26 Apr 2024 11:42:01
I’ve seen a lot of people blaming Trent for the second goal the other night. While I do agree he should have done better, why on earth is he left with Calvert Lewin who is going to beat him in the air every single time. This is why i despise zonal marking! Just gives the attacking team all the advantage of targeting the weaker opposition players!

1.) 26 Apr 2024
26 Apr 2024 11:55:38
Personally, Im over the game now. it's gone. On to WH and hopefully we can finish strong and win all our games. We may finish 2nd with a few point behind City, who know?

2.) 26 Apr 2024
26 Apr 2024 12:01:13
Look I would normally try to defend Trent, probably more than he can himself in fairness butI mean even if DCL steamrolls him - he should at least try and make an effort. He to all intents and purposes opened the door for him.

The footage from behind the goal is nothing other than criminal defending.

He sees the cross, sees DCL coming, moves BEHIND DCL and then barely touches him.

Sometimes you have to call a spade and spade and zonal marking be damned that was awful defending.

3.) 26 Apr 2024
26 Apr 2024 12:53:05
That's why we miss Henderson and milner sometimes. Trent cowered out of the challenge just like Curtis Jones always does. Pathetic, thought Scousers were tough? Not them pair.

4.) 26 Apr 2024
26 Apr 2024 13:57:07
The lack of effort shown by Trent at the back post the other night and In most defensive situations is an absolute disgrace. Shirking out of a challenge in the derby when you’re going for the league, criminal! Your captain and vice captain are meant to lead by example on and off the ball. I’ve said it countless times, Trent is a fantastic footballer, oozes ability on the ball that most pros can only dream of but defensively I can’t remember a weaker right back in red.

If he wasn’t a scouser and hadn’t come through the academy I’d sell him to the highest bidder. The main reason being what I’ve said above, defensively he’s absolutely awful. More over the argument to have him play in midfield only works if you give him a free role and that doesn’t exist in modern day football. He doesn’t have the engine, bite, press, physicality or hunger to defend in midfield.

I’m typing this after having the time to reflect. The loss to Everton, the defensive frailty shown all season, the consistency of missed chances game after game, choosing players out of form and lastly the having no plan b from Klopp and the coaching staff is the reason I’m looking forward to a change. Klopp is a legend and I’ll be eternally grateful for the memories but fresh eyes are needed.

5.) 26 Apr 2024
26 Apr 2024 13:58:09
This post isn’t me defending Trent either, he should do a lot better and put up more of a challenge. I was highlighting how ridiculous zonal marking is! If we man-marked at corners instead, Van Dijk or Konate are picking up Calvert Lewin and that goal doesn’t happen. Can anyone tell me the benefits of zonal marking? The cons definitely outweigh the pros for me!

6.) 26 Apr 2024
26 Apr 2024 14:15:17
VVD and Konate both got bullied as well. Then it really highlighted the massive deficiencies of some other players when it comes to defending.
I hope Klopp changes at least half the team for tomorrow’s game. I wouldn’t give Jones or Sob a seat on the plane never mind the bench.

7.) 26 Apr 2024
26 Apr 2024 15:33:16
Problem with trent is he's truly woeful defensively but a brilliant passer. He's positive with the ball, he'll play the ball fans want played. That's a great asset but he's not imo ever going to succeed as a defensive midfielder. Trent has a lot of flaws as an overall player. He's not athletic like a Bellingham or past Gerrard. He's weak physically in the air, in challenges and doesn't have the legs to be a box to box midfielder.
Trent has to continue being an attacking full back and work qnd work on his defensive side. It's as simple as that.

8.) 26 Apr 2024
26 Apr 2024 16:01:36
Ecogsi

I posted similar earlier in the season and got prayers

“He’s world class” - “perfect for midfield”

Fact is he doesn’t tackle, doesn’t provide the energy that he used to, and switches off defensively

None of those can happen with a midfield player or we would get rinsed through the middle

We could get a very good fee, play Bradley, and strengthen other areas.

