Topic: Trent Alexander-Arnold

[Samie]

Northcroft another Times journo going in on Southgate just now.

https://twitter.com/JNorthcroft/status/1574489457146970115

Good job Gareth didn't pick Trent Alexander-Arnold. Wouldn't want a player with 'defensive frailties' in this flawless team.

[Ocean Red]

The FA just want yes men as managers, regardless of their ability, I wasn't born at this time but everyone wanted Brian Clough as England manager to replace Don revie, but no they go for Ron Greenwood. Many years later everyone wanted Harry Redknapp to take over from Fabio Capello, but no they give it to Roy Hodgson yet another yes man, who was shit, who had us in the bloody relegation zone, before we sacked him after 6 months. The FA keep making the same mistakes because they just want yes men who won't rock the boat and their ability is last on the list. That's why we ain't won fuck all since 1966 world cup.

[Sheer Magnetism]

Finding it hard to care about this, it's not like he's being picked behind Luke Shaw. James and Walker are both proven at the top level, Trent's started the season in iffy form and Southgate wants someone more defensively inclined. It's not like Trent's been firing on all cylinders at international level anyway.

[jillcwhomever]

Finding it hard to care about this, it's not like he's being picked behind Luke Shaw. James and Walker are both proven at the top level, Trent's started the season in iffy form and Southgate wants someone more defensively inclined. It's not like Trent's been firing on all cylinders at international level anyway.

James has been naff in his last few England performances, and he hasn't been playing that well himself recently. He is a long way behind Trent still despite being a good player.

[Samie]

Finding it hard to care about this, it's not like he's being picked behind Luke Shaw. James and Walker are both proven at the top level, Trent's started the season in iffy form and Southgate wants someone more defensively inclined. It's not like Trent's been firing on all cylinders at international level anyway.

The dickhead was forced into picking him when he was firing on all cylinders anyway.

[Persephone]

Does anyone really care if Trent gets picked for England? The less games he plays, the better for LFC. He's looked shot so far this season, 2 weeks rest sounds better than playing under that goon Southgate. Hopefully Trent has had time to mentally sort himself out and play to his previous high standards.

[Dim Glas]

Does anyone really care if Trent gets picked for England? The less games he plays, the better for LFC. He's looked shot so far this season, 2 weeks rest sounds better than playing under that goon Southgate. Hopefully Trent has had time to mentally sort himself out and play to his previous high standards.

pretty sure most Liverpool fans won’t care.

But it makes for good discussion during an international break, because it is genuinely bonkers, especially when you compare the preferential treatment Southgate gives a genuinely awful defender in Maguire.

[killer-heels]

Does anyone really care if Trent gets picked for England? The less games he plays, the better for LFC. He's looked shot so far this season, 2 weeks rest sounds better than playing under that goon Southgate. Hopefully Trent has had time to mentally sort himself out and play to his previous high standards.

No Liverpool fan should care.

[Clint Eastwood]

Lots of articles carrying on tonight questioning his treatment of Trent. Fair enough, but where has this energy been over the last 4 years? They’ve waited until his form has dropped off to say all this.

[RedBec1993]

Lots of articles carrying on tonight questioning his treatment of Trent. Fair enough, but where has this energy been over the last 4 years? They’ve waited until his form has dropped off to say all this.

I know it sounds abit childish but his treatment of Trent has been unfair, seems to give every player a chance but reluctant to give him a chance. He deserves a lot more Trent, regardless of whether he started the season a bit iffy, he’s been almost flawless for about 4 years.

[Funky_Gibbons]

Does anyone really care if Trent gets picked for England? The less games he plays, the better for LFC. He's looked shot so far this season, 2 weeks rest sounds better than playing under that goon Southgate. Hopefully Trent has had time to mentally sort himself out and play to his previous high standards.

Most Liverpool fans won’t care, but I suspect it bothers Trent quite a bit.

Hopefully he uses this to spur himself into some better form but it could also dent his already fragile confidence.

[Funky_Gibbons]

Finding it hard to care about this, it's not like he's being picked behind Luke Shaw. James and Walker are both proven at the top level, Trent's started the season in iffy form and Southgate wants someone more defensively inclined. It's not like Trent's been firing on all cylinders at international level anyway.

Has Trent even played two consecutive games for England? Hard to show any form at international level when you’re rarely playing and clearly don’t have any trust from the manager.

[David Struhme]

Southgate has lost the plot.

[killer-heels]

Southgate has lost the plot.

Good. Amazing that after last season, our fans actually want our players to play more games.

Thiago, quite possibly the best midfielder in the world, isnt getting in the Spain squad. Should we care? Fuck no. He is still performing and so should Trent.

