Speaking on the Seaman Says Podcast, Glenn Hoddle has been discussing Trent Alexander-Arnold and his perceived poor defensive ability.
Even the biggest cynic in football would admit that Alexander-Arnold is a world-class player, but sadly, there’s one notable hole in his game – he’s not exactly the best defender.
Of course, Alexander-Arnold’s current role isn’t all about defence, but as a so-called ‘full-back’ it’s an area that the defender needs to improve on.
Hoddle is of the opinion that Alexander-Arnold is in fact a very competent defender with a mindset problem, and the former England boss thinks that the full-back needs a talking to in order to reassess his game.
What’s been said?
Hoddle gave his opinion on Alexander-Arnold.
“I saw him very young when they played Man City in the league and I thought he would be tested defensively. He was up against Sane and he was at his best there at City, he hadn’t fallen out with people at City at that point, and he was at it. He had him in his pocket and I thought this kid can defend as well as attack. What’s happened is that mentally, I’m from the outside looking in, but 80 per cent of his head is attacking not defensive, but I’ve seen him defend properly, and he has to get back to that again,” Hoddle said.
“He’s absolutely sensational, he’s more than a full-back, he’s a winger, and he can also pop up as a midfield player. It’s a mental approach and someone needs to sit him down and say look I need you to prove to yourself you can defend, and then he’ll be back to himself. It’s about reassessing.”
Time to change
Hoddle is absolutely right about Alexander-Arnold, it’s about time that he starts to think more about defending than attacking.
Yes, Alexander-Arnold is one of the biggest creative forces in the Premier League, but with Virgil van Dijk and Jordan Henderson struggling to cover for his defensive lapses this season, he needs to buck up his ideas at the back.
Goals win games, and Alexander-Arnold is an attacking threat, but it’s no use grabbing an assist every week if you’re granting attackers all sorts of space at the back post two or three times per match.
Alexander-Arnold can defend, it’s just about focusing on that aspect of his game.
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