7 - Philippe Coutinho - V1

[henias]

That's because he's never supposed to be a winger. Forcing him to play as winger is just never going to work out. Not helping that the manager doesnt see his strengths and doesnt know how to deploy him effectively.

Already called this that if Coutinho played as a winger, Liverpool will be able to contain him easily.

 

[khaled_a_d]

He played as winger in quicker league under Klopp when we tried to sign him in 2017. He was always supposed to be a winger. played half of the games during his career as winger before he joined us.
Not like he was less shit when he played as AM anyway

 

[henias]

He's a hybrid winger, not exactly a true winger. If he's that shit, then he shouldnt be in the starting lineup at all.

His recent performance shouldnt even guarantee him a starting place.

 

[khaled_a_d]

He is a hybrid winger, and he played as hybrid winger with us not as true winger.
And when Dembele remembered his football skills he benched Coutinho.
But Dembele was always injured or rusty anyway, neither of them was good option for most part.
Him being bench player or starter this season is a thing of the past, looking forward I am not really interested in thinking that a new manager will make him brilliant again all of sudden.
I've heard same thing regarding Gomes & Paco, a different coach will get the best out of them. Yeah that was great experience

 

[Taifun Devilry]

Gomes and Paco never been in the same class as Coutinho though. Coutinho was considered the best EPL player at some moments. I don't think it's fair to compare him with Gomes and Paco. They were promising players at best, while Coutinho came here as an established world class player.

I'm not saying that he hasn't been utter shit and that should not be criticized, but I do think that Valverde doesn't have what it takes to explore his potential.

 

[xxxxxx]

I can't even remember the last time he had a good game. And don't even say the Man Utd game, because he was invisible for most of that game. One long range goal doesn't equal a good performance.

He has to be gone in the summer. He's still only 26, so it's a good age for us to still get a good price for him. I'd take anywhere from 75m to 85m for him.

 

[khaled_a_d]

And Paco & Gomes wasn't 3rd most expensive players in football or most expensive player in the league history either.
We are risking too much if we hold to him IMHO. Another season like this and it may end like James and RM. a loan with an option to buy that will never get exercised

 

[jairzinho]

And Paco & Gomes wasn't 3rd most expensive players in football or most expensive player in the league history either.
We are risking too much if we hold to him IMHO. Another season like this and it may end like James and RM. a loan with an option to buy that will never get exercised

Kinda true he's just like James and Isco. Good players but you can't stick them in anywhere, you have to build a team around these #10 type players.

Love Cou but he doesn't fit the system here. As good as he is he doesn't have the qualities to play as a cm in our midfield. Probably another coach can make it work but i don't see how.

 

[henias]

I was against the Coutinho signing. I have also heard Coutinho makes a better winger than Dembele in the past, because of less dispossession yada yada, safer approach etc. If the manager constantly limits himself with options despite having them, then your players are never going to get into the grind to be more backup options when you need them. It's also easy to say players are shit because they are simply not playing to the best of their abilities. No clear directions or attacking roles will steer them away even more. It's not a coincidence players look absolutely clueless. I wont say Coutinho will look brilliant of a sudden, but at least he should find a better role that suits him, not something that is stifling him and the development of the squad. He shouldn't hog the winger position if it doesnt work out at all.

 

[khaled_a_d]

Better is simply not enough. That is the key judging a player like Coutinho going forward.

 

[henias]

Like I said if he doesnt work out he should make way for others, no point shoehorning him in the winger position, where others could have been given chances to establishing themselves.

 

[mesiesta]

There was a time when people on this forum were calling him "our second best player BY FAR" ))

 

[Respekt_III]

There was a time when people on this forum were calling him "our second best player BY FAR" ))

There are some people that still think Valverde is a decent manager after Roma v2.0 so yeah....

 

[Andrew M]

Honestly it's humiliating watching us get mauled at Anfield with Coutinho in the team given how much effort and strain it took to extricate him from Liverpool. It took two windows and probably totally destroyed our relations with Liverpool in the process.

 

[Respekt_III]

Coutinho could work if we didn't have to carry Messi and Suarez defensively. It's hard enough carrying Messi defensively but with Suarez it's impossible. Add to this our turtle midfield and its a recipe for disaster anywhere Coutinho plays against any decent opposition.

Now you guys know I've been against Coutinho this entire time calling him out/calling him over rated (which he is) but the reason he's not working is because he's the exact definition of a luxury player. This isn't to say it isn't his fault as well because for large parts of this season and at anfield his effort was non existant so he definitely doesn't help himself.

At Liverpool he had a shit load of people to do all the running for him. He could dilly dally on the ball and try to u lcok defences against park the bus teams etc and rarely played more then 60-70 mins. He was also. Incredibly inconsistent for Liverpool except for a purple patch (about a year).

If we can't get close to 100m and we have a competent manager next season then he could fill in for Messi in the 10 role and be used a super sub orld sorts.

Personally I'd rather he left but I don't trust our board to make the right signings better the devil you know I guess.

I also know that a lot of people can't stand him anymore and have very right to be angry with him and call him out however let's not forget that he wasn't the only one culpable for our catupulation.