[Eeyore]

It does cause a bit of a problem when the ball is on the ground though.

The idea is to defend deep, have the other two centre backs tuck in. Then rein in the two full backs and have a double pivot in front of the back 5. In Southgate's head, he is trying to make the opposition cross in to the centre of the box. So lionheart Maguire can bravely head it sideways.

We have Southgate an old-fashioned limited stopper as manager setting up the team to protect Maguire.

The sad thing about International football is that pretty much every team is disjointed and lacks working attacking patterns of play, especially if they get a few injuries. So limited shit on a stick negative football can often get you into the latter stages of tournaments.

[Eeyore]

Has Trent even played two consecutive games for England? Hard to show any form at international level when you’re rarely playing and clearly don’t have any trust from the manager.

It is reminiscent of Liam Brady not getting games for the ROI under Charlton.

Southgate and Charlton want a functional, simple system that panders to the less talented players.

[Rob Dylan]

I can understand if Southgate's system is so cautious that he doesn't think Trent will work within it so he won't be first choice, but what I can't understand is why he doesn't even want him in the squad as a different option, someone to change things when they need to be more attacking. Surely the point of a squad is to have a variety of options, not just a load of similar players for the same positions.

[Dave McCoy]

Does anyone really care if Trent gets picked for England? The less games he plays, the better for LFC. He's looked shot so far this season, 2 weeks rest sounds better than playing under that goon Southgate. Hopefully Trent has had time to mentally sort himself out and play to his previous high standards.

I would guess Trent probably cares as does his wallet.

[Son of Spion]

Does anyone really care if Trent gets picked for England? The less games he plays, the better for LFC. He's looked shot so far this season, 2 weeks rest sounds better than playing under that goon Southgate. Hopefully Trent has had time to mentally sort himself out and play to his previous high standards.

I've no idea how much Trent cares, but I couldn't give a monkeys. I'm biased though, because I have no interest in Ingurland or international football.

[Johnny Aldridge]

No Liverpool fan should care.

It’d be great if he got left out of the squad and had time to recover, be back firing all guns in January.

[naYoRHa2b]

Trent has been really below the levels he's set in recent seasons. I don't really care if he plays for England or not, but I do think it's out of order to call someone up and not even put them on the bench, twice. That time could of been spent with the coaching staff at the training ground.

It seems more personal to me.

[DonkeyWan]

Does anyone really care if Trent gets picked for England? The less games he plays, the better for LFC. He's looked shot so far this season, 2 weeks rest sounds better than playing under that goon Southgate. Hopefully Trent has had time to mentally sort himself out and play to his previous high standards.

Of course not. But clearly it is damaging for a player in a dip. It's also frankly insulting to LFC that such an average FB as James without a fraction of his talent, is keeping him out the side because apparently he can 'defend'. He didn't look so hot last night.

Ideally what LFC fans want is TAA to get picked, score a screamer and provide an assist in the first half, then sub himself off, flicking Vs to the rest of the England squad and then listening on the radio as he drives home, to England conceding 3 goals without reply in the second half.

[jedimaster]

It doesn't make any sense to me, even looking at it from Southgate's point of view. Yes, England are weak and lack pace in central defence, so go ahead and play Walker or James in a 4-3-3 who are more defensive minded and pacy and can cover the weakness in central defence. But if you are going 3-5-2, then Trent seems to fit that perfectly. The wing back doesn't have as many defensive responsibilities and can get forward and be more creative. You need creativity from that position as you are playing so many defensive minded players.

[Egyptian36]

It doesn't make any sense to me, even looking at it from Southgate's point of view. Yes, England are weak and lack pace in central defence, so go ahead and play Walker or James in a 4-3-3 who are more defensive minded and pacy and can cover the weakness in central defence. But if you are going 3-5-2, then Trent seems to fit that perfectly. The wing back doesn't have as many defensive responsibilities and can get forward and be more creative. You need creativity from that position as you are playing so many defensive minded players.

It's Southgate. Common sense out of the window.

[-Willo-]

If he doesn't pick Trent on form, then how can you put Maguire in. Its not even like he's performed well for England everytime he's called upon so at what point is it personal?

If the argument is Trent's defensive form is poor at the moment, then thats negated with 5 at the back and Walker RCB covering him surely? How can you be a football manager on millions per year and have Trippier ahead of this generational talent in the pecking order.

Southgate is a tit.

[Persephone]

Most Liverpool fans won’t care, but I suspect it bothers Trent quite a bit.

Hopefully he uses this to spur himself into some better form but it could also dent his already fragile confidence.

I'm sure he does, every kid dreams of playing in the WC and leading their country to glory. However as LFC supporters I don't think the majority of us are unhappy that he isn't being picked, less chance of him being injured and burnt out.

