Topic: PHILIPPE COUTINHO: THE MAN WHO ESCAPED PURGATORY

[locultom]

We haven't seen the best of Coutinho since his return and we haven't, in my opinion, made the most of him or found a shape that makes the most of our current squad. Whilst I know this has been visited before, looking at what we have available and the emerging or assumed preferred style of the manager why do people think we haven't seen Coutinho at the tip of a 3 man midfield triangle?

Playing Coutinho here solves some of our midfield issues; moving through the middle third with guile, negating the 'sameness of Milner, Can , Henderson etc., and maximising transitions in this zone. With Coutinho in this area you get the ability to turn and link in tight places, someone who can carry the ball  with skill at pace, get the opposition back 4 back pedalling and our most creative and imaginative player with a wider field of vision and options to choose from. Additionally we create more player options out wide as Lallana, Milner, Ibe, Firmino and Origi can be deployed more effectively from these areas with Coutinho creating from deeper and more centrally than from off the left.

Thoughts?

[FlashGordon]

We haven't seen the best of Coutinho since his return and we haven't, in my opinion, made the most of him or found a shape that makes the most of our current squad. Whilst I know this has been visited before, looking at what we have available and the emerging or assumed preferred style of the manager why do people think we haven't seen Coutinho at the tip of a 3 man midfield triangle?

Playing Coutinho here solves some of our midfield issues; moving through the middle third with guile, negating the 'sameness of Milner, Can , Henderson etc., and maximising transitions in this zone. With Coutinho in this area you get the ability to turn and link in tight places, someone who can carry the ball  with skill at pace, get the opposition back 4 back pedalling and our most creative and imaginative player with a wider field of vision and options to choose from. Additionally we create more player options out wide as Lallana, Milner, Ibe, Firmino and Origi can be deployed more effectively from these areas with Coutinho creating from deeper and more centrally than from off the left.

Thoughts?

I agree with absolutely everything you say here. Makes so much sense. Have Milner wide left and then one of Origi, Lallana, Ibe, Firmino out wide right. Maybe Klopp doesn't trust any of our centre mids to play as a 2 in a 4-2-3-1?

[brownbear11]

I agree with absolutely everything you say here. Makes so much sense. Have Milner wide left and then one of Origi, Lallana, Ibe, Firmino out wide right. Maybe Klopp doesn't trust any of our centre mids to play as a 2 in a 4-2-3-1?

Coutinho can still be effective cutting in from the left. We lose nearly everything good about Firmino by shunting him out there. Would have to be Origi or Ibe, but I think Firmino is more effective than both of those players on song.

[FlashGordon]

Coutinho can still be effective cutting in from the left. We lose nearly everything good about Firmino by shunting him out there. Would have to be Origi or Ibe, but I think Firmino is more effective than both of those players on song.

If we're going to prevail with Moreno though would we not be better off with Milner wide left to help more on the defensive side of things? I think having Coutinho out there with Moreno leaves us way too open as neither is likely to see the danger happening.

[carven]

Bollocks. In a barca team his game would reach a new level. Like with any in his position he relies on people around him making runs. We have been awful at it.

Totally agree with this. <slight hyperbole>Not even Xabi Alonso in his prime will be able to excel in our current team without forward runs.</slight hyperboye> In fact, I will go as far as saying we should be building our team around Coutinho. His hard rate and attitude has been spot on since joining us and it will be difficult for anyone to convince me otherwise.

In terms of actual results though, yes inconsistent, but who has been consistent for us for the past 2 seasons? This is a player who is only 23 years old and could continue to play for us for a very long time. Of course the Barcelona & Real Madrid temptation will always be there. But if it does come to that(interest from La Liga), then he must have been doing a lot right and certainly helping our cause!

[jooneyisdagod]

He's brilliant and surrounded by the mediocre. At least with Sturridge back and Firmino there as well, I think it'll start to improve a bit as their interplay improves. The central midfield is a total creative blackhole at the moment though.

[armchair-fan]

He seems very keen on that Ronaldinho look-one-way-pass-the-other trick over the past few weeks.

