Lynx miss a real OPPORTUNITY with Goddard....

[islandgirl]

This came from the www.socawarriors.net site

It's a fan site (just like Voyagerus but with better or worse english...depending on who you are) dedicated to Trinidad and Tobago football. If Richard only got some more playing time, maybe he would have gotten the call up too.

Things you can't bring back....The Missed Opportunity

Conrad Smith called to play for the T&T National Team.

Murray Rauw - Calgary Herald.

Throughout the year, during the string of losses, striker Conrad Smith knew he was being watched.

As is the case for many players, he has been living two soccer lives while toiling with the Calgary Mustangs.

It has been a frustrating time in Mustangs colours with the team winning only twice in 18 A-League games and falling to the West Division cellar. But he also knew he was being evaluated by his home Trinidad-Tobago team for a possible promotion to their national team.

So he kept plugging and now his reward is coming. Smith, the Mustangs leading scorer with five goals, will leave for his home after today's game (7 p.m.) between the Mustangs and the Portland Timbers at McMahon Stadium. The Mustangs have lost their past six games.

Smith will miss a minimum of two games with the Mustangs, perhaps more. It's a loss to the Mustangs but a thrill for Smith.

"I am going back home for a friendly game against Haiti on Aug. 11 and a World Cup qualifying game against St. Vincent on Aug. 18," said Smith, following practice on Tuesday.

"For me, the games will be important because if I play well, I should be one of the candidates always looked at to play with the national team. That's important to me."

Who knows if he would have had the chance without the A-League exposure?

Trinidad-Tobago has never qualified for the World Cup tournament but Smith expects it will make a strong bid for the next showcase. Although the Mustangs have had a difficult season, the experience was worthwhile in Smith's eyes.

"I'm saying I gained something from playing here," said Smith "Unfortunately the team has been so-so."

"He's a better player on the tactical side and in his fitness," said Calgary coach Thomas Niendorf. "We've seen the improvement. "I think one of his motivations was to showcase his talent in a professional league."

[beachesl]

Thanks for that, islandgirl, very interesting.

I think that playing in the A-League will stand Smith and the T&T in good stead when they meet (if Smith keeps up there) the opposition in the hex, which T&T WILL do because of their incredibly easy semi Group.

In terms of the English, Carribean English is beautiful, and just as valid as "standard" N/Amn and UK English. You (I assume you are West Indian) are lucky to have a unique accent and dialect, Canadian English has lost most of its uniqueness over the last two generations or so.

When I was living in Colombia 6 or so years ago, I had a wonderful week long holiday in a small little Carribean island called Providencia, which is part of Colombia. They speak an English dialect (it was originally a British colony until about only 250 years ago when Spain took it over) that is similiar to what the black slaves on the islands spoke over two centuries ago...very beautiful, and almost impossible to understand. I could listen to them speak all day!

[islandgirl]

Thanks! No problem. After reading it, I recognize that even if Conrad wasn't having the best of seasons on a very medicore team his accomplishments in a relatively decent league were being noticed. I still can't understand why you would get rid of such a hard-working, disciplined, dedicated and team-first person. I know it burns him to watch the team suffer like this (without him the Lynx are 5-10-1 with 33 goals against).

I know for a fact that Brahyeem has saved the Lynx time and time again, yet still you wonder the rationale in the decision in "giving up" on him.

I know for a fact down here in Rochester (island girl to my heart but ROC is the place I live.....for now) a few people within the Rhinos orgainzation has asked him why he wasn't playing. His answers ranged from just being out of form to......I don't know (this one was after the 2-0 loss to ROC here).

Ah well just a FYI for everyone here. Enjoy.

[Rocket Robin]

I can't see locking up two of the five import spots on goaltenders. Have some local guy be the back-up goalie as he'll only play five games a year and open up an import spot for another position like midfielder, defender, or striker.

[JayWay]

What does this have to do with Goddard?

[big fan]

quote:Originally posted by JayWay

What does this have to do with Goddard?

He was considered a foreign player and took up one of the five spots.

[islandgirl]

Well here's the deal. He wasn't given a fair chance and now the Lynx would need God's saving grace to keep them in the playoffs, and to be very honest, Atlanta would have to screw up so bad it would be the stunner of the year for the League (maybe moreso that the Battery's fall from grace).

3 games......a 2-1 record....an assist (he actually had more points that most of the Lynx players after his 1st game; it was the Lynx's 9th of the season) and a defense that seemed to understand what each individual needed to do and how everyone's organization could help the team minimize "goal consumption" in close games while also instilling confidence in attack also.

Ah well.....there's also next year...and the next....and the next....and the next.

[Rocket Robin]

Hancock is getting better as the season goes on with three breakaway stops tonight. The Lynx problem is scoring. Tonight they had enough chances but couldn't put the ball in the net.

So Goddard beat the Puerto Rico Islanders before they got organized? He should move along now and find another team to play with.

[JayWay]

quote:Originally posted by islandgirl

Well here's the deal. He wasn't given a fair chance and now the Lynx would need God's saving grace to keep them in the playoffs, and to be very honest, Atlanta would have to screw up so bad it would be the stunner of the year for the League (maybe moreso that the Battery's fall from grace).

3 games......a 2-1 record....an assist (he actually had more points that most of the Lynx players after his 1st game; it was the Lynx's 9th of the season) and a defense that seemed to understand what each individual needed to do and how everyone's organization could help the team minimize "goal consumption" in close games while also instilling confidence in attack also.

Ah well.....there's also next year...and the next....and the next....and the next.

Yes, I agree. Goddard is quite the player.

I still don't see what that has to do with the report though.

[islandgirl]

Ok. Here goes. Conrad Smith was playing on a half-decent team at best. Yet still he got called up for the T&T National team. I'm sure that Goddard knew that he stood a chance to make the T&T National team if he got back to playing. I don't think he wouldn't make this known to the coaches of the Lynx. Something like this is too big to pass up on. For the Lynx to have 5 players on their native National Senior teams within CONCACAF would be huge in terms of press coverage. Now yes I know this is the A-League but you've gotta think this would have some impact on people looking in from the outside.

Now I never did discredit Hancock's performances. I know first-hand that he saved the Lynx on too many occasions and he deserved to have better protection in fromt of him, but Goddard didn't have much better to work with when he played (and again say all you want PR is a much better side than the 5-1 whipping they got up there). That stretch of 5 games from his first game against PR to the loss in Vancouver was and still is the best stretch of 5 games for the Lynx this season. No Goddard isn't God but geez....give him a chance.

If the Lynx came out and said they released Goddard for financial reasons (added with a bit of coaches' insanity) then I would be good. But they can't really justify the decision especially since it hasn't paid off in anyway at all after the release.