hates Brian Ching.
This is the third or fourth time that Harry’s said it in the last week, on different threads.
Harry hates Brian Ching so much, that he’ll inject him into a conversation. Search the text: the first time that anyone said the word Ching, it was Harry. Guess what, Harry, no one asked your opinion of Brian Ching.
Stop the hatefest and start being relevant.
I’d say he’s better than all of them except Donovan and Dempsey, have u seen his highlight tapes?
Because he’s better than Clark, Edu, Holden, and Kljestan.
If Ching were a striker in the PL, he’d be like 4th striker on a relegation fodder team, but i’d imagine he might score 1 or 2 goals. Zamora is the type of striker who could never score double digits in the PL. He’d be more suited to the Bundesliga.
But i digress, why do we need Jones? We have Bradley, Clark, Feilhaber, Edu, Dempsey, Donovan, Holden and Kljestan.
Man, Toronto’s crowd was weak last night. No atmosphere at all. I’ve lost all respect for them.
Good point. Many English players are decent, but simply not good enough to be in the PL. Plus there are cheaper talents found overseas. The English need to get their stuff together otherwise guys like Gerrard, Lampard will truly be the unique Englishman.
“Are you crazy? Ching is not in Zamora’s class.”
Oh please. I’m no great fan of Ching, but if Zamora wasn’t a UK citizen or hold a European passport, he’d never be in the EPL. There are many US players who would have a shot of making EPL/championship rosters if they were European citizens. This is the factor that the press/fans always miss when they are talking about American players. Americans aren’t in competition for European spots with Europeans, they are in competition with South Americans/Africans/Asians. When considering a US player, EPL teams are comparing them to Brazilians and Argentinians. There are TONS of very mediocre English/Welsh/Scottish players in the EPL and Championship.
Ching is on Zamora’s level. If Ching was from Liverpool rather than Hawaii, he’d have a good shot at holding a spot on a bottom half of the table EPL club.
sochaux is up 1-0 nearing the half, davies is on the bench
one the US isn’t as desperate as T&T, Jones is hurt so he’s a no go anyway, either way neither of these guys fall under the new rule, as far as I know neither appeared after the age of 21 for England so they have always been eligible for switches, both have parents from T&T
Ok, if Bobby Zamora and Jlloyd Samuel can play for T&T this Wednesday, why do Jermaine Jones and Edgar Castillo have to wait until October? F*ck you Sunil Gulati
Harry: You said Zamora can hold the ball better than Ching can?LOL Ching has played in more important games in which held the ball and passed for a goal numerous times! Ching is one of the best forwards I’ve seen that can hold the ball in the box. And this is coming from someone who doesn’t think all that about ching.lol Zamora is just an average player with some decent skills. Let’s no get carried away with Bobby now.
Posted by: Hush | August 08, 2009 at 01:51 PM
Are you crazy? Ching is not in Zamora’s class. If you were saying that about McBride, maybe I would agree. But Ching is no where Zamora is in talent. Ching might hold the ball but his follow through with the play he is starts usually leads to a fail.
TnT can have a good Concacaf team if they stop playing long balls and decide to attack with fast pace and short passes. The majority of the time when they are building through the midfield is when they are the most dangerous.
legit or not, some US fans were leaning a bit much on the A, B, C team argument. While true, we have to admit defeat and give Mexico its props. Many Mexico fans were calling us out for doing that, but we’ll see if they use the Marquez, Guardado were out excuse when we beat them!
Posted by: freddie footballer | August 08, 2009 at 12:45 PM
Freddie, like all the Mexicans that told me. It doesn’t matter who was there but only what team it is. If the US beats Mexico at El Azteca, I will say the same things they said after the Gold Cup Final. “It doesn’t matter who was there but only what team it is.”
Ching is MLS quality striker. He can score 12-15goals a season and make them look good. He’d be a success in a Scandinavaian or Swiss league. He should try his chance abroad. I’m sure he could get a 2 or 3 year contract with double or at least 50% more cash than he’s getting with Houston.
But he shouldn’t be on the WC roster. He did his part but we need more to do well.
Ching doesn’t even really hold the ball up that well… He does it better than anyone on the team, but he still can’t hold a candle to McBride (who was only slightly above average himself) in that area.
Hush……..Ching is still in MLS at 30, if he was so good he would be in Europe right now. Stop Over-hyping MLS and its players. Your not defending Ching the player, becuase like you said you dont rate him, your only defending Ching becuase he is an MLS veteran. Its time to stop Over-hyping MLS and its players. Ching Holds the ball up average vs COncacaf minnows and MLS teams. Zamora holds the ball up well vs EPL teams that he plays against. Hence why he is still in the EPL.
if you’re going to knock ching, it’s best not to argue that he doesn’t hold the ball up well enough. I’m not a fan of his, but I’ appreciate and understand what he brings to the table. He can hold the ball up and drop it off to altidore, davies, donovan, dempsey etc. Weve seen this time and again from him, and whether you like to play that style or not, you have to understand that he does it well. Knock him for being slow (which he is) and not being as lethal in front of the net as he could be (which is true) but you cannot talk about his ability to hold the ball up. I’d be interested to see who has drawn the most fouls this year for the USMNT, i wouldnt be surprised if it were ching.
can someone tell me how zamora and samuel are playing for T&T and were not already? Rule change? Dual Citizenship? I’m really curious about this, what are their connections to T&T and why haven’t they been playing for them already?
