Philippe Coutinho

[BerkeleyBernie]

Dynamic pass-and-move. Love to see it. Used to be every Barca player played that way. See Mata's goal for ManU a few days ago, same. I miss this!

 

[Andresito]

He was everywhere, always available to help out his teammates.

But the question is how we'll look if the opponents start man marking him. I guess that leaves more space for Messi to operate on.
If I were Sevilla I'd go heavy on Coutinho next game.

 

[Zidane82]

That was THE Coutinho we used to see every week for Liverpool ..
Very promising

 

[Zidane82]

Happy to see Coutinho doing good. I said here that i believed in him with the #10 role and i am seeing results.

But i still wants to see how he does in bigger matches (when some other players of Barcelona wont run enought).

I was ecstatic when we signed him from Liverpool so it was nice to see the old Coutinho

 

[LeeRomeno]

Dude was absolutely everywhere, in defense, in attack, pretty much involved in everything we created. Also, such slick footwork, almost never lost the ball, those turns and twists. Someone complained that his passing is too short, but how he combined with Messi, Fati and others, in short space under constant pressure, while constantly moving was just so pleasing. One of the best games he has had in our shirt, really fit for that AM role behind the front 3.

 

[vegitot]

He was everywhere, always available to help out his teammates.

But the question is how we'll look if the opponents start man marking him. I guess that leaves more space for Messi to operate on.
If I were Sevilla I'd go heavy on Coutinho next game.

Then Messi has more space and will swap with Coutinho.

 

[henias]

Lowkey he's playing very well now. fits that AM role especially with quick dynamic wingers at our disposal.

 

[Fati_Future_BallonDor]

Unplayabale yesterday night. He bossed the match. I wonder what Bayern did with him ? Maybe its only the fitness. I mean in Liverpool he was oustanding, then he came here and played 6 months good until he became shit and now after hard fitness work in Bayern he is back to Liverpool level.

 

[Batistuta9]

Coutinho has always had ability but was bit of a sulk. Even when he was playing poorly for us, he probably thought he was playing well and was probably the reason he did that celebration against man utd.

The Bayern loan helped him more mentally than physically imo. He probably thought he would be the star man at Bayern and it was a wake up call for him. He's realised you need to work hard and seems really motivated now. He came back to pre season training early and is giving 100% effort atm. Hope he can carry on like this for the whole season and not only for a few games.

 

[JamDav1982]

Coutinho has always had ability but was bit of a sulk. Even when he was playing poorly for us, he probably thought he was playing well and was probably the reason he did that celebration against man utd.

The Bayern loan helped him more mentally than physically imo. He probably thought he would be the star man at Bayern and it was a wake up call for him. He's realised you need to work hard and seems really motivated now. He came back to pre season training early and is giving 100% effort atm. Hope he can carry on like this for the whole season and not only for a few games.

It is far more about him playing in position that suits him with players around him that move off ball and give options.

The narrative of 'Bayern saved him' is weak when consider that most folk were complaining he still played like shit there and looked like lacked confidence.

He is playing deeper than a 10 as well and is helping control the game. Both he and Messi took over that second half last night with ten men and took it away from Celta.

 

[Valdario]

Coutinho the Brazilian wizard, I hope he gets back to scoring screamers again too, he'd be a Balon d'or contender if he keeps this form up

 

[Batistuta9]

It is far more about him playing in position that suits him with players around him that move off ball and give options.

The narrative of 'Bayern saved him' is weak when consider that most folk were complaining he still played like shit there and looked like lacked confidence.

He is playing deeper than a 10 as well and is helping control the game. Both he and Messi took over that second half last night with ten men and took it away from Celta.

Playing him in a position that suits him definitely helps. It's not the only factor why he is playing well imo. His attitude seems different to me this season. He looks really motivated at the moment.

 

[JamDav1982]

Playing him in a position that suits him definitely helps. It's not the only factor why he is playing well imo. His attitude seems different to me this season. He looks really motivated at the moment.

His attitude is most likely different as enjoying playing in system that suits him than playing LW in slow old team that doesnt.

Last time round he seemed to get bogged down and unhappy and would guess by far biggest factor in that was him not enjoying role in team, fee causing pressure and making it worse.

Maybe even the CL win and it not being seen as a disaster to have left Liverpool has freed him up a bit as well but too much is being put on 'Bayern saved him' in my opinion.

Teams will start to target him more so be interesting to see how he can keep it up.

 

[FinBarcelonafan]

You can't really target a player, because that leaves more space for Fati, Messi and Griezmann. Good to have deep offense. I think that's one of the reasons we look better too. It used to be only Messi making something happen.

 

[JamDav1982]

You can't really target a player, because that leaves more space for Fati, Messi and Griezmann. Good to have deep offense. I think that's one of the reasons we look better too. It used to be only Messi making something happen.

Teams will definitely target him and closing down spaces he has been in last two games. Doesn mean have to man mark him or choose between him and others they will try to find best way to stop all of them but having multiple threats def makes that harder.

At moment he is getting a lot of space as both Celta and Villareal tried to man mark Busi and FDJ when Barca played out from back... GK/Lenglet bypass that and Coutinho is away in acres of space. Cant see that keeping up.