The Trent in midfield debate: Chapter 66

[mwake]

Watching the Trent rebirth arc lately has made me dream about him playing as an official attacking midfielder.

Klopp's tactics are almost perfect when they work, but even then the one big systems weakness is the lack of creativity in this current Klopp midfield. You know the current game drill. Park bus team. LFC midfield gets the ball, pass the ball, give away the ball, win the ball back and repeat. However, if we had a ball-running midfielder, we can vary the dynamic of our approach play and increase our unpredictability factor. Keita sometimes offers this ability, when he is alive...

Yes I know Thiago is playing much better, but we still don't have a midfielder that can beat his man in midfield Trent gives us that. Plus an advantage of Trent in midfield is that it gives us that ball-running player with a background in defending so it means we don't have to lose that slot to having a 'luxury creative midfielder player'.

Although every time Trent plays a good game everyone says "See, no need to move him, he's playing perfectly where he is!" I'm not one that says that Trent is a poor defender, he's not, he's a very good defender but still, you have to be honest he's a much better attacking player than he is a defender.

However, It looks like Klopp is resistant to moving Trent (and who am I to argue with the great man) but hopefully, Klopp isn't 100% rigid about the possibility of it happening one day...

Maybe Southgate will help me part satisfy this wish and take Trent to the Euros as a midfielder ha!

 

[mark1975]

We've been banging this drum forever, its a no brainer and he seems to have, of late, used the inside right alot more, pretty much the position that Hendo would play (if Fabs is sitting). It needs to happen sooner rather than later. We need a more robust right back and we need this lads quality in midfield. If we had Trent, Fabs, Hendo and Thiago, I really couldn't give two shites what Gini does.

 

[Modo]

Beat his man?
I see Thiago dancing around players every game.

I do however agree that it is a good idea to move Trent into midfield but that opens up another problem for us, which is, who is going to play right back because Williams isn't ready for that yet?

 

[Grjt2]

Think I’m a dissenting voice here. I don’t agree. I haven’t seen anything from Trents passing in tight spaces, or any calmness and tactical nous to tell me he can make CM work right now.
The space and time afforded to him from passing and crossing from fullback for me is what is helping him shine.

 

[Brizzle]

I'd be happy to see the experiment once we have a back up RB who isn't a bit ropey. Could then be a good experiment in Carabao/FA Cup. Until then - why move him, we are winning games with his influence from current role so why take him away from that and into one where he will be marked heavily by DMs?

 

[JohnnyRocket]

I'm as intrigued as anyone to see how Trent would do in midfield.

But, when you have one of the world's best attacking right backs . . . . you play them at right back.

Imagine if Ancelotti thought, Hmm, why not play Cafu next to Pirlo and Gattuso.

 

[rubans]

If we had to move him then rather see him tried at RW or LW instead.
Current midfield setup doesn’t allow for a wide right midfielder to use Trent’s skills.
Before all this, we need to buy a capable right back so wouldn’t be something I would try next season unless Klopp gets bored.

 

[TheRedCrusade]

Think I’m a dissenting voice here. I don’t agree. I haven’t seen anything from Trents passing in tight spaces, or any calmness and tactical nous to tell me he can make CM work right now.
The space and time afforded to him from passing and crossing from fullback for me is what is helping him shine.

so you think Henderson has all of that and that is why he is a better option compared to Trent. Hypothetical case of what traits do both have if you are forced to choose between these two for Liverpool midfield in the next season?

 

[Dreambeliever]

Not for me. He isn’t capable of beating a man out wide. Coming from deep as a fb suits him perfectly.

 

[Brizzle]

His threat from wide also means opposition have to cover him which in theory should give us more gaps in the middle, we are just patchy at exploiting this at the moment.

 

[StevieM]

Think I’m a dissenting voice here. I don’t agree. I haven’t seen anything from Trents passing in tight spaces, or any calmness and tactical nous to tell me he can make CM work right now.
The space and time afforded to him from passing and crossing from fullback for me is what is helping him shine.

I’m with you.

So many players lose their effectiveness once they’re moved in the centre from wide positions - because they get less time, space and the type and angle of the passing changes.

