Trent may be subpar defensively, but his offensive abilities make up for that. Liverpool for the last decade have always been a top team with their starting RB being a defensive liability, that means something.
You're judging by his credentials and I'm judging by his performances on the pitch. We're back to the "meritocracy" discussion again.
Digital, once again you seem to ignore timing in a players career as a factor. Yes, Ferland helped accomplish many titles in the past. That doesn’t mean he can do so in the present or future. It’s like you see a players resume and assume he can accomplish similar feats forever. Look at the game and not the Wikipedia. Players age and decline in ability. To suggest criticism is just because we “don’t like how he looks on the pitch” as if it’s some subjective aesthetic factor is nonsense. He has been an enormous liability to the team all season long. I don’t know why you refuse to admit this. How many goals does he have to concede before you stop giving him the benefit of the doubt because of past team trophies?
Mendy is only 29 still. RM had a way better defensive structure as a team last season. Mendy was also written off in 2022-23 when team overall had issues in midfield and defense and he was also dealing with injuries that season. I do think a defender like Mendy is needed on the other side if TAA will be RB. We have more than enough firepower with Mbappe, Vini, Jude and Rodrygo that players willing to defend will be key for balance. Carva was one of the best two way RBs in modern era and key part of winning 6 CLs. Get Miguel for Fran as an offensive upgrade. Imo Davies sucking last season at 23 with his off field problems is more of a red flag than Mendy's struggles when he's not fully healthy. Always said he'd renew if money was the same given Bayern put up with all that nonsense without throwing him under the bus.
Zubimendi has to be signed,Trashmeni is trash and Camavinga is unfortunately injury prone,we have no relible DM
The main problems with Mendy is he’s injury prone and is very inconsistent. I’m not so sure that the main LB for Madrid should have both of those qualities. At the very least, the other LB should be close or better than him in overall ability. Which Fran isn’t.
Mendy will stay, we need that profile in the team. It's Fran who unfortunately for him should be on the move. Seems like a nice guy, but he's just not what I'd want from a Real Madrid LB, not even from a squad player. I'd rather we spent the low amount on Miguel, and see how that works out. Miguel will also face major challenges here, but is very comfortable on the ball, which alone will help keep things a bit more stable at the back when we're pressed. We'll see. That RB spot is much more pressing in my opinion, as that needs fixing in January. Keeping Lucas there will cost us and it will cost us not only games but potentially the season if he continues like this. You can't keep playing a man down, you just can't. In fact, it's not even only a man down, it's a man down and a man extra for the opposition. Unacceptable that the club doesn't act on it, and the manager doesn't use his available tools a bit more creatively.
What player would you consider we could get in Jan? Cause Id rather play 10 men than buy cheap players who won't be around in 2 years and who might not end up helping with the end goals
I'm not a club scout, or in the board. I'm sure they have a team that does that work. I'm not saying we should necessarily buy someone, a loan is also fine. But something needs to happen.
Mendy’s form in the last few years is pretty weird, I can’t recall seeing this much volatility in performances year on year from one of our players before. 2021/22: Solid as a rock at the back. 2022/23: A liability defensively in many games. 2023/24: Very solid performances overall. 2024/25: So far, another poor season.
TAA couldn't defend for himself with a lawyer and a legal firearm. This very forum spent years making fun of him now he's supposed to be a must get. Odd.
The tone from the local press has certainly been that of a star level signing. He's on every single cover story. And I don't see anybody speaking against the move here either.
If we sign TAA, he's simply going to have to do. Frimpong, Porro and others can't defend to save their lives, and Reese James is a sick-note player. TAA is not highly desirable, but all things considered, if we sign him on a free, it's not a bad transfer. He has excellent ball distribution, will help with our corners and free kicks, and he is a professional by all accounts. Davies worries me, massively, and even more so if we play both him and TAA on either wings...
There is a difference not not speaking against the move and saying he is a must get. No one here is saying the latter. We just accept that the RB prospects are bare. And this is almost as good as it gets.
I think he's a potential headache. There has to be a better option. Absolute luxury player and our fixation makes me feel like it will be him plus nothing else. Maybe an Asencio contract to fool fans that we "got the best right here". I honestly think it would be better for him to stay as well. How strange really.
I think we can afford a player like TAA starting. Just like how ZZ entrusted in Marcelo during 3peat. Carlo didn't trust him that much and benched Marcelo vs Bayern & in CL final. Pool have made it work with TAA all these years. Two luxury FBs like TAA and Davies would have been near impossible to make it work.We need best version of Mendy or another defender like that if TAA is starting. Pool has Robertson as LB who's defensively reliable.
i think we should have a sporting director to see how different signing are compatible and how to plan the squad , i do not know if JAS technically fit for that
I strongly believe that our future manager (Xabi or Zidane, only Perez knows) has already started working with the club on squad planning. If we sign Davies and TAA, then the future manager has already given his approval.
JAS is the CEO running business side of things. Several clubs including Chelsea tried to poach Juni. I think he stayed because he only reports to Flo and JAS. Placing a sporting executive ahead of Juni would probably mean letting him go. Anyways, club policy of signings comes from the top as a financial decision too.
If you're going to use a back 3 you can afford your WBs not being great at defending. Look at Inter, they have Di Marco and Dumfries staying really high up the pitch with the former acting as a Left Forward at times.
It's funny because this was a position where you would usually sign cheap, and a lot, Dani Alves being a bit of an exception but he was absolutely stellar with Sevilla, and even then he wasn't a player that commanded big fees and wages. Going to have to look at the numbers to see where we are there but TAA is pitched in the press as some sort of project centerpiece for this summer and that's kind of rough to me.
I fully expect Trent to renew and then "nobody else satisfies Madrid" to be the common aggregator refrain the rest of the summer. I'm pretty certain Trent will renew with Liverpool at this point, and I'd be disappointed with him if he didn't.
TAA is a big player for Liverpool. Coverage in English media at the prospect of him leaving has been massive too. I think 48 ME for Mendy was a big outlay as well as it was in 2019.