Southgate is absolutely playing favourites at this point but that's his prerogative and he'll live or die by his decisions. Meanwhile we can be happy that Mo and possibly Trent can go on holiday rather than be hacked by defenders in that slavery built fluffer of a tournament.

[wah00ey]

James made a mistake that led to the third Germany goal.  It hasn't been mentioned ANYWHERE, not even on commentary.  Yet if Trent had been playing and did the same thing it'd be back page headlines.

[keyop]

James made a mistake that led to the third Germany goal.  It hasn't been mentioned ANYWHERE, not even on commentary.  Yet if Trent had been playing and did the same thing it'd be back page headlines.

It's confirmation bias, and is absolutely rife in the English media. It was the same with Salah when he was accused of diving - they look for every opportunity to continue the narrative no matter how tenuous, as they know it stokes the tribalist response and drives social media clicks.

[DelTrotter]

James made a mistake that led to the third Germany goal.  It hasn't been mentioned ANYWHERE, not even on commentary.  Yet if Trent had been playing and did the same thing it'd be back page headlines.

Yep, as he often does, he's cost Chelsea time and time again, often in huge games but there's not a word, in fact he's seemingly considered a rock defensively, it's bizarre.

[-Willo-]

Walker also cost England against Italy but not a peep.

I guess Trent is just in the limelight for being abused and the media recognise that so jump on it too. Horrible.

[Adams83]

If I was the manager and wanted to play the tactics/style that Southgate wants I wouldn't play Trent either. He's not the player for that sort of team.

Now if England should be playing with these tactics is another discussion. Seems a waste with so many good young technical players.

[El Lobo]

Good. Amazing that after last season, our fans actually want our players to play more games.

Thiago, quite possibly the best midfielder in the world, isnt getting in the Spain squad. Should we care? Fuck no. He is still performing and so should Trent.

I think you've got yourself a little muddled.

I dont think anyone particularly wants our players to play for their national teams that much, particularly under the likes of Southgate. It doesn't mean its not up for debate about why on earth he's taken two of our players for seemingly absolutely fuck all reason, particularly Trent who he has singled out before. You're not in a minority of being happy when they dont play

[MonsLibpool]

Walker also cost England against Italy but not a peep.

I guess Trent is just in the limelight for being abused and the media recognise that so jump on it too. Horrible.

It's because Trent is a world superstar. It comes with the territory. I've never heard James or Walker's names mentioned in Europe or South America. It's always Trent because he's seen as the best.

[an fear dearg]

Trent to come back from his 2 week break and start ripping teams apart. A big fat fcuk you Southgate. Can only be to our benefit.

[killer-heels]

Whilst I hope he doesnt go, all is not lost. Whilst we are almost in October and the World Cup starts in November, there are a shit tonne of games before that so if he plays well, he will be back in. James also gets injured a bit so there still is a big chance.

[gazzalfc]

He's going to get called up for the world cup squad. Southgate gets 26 players in his squad. Even if he is so stubborn and adamant about the way he plays and who gets in, there is no way Trent does not make that list of 26.

The biggest issue is him travelling all that way, going through all those training sessions and then only ever sitting on the bench.

Every Liverpool fan should be shrugging their shoulders, keeping their fingers crossed he doesn't get injured and that England get eliminated in the group stages after Wales spank them in the final game . But there is no way Trent wants that.

He always seems to be very proud when talking about playing for England. Good for the endorsements and sponsors etc. 

[Garlicbread]

He's going to get called up for the world cup squad. Southgate gets 26 players in his squad. Even if he is so stubborn and adamant about the way he plays and who gets in, there is no way Trent does not make that list of 26.

The biggest issue is him travelling all that way, going through all those training sessions and then only ever sitting on the bench.

Every Liverpool fan should be shrugging their shoulders, keeping their fingers crossed he doesn't get injured and that England get eliminated in the group stages after Wales spank them in the final game . But there is no way Trent wants that.

He always seems to be very proud when talking about playing for England. Good for the endorsements and sponsors etc.

Yeah I think he'll be included in the 26 man squad, but play nothing. Maybe the dead rubber 3rd group game if England are already qualified.

[Lynndenberries]

Given the outrage, he will end up in the World Cup squad. Didn't this happen ahead of the Euros?

[Garlicbread]

Given the outrage, he will end up in the World Cup squad. Didn't this happen ahead of the Euros?

Yep he was selected but had to pull out because of an injury in the friendlies ahead of the tournament.

[Suareznumber7]

Given the outrage, he will end up in the World Cup squad. Didn't this happen ahead of the Euros?

100%.