I have yet to see a team of any kind with so many options at right-back like England. Gareth Southgate has a strange problem as he has a case for at least four players to take that position. So far, Southgate has played a sort-of diplomatic role by calling as many as possible and even sending some of his right-backs to the left side. However, as we saw [in his recent comments about Trent Alexander-Arnold], the moment of truth is approaching.
So, who is England's best option at right-back? Well, before we get there, we must take a detour and ask a football that is almost existential in football:
Is the best player necessarily the best option
A few days ago I wrote a post about Real Madrid's Federico Valverde and how despite his versatility, I still thought of his as not among top 5 options in each of the positions he plays. I still stand behind that, however, if you would ask who'd I replace him with, in Real Madrid's current state, I would stay with absolutely no one. There isn't a better option for Real Madrid currently like Federico Valverde.
The reason I mention that is to make an important distinction between the best player overall and the best option for a team.
Manchester United signed Cristiano Ronaldo last season, he ended last season with the most goals scored for Manchester United, he also did the same for Juventus the season before that. You could make a convincing argument that Cristiano Ronaldo was Manchester United's best player, the best attacking player at least, but the fact remains that Manchester United, as a club, was performing much poorer with him.
As evident by Florentino Pérez's Galácticos team in the early 2000s, having the best players in the world doesn't mean having the best team in the world. Even assuming that ego isn't an issue, how many did we look at a UEFA best XI or a FIFA best XI and thought that it looked ridiculous or that it could easily be beaten as it lacks balance?
Cascading Changes
In order for Messi to be the best player in the world, he needed to have a midfield behind him that understood him, full-backs that knew when to move for him, and so on. In order for Xavi's vision to become as extraordinary as it is, he needed players moving around and providing options. For Casimero's physical presence in defense to become useful, he needed Kroos and Modric, and the rest around him to move the ball forward.
Players aren't talented on their own when playing. What made Kante and Pogba work so well amongst themselves and the attacking trio of Giroud, Mbappe, and Griezmann was having Blaise Matuidi filling different positions during transitions. Matuidi's ability on the other hand hand, wouldn't have been as effective without the players mentioned.
With different roles and demands required to each position based on the team and manager, and with England's options for a right-back being from Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, and Newcastle, there's only one conclusion here:
There's no such a thing as England's best right-back
Each of the right-back options has a set of requirements and benefits that come with them:
Trent Alexander-Arnold comes with a great asset as a playmaker and provides vision and passing abilities that no other options could provide. However, his defensive abilities aren't the best, often requiring a defensive midfielder tasked with covering the space he leaves behind while attacking as well as a dependable center-back to be a solid rock in the back. He is also not that fast.
Kieran Trippier is more similar to Trent than any of the other options except he doesn't offer the same attacking influence that Trent offers. Still, the Newcastle man requires less coverage in the back as he is more capable defensively than Trent.
Kyle Walker's heat map shows him becoming closer to being a center-back than a right-back for a reason as he has been quite the rock in the back, a very fast rock that is. He is very shy offensively as he doesn't really have a soft touch on the ball. With Walker, you will require a winger and a midfielder who will cover more space as he stays in the back.
- Reece James is great both offensively and defensively, he is more balanced than Trippier, and also much faster, thus he requires less coverage than both Trippier and Trent. He does require a winger or a midfielder that remains relatively close to him and also coordinates movements with him. His offensive influence is also different from that of Trent as he is less of a playmaker and more like a get-in behind full-back.
Those are England's main options. One who is too offensive and not that defensively aware in Trent Alexander-Arnold. One who is too defensive and not that offensively aware in Kyle Walker. One who is balanced and can do any of the tasks but unfortunately not the best at any besides free kicks in Kieran Trippier. And, finally, someone who can play well offensively and defensively, close enough to be the best at any of the requirements.
So, the question remains:
Who is England's best option at right-back?
Well, as disappointing as this answer sounds, the answer is: it depends. I will cover more on that in my next post, but the best right-back for Southgate and England really depends on the shape of the team, what Southgate expects from the role, and who are the players around the right-back.
In fact, answering this question also means answering the question of who the midfielders and wingers that Southgate should employ in the future.
There is one thing I could say with certainty:
It is not Trent Alexander-Arnold
Trent requires too much maintenance for him to be an option and England's defensive line isn't good enough to have a right-back as absentminded in defense as Trent. Also, he requires a more defensive midfield as well as a higher tempo of play. Too many accommodations are required for him to work and I doubt the result is worth it.
I reckon Southgate will leave Trent at home. He doesn't need a right wing back that booms forward and leaves the back exposed. Especially in knockout competition. I will be amazed if Trent gets a game if he is taken. Maybe if England win their first two group games and then will throw him on in the dead rubber. If you see them against Germany the other night. The set pieces were bad. Trippier is their free kick guy and he is very very good. Trippier will get the nod before the others for this reason. But cover for McGuire is a problem so you may see two right backs actually starting if McGuire does not improve and I do not see how this will happen given his game time. So Walker and Tripps will get the nod.
Trent reminds of Xavi as both are specialists, they do very few things but they're the best at it. The only issue is that very few teams could accommodate them. Either way, it is too late to experiment now.
