Trent Alexander Arnold

Not really, him and Trippier will likely be the two RB's that go to the Euros for England as Southgate has switched between the two of them during qualifying. Given his form for Liverpool though, I'd be shocked if TAA isn't first choice in the summer.
Hopefully Southgate will be clueless and start Trippuer.
 
Is he wasted as a RB? Push him forward to RM?
Liverpool doesn't play that way though. Liverpool attack using the full backs and defend using the midfield. If you mean RW, that is Salah's spot.
 
Is he wasted as a RB? Push him forward to RM?

The modern FB is in fact a RM.

In fact, the bigger waste is making your forwards/midfielders provide width when you can instead play them closer to goal and get the same output from your fullbacks.
 
Best RB in the world, without being particularly amazing at defending. Which says a lot about what being a fullback means in today's game.
 
Best RB in the world, without being particularly amazing at defending. Which says a lot about what being a fullback means in today's game.

It's about the value you add on the pitch. He's got something like 20+ assists this calendar year, how many goals do you think his poor defending has cost them? His net contribution will still far exceed any other RB in the world.
 
The modern FB is in fact a RM.

In fact, the bigger waste is making your forwards/midfielders provide width when you can instead play them closer to goal and get the same output from your fullbacks.

This is why Pep keep failing in the CL for me - all this inverted wingback stuff just doesn't work when it matters in 90 mins when it's needed the most.
 
If he keeps up his recent form, he's player of the year material.
 
This is why Pep keep failing in the CL for me - all this inverted wingback stuff just doesn't work when it matters in 90 mins when it's needed the most.

it works for Pool, you dont need inverted wingbacks when your fullbacks can be right midfielders. It is a weapon
 
Liverpool have pulled an absolute gem from their otherwise pretty shite academy in recent years. For feck sake.
 
The goal against City was goal of the season... the ball went from right back to left back to goal. Each pass exquisitely perfect. Pep just slumped down on his seat.

But imagine Leicester getting beaten so easily at home.
 
Last edited:
Liverpool have pulled an absolute gem from their otherwise pretty shite academy in recent years. For feck sake.
All the hype was surrounding Woodburn when he came through with TAA. Weird how it worked out for them.
 
All the hype was surrounding Woodburn when he came through with TAA. Weird how it worked out for them.

Woodburn has just turned 20 though. Still young, has time on his side. He could still turn out to be meh obviously, but not one to write off yet.
 
He can be the best English right back in the history. For his age, he is very intelligent footballer.
 
All the hype was surrounding Woodburn when he came through with TAA. Weird how it worked out for them.
I mean back in 2012 I remember people hyping Wilson as the next bale, Rossiter was hyped massively too, they’ll all have different career trajectories. As long as we produce one every once in a while for the first team and the rest go on to have solid careers we’re doing well by them.

The one I remember absolutely dominating the youth teams was Sterling, we have quite a few talented players in the academy or on loan that I’m pretty sure will have solid PL careers.
 
Curtis Jones is the next one to come through. He is the real deal. Plays as an AM or in midfield. He's a scouser too :)
 
Another 2 assists...

So is he the best in the world yet? At 21!
I assume that you're talking about fullbacks but at this rate, we might soon be talking about best player in the world period. The guy is insane. I've never seen a player put in so many quality crosses; it is unbelievable. It's like having Beckham at right back except with with more speed and agility.
 
Givin space he is a machine but there is no other team on the planet who loads the box with 5-6 attackers on regular basis.
 
Is he a regular for England?

Wouldn't want to see him against Croatia.

Apparently he already achieved 50 percent of Scholes all time assists. Is this true?
Not quite, but close; but I'll admit that is a bit of a cherry-picked statistic; Scholes didn't really do the last pass that counts as an assist. If you counted assist of assists, I think you'll find Scholes will do quite a bit better.
 
What's the best way to set him up for England

RWB in a 352

Or just 433 where he guards Sancho?
No need to make him a wing back. Also 3/5 at the back is counter productive when you have so many quality attackers.
Pickford
TAA Smalling Maguire Chilwell
Henderson
??? Maddison
Sterling Kane Rashford
Sancho is quality but he shouldn't be a starter, first off the bench though. Maguire's partner likely won't be Smalling but he probably should be. Not sure who the all round midfielder should be, no standout there IMO. RLC maybe?
 
This really hurts me to admit but have to say he defended really well against Leicester as well as providing an assist for their first goal and then rounded it off with a goal of his own too. If he was able to defend as well as he can attack on a regular basis he would certainly be a guaranteed starter in the euros.
 
Best RB in the world, without being particularly amazing at defending. Which says a lot about what being a fullback means in today's game.

