Trent Alexander-Arnold

[Kenneth]

Might not be lost on you, but reading a lot of the other comments in this thread, it seems that way to me.

How come? Are you talking from the perspective that, because Madrid do this, criticism of the player is misplaced?

[Buzzo]

I think everyone is well aware of this tbh.



It takes two to tango. Unlike the Owen and mcmanamam moves, where there was a clear gap in quality of football and potential achievements, that doesn't exist at the moment. The 'lure' of Madrid isn't really sporting now, it's money, so it feels more grubby.

It could also be a desire to experience something new. Being in the same job for your entire career there has to be an interest in experiencing something different? I doubt money is all that much of a factor in a material sense more in an ‘at this stage of your career a player of your ability should expect £x’. Trent comes across as relatively insightful and intelligent for a football player and the interest in experiencing something different and new must be quite a pull.

I’m torn between selfishly wanting Trent to stay he is only 26, realistically approaching his prime and has the potential to be one of the greats. To, begrudgingly, not wishing him ill will in a desire to experience a new environment.

I think he will regret any move assuming we remain successful, I do think the reasons McManaman gave and the reasons Gerrard used to decide to stay remain when you are a home town hero. And these are elevated when it comes to Trent as he does have the team built around him to go on to win multiple trophies, perhaps eventually as captain of his own team.

I don’t know if he has given any assurances to Madrid or if this is just them making moves to unsettle a player who has not 100% decided what he wants to do. All I do know is that the media noise around this is already massive and feels like it has the potential to destabilise and we definitely do not need that.

[dom9]

How come? Are you talking from the perspective that, because Madrid do this, criticism of the player is misplaced?

Well, yes.

He's well within his rights to do this.

If he was offered a new contract in the summer, there is nothing to suggest he would have signed it.

Honestly I don't see why footballers should be held to a higher standard than the rest of us.

[dom9]

I think everyone is well aware of this tbh.



It takes two to tango. Unlike the Owen and mcmanamam moves, where there was a clear gap in quality of football and potential achievements, that doesn't exist at the moment. The 'lure' of Madrid isn't really sporting now, it's money, so it feels more grubby.

How many leagues and CLs have they won in the past decade?

[fidget]

100% nailed on he was leaving after he wore leather(?) dungarees at the F1.

[labourRed]

I wonder if Bellingham's insta story is coincidence with the end of the year or a snide public message to Trent.

[labourRed]

Honestly I don't see why footballers should be held to a higher standard than the rest of us.

I'm very pragmatic and rational in every day life. The complete opposite when it comes to football. It's the club over the players every time.

That said, regarding Trent objectively I'd still advise him to stay. I don't think it would work out well in Madrid. He's not a full back suited to them but we break midfielders to accommodate him.

[dom9]

I'm very pragmatic and rational in every day life. The complete opposite when it comes to football. It's the club over the players every time.

That said, regarding Trent objectively I'd still advise him to stay. I don't think it would work out well in Madrid. He's not a full back suited to them but we break midfielders to accommodate him.

If I were him, I would stay too. If he goes on a free, he will burn a lot of bridges and as Michael Owen found out, he might not be very welcome when he returns in the future.

I think the one variable which might keep him here is that he said that winning trophies would be his most important consideration. He obviously didn't factor in Slot turning his existing team into the best in Europe in the first half of the season, so if he's true to his word and we end up wining the league, or even the CL, he'll have some serious thinking to do.

[Kenneth]

Well, yes.

He's well within his rights to do this.

If he was offered a new contract in the summer, there is nothing to suggest he would have signed it.

Honestly I don't see why footballers should be held to a higher standard than the rest of us.

I'm not sure how the two things are related to be honest.

[dom9]

Cba

[Kenneth]

I'm very pragmatic and rational in every day life. The complete opposite when it comes to football. It's the club over the players every time

That's what football is all about. Tribalism, irrational fandom, allegiances blown out of all reasonable proportion. And if it wasn't like that, Trent would have a regular ass job and kick a ball around for fun with his friends at the park occasionally.

People choose when to jump off. "Well actually.... all of this is meaningless and wouldn't apply to me and my job", and then jump straight back on again the next time a game comes around, or a signing is made etc

[dom9]

That's what football is all about. Tribalism, irrational fandom, allegiances blown out of all reasonable proportion. And if it wasn't like that, Trent would have a regular ass job and kick a ball around for fun with his friends at the park occasionally.

People choose when to jump off. "Well actually.... all of this is meaningless and wouldn't apply to me and my job", and then jump straight back on again the next time a game comes around, or a signing is made etc

I dunno, each to their own but I find it quite easy to draw that line. Support the players whilst they are here. If they want to leave, good luck to them. They often need it. Most have not found greener grass elsewhere.

If they want to run down their contracts, then whatever. The point of a contract is that you pay someone to do a job for a fixed period. If they leave early, then you get a fee, great. If not, then if they have performed, then everyone has got the required value out of that contract.

I'm not going to get all emotional and grumpy about a player leaving though. Not since Fowler anyway. I'm cool with it.

[fidget]

Same here. If the fans owned the clubs I might feel different.

[Kenneth]

I wouldn't expect anybody to feel emotional about a player leaving, we're all middle aged men.

[dom9]

I wouldn't expect anybody to feel emotional about a player leaving, we're all middle aged men.

Perhaps I misunderstood this then?

That's what football is all about. Tribalism, irrational fandom, allegiances blown out of all reasonable proportion.