16 Jun 2024 22:16:53
Anyone manage to catch the England game and willing to give me a quick review of how Trent was in midfield?
16 Jun 2024 23:32:27
Trent created several chances for both england and Serbia. Great creative moments mixed with some bad touches in dangerous areas. Needs to learn the positional side of things but if he can do that I think he could be a great cm. Helped that he had Rice along side him.
{Ed025's Note - i thought he was awful RW, a proper fish out of water for me mate, not the only one who was poor may i add, but a square peg in a round hole imo..
16 Jun 2024 23:37:43
He did ok. He gave the ball away in a dangerous area but apart from that he played well. He was subbed to give us more legs in midfield and I thought it would be him or Foden to go off and he was a little unlucky.
Foden didn't have a good night.
He'll be ok playing with Rice and Bellingham because they can get around the pitch and get stuck in.
Bellingham belies his age physically and mentally. He's some player.
{Ed025's Note - i think your TV needs adjusting if you think Trent did ok Rigsby..
16 Jun 2024 23:54:33
He was alright.
{Ed025's Note - hmmmmmm..
17 Jun 2024 00:02:58
He wasn't great in the first half but was the only England midfielder who attempted to play any football in the second.
It's hard to judge since Southgate seemingly sapped all the confidence out of the entire team in the dressing room.
17 Jun 2024 00:04:02
Passive. Few good things. Few bad things. Very little effect on the game. Needs a lot more work more on his game in that position.
Not much for him to work on in terms of runners though.
But he still needed to be better himself. Just has to keep working on it.
{Ed025's Note - i will have that Davey, stank the house out for me along with Foden and Kane but it is what it is, you never know he could end up as a quality midfielder mate...and i could end up being the next pope.. :)
17 Jun 2024 00:29:49
You're right, Ed025.
He was awful. They were all awful apart from Pickford. I love Pickford celebrating making straight forward saves. Or just doing his job to most other people. If Jordo keeps this up he might get his hands on the trophy. He's more likely to punch it though ?.
Is that better?
{Ed025's Note - a lot better thanks mate.. :)
17 Jun 2024 00:50:55
That's a good point about the runners, Davey. Kane and Foden are not going to really go in behind teams. Saka will and he put the ball in for Bellingham to score. Bowen set up Kane in the second half but then where do you play Foden?
17 Jun 2024 06:28:32
TAA was very poor, foden looked like he didn’t know where he was supposed to be playing in that system, Kane was regressive. Southgate almost out thought again in terms of tactics, we were lucky to come away with the win. I also thought the ref was quite weak.
17 Jun 2024 06:30:20
Got to say it cracked me up to see Pickford run off his line and punch the ball with no opposition play near him. Sums him up as a GK.
17 Jun 2024 00:55:10
Thank you guys, deeply appreciated, even your contribution pope 025.
{Ed025's Note - you are welcome my son. :)
17 Jun 2024 01:05:50
You're welcome, Ed025 ?.
I like TAA as a player but he either plays in midfield or he doesn't start. Walker plays before him at right back especially with the defence being inexperienced and Stones not having played much this season.
Trent is that sort of player. He can look like a full back playing in midfield or a midfielder playing at full back. He can win you a game though and you can't have enough players like that in a squad.
Rice and Bellingham have to start and the question is who starts with them? After tonight's game I thought Foden looked more like a fish out of water than TAA did.
{Ed025's Note - it has to be an either or with Trent and Foden Rigsby you cant have 2 luxury players in the same team mate..
17 Jun 2024 07:06:35
You lot either didn't watch it or are far too harsh. trent made the interception that led to a big chance. He played an over the top to saka which created a big chance. He crossed the ball in twice which were both dangerous balls and if rice had his eyes open could have scored from. He played a nice diagonal to tripper. He also gave the ball away twice. Not sure that translate to anywhere near awful.
17 Jun 2024 07:04:58
I think that’s a bit harsh Ed025.
Trent didn’t have a good game, that’s fair but if you’re playing him in midfield it’s to exploit his passing. That requires decent movement from the forwards. There was none.
Kane and Foden were both absolutely terrible. Answers on a postcard how foden made it the full 90 minutes when he looked like one of the fans accidentally ran the pitch.
It was generally quite a limp and lifeless England performance after the first 20 minutes and Southgate subs didn’t help.
