Kieran Trippier is a legend of this football club. He was the first to take a chance on the new era in the North East and Eddie’s leader on the pitch. The right-back was one of players to set the standard on the pitch and he was very good.
There was a two year period where Trippier was one of the best full-backs in the world and he was playing for our club. Between August 2022 and May 2024, he was excellent. During these two seasons, he registered 17 assists and scored twice. It culminated in him being included in England’s European Championship squad and he helped his country reach the final.
At the end of this tournament, he retired from international football. In hindsight, this was the time to move Trippier on from the club. It was a time when his stock was high, with Bayern Munich registering an interest in him. This was in the summer of 2024.
The decision to keep Trippier made sense at that point, both on and off the pitch. However, nearly two years have passed and he is still starting football matches in the Premier League. He is 35-years-old. Pace was never his strongest attribute, but he was mobile enough to compete. That is no longer true and he is being targeted by opposition teams.
On Saturday, he was partially at fault for all three goals. Prior to these, he could have conceded a penalty and received a red card for a pull on an attacking player when they were through on goal. Trippier was a liability and there have been countless other examples where he has made similar errors.
That being said, I find it impossible to be angry at him. Trippier is doing his best, but his legs have gone. The football brain is still there and there will be leagues where he could still perform. Unfortunately for us, it isn’t the Premier League. Every team is filled with pace and that is all a player needs to beat the former England international.
Every person watching Newcastle matches can see this clear weakness. It is why it is difficult to defend Eddie Howe. The options are light in the squad, but Trippier is having a hugely negative impact on the team. A different solution needs to be found, whether that is youngster Leo Shahar or a senior player out of position.
People will be quick to say that it isn’t the best situation to throw a young player into, but the bar is so low. Shahar could perform averagely and still be an upgrade.
Trippier deserves to be remembered well when he does leave. The current version is a shadow of his former self and the club need to be blamed for him being placed in this situation. There has been ample opportunity to sign better full back cover. The most recent one came in January when it was clear Trippier would be needed to start games. The club let it pass.
It can’t be fun for him to be so far below the player he once was. I feel sorry for him, so it may be kinder to take him out of the firing line and do what’s best for a part of our back line that’s being consistently targeted when he’s in the side.
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