7 - Philippe Coutinho - V1

[CuleLife4Life]

He is better than what we currently have.

 

[PhilS]

I don't know if it would be possible to get him. But when people talk about needing an Iniesta replacement, Countinho is the level of talent needed.

 

[DonAK]

Looking at how pitiful our midfield is, I wouldn't mind even Coutinho now despite my reservations over his consistency.

Would prefer a CM most of all though.

Or both if we get rid of everyone bar Iniesta, Roberto, Rakitic and Busquets. Add Coutinho + a CM and call up Alena regularly, and then in 2-3 years we hopefully we have Alena, Carbonell or other La Masia prospects replace Iniesta and Rakitic. Could be nice.

Would we have the money for it? Should have thought of that before we wasted money and time on players that aren't good enough for this level. Now we have to pay for it most likely.

 

[Ghostmaster]

Nah, not gonna happen, I've already made my peace with the fact that Gomes will get another season "to adapt", we'll splash tons of money on Bellerin and Unzue will continue Lucho's work of turning Barca into Milan

 

[Raketa10]

Guys I really really love this guy. He is a fantastic player but, I am not sure what his role would be here. He can't play as LW since this is Neymar's position. So if he can't play in Iniesta's position than I am really worried if he will ever fit in and for that amount of money we can't gamble. Maybe he could play on the left side in 3-4-3 system but we can't change our entire system just for one player even if that is Coutinho. I am affraid we will have "James Rodriguez situation" with him here. We might end up having a great player who just doesn't fit. I hope I am just beeing paranoid.

If we continue with 3-3-1-3 with Messi behind front 3 maybe Bernardo Silva would make more sense since he can play as RW/RM?

 

[BBZ8800]

Raketa, when you say our formation, you probably think about dead 433?

About 433, Iniesta shouldnt be a starter anymore, so a new player or Coutinho could play both in 433 and 343.

 

[Raketa10]

Raketa, when you say our formation, you probably think about dead 433?

About 433, Iniesta shouldnt be a starter anymore, so a new player or Coutinho could play both in 433 and 343.

I agree with you but he always plays LW for Liverpool and lately RW for Brazil so I am just not sure if he can play in the midfield.

Midfielder has to do certain amount of defending in the game while wingers do much less. I am just not sure he would be able to handle his defending duties but as I said I hope he does if he comes because I really like him. He is one hell of a player but I am just not sure if he is the solution for our midfield problems.

 

[BBZ8800]

I agree with you but he always plays LW for Liverpool and lately RW for Brazil so I am just not sure if he can play in the midfield.

Midfielder has to do certain amount of defending in the game while wingers do much less. I am just not sure he would be able to handle his defending duties but as I said I hope he does if he comes because I really like him. He is one hell of a player but I am just not sure if he is the solution for our midfield problems.

I know.
I wanted Coutinho, but I am not sure about him either.

I just wanted to say:
1. 433 is not a fixed formation anymore
2. Iniesta shouldn't be a fixed starter anymore

 

[DonAK]

Cannot be worse than our other midfielders. We should sign either him or Bernardo Silva IMO. Perhaps a CM too, don't have to be a high profile one, but someone who has the right attributes to play for Barca, looks like a Barca player and plays like one. I liked Dahoud, but then Dortmund signed him for 12m which is a daylight robbery for a player like him, with his talent.

Either promote Alena or call him up regularly. I'd like to see what Carbonell can do too. Samper might come back, but I'm starting to have doubts about his mentality now too, perhaps he's too timid to succeed here, but won't hurt giving him the pre-season at least I guess.

 

[Raketa10]

Cannot be worse than our other midfielders. We should sign either him or Bernardo Silva IMO. Perhaps a CM too, don't have to be a high profile one, but someone who has the right attributes to play for Barca, looks like a Barca player and plays like one. I liked Dahoud, but then Dortmund signed him for 12m which is a daylight robbery for a player like him, with his talent.

Either promote Alena or call him up regularly. I'd like to see what Carbonell can do too. Samper might come back, but I'm starting to have doubts about his mentality now too, perhaps he's too timid to succeed here, but won't hurt giving him the pre-season at least I guess.

Yeah Iniesta, Busi, Raki, Sergi Roberto, Coutinho/Bernardo Silva, new CM and Alena would be for me much better than this current midfield. Arda, Gomes and Denis have to go. Only Rafinha can maybe stay as squad player but I would prefer much more that those minutes are given to Alena or he will end up like Samper. He for sure has much bigger potential than Rafinha.

Regarding Samper, I know people still have hopes for him but let's be honest a player who is not good enough to be in starting line up for Granada is certainly not good enough to even be a bench player for Barca. I don't know what went wrong, he is 22 years old and in last three years he hasn't progressed at all.

But the worst thing of all is that we all know Gomes will stay for sure one more year.

 

[Espacio]

we have to sign Coutinho
he has exactly great talent and he is so creative
we must replace him instead of Iniesta

but we also have to fill up (Xavi/Puyol/Alves)'s place

 

[Windhook]

Coutinho is a good player, progressed a lot in the last couple of seasons. But he seems to rely too much on his long range shots, something that is forbidden in Barcelona's tactics. Exceptions were yesterday against the mighty Buffon, Neymar scored a couple of touchdowns and so did Rakitic.

 

[gasgas]

If you guys are so insisted in getting Coutinho may be this scenario could work



...........................Ter Stegen..............
Sidibe......pique......................Umtiti.......Alba
Coutinho Fabinho.......Busquetinho...Neymarinho
........................Messi....Suarez


Neymar is more creative than clinical anyways

Same applies for Bernardo Silva


NY point being, the two can't play as midfielders in a 4-3-3 AT ALL

 

[Raketa10]

If you guys are so insisted in getting Coutinho may be this scenario could work



...........................Ter Stegen..............
Sidibe......pique......................Umtiti.......Alba
Coutinho Fabinho.......Busquetinho...Neymarinho
........................Messi....Suarez


Neymar is more creative than clinical anyways

Same applies for Bernardo Silva


NY point being, the two can't play as midfielders in a 4-3-3 AT ALL

No way this would work since neither of the front 4 (Coutinho, Messi, Ney and Coutinho) plays defense. As I said before I love Coutinho and Bernardo Silva but in modern football you just can't have 4 players who are playing in just one direction.

If we buy Coutinho or Bernardo all of MSN need to change their habits and start to press again. Only than this could maybe work.

Pressing was the reason we were so dominant during Pep era but we lost it in recent times. We need to bring this back ASAP. During that time Pedro was important factor and today we do not have player like that in our team.

 

[Windhook]

4-4-2 formation is something I haven't seen at Barca for decades. Sounds improbable to me.