Comment: New coach; same old Bleak Stars

This is an opinionated piece done by Citi FM's Nathan Quao, who was in Casablanca to run the rule over the Black Stars who drew 1-1 with Guinea and comes up with very interesting observations.

I sat in the stands of the Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca and watched the Black Stars labour to get a 1-1 draw with Guinea on Saturday and it was simply difficult.

There was not enough of everything from the team during the 94 minutes of the match.

Not enough verve, not enough passion, not enough energy.

But the most important element missing from the Ghana set up was strong technical leadership from the sidelines.

Granted. In a football match, one coach will get outsmarted and that is understandable.

However, when your assistant national team coach reminds you of his boss who got dismissed, it leaves your stomach feeling uneasy.

Maybe the game plan was to keep it simple and tidy, get a goal, take the points and go home.

But what we saw was very far from it. We looked defensively uncertain all game and we got the just rewards when the opposition scored.

The Guineans settled into a comfortable groove and they went looking for their goal while we stayed in our corner looking to simply breathe and get by.

Dussuyer looked at us and sent his dangerous men especially Ibrahima Traore down our flanks to attack us. Those of in the stands saw it and it was very easy to tell what they wanted to achieve.

But our gaffer did not react accordingly. We were leaking badly, we were taking body shots and the structure was creaking louder and louder with every single second of the second half.

What could he have done?

For starters, he could have added more steel into the central midfield so that the wide men in Ayew and Atsu could concentrate on doubling on their direct opponents.

The extra men in midfield would push the Guineans out wide and gradually force them into a pattern that would flow into boredom.

But what exactly happened?

Rabiu Mohammed came on for Agyemang-Badu and Wakaso replace Atsu. Like for like changes that failed to rectify the challenge.

And we topped it up with Waris’ introduction for Jordan Ayew.

Who knows? Maybe it was to hunt for the insurance goal captain Asamoah Gyan spoke of after the match.

But there were far more demanding problems elsewhere but attention was not sent there.

That was the test for Konadu and in my opinion, it was not the best way to answer the probe.

It took me back to the Kwesi Appiah’s days when you did not to have a certificate in clairvoyance to tell how he would swap players and play his cards when the game was happening.

It was not pretty for the eyes and an honest observation from the game would be one that puts the Guineans into a good place to cause problems for us when they come to Tamale.

What now?

Coaching is all about reacting to situations that are unfolding. It’s either you stop them from happening altogether or you neutralize them when they start occurring.

We did neither on Saturday and if we try repeating the modus operandi in Tamale, it will be simply be unpalatable.

But we should all understand one thing: Max Konadu has the quality to be a top coach. I like his work because aside everything he seems to have a plan to his team and he gets them to play in a certain way.

However, Saturday’s showing was not at a desired level and that might not be the best way to audition for a possible number two job under the Black Stars coach who will be named soon.