{Ed025's Note - i just dont get what Trent offers Wassa?, unless he is afforded space he is a waste of time, wand of a right foot but positionally very poor, cant tackle and terrible in the air, for me hes a wing back where he can get down the line and produce great crosses...and thats it, if we are not playing with wing backs...send him home because hes an embarrassment any where else..
17 Jun 2024 07:12:21
He did no worse than anyone else on the pitch in my opinion. Made a couple of good interceptions and when he has time on the ball his vision and passing was good.
He didn't really 'get about' though if that makes sense? He wasn't showing for the ball often enough and spent long spells hiding in my opinion.
Really don't know what to make of Trent to be honest. I really hope he can pick a position and work on it because I don't think he's a defender so if he doesn't make it in midfield I don't see how he starts. Such talent though.
{Ed025's Note - spot on Westwood but is he really a talent?, great crosser and has a good shot on him....but thats it!, cant head the ball, very weak positionally and cant tackle...so where does he fit in??, a local lad who i really want to do well but i just dont see it mate im sorry..
17 Jun 2024 07:25:39
Trent definitely needs to learn that position. He also looked lazy to me especially with rice who was covering everywhere and full of energy. There were a couple of long range passes that looked good but apart from that am not sure it worked.
{Ed025's Note - it never Longthing, i cant see why Southgate is experimenting in a major competition, Trent looks like kid lost in the woods not knowing exactly where he should be or what he should be doing, Foden was no better either but at least he knows the role mate..
17 Jun 2024 07:46:13
Trent is terrible in the air? I don't he is playing because of his heading ability.
I get the TAA and Foden thing but because I think Foden needs to play more centrally. If he does then does Bellingham play deeper? I like Bellingham having a bit more freedom to get forward though. He showed it last night by getting the goal that won us the game.
I think some of you are being too harsh on how England played. It was the first game and a comfortable win.
17 Jun 2024 08:43:59
I Agree with Ed025 Trent is a right back/ wing back. He will get more assists from wide areas than from hollywood balls over the top. And that is for LFC and England, I don't know the figures but i bet he has less assists from inverted fullback than a right back. He should go back to what he does best YNWA.
{Ed001's Note - what a stupid comparison - he played wing-back much more often than inverted, so of course he would have more assists. Plus it is a very different role and intended to provide direct assists from wing-back, whereas when he inverts it is as much about setting up an attack, rather than the final ball in.}
17 Jun 2024 08:50:51
One of the issues being over looked is Trent will need to be coached into Slots style of play and midfield if that is where he will play.
Slots pre season starts on 1 Jul ad runs for 7 weeks before the first league game.
The Euros finishes on something like the 14 Jun and Copa America on the 15th.
So by time the majority of our internationals have their 2-3 week break they will only have 2-3 weeks of Slots pre season left to be coached into new positions and roles.
I mention the Copa America as i know some are expecting Slot to coach Darwjn to the next level also.
17 Jun 2024 08:37:20
That's the difference between fans and managers. Fans go on about what a player's faults are, managers pick a player because of what they offer.
It'll be interesting to see how Slot see his position.
Ed, if Trent was a blue you'd be wanting hundreds of millions for him.
{Ed025's Note - i probably would Flash, maybe i just need someone to tell me what his strengths are mate...besides a very good right foot?..
17 Jun 2024 08:44:14
25, respectfully disagree there mate.
When multiple quality players look devoid of confidence and one paced - Foden, Kane, Trent. Rice was poor on the ball, and to be honest whilst Bellingham and Saka had moments they were fairly poor in between - then for my money it's hard to find fault with any of the players. It's the Waistcoat Wally on the sideline.
As I said, Trent was probably the only midfielder to do anything with the ball in the second half. Which is fairly damning of Southgate, imo.
{Ed025's Note - you are right about Southgate SR the guy has not got a jar of glue mate, hence him playing an average full back in midfield.. :)
17 Jun 2024 09:08:01
If he is not a great talent Ed25, how could Liv go on and win every single trophy there is to play in club football with Trent very much an important part of it? Peoples slagging him like he is some sort of a bum player. Peoples say he can't defend, yet Liv won everything with him as a RB. Can't believe Liv won everything in club football with with a bum who can't defend as their RB.
{Ed025's Note - i have never said hes a bum mfahmee, as a wing back which is where Liverpool played him he was very good, yes he needed cover because of his defensive frailties but he got that from VVD and Matip mate so it worked, let me ask you this...do you think hes a good midfielder and if you do can you make a list of his main attributes?..i wait with baited breath..
