Trotters Taking On The World

Article by e-Bolton Wanderers Correspondent Adam Brabbin

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When Liam Trotter first lumbered onto the pitch at the Reebok, I don't think it's an over reaction to say that people assumed we were in fact watching a very slow pitch invasion. One which the invader seemed just as surprised to be taking part in as everybody watching it. I think I should point out at this point in the writing that this is not just going to be a piece decrying Liam Trotter. I'm not going to point out his obvious flaws as a footballer, his glacial lack of pace or the bewildered expression permanently fixed on his stupid bearded face. I'm not going to mention those things because despite them being obvious for all the world to see, there must be something more important and more subtle to the Liam Trotters of the world that make them valuable assets to football teams all up and down the country. Every team has them, these big, physical players with no discernible skill or reason to be on the pitch other than to raise the appeal of the rest of the team by comparison. If you take a close enough look you'll see these players everywhere, like telephone poles hidden amongst a forest of trees. They look sort of like trees, they are made of wood, they're tall and act very much like trees do. But they're not. They blend in well enough but ultimately they are just not the same.

'Stoppers' or 'breakers of play' as they are euphemistically known, the Liam Trotter's of the world exist solely for the purpose of neutralising the talent of their opposite number. This is fine. I understand that it's necessary, even a skill! To have the ability to predict how a talented player will move, and be able to stop them, is a skill in its own right. Just as the preventative qualities of suncream are impressive in their ability to protect us from the harmful rays of the sun. Nobody enjoys suncream, but it is necessary in order to enjoy the sun. If there were no Liam Trotter's, there would be no... sun. OK, that metaphor became slightly mixed. Allow me to rephrase myself: The Liam Trotter's of the world... the Gareth Barry's', the Lucas Leiva's', the Darren Fletcher's and Marouane Fellaini's' are necessary, they perform a role that other players avoid and shy away from because it is unpopular and unfashionable.

This, in my mind, causes these players to become valuable assets to any club. Managers must love them, selfless and uncompromising in equal measure, they are more than simple place fillers in lieu of a first choice.

 

Of course, there are varying degrees to which a player can take on this role and to similarly varied levels of success. In this guys opinion, the greatest breaker of play in a Bolton midfield will always be Fabrice Muamba (and not only because I'm a lunatic sentimentalist). He perfected the role, memorably so during the game in which he completely negated Steven Gerrard and a talented Liverpool midfield.

Like I say, a telephone pole in a forest is not a bad thing, necessarily. But when one day we find ourselves no longer surrounded by trees but poles, then all of a sudden the air doesn't smell quite as fresh. This, unfortunately is where we often find ourselves, in a Bolton midfield saturated (ironically) with defensive intent. Medo and Spearing both perform this role to a much higher standard and with more to their respective games than simple physicality.

It will be interesting to see how Trotter features for the remainder of the season, he has been utilised effectively in recent games and produced his best game yet in last weekends game against Wigan. If he can prove himself to be a valuable asset for the final few games then a permanent move could be on the cards for the player that Freedman has made no secret of his admiration for. I am inclined to trust Dougie's judgement on this one, the players he has brought in have been unanimously impressive and his master plan is starting to take a formidable shape. I think that we are finally starting to see the wood through all the trees.

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