Last night’s results, Spain/Italy, means England have qualified for the R16 as a best 3rd place finisher at the very least.
so England can now release the brakes, go out and play with nerve-free abandon and flair in today's game! as if. but they will likely win (funny if they don't) and then yes, "thank god we dropped that uniquely-talented Scouser" will again be the bandwagon-du-jour.
I can kinda see some of the TAA criticism, but that comes down to essentially playing him out of position, rather than any technical qualities the player himself may or may not possess. As a holding midfielder, a 6, he does lack the instinct to position himself without the ball, to anticipate the opposition coming through this gap or that area. That’ll come in time if he sticks as a 6. But as a 6, he does need to be a master of the short 3 meter out pass in much the way Endo is. Break up the attack, play the short ball out wide (to a fullback with a good eye for a long pass ) and then position himself properly for the next attack. As a 6 he shouldn’t be expected to play 60m raking cross field passes, being in essence the first point of attack. Especially when there’s f.uck all movement up front to collect those passes. Maybe Klopp had it right, into the midfield going forward, back out to FB on defence, but all the time needing a real 6 to do the donkey work, the water carrying work. The Southgate experiment seems remarkably ill- or undefined. There’s a story told about Ardiles when he was Spurs manager. His halftime talks often were supposedly little more than, “just play, just play the ball”. I can’t help feeling that the brief Southgate has given Trent is little more than Ardiles-type instruction. Be a little of this, a bit of that, don’t be afraid of the other and if you see a pass, take it. Or make it. Whatever you think yourself. If it’s a Tuesday but be careful of Fridays.
I think his best role still is at right back. But what we need is a left back that is essentially a centerback. So when Trent goes wandering, he’s not responsible for being in position when the ball turns over. Play 3 at the back when we have the ball, with Trent free to go into midfield or high up the right wing. When we are settled defensively he can retreat back to right back. It’s what I thought the plan would be last season, but Klopp gave Trent a free role while simultaneously having Andy Robertson playing high up the left wing.
Trent cannot be thought of as a holding midfielder. Did anyone think Xabi was a holder? I sure as shit didn't.
Agree on both accounts. You also have to look at the players around a certain player within the system you play with. Didi was our holder, then it was Momo/Masch. Xabi and Stevie were both 8s although Xabi often started the play from a little deeper than Stevie. Just like Mac is an 8, Hendo is an 8, Murphy was an 8. They can "do a job" as a holder, just like they could "do a job" as 10s, because midfielders of these calibre are that technically good, but in terms of where his best position is.....a holder isn't it for Trent. Although I wouldn't be against seeing him in a midfield 3 playing with Endo or a Wieffer.
Trent playing for England is a much different player than we see for Lpool . England fb's do not get up and down the pitch as well as with us , Walker is more active than Trippier who is a square peg on the left being right footed but even Bradley gets up more than both. Then up top none of the England attackers have been making runs in behind the def's , even worse Kane drops off into mf often so when Trent gets the ball he's got few options to use his main strength which is his passing. Whereas with Lpool our forwards are quick and mobile usually looking to get on the front foot as soon as we get possession. Also England do not press or press very sporadically which allows their opposition time to play the ball out of defense and England often tend to drop deeper when defending so I've seen many times when Trent has the ball with no one ahead to pass to. I think he's been very ordinary this tourney playing in mf but so have most of his teammates . These guys are really good but the setup and Southgates tactics etc are terrible.
Look at his passing . FUN FACT:KDB got nothing on Trent's passing pic.twitter.com/Vq1elTZiHs— 𝔹𝕠𝕓𝕓𝕪™ (@bobby_role) June 24, 2024
Been saying that for years. When did anyone last see KdB hit a 50 yard inch perfect pass, with his weaker foot? After seeing the opening, and moving the ball, in a flash? Trent is a damn footballing genius. Problem is everyone takes him for granted. If Rice or Jude hit one of those the media would be swooning for weeks.
Does Koeman get as much stick by the Dutch as Southgate does the English? If not, he ********ing well should. Memphis Depay????? STILL???
Netherlands seems to be full of 5 to 6 “out of 10” quality. Poor control of the midfield, losing the ball under pressure and pretty much not competing for the second ball.
Fair play Austria and credit to Ralf. To top a group with France and Netherlands, deserves nothing but the utmost respect.
I wish the USMNT had someone like Ragnick at the helm instead of Gregg Berhalter. The latter is an impoverished man's Southgate.
Berhalter is one of those guys I have to google to remember who he is. Would you taken Klinsmann back?