If that was Slot’s attitude about Trent in preseason, how did that play out in contract negotiations? This goes back to my theory that to some extent, Liverpool rejected Trent. Klopp wanted to build a team around him, but Slot just wanted him to do his job as a right back better. I think in a lot of ways Slot will be happier with his right back options more next season than he was this season.
As much as I try, I can’t buy into LFC/Slot forcing TAA out, or somehow making it easier for him to go than stay. LFC were definitely leaking some of the offers and to be fair to TAA, he didn’t. But the last offer made would have had him as the highest paid fullback in the game. If this is to be believed. Why release this when TAA can deny it if it’s not true? So it’s true in my book. I think there’s no doubting that Slot treated him differently than Klopp and that burned his arse probably as much as anything. But for a player who evinced an interest/need to experience new situations, this was one. And he decided it wasn’t for him. He went from being a golden child to less than that. That speaks of entitlement and spoiled behavior. Very little to what Slot said was wrong and for all Klopp’s tinkering, he never did find the formation to have him as a hybrid FB/midfielder/10. Greater and wiser footballing heads than me might figure that one out, but I don’t see how that’s possible. World class FBs are few and far between and those that make it, can and do influence from that position. I’m thinking here of Maldini to an extent, but more Lahm and a generation before him, Breitner, who were truly exceptional attacking forces while being extraordinary defensive players. Maldini did play at CB but was a better TAA fulfils one half of that equation. So Slot was not wrong that he needed to work on that aspect of his game. If he did, maybe the Balon d’Or comes his way. But in going to Real, he took the soft option where I’m far from certain Alonso will have him work on the defensive aspect of his game as Slot was threatening in this off season and next season. There were easier ways to force him out than making him the highest paid FB in the world plus about of other contract goodies. I don’t think that happened and observing Occam’s Razor, it’s more likely TAA decided to move on his ownsome than Liverpool Machiavelli-ed (it’s a word!) him out to Real.
Does highest paid fullback in the world put him anywhere near Salah and Van Dijk money? Fullback is likely one of the lower paid positions in the sport. I would suspect that he was already near the top of the list for highest paid fullbacks. I don’t think Trent even wanted to be treated as a fullback or be paid as a fullback. I don’t doubt that Liverpool made him a very good offer to stay. But I think Trent was looking for more. If not more money, then a plan for how the team was going to be built around him. Slot has now made it clear that he did not want to build the team around him. He just wanted him to play right back, and do a better job of being a right back than he had been doing.
So he leaves LFC because he wasn't going to have a team built around him after all and joins RM, where there is no way in hell anything will be built around him. Of course it had nothing to do with money. Whatever. Other than the engineered exit that was truly shitty he owes the club nothing so good luck to him.
I like it. As much as I'm really not mad about the move... it does really look like the writing is on the wall. Evidently Trent has handled this pretty poorly, and hasn't shown a ton of respect to the club. Which is very disappointing.
Someone vandalized the mural of Trent by painting the word 'RAT' beneath the quote. It has already been painted over. I wouldn't be surprised if it happens again.
I think the crowd made their feelings known at the last home game. Today was about lifting the trophy and not Trent. For good or bad he's made his choice, we move on.
This is undoubtedly true, but frankly just isn't factoring into his current thinking. I think a lot of these kinds of players that make these kinds of moves end up regretting it. Maybe even the majority. But you'll never know until you do it!
Anyone who has Dutch friends/family know that this is very typical. Very honest and forthright in their views and feelings. Also, generally very level-headed, and open and friendly unless you get on their bad side... and you will definitely know it if you are on their bad side!