21 Apr 2023 19:05:57
I think if TAA was to be moved into a more midfield position, then Kyle walker-peters would be a fantastic target as a right back.

1.) 22 Apr 2023
22 Apr 2023 07:56:08
Trent will still be the right back in my opinion. We just need to work on how the other players on the pitch position themselves when he steps into midfield. I thought it looked like a 2-2-6 but seen some others say they saw it as a 3-2-5 and they could be right too. The way I saw it, there was a defensive box of Virgil, Konate, Fabinho and Trent formed when he went into midfield. I think it worked quite well against Arsenal and Leeds but the jury is still out for sure. On the counter, it did look weak down our left as Fabinho lacks pace and Virgil isn't as good in 1v1 situations as Konate. If you threw in a quicker midfielder to screen Virgil (such as Thuram or Rabiot) then it'd probably be a solid defensive block. Or maybe Robbo is told to fully stay back and it does become a back 3 as some suggested.

Onto your main point though, I really hope the academy lads are given a chance in pre-season before we sign any average players with no scope to get any better, like Walker-Peters. He's weak defensively and all he really has going forward is the pace to make an overlapping run. He's scored a couple of memorable goals and admittedly would be an okay back up to Trent. Certainly not good enough to be a starter for us so Trent can fully move into midfield though. Just my opinion mate.

If he could stay fit then James Justin would be a decent signing as he can play right back, left back and centre back in a back 3. He can also play in midfield so would be decent cover for Trent if we persist with the inverted right back stepping into the midfield even when Trent is out. Problem is Justin can't stay fit since his major injury a couple if years ago. He's the only homegrown right back not already at a top 8 team that i'd be interested in. Solid defensively, very comfortable on the ball, and a lot of energy up and down. Injury has probably ruined him though and we don't need more injury prone players.

I'd honestly just rather look for an internal solution seeing as Trent plays 90% of games. Mabaya looked good last pre-season and he can play right back and midfield so would be capable of covering that inverted full back role if he can step up to senior football. Ramsay might recover in time for pre-season, much as I have my doubts over his fitness, and has the raw ingredients to play as an inverted full back. Bradley is really good and having a stellar loan spell, but admittedly he's more of a wing back so I'm unsure he could play the inverted full back role. It could also just be that when Trent isn't playing we just revert to the orthodox 4-3-3 instead of having the right back step into midfield and the whole shape twisting to accommodate it.

I can see why there is a attraction to just playing Trent in midfield and signing a right back but if we do that we can surely do better than Walker-Peters. In that scenario i'd want to go and get a player as good at right back as Trent. Hakimi or Frimpong for example. I like St Juste and Timber too, as centre backs who can cover right back. But we basically have that in Gomez already.

2.) 22 Apr 2023
22 Apr 2023 08:07:08
Livramento would be a better option I think.

3.) 22 Apr 2023
22 Apr 2023 09:12:18
Frimpong or singo.

4.) 22 Apr 2023
22 Apr 2023 17:31:15
Trent will still drift in and play that role from RB IMO, something he had been doing on and off since last season. What we need to do is get the players in to make the system work again that will allow him to flourish in that role going forward. That said, I am a huge fan of Walker-Peters and have been for years.