I’m excited about watching Altidore and the nats vs. Zamora. This will be fun.
Zamora and Samuel will help, but I don’t think it will enough for T&T to get out of a deep hole. Too many tough games to gain full points consistently.
Mascherano WILL NOT end up with Barca, quit perpetuating this ludicrous rumor. Barca dropped its entire transfer kitty on Ibrahimović and the bid they supposedly made for Masch back in July was only 20 million pounds (which is only two million more than LFC payed MSI/Kia Joorabchian for him). They would have to substantially increase any bid (30-35 million) for Rafa to even think about it.
@ Vic: Lucas has actually been one of the very few bright spots for Liverpool in the preseason. He looks like he is ready to be the player that LFC thought he was when they purchased him back in ’07.
On Losing Soccer Matches to Yanquis
http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2009-08-06/news/ask-a-mexican-on-losing-soccer-matches-to-american-yanquis/
Btw, Assorio and Agoof get fired yet?
Harry: You said Zamora can hold the ball better than Ching can?LOL Ching has played in more important games in which held the ball and passed for a goal numerous times! Ching is one of the best forwards I’ve seen that can hold the ball in the box. And this is coming from someone who doesn’t think all that about ching.lol Zamora is just an average player with some decent skills. Let’s no get carried away with Bobby now.
jermaine jones, not very different
Biskethead
David Regis had never been to the US and couldn’t even speak English, and he still played for the Nats. Just sayin’.
Zamaro is simialr to Ching but zamora is 10X the player. unlike Ching; Zamora can hold the ball up all the time an not lose it like Ching does alot and is faster,stronger,and has better footwork. His biggest problem was that he cou’dent score similar to like Ching…but Zamora had a few moments of class goals once in a while for West Ham and Fulham..which is why he get contratced to EPL Clubs and Ching is still in MLS.
Zamora comments after the 2006 WC invite “Trinidad is my dad’s country and to play in the finals would be a dream but West Ham are more important.
“I am only thinking about the club at the moment and do not want to be distracted from that.”
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/4170734.stm
Just how is Bobby Zamora a T&T. He was born in England. As a boy he Grew up in London, went to Barkley Abbey Secondary School,was tutored in West Hams farm system,Played in the Under 21 competitions. Has he ever been to Trinidad and Tobago?
legit or not, some US fans were leaning a bit much on the A, B, C team argument. While true, we have to admit defeat and give Mexico its props. Many Mexico fans were calling us out for doing that, but we’ll see if they use the Marquez, Guardado were out excuse when we beat them!
I hope Guardado is out. I would be great to turn the tables on Mexico and beat them down there. It would be nice for them to see what it’s like playing an American “A” side without their [Mexico’s] best players.
funny to read mexican blogs/forums and how they complain about their European players, I think that will ultimately be the demise of Mexico they can never seem to successfully integrate European and domestic talent, the US is thrilled with players going to Europe, there is still tension here in Mexico that the Europeans players think they are better, i.e. Nery Castillo, Marquez plays well for Barça, but never really replicated that for El Tri
Kimani Hill plays for Guimares did he take out Guardado? LOL. I hope he is ok becuase Mexico is already down one guy. If we beat them they have ready made excuses.
Zamora and Samuel will help T&T alot.
Of topic – Villa played Fiorentina in a friendly today. Eric Lichaj went the distance for the Villians. I think that is the 4th straight game he is the starting RB. This is very positive for the kid. The opportunity came because of injury to 2 RB’s but still. Martin O’neil will buy help I am sure but for a 20 year old kid this is good training.
Well that’s good for T&T and doesn’t really make them contenders in CONCACAF but maybe El Salvador is now shaking in their boots. I guess the one good thing is that it makes one of the regions teams better which is good in the long run.
Guardado being out would be a huge break for the U.S. He has shown well against the U.S. in the past. Now if Oswaldo Sanchez can find a way to get hurt I’d be the happiest man alive. I know he’s not on the roster but it would still bring a smile to my face.
i doubt trinidad’s stadium has a 30th row
Oh good. Now Zamora can launch the ball into the 30th row in non-EPL stadiums.
lucas leiva is a liability. I don’t care much for liverpool, but seeing lucas consistently lose his mark and pick up red cards like it’s christmas-come-early would make any fan of the game frustrated.
Translation from La Jornada (Mexican paper)
Andrés Guardado is in doubt to make the line up for el Tri after he hurt his right knee in the friendly that his team, Deportivo La Coruña, played against the Portuguese team Vitoria de Guimaraes, the midfielder had to leave the game in the 37th minute after a collision with an opponent, he will arrive in Mexico on Saturday and be evaluated
PDL final tonight between the Chicago Fire (yes, they have a PDL club thanks to Peter Wilt’s foresight) and Ventura County. These are the former clubs of Jay DeMErit and Anton Peterlin so maybe the next yank heading to the Prem will play in this game???????
BIg news, it seems that Mexican winger Andres Guardado has a knee injury and is questionable for Wednesday’s game.
CONCACAF getting deeper….brrrrr