Trent Alexander-Arnold

[Norbs]

Well there you go, Kenneth knows best

Alway

[fidget]

I think Kenneth would disagree

[Fivex]

I think Kenneth would disagree

[Kenneth]

I'm approaching the end of day three of covid induced fever so not much is really making sense, although I did rule out nuclear fusion as a future planet saving energy source at about 3am last night, and I'm banking that one.

[Charly]

Kenneth... what is your opinion of chaos theory relating to the butterfly effect, and how that affects Trent's ability to defend at times?

[Buzzo]

I'm approaching the end of day three of covid induced fever so not much is really making sense, although I did rule out nuclear fusion as a future planet saving every source at about 3am last night, and I'm banking that one.

COVID head is quite something

[Phoenix07]

The slight concern about TAA's position is that Konate's an absolute monster, and he can cover the gaps, but if he can't play, it's still asking a lot for the next CB coming in to do. I do note that Robertson did appear to be more tucked in, and not as marauding as he has been in the past, so it created a three man defence.

Hopefully, time on the training pitch and execution in the remaining games will help players be more familiar with what they have to do, because it's hugely promising.

[Doc_Piptorious]

The slight concern about TAA's position is that Konate's an absolute monster, and he can cover the gaps, but if he can't play, it's still asking a lot for the next CB coming in to do. I do note that Robertson did appear to be more tucked in, and not as marauding as he has been in the past, so it created a three man defence.

Hopefully, time on the training pitch and execution in the remaining games will help players be more familiar with what they have to do, because it's hugely promising.

Yes it will mean the RCB has to do his own job and cover RB, so it needs a physical beast in the role which becomes a problem if, as you say, Konate is missing.

Is possibly why we are being linked to a mobile guy like Timber, who whilst nowhere close to Konate in terms of raw physicality, is quick and agile.


A bigger problem, imo, with making TAA a deep play maker is what happens when he is injured or goes through a, or continues, his dip in form.

We build a system around a deep sitting playmaker and if he is out we do not have another natural fit for the role.

Bit different if he is at RB where we have a few players that can slot in and play as a RB, but the only other guy we have in the squad that could possibly play in the same role is maybe Thiago ( basing that simply on passing range, ability to be press resistant, and decision making) and he is prone to missing a load of time and also would remove the option of having Thiago at CM.


City are using the same formation for a bit now but they have more creative options than we do. They have De Bruyne as their main playmaker, but without him their midfield can look to the likes of Mahrez, Foden, Silva etc to take up the creative load be it from central or wider positions. Even the likes of Gundogan can play in a deeper recycling role to a good level.

So City can do it as it is not as damaging to them to lose a player from the system.


Of course maybe we have a really big summer in mind with regards to the amount of talent we hope to bring in and as such then can spread the quality around the starting XI more.

[Shaggy]

The slight concern about TAA's position is that Konate's an absolute monster, and he can cover the gaps, but if he can't play, it's still asking a lot for the next CB coming in to do. I do note that Robertson did appear to be more tucked in, and not as marauding as he has been in the past, so it created a three man defence.

Hopefully, time on the training pitch and execution in the remaining games will help players be more familiar with what they have to do, because it's hugely promising.

I was wondering about the LCB position, with Robbo more tucked in and naturally having to be less adventurous...and whether Robbo would be the man for that role or would we look to play a proper CB there, and maybe bring someone in in the summer for precisely that, assuming Matip leaves.

[wiw]

I was wondering about the LCB position, with Robbo more tucked in and naturally having to be less adventurous...and whether Robbo would be the man for that role or would we look to play a proper CB there, and maybe bring someone in in the summer for precisely that, assuming Matip leaves.

Was it our 4th against Leeds where Robbo burst forward? You'd potentially lose that if we played a CB there, that's the only problem.

Did you think it looked as though they were almost playing two positions, like Robbo CB/LB, Jones LCM/LW etc. It was great how flexible it looked

[Shaggy]

Yeah that was a great burst from Robbo, but he definitely picked and chose his moments more than usual. Looked very flexible - keen to see how it works against better sides and over the course of the rest of the season.

[Buzzo]

Yeah that was a great burst from Robbo, but he definitely picked and chose his moments more than usual. Looked very flexible - keen to see how it works against better sides and over the course of the rest of the season.

This is how Robbo plays for Scotland, where he is not able to hold such a high line... and is less likely to be attacking.

Actually... it is more how Tierney plays for Scotland as a LB playing more as a LCB but still with a license to attack. It has been that way for a while, and to some extent is working really well and this is with a team that wont expect to have a lot of the ball.

[Mark79]

I was wondering about the LCB position, with Robbo more tucked in and naturally having to be less adventurous...and whether Robbo would be the man for that role or would we look to play a proper CB there, and maybe bring someone in in the summer for precisely that, assuming Matip leaves.

Several of the defenders we’ve been linked for this summer are LB/LCBs who are used to playing in a back 3. Gvardiol, Ndicka, Colwill.

Might not be any of them, but it’s maybe becoming clearer why we might be targeting that profile.

[Norbs]

I think Kenneth would disagree

[Norbs]

He's looked really good again tonight. Am I wrong in making a comparison to Ruud Gullit