Thank god at least someone gets it
For the purpose of discussion quantity of midfielders, we play with three midfielders.
If we end up with Szobo, Mac, Jones, Lavia, Bajcetic and Elliott, plus one veteran, say Thiago, then it is seven players for three positions. Arguably Gakpo could play one of the advanced midfield roles too, if Nunez is going centre forward.
Trent is his own separate category. He is a right back, but obviously the tactical change we saw will see him popping up into midfield and getting onto the ball a lot as our play maker.
In time, maybe Bajcetic might be able to fill in for this role, or possibly an academy graduate, as we have seen in the friendlies.
Surely if we decide to play 4-2-4 to bolster our attacking prowess… then Trent would be the one to bolster the midfield, which would then make him one of the three, depending how the game was unfolding
It’s germane to where he fits into our overall midfield options.
The complaining about “off topic” posting is quickly becoming more annoying than the off topic posts themselves.
5 Likes
It isn’t really though is it if he’s never mentioned and it’s all about Trent instead.
What we do with Trent has a direct correlation to the number, style, and development level of midfielders we go after. Such as Lavia.
This isn’t accurate at all. In some defensive transitions he’s at right back, and others he’s in midfield.
Konate has covered the flank in many defensive situations with Trent covering in midfield.
Maybe it does, but again, it’s not being discussed with that in mind, nobody is saying “if we sign Lavia Trent can do this” or “If Trent plays in midfield then Lavia can do that” etc.
And we have central midfield thread for all this other crap.
You missed Bajcetic.
I don’t agree that its locked in that he won’t play as a traditional midfielder in a 433. From the preseason games there is at least some evidence that we could be moving him.
Personally, I don’t like the hybrid role. I want him to be a pure midfielder. I listed the reasons why I don’t like it last season, and its 99.9% down to how we get absolutely butchered during transitions and to not get butchered would require almost telepathic communication between the RCB and Trent, and there is a point where you have to ask whether the gains are worth the losses. Bring in a RB as a priority, play Trent centrally and remove those risks, especially given how we are often pretty dodge when teams break quickly against us even before this change.
Of course the downside of going with a 433 with Trent in the middle is that a huge bonus of those late games I believe was the overloading of midfield and Curtis’ new lease of life making runs into the box, demonstrating just how lethal he is for a youngster.
Perhaps there are way to incorporate Trent into a MF4 against the right opponent, and him playing as a traiditonal MF in a 433 for those opponents we are concerned can hurt us on the break? In all cases, I don’t see him playing as a traditional RB.
Is Trent playing in one of the three midfield positions we utilise nearly every game? No, he is not. Trent is doing his thing and there are three midfielders in midfield.
So in a discussion about midfield depth should we consider Trent a “midfielder”? No. Because Trent is doing his thing and there are a bunch of midfielders for the the three midfield positions.
Everything else is semantics so let’s move on.
3 Likes
Ok you discuss how TAA is going be a CM all you want it’s a waste of time because he isn’t.
1 Like
Perhaps it would be churlish to point out Trent actually has played as a traditional midfielder in the previous 2 games.
1 Like
If I could do that thread linking thing I’d link to the central midfield thread.
Would be interesting to see people’s opinions on how Lavia would fit into that midfield, perhaps a discussion could be started in there?
News that Ward-Prowse is joining West Ham might have a knock on effect for us in this deal,Southampton will probably make out they don’t need to sell Lavia as much,now they have millions from this sale,could lead to more price haggling and back and forth,making the transfer deal drawn out even more,if it still happens at all.
That was mainly for the 23s i think his first team number was 13 minutes.
To be honest with you - it doesn’t matter to me if he’s labelled a RB or CM or CF or GK. As long as he does his job well in this role he’s being given. Call him the physio or tea lady for all I care.
1 Like
I love how these ITK’s all post with “Understand that” or “Rumors of”. Because none of them have actually been told this info. all supposition.
1 Like
Nothing to them, people will enter arguments to suggest some random knows the ins and outs of football clubs doing deals.
And all on the premise they got a guess right once back in 2018.