9.) 26 Apr 2024
26 Apr 2024 16:39:39
There will be a system to get the best out of Trent. I wouldn’t mind seeing Bradly and Trent playing together down the right. Trent doesn’t have to charge around his delivery is world class from anywhere.

10.) 26 Apr 2024
26 Apr 2024 19:22:43
I don't think people realise the modern game isn't all sliding tackles in one on ones.

Defending in midfield is done via interceptions and blocking passing lanes - both metrics which trent scores high every season. It's aerial duels and tackles. Despite everyone thinking mac was no good at DM he was actually far more effective than endo.

Sometimes I think everyone is trapped in the past. Busquets is considered by many to be one of the best DM in modern game and he was no midfield destroyer.

The modern game uses pressing into forced errors as a defence in midfield.

Also slot doesn't use a DM he uses two pivots whose sole job is to recycle the ball and keep possession. He inverts the fullbacks for defensive duties in mid.

11.) 26 Apr 2024
26 Apr 2024 20:50:49
Bored of saying the same thing. When I say Trent is a liability at RB it is not because of his positioning, his tracking, his tackling or pave or effort. It's because he cannot defend the back post at set pieces or when crosses come in. Time and time again it happens. It's at the point where I am not blaming him because a blind man could see he shouldn't be there.

12.) 26 Apr 2024
26 Apr 2024 21:00:31
That's a good point about interceptions, Nevada. I remember Sammy Lee saying his better performances were when he never had to make a tackle.
That said, all midfielders should be willing to tackle if they have to. They should all be able to pass the ball forwards. It annoys me to see the number of times I see midfielders not taking the ball on the half turn. And they should all be able to score a few goals.
I suppose I am old fashioned though.

13.) 26 Apr 2024
26 Apr 2024 23:02:24
Back in July Klopp stated that Trent could play effectively as a 6 but chose to play him in this 3-2-2-3 formation instead as this "hybrid" role? What would be so wrong next season to have him move permanently to that specific 6 role instead of Endo with Bradley who is a much better technically defensive RB? Get Quansah hitting the weights in the summer to add some strength and speed and play him alongside VVD; Bradley RB and source a new LB to compete with an ageing Robbo and there's a more solid back 4 imo .

14.) 27 Apr 2024
27 Apr 2024 10:02:43
Schultzy, Trent switches off far too often to play at number six you need a modicum of defensive ability and be alert to danger as well as being able to read the play, which Trent really doesn’t do very well (and I’m being generous there) . Trent is great at the Hollywood passing and free kicks, but the rest of his game isn’t that great, certainly not to be considered for arguably the most important role in the team.

Nevada, I’d tend to disagree that Busquets was the best defensive midfielder of modern times, Makalele was the best by a very very long way and I’d go as far as saying Rodri is better than Busquets ever was.

{Ed001's Note - Alonso was better than any of those.}

15.) 27 Apr 2024
27 Apr 2024 10:25:40
@schultzy I'm pretty sure that's what slot will do. Hell make Bradley right back and have Trent sit as the second pivot with McAllister since he likes his fullbacks to invert and provide the defensive cover and he prefers his midfielders to be able to pass their way through or recycle the ball until they can.

@riggsby there is a quote often attributes to maldini in which he says if he has to make a tackle it means he's already made a mistake (the quote was actually a playful joke aimed at baresi during their run together in the late 80s because baresi was probably worlds best tackler and there was a lot of playful competition between them) .

Despite it being a playful jab there is some truth to it you have more control of the game when you're on your feet. Sliding should be a last resort and if you win the slide you should either keep the ball or put it out because sliding and losing possession has left a gap where you should be covering. This was actually something saachi realised as Milan coach and it's where the high pressing system originally comes from (pep and klopp both credit saachi as an influence) . Saachi realised that because everyone was playing the (horrible) catennacio system they were more focused on winning tackles than what to do with it after and since sliding was enough vogue there were gaps to exploit.

This post went on longer than expected but it's only because saachi is such a fascinating character and doesn't get the credit he deserves for how he changed the game. Also a nice bloke.