fleX
Starting Member
Trinidad and Tobago
38 Posts |
Posted - Oct 30 2001 : 11:41:15 AM
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Michah Hyde - This Weeks Featured Player. News taken of the Watford website.
NO-ONE who has witnessed Micah Hyde's midfield displays so far this season could suggest the Jamaican international is suffering from a lack of sleep. His energy levels cannot be questioned, and yet he would have good reason for the odd yawn having celebrated the birth of his second child close to the start of the campaign.
"Something like that does put football into perspective. It did with our first child and it's a different experience with the second one," he said.
Mekhi, a little boy, born to Micah and Jaime, adds to the joy already provided to the happy couple by two-year-old Tyrique.
"I do look forward to going home from training and seeing them but, sometimes, you already know they're going to be a handful before you open the front door. It's a totally different thing to football but I wouldn't change it at all."
With a number of the summer signings being midfielders, Micah faced stiff opposition for a place in the starting 11.
"I think it's important for any professional player to try and impose themselves on a new management team. You've got to always try and do your best, push yourself to be in the first-team and playing to the best of your abilities."
Many observers felt Micah's good early-season form started with the pre-season friendlies in Italy.
"I wasn't daunted by the games. They were friendly matches, therefore you should treat them as such. They're still competitive games but there's nothing on the game so you go out and try to enjoy yourself."
Amid the hustle and bustle of the First Division, Micah seldom appears to get his feathers ruffled.
"I don't get intimidated by any opponents," he said. "I just go out and do my own stuff. There isn't the time to get bothered by what other players are doing, I have to concentrate on my own job.
"I don't change my game but if I know someone up against me is likely to put in some strong tackles, I make sure I get a good tackle of my own in early on. There's no point messing around with the ball. It's my job to impose myself on the other team."
Has the change of management led to Micah being asked to play in a different style?
"I'm playing to my strengths this season as much as any. 'Get it, pass it and move', that's my game really. Passing is my best attribute so I want the ball as much as possible, so don't be surprised to see me and other midfielders working back trying to regain possession when the opposition have the ball. We want the ball back so we're going to have to work hard to get it."
When we spoke to Micah in the programme last season, he was still undecided about where his international future lay. Since then, he has become part of the Jamaica squad, featuring in their World Cup qualifying campaign. However, it's not been plain sailing for the Reggae Boyz this time. With two nations to go to Japan and Korea for World Cup 2002 from their final CONCACAF group, it's Costa Rica, Honduras and the USA who are fighting for qualification, with Jamaica - having sacked manager Clovis De Oliviera - further down the group and out of contention.
"I've played five times now for my country. It's totally different. You're not with the players every day, like club football. It's 11 players playing to the best of their ability, the best the country has to offer in the manager's opinion."
With Bolton recently signing Jermaine Johnson - one of Micah's Jamaica teammates - are there more stars waiting to be unearthed in the Caribbean?
"Yes, definitely. Everyone's heard of Dwight Yorke. Then you've got Russell Latapy at Rangers and Ricardo Gardner at Bolton, but there's not many players who've come over and established themselves.
"It's like Africa, it's largely an untapped market, but I haven't really been out there often or long enough to have an idea of the names of people I feel could make it in the English game."
Soca Warriors For Ever. God Bless. |
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