[clinical]

He's brilliant and surrounded by the mediocre. At least with Sturridge back and Firmino there as well, I think it'll start to improve a bit as their interplay improves. The central midfield is a total creative blackhole at the moment though.

He still needs a wide outlet to make room for himself. A winger in addition to those 3 is a must to get best out of him. He struggles like most no.10s when the play is compact.

[killer-heels]

I dont get the shouts of having Coutinho in midfield. For a while now he has been getting key goals for us in big games. Not bags of goals, but lots of key ones. We need players like that close to the oppositions box as much as possible.

For me its like those shouts of when people wanted Suarez to play off the wing so we could get Borini up front. Yes, they all could probably do a very good job and are used to those positions. But whilst they score important goals, they need to be up top in the final third.

[Dubred]

He seems very keen on that Ronaldinho look-one-way-pass-the-other trick over the past few weeks.

That really was sensational.

He has all the ability in the world.

We just need to harness it on a more regular basis.

Next season will be very interesting given there's likely changes to be made in the midfield area over the summer.

[Johnnyboy1973]

He'll look great once Sturridge is fit and Firmino has been here a while.



He'll look great once Sturridge is fitter and Firmino has been here a while longer.

[SerbianScouser]

He'll look great once Sturridge is fitter and Firmino has been here a while longer.

When we put all three of them closer together and connect our CM with them.

[tubby]

That really was sensational.

Would've been sensational had he actually found Clyne with it, but he didn't.  No point using tricks like that if nothing comes of them.

[[new username under construction]]

Would've been sensational had he actually found Clyne with it, but he didn't.  No point using tricks like that if nothing comes of them.

I'd rather he used them, tried and failed than never use them

[CraigDS]

Would've been sensational had he actually found Clyne with it, but he didn't.  No point using tricks like that if nothing comes of them.

Of course there is a point to them, as if he never tries then they never come off.

You can't, and shouldn't, expect 100% success rate in football, be it a simple 5 yard pass, a trick like that, or a shot at goal. It's unrealistic.

[tubby]

I actually think his passing is overrated on RAWK.  If he's got someone like Sturridge running into yards of space, he can put him in, but when it's tighter like it was for that particular pass, he often under or overhits them.  For a player of his talent, that's not actually that difficult a pass once he's seen it and might've come off had he not thrown an unnecessary trick in on top.  Clyne was in regardless.

[bird_lfc]

He'll look great once Sturridge is fit and Firmino has been here a while.



He'll look great once Sturridge is fitter and Firmino has been here a while longer.

Someone posted a couple of days ago 'name me a better front three in the league' than these three. Slightly over the top, but i see the point he was trying to make.

I think the potential is there, and barring any injuries, when they 'click' they could be a force to be reconed with. Firmino will greatly improve next season and hopefully Danny can put his injuries behind him.

[CrasherKid79]

Would've been sensational had he actually found Clyne with it, but he didn't.  No point using tricks like that if nothing comes of them.

With the total lack of flair in our midfield I applaud every no look pass and penenka. The lad should be encouraged to carry on .... God if we frown on a Brazilian playmaker trying the outrageous we are in a mess. Im sure Roy Hodgson would share your view though 

[wemmick]

I actually think his passing is overrated on RAWK.  If he's got someone like Sturridge running into yards of space, he can put him in, but when it's tighter like it was for that particular pass, he often under or overhits them.  For a player of his talent, that's not actually that difficult a pass once he's seen it and might've come off had he not thrown an unnecessary trick in on top.  Clyne was in regardless.

I agree to an extent. I think Coutinho is better at medium to long passes than short passes. That's why he needs a striker that runs the channels and stretches play. 

[DangerScouse]

Fucking love him.

[clinical]

I think we'll get one more year out of him. Then Ł50m+ No way barca get a third bargain after suarez and mascherano.

[Fiasco]

This lad is magical. I think it was Serbian who called him the most underrated player in Europe and he's absolutely right. He's fucking dynamite.

[jooneyisdagod]

Barca are already after him with Suarez and Neymar tapping him up. They know his quality. He's our best player and has been for two years now.

[Fiasco]

Barca are already after him with Suarez and Neymar tapping him up. They know his quality. He's our best player and has been for two years now.

