01 Jan 2021 13:46:46
What do people make of the Kieran Trippier links?

At first I dismissed it as usual paper talk nonsense. Why spend on bringing in another RB when we spent 50m on AWB and while we have Dalot, Williams, TFM and Laird on the books who can all play that position and all have varying degrees of potential.

Yet the more I thought about it the more it made sense. Williams and Laird are young and inexperienced, playing a back up role will not help them develop. Ideally they need to head out on loan to get that then maybe in a season or two's time depending on how they do they might be ready to push for a first team spot. TFM really isn't a RB and is not good enough. He'll leave in the summer I suspect. Dalot is an interesting one, he has bundles of ability but has struggled to get fit and get minutes. I strongly suspect he'll head off on a permanent transfer soon enough.
AWB is phenomenal at winning the ball back, his positioning is sometimes suspect, but he has the pace and accuracy to get back and make a challenge 99 times out of 100. He tucked Neymar and Mbappe into his back pocket and shut down his flank. His real "weakness" at least for a club with title ambitions is his lack of offensive quality.

So with two lads a year or two away from being good enough to challenge AWB for a starting spot, TFM and Dalot likely to leave that leaves no one to challenge/ cover for AWB at RB.

In that sense signing Trippier makes a lot of sense. He is far more offensive than AWB so offers a different option at RB. He is a homegrown player and EPL proven. While at the age of 30 he brings a wealth of experience, offering a great rotation option with AWB giving him a challenge while also giving him the space and guidance needed to master the other elements of being a full back.

We have seen that the mere signing of Telles has boosted Shaw's performances at LB. Having an experienced quality option to challenge players isn't a bad thing. Full back is one of the most physically demanding positions on the pitch in modern football. Players are expected to be making vital defensive actions in their own defensive third then seconds later be in the offensive third offering an attacking outlet. Then back down the other end putting a tackle in to stop the counter attack. Having four quality options at full back is vital to be able to challenge in multiple competitions over a season.

While I think that CB, RW and CDM are far more important positions to sort out before RB. Adding a player like Trippier would definitely boost our squad and give us more high quality options off the bench.

1.) 01 Jan 2021
01 Jan 2021 14:40:50
Id be delighted. Solid player. Good experience. Still some miles on the clock. I think he would be ideal given a good deal can be done. In fact watch the odds he might be backing himself.

2.) 01 Jan 2021
01 Jan 2021 15:13:16
Would be a fantastic signing. We can finally attack from the right.

3.) 01 Jan 2021
01 Jan 2021 15:55:48
Tripper is overrated and also is serving a 10 week ban. Tuanzebe at RB makes more sense.

4.) 01 Jan 2021
01 Jan 2021 15:56:33
I like Trippier as a player and agree he would be a good addition to the squad. But I don't see RB as the priority. There is a rumour about Max Aarons at Norwich who I'd probably rather see as direct competition for AWB than a player who's 30. Williams should be natural understudy though at RB. He will get plenty of games given the picture congestion. Agree Fosu-Mensah isn't a RB. Not really a CB either and suspect he will be sold / contract not extended.

5.) 01 Jan 2021
01 Jan 2021 16:12:52
He wouldn't be the worst sighning but i don't want him. He is good forward but not great. He would take i think a big salary and because of his status he will play a lot of matches. Far more than a back up option must play. I prefer to stay with Bissaka and coach him better, then if he don't improve offensively i would take a younger and better right back than Tripier to compete with AWB. Until then Tuanzebe maybe can rotate with Bissaka.

6.) 01 Jan 2021
01 Jan 2021 17:39:15
Don't forget we have Ethan Laird who needs a pathway, signing Trippier with AwB there blocks Laird's progess, same as we have unfortunately done with Brandon Williams by signing Telles. Personally rather see AwB/ Laird and Telles/ Williams as our full backs with Axel/ Maguire then Lindelof/ Bailly as cover.

7.) 01 Jan 2021
01 Jan 2021 17:33:29
Tripier coming in would make some sense. He has played as the RWB so if we switch to 3 at the back for games he will be comfortable, he is far more attacking than AWB so gives another aspect to put game and If he us succeeding at Athletico you know he had grit and can defend.
Long term he is not the answer so would allow others to develop and not stifle AWB but give him a break (not sure what had happened to Williams, thought he would be a good back up on the right) .
However if we have long term doubts over AWB and the others not being good enough then he is not the answer, in this case I would sooner bring in someone like Aaron's and hope he can build on what was a good season for Norwich last year.

{Ed002's Note - I would not hold your breath about Trippier.}

8.) 01 Jan 2021
01 Jan 2021 19:44:53
It’s all a LOB’s.

9.) 01 Jan 2021
01 Jan 2021 19:56:43
I’d sooner take a good look at Laird over Jan and if he’s not up to it move for Max Aarons.

10.) 01 Jan 2021
01 Jan 2021 22:13:16
Trippier can't defend. We can't afford a player like him in out team.

11.) 01 Jan 2021
01 Jan 2021 22:25:01
He’s a good player - could do a job but think we have priorities elsewhere first.

12.) 02 Jan 2021
02 Jan 2021 11:27:34
I'd go for Max Aarons.
Excellent energy and can bomb forward offering attacking intent.