I think the answer is to keep him outside and get someone better for that attacking spot in midfield.

Moving Trent into the centre means, to me, that we have replace one of our most profitable outlets - and I don’t see many people offer us what Trent offers from RB.

 

[Grjt2]

so you think Henderson has all of that and that is why he is a better option compared to Trent. Hypothetical case of what traits do both have if you are forced to choose between these two for Liverpool midfield in the next season?

I do. Is the serious question Henderson vs Trent in CM for us next season?!? Henderson all day long. You can love him or only think he’s “okay” but the gaping hole in our midfield right now is there for all to see. His energy, passing tempo, and positional sense (including spotting the danger caused by the RB being regularly out of position) is phenomenal

 

[Modo]

According to the Athletic he's not going to the Euro's.

 

[MomoWASright]

According to the Athletic he's not going to the Euro's.

Boss

 

[dantes]

Why should he play for a country who have never in their history appointed a black manager? I for one will consider anyone that goes to the Euro's for England, in this climate, as nothing more than a hypocritical disgusting enabler of white supremacy. Someone needs to call it out for what it is.

Even his god damn aristocratic waistcoat, it couldn't be a more obvious slap in the face to people of colour.

 

[StevieM]

Why should he play for a country who have never in their history appointed a black manager? I for one will consider anyone that goes to the Euro's for England, in this climate, as nothing more than a hypocritical disgusting enabler of white supremacy. Someone needs to call it out for what it is.

Even his god damn aristocratic waistcoat, it couldn't be a more obvious slap in the face to people of colour.

What have I told you about posting in the FF when you’re off your meds.

It’s bad enough you stumble into the Music, Film & TV Forum.

Get back in GC you crazy fool.

 

[Mamma Mia]

The answer is already in this thread. Trent should move to midfield and be LFC captain when Hendo retires.

 

[rubans]

According to the Athletic he's not going to the Euro's.

Was that Hendo or Trent btw?

 

[Judge Jules]

I’m with you.

So many players lose their effectiveness once they’re moved in the centre from wide positions - because they get less time, space and the type and angle of the passing changes.

I think the answer is to keep him outside and get someone better for that attacking spot in midfield.

Moving Trent into the centre means, to me, that we have replace one of our most profitable outlets - and I don’t see many people offer us what Trent offers from RB.

Agree. This is just the kind of tinkering Uncle Roy used to go in for, jiggering the Liverpool careers of too many fundamentally decent players in the process.

 

[tombrown]

"We have the best right back in the world"

"Great, lets move him to a different position and put a lesser player in at right back, then"

 

[The Nomad]

Was that Hendo or Trent btw?

Trent. Southgate the mad twat doesn't think he's good enough defensively to play for England.

Hope England go out in the group stages and he gets sacked.

 

[mwake]

Beat his man?
I see Thiago dancing around players every game.

I do however agree that it is a good idea to move Trent into midfield but that opens up another problem for us, which is, who is going to play right back because Williams isn't ready for that yet?

Thaigo is the master sidestepper and 'Shadow Realmer' he wins that award for sure...but I don't see much evidence of him beating players with pace and dribbling. I would say Trent definitely is a faster player and would be able to beat players in that respect.

 

[mwake]

Agree. This is just the kind of tinkering Uncle Roy used to go in for, jiggering the Liverpool careers of too many fundamentally decent players in the process.

"We have the best right back in the world"

"Great, lets move him to a different position and put a lesser player in at right back, then"

I'm as intrigued as anyone to see how Trent would do in midfield.

But, when you have one of the world's best attacking right backs . . . . you play them at right back.

Imagine if Ancelotti thought, Hmm, why not play Cafu next to Pirlo and Gattuso.

Hang on, if Gerrard had faced this mindset he would never excelled in the multiple positions that he played in. Don't get me wrong I remember panicking when I heard that Gerrard was going to be moved from being a defensive midfielder to right midfield, but in the end it didn't hurt him in the slightest. Also rather ironically didn't Stevie G play his first few games as a right back?

 

[Modo]

Thaigo is the master sidestepper and 'Shadow Realmer' he wins that award for sure...but I don't see much evidence of him beating players with pace and dribbling. I would say Trent definitely is a faster player and would be able to beat players in that respect.

