Livramento vs Trippier - Part 1 of Eddie Howe's selection headache
Eddie Howe has got mountains forming in his inbox, not least selection dilemmas all over the pitch. Despite engineering the club’s best league start since 1995/96, sitting in 3rd on 10 points level with a much-vaunted Arsenal, performances have been spotty at best, requiring substitutions and sending’s off to bring about improvements that have led to positive results.
There is a lot of debate amongst the fanbase variously themed around: whether performances just haven’t got going yet/is the style of play deliberate after crippling injuries last year/is James Bunce responsible for a dictate around managing player ‘loads’ resulting in much disparaged starting line-ups? Amongst a myriad of others.
Whatever the case may be, below I look at the first of four hotly debated selection dilemmas facing Eddie Howe:
Tino Livramento vs Kieran Trippier
Right back is one of the deepest positions in the squad. It is blessed with immense quality, including a Swedish international as third choice. But the real dilemma is between Trippier and Livramento. Tino is currently getting the nod and there are stacks of positives associated with that choice.
With the back four lacking pace, Tino’s ability to make recovery runs is vital against most opposition. He has shown his direct running ability and has created and scored from forward positions. Unfortunately, so far this season he has struggled to affect games when asked to invert into midfield. He hasn’t been as creative, he has lost possession, and he isn’t yet tactically aware enough to play that role. Livramento is still only 21 years-old however and has an awfully high ceiling; with top coaching he will only become a better footballer.
Trippier’s footballing qualities are obvious. He has rightly been lauded since his arrival on Tyneside, he is a league winner, and he kicked off the new era as the first through the door, setting standards and dragging the fight and heart of the squad up to another level. He grabbed double figure assists last season and was an excellent captain. However, he is now 34 years-old, has been stripped of the captaincy, and committed some noteworthy mistakes last season.
Purely in the context of the opening five games this campaign, Trippier has looked a calming influence and has improved passing move fluidity when coming on from the bench. Whilst on the flipside Livramento has been good enough to get an England call up. This is a very tough call for Eddie to make, and is likely to rumble on to at least January, when Trippier’s future may be up for debate again.
