Topic: The Amazing Coutinho

[Redman0151]

People tend to forget how young he is, and how he's played against 2 physical sides and the champions so far this year.

When he gets a bit more space and time, like he surely will against other teams, and has Suarez and Moses supporting Sturridge ahead, he'll be back to his best

[sinnermichael]

has to play more central. getting marginalised out wide

[Danny_]

It seems like we bought Aspas to fill the Suarez role so won't have to change the system too much when Luis eventually makes his return (and other times he's unavailable).  That will be our main formation I think, unless Moses becomes undroppable. I'm sure there'll be a few games in which we play Coutinho no. 10 though, Suarez going to the left/right then maybe.

Aspas was playing centrally behind Sturridge today.  That's where we want to play Coutinho to get the best out of him.  We are playing him on the left right now and he's doing a good job for us but Moses plays there (if we use him) so I think the plan is to play Suarez on the right, Moses on the left and move Coutinho into the centre.
That means that both Henderson and Aspas lose their places.

[The Gigi]

Aspas was playing centrally behind Sturridge today.  That's where we want to play Coutinho to get the best out of him.  We are playing him on the left right now and he's doing a good job for us but Moses plays there (if we use him) so I think the plan is to play Suarez on the right, Moses on the left and move Coutinho into the centre.
That means that both Henderson and Aspas lose their places.

We won't play Moses/Sturridge/Coutinho/Suarez combo every game, that's asking for trouble IMO, Henderson will be a must in some games. But I see your point, it's nice to have options.

[Tomo!]

I don't think he's going to be a nailed on starter when Luis is back and Moses comes in.
Nothing to do with his ability but more to do with his age, not saying he's going to get ditched or that he's not up to it just that young careers need nurturing correctly.

[plura]

I don't think he's going to be a nailed on starter when Luis is back and Moses comes in.
Nothing to do with his ability but more to do with his age, not saying he's going to get ditched or that he's not up to it just that young careers need nurturing correctly.

Absolutely, he is still young and we have an obligation to nurture him some senses more than with a Downing person coming in his late twenties. But as it is right now he is so vital for us, and we actually depend so much on him that I how a super hard time seeing us putting on the bench with Moses, Suarez and other person perhaps coming in. Unless we got a Mata similar experience and type of player, who would take Coutinho's place?

Henderson? Nah, love him almost but not his position, Allen no way José. Find it hard to imagine us putting our little master on the bench.

[Stringer123]

I'm not going to let two average performances stop me thinking that he's a terrific player. I think that, for now at least, he's a bit of a flat track bully. He'll tear apart most teams that are 7th and below but until he gets more experienced and starts to fulfil his potential he may struggle in the bigger games.

Hopefully he gets moved into the middle soon and him, Suarez and Sturridge will run riot.

[Carly]

Once Suarez is back in the team he'l get more space.  At the minute teams are able to target him, they won;t be able to when they have more to deal with.  Anyway still early in the season, he'll do well against Swansea.

[MrLil8]

Slow start to the campaign, and not one of his better days today.

Still he works his sock off and the team wins, he'll improve as the season goes on. Suarez coming back, + additions and hopefully he gets more minutes centrally.

The lad is class, and even on bad days, you can see him creating something of note.

[gloves]

I know it's nit-picking but is he getting a little bit worked out with his dribbles ? I don't think I remember him going any way other than right? Sturridge generally goes left obviously but we also saw him try to go the other way on occasion which helps to keep defenders on their toes?

Love his through passes but I felt our movement didn't help him too much today and Aspas had a disappointing game so that didn't help either I guess.

[subroc]

I'm not going to let two average performances stop me thinking that he's a terrific player. I think that, for now at least, he's a bit of a flat track bully. He'll tear apart most teams that are 7th and below but until he gets more experienced and starts to fulfil his potential he may struggle in the bigger games.

Hopefully he gets moved into the middle soon and him, Suarez and Sturridge will run riot.

It gets more difficult for him when the midfield is packed  and he gets closed down by two players or even more, and at his age, he is currently not yet physically strong enough to hold his ground and shoulder them aside. But give it another 2 seasons or so, and we will see more of the David Silva or Santi Cazorla about him.

[rushandapush]

Check Coutinho out when he was a kid. Mad Skills
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBfQoyZ0mtQ

[camred]

I don't think he's going to be a nailed on starter when Luis is back and Moses comes in.
Nothing to do with his ability but more to do with his age, not saying he's going to get ditched or that he's not up to it just that young careers need nurturing correctly.

I hate this attitude

He’s too young, he shouldn't play.

Bollocks, if he's good enough he should be in. We don't have a player in our squad who is as creative as Coutinho, we need him to be playing week in week out.

If it's one thing we as nation should learn from the Germans, it's that if you are technically and tactically good enough to be on the pitch, then you will be.

We go on about English attitudes towards football the need for cultural change, this whole 'he's too young' reasoning is one that needs to change.