Yep totally agree and it's way too late to start experimenting. He would have picked him in the last squad I'd he wanted to try out new formations. Truth is Trent is a liability in knockout football. The champions league final proved that .
I really love Trent, he has the speed, vision and also very good in free kicks, but I think James will be very effective for the three Lions.
For a full back, Trent isn't that fast tbh. I do agree on James tho
Trent to me is also the obvious one out. Have never seen him play as a fullback in a 3man defense, but from what I've seen of him, he wouldn't suit the system. And he also looks tactically inept.
Perhaps if Southgate really wanted to take him to Qatar, he might try to convert him to a Kimmich and shift him into midfield in a double pivot with either Rice or Kalvin Phillips.
Whether in a 3 or 4 man defense, I think James is their best option with Trippier as back up. Walker will slot in as the right side CB in a 3man system
But lemme wait for your next post!
Hi, please permit I port here to use one stone to kill three birds.🙂
First of all,great indepth analysis by @amirtheawesome1, he makes "complicated" things easy.🙂 I like the way he sees the whole pitch in his analysis, just the way I like football to be viewed. Truth is,the coaches don't just look at a player in isolation.
Now to yours, you have agreed with him, but once again, like in your recent post, you've added some analytics and a very intelligent suggestion. Well it depends if Southgate can connect with that.
Finally @mckane seems to take in the holistic view of the writer and concludes that a TA can yet do a great job in the WBack role,since England plays two DM's(which I didn't know). I mean if you play two DM's you should easily cover for an attack minded wing-back.
Well for now,everyone seems to agree that Reece-James leads the pack in Southgate's mind.
My regards dear colleagues.
Southgate's favourite midfield combo is Rice and Kalvin Phillips, both playing the double pivot DMF role with Phillips just a little bit advanced. Bellingham got to play due to Phillips injury, and he played a more withdrawn role compared to at Dortmund, where he has the license to roam forward a lot.
One of the reasons why England is still not on the same level as the likes of Brazil, Argentina or France is their conservative approach. And, like I once said, it's helped them to better tournament results, but also failed them in the most crucial moments. Just look at the Euros final, they're playing at Wembley with 70,000 fans willing them on, they got an early goal through Luke Shaw. A Brazil or Argentina will leverage on those opportunities to relentlessly attack the Italians and get a 3-0 win. Instead of that, England remained conservative till the Italians found their confidence.
As for now, I don't see Trent at the World Cup. Southgate will definitely drop one of those four right backs for Rashford, and TAA will be the fall guy. Kyle Walker can play the right sided CB in a back three, so he's definitely going. Trippier is the favourite of the coach, James is the most balanced.
Honestly, for me, I would drop Maguire, play a very fast Kyle Walker, Stones and Dier in a back three, Arnold from right wing back, Shaw or Chilwell from the left. With Phillips (DMF) and Walker protecting the right side of defence, Arnold will get the license to ping those wonderful deep crosses towards Kane at every opportunity. I'm yet to see a defence that can defend well taken deep crosses comfortably.
Great analysis yet again from you. You dedicated the first paragraph to informing me about the status quo. Thanks.
Second paragraph, I couldn't agree more. That his conservative style. May I add that,that this being national team football,helps Southgate too. Coaches don't have sufficient time to prepare their players(unlike in clubs), so it's easier for a conservative approach to seem unbreakable,especially when you have good players operating it.
I see,okay Trippier is the favourite. We await.
On Maguire,I think Southgate has urged him to do more in his club. It's going to be difficult for him because the United coach has seen enough of him. Mr. Blanchy wrote a post recently and @george-dee replied:
"The whole football federation in the world keeps making the same mistake of selecting players based on their names.
Leaving Ben White out of England squad that Maguire got into still makes me laugh. Ben White might not be the best but he is doing his suites well. Targett is not left out, Tomori and Guehi, Trippier, Dier and many others should be given a chance.
Why stick to Maguire when he hasn't tried others? I see lots of condemnation about these guys I mentioned above and I think people are wrong to judge them.
In the few times, I watched this guys, I will choose them over Maguire who commits blunders and can throw a one-goal lead away at the last minute."
Mr. Blanchy has not replied.
There are solutions if Southgate cares to listen.
Cheers man
A lot of national team managers do try to stick to their known players. Just like you rightly said, these managers have very little time to blend in new players. Back then, I always wonder why Belgium plays Jason Denayer despite it being glaring the guy is bang average. Clearly, he has the manager's trust, just like Maguire.
However, I think Maguire's cup of misdeeds has run over now. Read he had a two-hour meeting with Southgate immediately after the Germany match. The manager probably read him the riot act. If he doesn't play for Man U, he won't start for England. Barring any unfortunate injury, that dude won't start an important game for Man U before the World Cup.
People keep trying to push that TAA at CM bullshit which is a horrible idea. TAA is great for Liverpool do but that's it.
The next post is out. There will be one more where I simply share formation ideas.
Reece James is undoubtedly the most balanced option for England at right back. He's excelled as a right back and right wing-back for Chelsea. This makes him a viable option if their is a shift in tactics during a match.
However, with England playing three central defenders and two defensive midfielders TA-Arnold's playmaking influence should've seen him ahead of the others. But, the highly conservative Southgate prefers a more balanced James. Well, his pattern has been successful thus far. So, who am I to fault him?
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