He's the ultimate big game player. It's almost as if he can't be arsed with the smaller teams.

[elsewhere]

Barca are already after him with Suarez and Neymar tapping him up. They know his quality. He's our best player and has been for two years now.

Exactly. I am afraid they will go after him very hard this summer. Especially given that whoever they get from us never disappointed under Barca shirt.

[jooneyisdagod]

He's the ultimate big game player. It's almost as if he can't be arsed with the smaller teams.

He's started to do well against them too. Just need a bit more cutting edge up front against the smaller teams as they tend to drop deeper, but that's more a case of requiring the right forwards. Coutinho is utterly brilliant though. The skill he exhibits on the ball is sublime.

[deFacto please, you bastards]

I don't see where he would play in Barca's side, he certainly wouldn't start. But he's been great this year

[harleydanger]

Exactly. I am afraid they will go after him very hard this summer. Especially given that whoever they get from us never disappointed under Barca shirt.

Don't know where he'd play in that team. But  for once if they did come in for him we'd be in the drivers in terms of dealings.

[Carlito Roberto]

I don't see where he would play in Barca's side, he certainly wouldn't start. But he's been great this year

Iniesta is 32 in May, maybe he's seen as Iniesta's long term replacement.

[vagabond]

Plays football like I would want to in an ideal world.*

*Except the dive. That was embarrassing.

[Knickers]

It's strange how I see his dive as nowhere near as sinful as those of players like Ashley Young. Fandom is a wonderful thing.

[sms1986]

Barca are already after him with Suarez and Neymar tapping him up. They know his quality. He's our best player and has been for two years now.

No offence, but how do you know they're tapping him up?

[deFacto please, you bastards]

Iniesta is 32 in May, maybe he's seen as Iniesta's long term replacement.

How so? Coutinho can't boss the midfield or do anything in that capacity, he isn't Iniesta's replacement.

[jooneyisdagod]

No offence, but how do you know they're tapping him up?

No offence taken. But there has been a series of public comments from the likes of Suarez and Neymar about how Coutinho has the skill and the talent to play for Barcelona for a while.

[Zoomers]

No offence taken. But there has been a series of public comments from the likes of Suarez and Neymar about how Coutinho has the skill and the talent to play for Barcelona for a while.

Ronaldinho did the same I believe.

[Mike Basset]

Too good for us at the moment. Hopefully Klopp is able to convince him that things will get better for us and bring in some players who are at least fit to lace this guys boots.

[JamesG L4]

No offence taken. But there has been a series of public comments from the likes of Suarez and Neymar about how Coutinho has the skill and the talent to play for Barcelona for a while.

He'll go to Barca sooner or later. Get over it. Let's just fucking make sure we have a top replacement ready to fill his shoes.

[Solomon Grundy]

Seriously, wind it fucking in with this Barcelona talk. If he ever goes there one day so be it. Until then just enjoy the little fecker playing for us while he is still ours.

[Carlito Roberto]

How so? Coutinho can't boss the midfield or do anything in that capacity, he isn't Iniesta's replacement.

Can't do anything in that capacity? I happen to think Coutinho's best position is in midfield. The season we came 2nd and discovered the diamond we had Sturridge and Suarez up front, Sterling at the tip of the diamond and Coutinho employed deeper in midfield and he was absolutely superb in that position.

[RedKenWah]

End of the day if Barca come calling and he goes then so be it. It's quite clear at the moment that he's by far superior in terms of quality compared to the rest of the squad.

Also if they come in and offer massive money for him, then it gives Klopp the chance to build what he wants for Liverpool. Also whereas with our previous manager the money used was squandered, i've got more faith in Klopp using it more wisely and bringing in the type of player to really improve the team. He's had experience in doing this as well, losing his star players at Dortmund to Bayern Munich.

However if we can keep hold of him, and i think Jurgen has that ability and nous to convince him to stay, then i think we as a team will definitely be a force to be reckoned with. I also believe we as a club need to start treating him more like the star name, the main man rather then a bystander because he is quite clearly the main man when it comes to Liverpool.

P.s his dive yesterday was embarrassing, he should have nutmegged the spurs defender twice over and made him fall over rather then dive...