Dortmund gave Mario Gotze his debut as a 17 year old. Schalke have 17 year old Max Meyer and 18 year old Leon Goretzka getting game time this season and also gave a debut to Draxler as a 17 year old.

Age should not be a factor when considering someone’s ability to play football.

[Halibut-Thumb]

Suarez coming back surely has to enable him more space in order yo be effective.

Against Stoke he could've notched up 3 or 4 assists easily if the finishing was better/Begovic hadn't decided to be a beast.. And against Villa and United he didnt get much space when he had the ball. The fact Suarez and Sturridge (probably two of the most feared goalscorers in the league right now) are going to be on the same pitch and will draw defenders with their movement, the genius player little phil is should see him finding space to recieve the ball in and we all know how lethal he can potentially be when that happens..

[Sat1]

I predict he'll have 2 assists against Swansea

[TheVeg]

Just watched a youtube video of big phil last season... wow, he was quite something wasn't he?! seems to be a bit off the pace with it this season. Can be one of many things, or a combination of them all. Does playing on the left get the best out of him, or does he need to be central? Is he being targeted due to the lack of Suarez in the team, will he improve when Suarez is back? Is it the teams we have played against, all have tried kicking him and have been fairly tight defensively, will he be better against other teams?
Only time will tell, I guess. I think it could be a mixture of all 3. He played on the left without Suarez in the team for games last season and shone. However, I think teams are more wary of him this season. Either way, I can't wait til we have an in form Sturridge, a hungry Suarez and last season's Coutinho in our attack. I think it's right up there with City/Chelsea starting forwards

[Drinks Sangria]

Swansea is a good game for him. The way in which Swansea attack will bring Rangel and Davies forward, giving Coutinho more space in behind them to target a runner, or exploit with his own movement. We do however, need Henderson to play, or Gerrard to play slightly more advanced than he did v Man Utd and Villa so as to draw the quietly impressive Jose Canas forward, away from Williams and Chico. This should give Coutinho that split second more on the ball to allow him to prosper.

Canas is from the Alonso school of defending; anticipation, not aggression. This means that hopefully, the tackles won't be flying in on Phil. It doesn't mean he won't be pressured, because he will. It does mean he may have a split second longer to think than he did v the more robust midfields we've played thus far. This isn't to say Coutinho is weak, just to point out that Swansea is a near-ideal game for him. If we can push Swansea back, Shelvey (as we very well know) is prone to giving away stupid set-pieces in and around the box, too.

[SlowRap]

Just watched a youtube video of big phil last season... wow, he was quite something wasn't he?! seems to be a bit off the pace with it this season. Can be one of many things, or a combination of them all. Does playing on the left get the best out of him, or does he need to be central? Is he being targeted due to the lack of Suarez in the team, will he improve when Suarez is back? Is it the teams we have played against, all have tried kicking him and have been fairly tight defensively, will he be better against other teams?
Only time will tell, I guess. I think it could be a mixture of all 3. He played on the left without Suarez in the team for games last season and shone. However, I think teams are more wary of him this season. Either way, I can't wait til we have an in form Sturridge, a hungry Suarez and last season's Coutinho in our attack. I think it's right up there with City/Chelsea starting forwards

He's getting man marked and kicked to shit, but that's ok we'll have Suarez back soon which means more space for Coutinho to explore. I thought he did very well when he came on in the league cup, set up Sturridge and ran his marker ragged.

[Samie]

I predict he'll have 2 assists against Swansea

It's going to be pretty hard to achieve that as we are scoring only one goal. 

[xx]

And there's still those that think Suarez shouldn't be back in the team. Suarez will help Coutinho so much. Does anyone honestly think Aspas attracts the same amount of attention as Suarez. Once Suarez is on the pitch alongside Sturridge and Coutinho, Coutinho will have so much more room to work in.

Anyway, theres nothing wrong with Coutinho this season. He doesn't even NEED Suarez but Suarez would help alot as it would for any player of any team. End of last season proved that. However, i think the below amazing Coutinho performances are due to us not playing much more than a half each game and spending the second half defending.

As the season goes on, we will get better and play more football. But this early season is good for the team and Coutinho as both will learn how to win games and be solid.

[Hank Scorpio]

I think in the last two matches our approach will definitely have affected his ability to set up chances.  He still did play an important role and looked a threat.  Loved how he danced around Giggs before being clattered.  Takes the challenge well also.  Nice to see from someone so young because you'd normally expect a reaction, either at the time or afterwards in his approach to receiving the ball.  But Coutinho generally keeps going.  Suarez returning will definitely help with the quick interplay.

[Fauxy]

Teams have clocked on to Coutinho's ability after seeing him wreck sides with his passing and clever touches last season, and he's getting really tightly marked now.

I noticed it most against Aston Villa.. the moment the ball was passed to him there was always a villa player already running at him like a steam train. Obviously this will make things harder for him but he's still doing well, and his presence on the pitch alone will create gaps for our other attacking players and tire opposing players that have to constantly close him down.

Gonna be so interesting to see what happens when Suarez is back in the side.