7 - Philippe Coutinho - V1

[Potroh]

Sure he isn't the greatest in the LW Spot, but it seems instead of trying to make use of his current abilities the best he can in that position he just looks like a man who doesn't really want to get involved much

He is not a winger.
If anyone here said when Coutinho wanted to sign here that he was a winger, he would have been labeled an idiot.
He was clearly bought as an Iniesta replacement and it's not his fault that the close-minded and defense-minded coach has been testing him at almost all imaginable posts.

He typically performs like the player who has been told way too many times "what he should do" and "how he should do that". It is most definitely a problem with the coach and not the player himself...

 

[Messigician]

Really bad it has to be said.

 

[FCBfan22]

The actions at 5:55 and 7:20 show the difference between Coutinho and a true winger like Malcom.

[youtube]6lhvzupVAWE[/youtube]

In both cases Dembele is trying a 2nd post cross. But the difference is that Malcom is actually there, while Cou is nowhere to be seen. If we play false 9, we need a winger on the 2nd post in those situations. Messi is always at the penalty spot and Vidal is trying to impose an aerial threat. Coutinho meanwhile just started running in the middle of the pitch and there is noone on the 2nd post.

Malcom's run is what is expected from a winger in a situation like this. Shame that the cross was blocked. I actually think that if Suarez could've played as a LWF yesterday (or Malcom from the beginning, for that matter), we would have scored 2 more, because there would be someone on the 2nd post moving defenders away from Messi or getting on the end of those crosses.

Overall, I think this is a matter of coaching. Sticking Cou on LW, just to be safe, because he is not amazing in defence without telling him how to move in the box. He is seemingly just waiting to recieve the ball and shoot his signature shot.

 

[Jombi]

Coutinho doesnt play as a winger. He plays as left forward. If he cant play in the position he has played at the most since his career started under all the managers he's had and we instead have to force him into our midfield three as a Cesc replacement, where he'll play far from the goal and lose the ball too much, we're in trouble. I dont see him as a long term midfield solution, and he was bought as an experienced starter. Not as a midfielder at home against Valladolid. He needs to improve in the position he plays now.

 

[Danic]

Thats how u play when u realize you maybe made a mistake with ur transfer

 

[malvolio]

He is Brazilian and 26 yo, so he already peaked and now he is on that fast regression.

More like "that fat progression", if you know what I mean...

 

[kollegah]

He doesnt look happy and his bad relationship with MEssi isnt helpful either

 

[ThwiX]

He doesnt look happy and his bad relationship with MEssi isnt helpful either

Bad relationship with Messi? What? Never heard that one before.

 

[Vahue]

What's wrong with him? Pretty horrible again.

 

[clemente]

What's wrong with him? Pretty horrible again.

How is he playing horrible?

 

[te amo barca]

He is the real turnover machine and not Dembele. Just don't put him at that LW spot, he played better in midfield.

 

[Givenchy]

if Dembele keeps improving like he is and EV won't trust him in midfield, we may aswell sell him

 

[DonAK]

He was playing well in the midfield and obviously not the reason we were conceding goals and chances. More time and space/area of the field to move the ball and play a good pass or get into his Shootinho positions.

Drop one of Rakitic or Busquets for him.

 

[FCBfan22]

Put him back in LCM.

 

[Catta]

We must try a Vidal-Arthur-Coutinho midfield trio.