Rashford loves playing against him, long may it continue, as he’s sure got his number.
 
Can't think of many more influential full backs to a club team in recent times, maybe only Dani Alves at Sevilla and Lahm at Bayern are comparable. They have many ways to win a match but they never look quite right without him in the team, he's essentially become their playmaker from right back. Case in point in the Club World Cup semi final when they were pretty poor until he comes on then he plays a perfect pass for the winner.
 
Most influential fullback in the world, and one of the best passers in the world in general. The guy is pulling cross field switches with his weaker foot effortlessly.

The way Liverpool play is perfect for him.
 
Wizard on the ball and very solid off it.

Easily the best RB England have by some distance. If he continues this, he will easily end up as the greatest RB England has produced. As a football fan, I enjoy watching him play.
 
Givin space he is a machine but there is no other team on the planet who loads the box with 5-6 attackers on regular basis.
Agreed. It also helps having clearly the best center half in the world and hard-working midfield with no passengers covering any counters. TAA is really good, but their entire team is just well put together.
 
Weird thesis but ok

I think if he kept proper attacking wide full backs he would make a better team.

Both Liverpool & City attack in a 235 but Liverpool attack with their width coming from their fullbacks using wing spaces whilst City uses half spaces.

City use their fullbacks more restricted and centrally whilst its de bryune & silva that make the runs in to the Half Spaces to cross after the wingers like Mahrez and sterling draw their centre backs out of position.

Liverpool's game is much more simplified and balanced than Pep's & I think this is something I've heard before as a problem of his tactics - that it isn't exactly simple in the way that Liverpool attack in a 235 with 2 wing backs, 2 inverted forwards and 1 support striker.
 
Liverpools system helps TAA significantly. Will be nowhere near as good elsewhere.
 
Liverpools system helps TAA significantly. Will be nowhere near as good elsewhere.
He’s a world class footballer at the age of 21. Would he be as good in a weaker team? Well, obviously not. That’s the same as any footballer.

That said, to run the game from right back is special. Not seen a full back with his technical gifts. He’s reinventing the position.
 
Rashford loves playing against him, long may it continue, as he’s sure got his number.
Rashford played really well against him in March 2018. In one match two seasons ago.

Since then TAA have lost two league matches. TWO!

Long may it continue.
 
Sensational player. He's only going to get physically stronger too.
Pains me to say it but they've got a Roberto Carlos on their hands. And because he's a scouser, he'll play 800 games for them :(
 
Could he play as a midfielder ala Philip Lahm? England are really short in this area and his passing could be sensational setting up the likes of Sancho, Sterling and Rashford
 
I think if he kept proper attacking wide full backs he would make a better team.

Both Liverpool & City attack in a 235 but Liverpool attack with their width coming from their fullbacks using wing spaces whilst City uses half spaces.

City use their fullbacks more restricted and centrally whilst its de bryune & silva that make the runs in to the Half Spaces to cross after the wingers like Mahrez and sterling draw their centre backs out of position.

Liverpool's game is much more simplified and balanced than Pep's & I think this is something I've heard before as a problem of his tactics - that it isn't exactly simple in the way that Liverpool attack in a 235 with 2 wing backs, 2 inverted forwards and 1 support striker.

Ah I see what you're saying. However given that City do have the likes of De Bruyne and D Silva in their squad, I'm not sure their midfield can be the defensive force Liverpool's more functional trio is. Hence the need for inverted fullbacks to provide defensive stability. It's definitely more complicated, but I'm loath to blame it for their failures in the CL (unless Liverpool's system would have prevented Laporte from shitting the bed).

City have experimented with 5-3-2, where Mendy and Walker are given permission to bomb forward. They've actually looked good doing so, it just leaves no space for Sterling and Sane.
 
Your previous generation was also very, very good player by player but I think this squad is even more talented and more importantly it is much more balanced. You relied too heavily on long shots and crossing which is kind of logical with players like Gerrard, Lampard, Rooney, Beckham, Scholes, ...

Now you have fast players with real quality on the ball, great movement and finishing (Rashford) who are also great at dribbling (Sancho, Sterling), one of the best strikers in the world who's not only a prolific goal scorer but also more than comfortable with a football at his feet (Kane), top midfield talents (Maddison, Mount, Foden, Alli) and exceptional fullbacks (TAA).

The only positions I see less potential in are the CBs. Terry and Ferdinand were absolute top class and I don't really Maguire in the same way.


- Sancho - Kane - Sterling - (Rashford)
- Foden - Maddison - (Alli)
- ? -
- Chilwell - Maguire - Smalling - TAA -
- Pickford -

Looks like one of the absolute best squads around and will only improve in the next 5-6 years.