[ad_pod ]
Last summer Kieran Trippier was at the forefront of everyone’s estimation. It was his stunning early free-kick that gave the nation such hope in England’s World Cup semi-final against Croatia, and though the dream of dreams died in extra-time, it still capped a fantastic few weeks for the Three Lions that saw Trippier emerge as a real star. Indeed, he was selected by the BBC in their team of the tournament.
Throughout the preceding season his impressive performances for Tottenham relegated new signing Serge Aurier to the bench and with Kyle Walker departed the former Burnley defender was now an established, integral component in a top six side. In November, he played an absolute blinder against Real Madrid in the Champions League and nine months later a player bought for a measly £3.5m was reported to be the subject of a £50m bid by the very same Spanish giants.
No-one batted an eyelid at that and why would they? Trippier’s forays down the right for club and country offered up plenty of adventure while his defending and man-marking was solid and ever-dependable. Trippier was – and remains – a very good full-back.
Only people got a little carried away as people are prone to do and perhaps this was less to do with his application on the pitch and more his life story. The Bury-born defender was released by Manchester City in his early twenties having not made the grade, but via two separate loan spells at Barnsley and an eventual move to Burnley under Sean Dyche he climbed his way up, rung by rung, to the top. He was a refreshing antidote to the success stories around him. The lad who earned it the hard way.
As one of the most consistent performers in the Premier League and one of the stand-out stars in a World Cup, understandably, the hype then rolled in.
“He is not only the best in the Premier League, but his performances in the Champions League have helped establish Trippier as one of the best in Europeâ€. That was how one website described him back in late 2017 and they were hardly alone is lavishing hyperbole onto the 28-year-old. Another deemed him the equal of Kyle Walker. Post-World Cup, meanwhile, the statmen went to town.
Now it’s all so different of course. Trippier has struggled for form all year, something he recently admitted so candidly, saying: “I could have done a lot better this season. I’ve picked up a lot of injuries and there’s been games when I’ve looked back and watched, and thought ‘I could have done this better’, ‘I could have done that better’.â€
So dramatic has been his decline he has lost his spot in the England squad, while on several occasions this term wingers with pace and trickery such as Sadio Mane and Raheem Sterling have skinned him for fun then skinned him again.
This week Matt Le Tissier unnecessarily highlighted the player to be Tottenham’s defensive ‘weakest link’ this term, while news of his potential departure from north London hardly brought appreciation of his outstanding service prior to his suffering of poor form.
The question being asked here is simple and two-fold. Is it entirely possible that Kieran Trippier inhabits a middle ground between being one of the world’s best defenders and somebody who the fans can’t wait to get shut of? Let’s say perhaps a highly competent player who isn’t one of the absolute elite.
Why does he only bring out extremes from those who pertain to rate him?