Yeah ok, you mean running past, in that case I agree

 

[tombrown]

Also rather ironically didn't Stevie G play his first few games as a right back?

This point, oft repeated, is verging on myth. Stevie played one or two games at right back, as the position does offer an "in" for young players, but it really was 1 or 2 and no one ever thought for a second he would end up there. Trent on the other hand has played God knows how many times there and made the position his own.

 

[rubans]

Trent. Southgate the mad twat doesn't think he's good enough defensively to play for England.

Hope England go out in the group stages and he gets sacked.

Seriously ?, UEFA increased the squad to 26. What a daft buffoon, it must be personal. Maybe Trent’s been messaging his mrs.

 

[peekay]

Hang on, if Gerrard had faced this mindset he would never excelled in the multiple positions that he played in. Don't get me wrong I remember panicking when I heard that Gerrard was going to be moved from being a defensive midfielder to right midfield, but in the end it didn't hurt him in the slightest. Also rather ironically didn't Stevie G play his first few games as a right back?

Gerrard was a freak of nature. He would have been the best left back, center back, and goal keeper at the club. It used to bother me about how fans used to casually comment about his lack of footballing intelligence or nous. It takes a once in a generation player who can instinctively understand the intricacies, roles, and responsibilities of playing the game at different parts of the pitch and perform at the highest level. In Istanbul, he was moved to right back and he immediately shut down the Serginho threat.

As impressive as TAA is, I don't think he is at Stevie G level of understanding of the game. The right back position under Klopp is perfect for him. He has Henderson and Gomez/Matip providing cover, Salah upfront destroying defenders. He has the space in front of him to deliver the crosses from deep. He can play the game along a single line forward and backward and occasionally drift in when needed.

Midfield, he might have operate in less space. He will have to drift out wide to deliver his crosses which may leave a space in the middle. He needs to have a 180 degree perspective of the game. Also it might be difficult to deliver the deep crosses when he is in a midfield position.

 

[TheRedCrusade]

I do. Is the serious question Henderson vs Trent in CM for us next season?!? Henderson all day long. You can love him or only think he’s “okay” but the gaping hole in our midfield right now is there for all to see. His energy, passing tempo, and positional sense (including spotting the danger caused by the RB being regularly out of position) is phenomenal

look mate, you yourself are establishing the case for Trent at MF.
1. Energy, Trent already has bundles and loads of it. Playing a RB role in Klopp's system doesn't come cheap. 2. Ok, passing tempo will not be so straightforward to match because Hendo has played there for years and has natural intelligence to play quick passes. Trent can definitely develop it. He already has it and so adept at finding the front three with penetrating passes. I think if given time, he would be even better than Hendo. 3. Positional sense is also a matter of experience and intelligence. Trent already helps so much in our attack. I cant remember the stats but he is the most creative player in Liverpool shirt in last few months. He makes all the right runs. 4. Trent himself will be a great asset in terms of helping the defence as he knows exactly what help would a RB need in case he plays in MF. 5. There are so many occasions Hendo makes a run to the byline and puts brilliant crosses in the box. I can remember the one against ManCity (i guess last season) and Mane had scored the goal. Trent can easily replicate that. The only thing stopping Trent at MF is another equally capable RB suiting Klopp's system. I hope Neco plays there more since we can not rely on one player for the whole season. We also can not rely on Heno/Milner for their leadership in MF forever and we need to start somewhere soon.

 

[juniormember]

Thaigo is the master sidestepper and 'Shadow Realmer' he wins that award for sure...but I don't see much evidence of him beating players with pace and dribbling. I would say Trent definitely is a faster player and would be able to beat players in that respect.

I've seen Trent coming in centrally and trying to dribble past players and then get dispossessed easily too many times for that to make any sense. On the right hand side, with his huge threat of a right foot for those crosses, yeah, he can fake it, cut in, then diagonally run with the ball having beat his man. Completely different to beating players down the middle.

 

[juniormember]

And lets not start using Gerrard for any comparison. Not fair on TAA. He was a freak.