17 Jun 2024 09:26:58
The position is new to TAA for England and Liverpool but we are hardly blessed with other options for either team. He can play there, imo. Some may prefer Gallagher's work rate but he doesn't have TAA's quality. You can say the same about Endo and Mac and Szob are no Rodris.
17 Jun 2024 09:36:34
Is it Trent who wants to play there or is it managers who think he can play in midfield?
He was so effective as a wingback I don’t understand why you’d change that?
I guess a lot of players follow this path. Beckham - superb as a RW, converted to CM. Gerrard had one of his best seasons on the right.
Weird stuff.
17 Jun 2024 09:40:12
I think @Davey’s view that TAA was passive is probably due to the influence of the manager. I read a TAA comment after the match that the team’s focus was on not losing. Pretty sad that and I’m fairly sure that the great teams of the past probably didn’t play games from a standpoint of trying not to lose.
17 Jun 2024 09:44:28
WDW, maybe it's 4D chess whereby Southgate can let the players off the leash now since 1 win and a not terrible GD will probably be enough to qualify.
Doubt it though. More likelly it's cos he's more negative than Houllier and Hodgson's secret love child.
17 Jun 2024 09:45:12
Trent hat brigade is out already. he was far from poor he did fine. he gave the ball away twice. the rest he did the basics fine his interception that led to Walkers chance, his ball to Saka that split the line that lead to the cross that gave us the goal. he ticked the ball over fine did his job. don't see anyone having a pop at Foden for giving he ball away countless times. rice and Trent together worked with Jude dropping back every so often.
{Ed025's Note - i may have watched a different game then Kloppers..
17 Jun 2024 09:56:01
That's right, WDW.
I agree that we played more cautiously in the second half. The win was more important than the performance. We won and restricted them to six shots.
Job done.
17 Jun 2024 10:05:38
Was in the pub when the game was on because my mate wanted to watch it so I saw bits, I wasn't overly interested because it's England and they're not going to go far anyway. From what I saw they were bloody useless, all of them but I don't blame the players, it's Southgate. That man is an absolute sh*thouse of a manager. Put someone decent in his place and we'd probably win a thing or two, we do have a good enough team to go for it but as long as he's in charge we're winning nothing.
'It's coming home' my backside.
17 Jun 2024 11:17:09
Come on now Ed25 mate. How would anyone know if he is going to be good or not as a midfielder. He hasn't even play there in more than 10 matches at senior level. Its a bit unfair to expect him to perform like he's been playing there his entire career.
Personally, I wouldn't judge him too much when he's playing for England. Much more when considering him playing in a new position. They have a manager that can make a group of talented players in Jude, Foden, Kane, Trent, Saka etc look very mediocre.
{Ed025's Note - you have hit the nail on the head there mfahmee...Trent should be nowhere near the national side at this stage of his midfield career, he looks lost and has not got a scooby what hes supposed to be doing, at last you have seen sense mate.. :)
17 Jun 2024 11:50:15
@Rigsby I understand what you are saying with the win being more important than the performance but, to me, I’d rather see us try and put in an entertaining, world class performance and fail trying to play good football. For me, there’s no real enjoyment or sense of joy about the way we (deliberately apparently) try to play.
17 Jun 2024 12:14:11
Yeah he shouldn't be playing for England as a midfielder no doubt. Irony is I have always banged the drum about him being in midfield (pretty sure I said I would die on that hill tbh! ) but based on yesterday yeah maybe he should just stay at RWB and be given the support and cover to protect his defensive frailties. Or perhaps in the same way we shouldn't wax lyrical about a player for having one amazing game he shouldn't be too harsh about one average game - a swallow doesn't mean its summer as Ed025 would say but that works both ways doesn't it. either way I'm not going to comment anymore on where Trent should play because I genuinely don't know anymore. Glad it isn't my decision to make.
17 Jun 2024 12:01:10
And how is that his fault Ed? He's just doing what the manager asked of him. And the manager happen to be Southgate. Of course he's going to look lost. That doesn't mean he is not a talented player or he can't play as a Midfielder under a good manager. Plus, does that warrant the hate that he's been getting from pundits or on socmed? Its just ridiculous.
{Ed025's Note - its not his fault at all mate its the managers fault for picking him for a position he is not accustomed to, but i must add that if you cant head the ball, cant tackle and cant read the game no manager on the earth is going to change that im afraid..
