He really is shit at defending. All Trent had to do was make sure he blocked off the angle for Doku to sprint down the line, because we always had players ready should Doku cut in, but he couldn't do it. Obviously someone like Doku will get the better of most defenders one on one. But we just needed him to cut the angle, as any competent defender would do, but he doesn't seem to have the brain to do it.
And yet, his pass to Salah for our second goal was typical high quality and vision. Something I really don't think a lot of side backs have, at least on a consistent basis... I worry about what kind of player we can find to replace him. Bradley ain't it.
I’snt that the thing - he’s a unicorn, there isn’t a right back that can do what he does in terms of passing and playmaking.
I reckon we missed him at Everton - here he out here - we have 5 main ways of progressing the ball out of defence -
1. Keeper knocks it long - can be devastating on a quick break but high percentage we lose possession.
2. Ibou goes on a Matipesque run - he doesn’t do it very often and it’s as likely to leave a unpluggable gaping hole in defence as smash through the opposition.
3. Ball into Gravy to turn and break through opposition press - Everton completely cut this off.
4. Virgil’s long diagonals - slightly less chance of lost posession and better build up rather than direct through ball option
5. Then there’s Trent - short, long, need of the boot, outside of the boot, left foot, right foot and all from a deep position where he has time - yes they’re Hollywood balls, but even when he’s shit there 1 or 2 defence splitting passes a game in him.
Now, I like Bradley, he’s a better defender than Trent, he’ll chuck himself into a challenge to let his opposition know he’s about and he gets up and down in support - he’s like a young RB version Robbo… but he’s not got the things in his locker Trent has.
Trent is a shit defender, it’s his body positioning / it’s all over the place - but Doku has always had him on toast when the play (and Trent’s not the only one).
So, yeah, he’s such an important outlet for us and we’ll miss him if/when he’s gone.
Not to say we can’t replace some of what he does by getting a good RB in and maybe a more expansive creative LB to offset a more traditional RB.
But… I’m still hoping he stays and decides that winning more trophies with us and working with Slot to actually develop his RB skills is preferable to getting dumped in a season with Real and ending up playing for Chelsea or something equally horrible.