17 Jun 2024 12:51:33
He had a nervy opening giving the ball away, but his positioning set us up with a great interception, the positional play there was good, he finds passes that no other England can, Southgate is his problem, we sit back after going 1 up, Trent was creating plenty and offers more than the others, the balance isn't right in the team and it's nothing to do with Trent, we would be better served having Bellingham cut in from the left, foden is going missing, his timing is immense and staying out of the middle to suddenly appear in dangerous positions would let Trent have 2 people behind him and have to worry about defence, we are too negative (England) best creators need the ball to feed Bellingham and Kane.
17 Jun 2024 12:59:21
Southgate is absolutely clueless. Thought Trent was ok, but that’s about it, where is he supposed to be playing? Put him on the right wing Gareth you Bell. The worst player on the pitch is foden by a country mile…… he isn’t going to make it at international level…. might be a star playing in a city team of stars but not for england, I’d sooner see Cole palmer or eze there…. even party boy grealish is better than him at this level. Best England team ever they say…. what a joke. Go 3 -5-2.
17 Jun 2024 13:02:33
We are back in the same situation as the golden generation, plenty of very good players, but with a manager who shoe horns players in as they feel they can't leave them out.
Trent is a very good footballer, and I'd personally have him at RB over walker. I am not Walkers biggest fan and I think his pace hides a lot of deficienies in his game.
But once you make a decision that Walker is your RB then unfortunatley Trent doesn't start.
International football isn't just picking your best 11 players, throwning them on a pitch and expect them to win games. You need to decide how you wish to play (i. e. southgate turgid football) and then pick the players that best suit it.
17 Jun 2024 13:10:20
Well Ed25, I don't think heading is that much important as a midfielder at Liv as the CB is always going to be the first to every ball in the air. I don't know where is this Trent can't tackle coming from because he clearly can. If he can't tackle, why on earth would a world class manager in Klopp would trust him at RB.
As for can't read the game, he plays as midfielder in less than 10 games. You can't judge if he can read the game or not from midfield position based on that. If the German guy Bastian, something can transition from a winger to a holding midfielder, I don't see why Trent can't. No need to argue about this anymore Ed25, we'll just see what happen. Good banter though Ed25.
{Ed025's Note - yeah mfahmee its all about opinions mate and its ok to have different views, i really want him to be good i really do... but i just dont see what he brings to the table at the moment, for me there is a place for a luxury player because we have Jude and Declan in there, but maybe Foden and Palmer are better options at the moment..
17 Jun 2024 14:26:26
We've only played one game, won it but some of you have already made up your minds about TAA.
Who replaces him then? Gallagher?
Or one of the vastly experienced pair of Mainoo and Wharton?
{Ed025's Note - to be honest we could send for Tom Davies Rigsby and he would do a similar job to Trent..
17 Jun 2024 15:01:14
When Trent wasn't getting picked to play so many people were moaning lol now he's doing what people wanted him to do it's an issue? We need to stop calling out individuals because every player can have a bad game but this isn't about that, it's about how bloody terrible the manager is.
17 Jun 2024 14:36:55
It's way off the mark to say Trent can’t tackle. Without Trent in the side, I struggle to see who else would create chances and put any fear into the opposition. Trent is head and shoulders above most of the England players in most aspects. I repeat without him we would be even more atrocious than we are.
17 Jun 2024 17:30:26
I think we just have to accept the England players are just not as good as they are hyped up to be . In their league teams they are surrounded by the non English lads who are simply better and make them look and play better . Foden is an example of that . Blame Southgate all you like but he can't help it when players are misplacing simple passes and missing tackles . Its basic stuff . If you took the England starting 11 last night and took the English Champions, 115 charges FC, how many England players, baring the ones that already play for them, would play for City in the positions they started in last night . For my money one, Jude Bellingham . Walker and Forden already play for City and the other 8 are not replacing players City have in those positions as they are simply not as good . Its that simple, the England players are average and look better in the EPL due to their team mates from abroad .
{Ed025's Note - interesting take on things there KK..
17 Jun 2024 18:12:25
We are short on midfielders- and defenders for that matter- so I think that's why TAA is playing there. I can't think of any experienced top class midfielders that we have left at home. We are also playing Trippier at left back because of a lack of options.
I'm surprised we took so many forwards when Kane is certain to start the meaningful games.
Trent is seen as a better option than Gallagher, Mainoo and Wharton and I can see why.
I know what Trent can do and I hope we get away with this gamble but Mainoo and Wharton would also be gambles. Gallagher less so but he will get some game time. He might be seen as giving us some energy later in games.