Curious Case of Coutinho...

Absolutely do not want him. If we're signing a central player he has to be a better passer/playmaker than this fellow. Coutinho is essential an AM who is all about close control, dribbling and long range shooting. While he excels at what he is good at, we need more players who can knit the team together rather than individualistic players like him who play in their bubble.

Rather sign the next David Silva. We are desperate for that sort of player. The kind we wished we were getting when we signed Kagawa and Mata. Or when City got Silva 2. Whether in CM or AM role, we have a lack of these kind of players.
 
Devil may care said:
I've heard a few people say that it's Barca's style of play that doesn't suit him and that they bought him for the Iniesta role that Arthur has since taken. I can see there being truth in that, Barca can be a hard team to adapt to no matter how good you are, as Ibrahimovic found out. As far as him not settling here, it's something a couple of journos have said in conjunction with why they didn't see him moving back to the PL if he leaves Barca in the summer.
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He doesn't suit Barca's old tiki taka style but then again they no longer play that style. The issue there is A) that he's out of form B) he doesn't combine that well with other players and C) he likes to play centrally and that's Messi's space whereas they need players who can run in behind and attack the wings with Messi putting them through.

Poor signing which didn't have a strong basis.
 
amolbhatia50k said:
He doesn't suit Barca's old tiki taka style but then again they no longer play that style. The issue there is A) that he's out of form B) he doesn't combine that well with other players and C) he likes to play centrally and that's Messi's space whereas they need players who can run in behind and attack the wings with Messi putting them through.

Poor signing which didn't have a strong basis.
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He was rather effective playing from the left at Liverpool.
 
amolbhatia50k said:
He doesn't suit Barca's old tiki taka style but then again they no longer play that style. The issue there is A) that he's out of form B) he doesn't combine that well with other players and C) he likes to play centrally and that's Messi's space whereas they need players who can run in behind and attack the wings with Messi putting them through.

Poor signing which didn't have a strong basis.
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It did seem a bit like a signing they made without completely evaluating how he'd fit in, as they needed a big status signing due to losing Neymar.
 
Fracture90 said:
He was rather effective playing from the left at Liverpool.
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Drifting inside. How many players can drift inside ? Messi, Suarez, CMs... and Coutinho? Tactically, it doesn't make any sense. Barcelona needed page and flying wingers/forwards. They signed Coutinho.
 
amolbhatia50k said:
Drifting inside. How many players can drift inside ? Messi, Suarez, CMs... and Coutinho? Tactically, it doesn't make any sense. Barcelona needed page and flying wingers/forwards. They signed Coutinho.
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Well it's pretty much what Pogba and Martial are doing for us atm, what Lingard and Mata are doing as well.

Because on occasion Coutinho also played as a LMF in a MF 3 alongside Henderson, Wijnaldum/Millner and since Coutinho is great on the ball and can send a superb through ball, they thought he'll be able to replace Iniesta, but their slow build-up style doesn't suit him.
 
Fracture90 said:
Well it's pretty much what Pogba and Martial are doing for us atm, what Lingard and Mata are doing as well.

Because on occasion Coutinho also played as a LMF in a MF 3 alongside Henderson, Wijnaldum/Millner and since Coutinho is great on the ball and can send a superb through ball, they thought he'll be able to replace Iniesta, but their slow build-up style doesn't suit him.
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The problem isn't their slow buildup. It's his inability to deliver. Also his passing is nothing special. In fact his link up play and lack of playmaking qualities are what hold him back from being one of the best. He could possibly work as thr most attacking of a three man midfield but doesn't fit in well as a forward at Barcelona.

We do have players that tuck in but we aren't the shining example of a balanced team either. Look at City and Liverpool and how their wide played operate. For me, Coutinho and Messi are just a weird combination in wide areas IMO.
 
amolbhatia50k said:
The problem isn't their slow buildup. It's his inability to deliver. Also his passing is nothing special. In fact his link up play and lack of playmaking qualities are what hold him back from being one of the best. He could possibly work as thr most attacking of a three man midfield but doesn't fit in well as a forward at Barcelona.

We do have players that tuck in but we aren't the shining example of a balanced team either. Look at City and Liverpool and how their wide played operate. For me, Coutinho and Messi are just a weird combination in wide areas IMO.
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I'm afraid I'll have to disagree. It was his directness and quick change of pace, his individuality that made him stand out in that Liverpool team, something he had to give up when he joined Barcelona because they operate as a compact unit, where only Messi is allowed his individuality. Incidentally those traits that he had to give up on when he no joined them are his best ones, hence why he's failing at Barca imo.
 
Fracture90 said:
I'm afraid I'll have to disagree. It was his directness and quick change of pace, his individuality that made him stand out in that Liverpool team, something he had to give up when he joined Barcelona because they operate as a compact unit, where only Messi is allowed his individuality. Incidentally those traits that he had to give up on when he no joined them are his best ones, hence why he's failing at Barca imo.
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I mentioned the individuality/team play thing in a previous post in this thread. I feel it's definitely a negative if a player can't mesh as a part of a unit, as opposed to the rest of unit catering to his individual leeway. Fair enough that at Liverpool he was put on a padestal and succeeded showcasing his technical qualities. But part of being a great player is to be able to be a strong part of the collective where you aren't necessarily the most important and considered one.

And then of course it's the idea of him and Messi together. They don't work as two wingers for me. And in midfield his passing doesn't stand out either.
 
amolbhatia50k said:
I mentioned the individuality/team play thing in a previous post in this thread. I feel it's definitely a negative if a player can't mesh as a part of a unit, as opposed to the rest of unit catering to his individual leeway. Fair enough that at Liverpool he was put on a padestal and succeeded showcasing his technical qualities. But part of being a great player is to be able to be a strong part of the collective where you aren't necessarily the most important and considered one.

And then of course it's the idea of him and Messi together. They don't work as two wingers for me. And in midfield his passing doesn't stand out either.
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Well Ibrahimovic failed to adapt to Barcelona' style, but that didn't make him any less of a player tbh.

He wasn't projected to be a winger in Barcelona, he was brought to be a replacement for Iniesta, to play as a LMF, but due to him failing to adapt and Arthur's emergence, he's being played in LW position most often than not when he gets a chance. If I had to guess I'll say they're trying to revive his Liverpool form by playing him in that position.
 
The first thing that needs to be addressed regarding Coutinho is to play him in the right position. He cannot play as a forward or a central midfielder. He should be played out wide on the midfield or possibly as a number 10 attacking midfielder. Since Barca don't use those positions, but rather play a 4-3-3 with central midfielders and only forward wingers, he simply doesn't fit their system. Signing him was therefore stupid of Barca, and he needs to leave both for the club and himself. Not everybody can adapt and go from a wide midfielder to a wide forward. If he still doesn't perform after leaving for a team with a more fitting system, then we can think about other reasons for him not performing. I think Coutinho is a world class player in his position. One really can't expect a player to be great out of position.
 
I've mentioned it before, but he is my dream signing this summer. Our midfield is crying out for some creativity and goals, and he would provide exactly that.

Mane----Firmino----Salah
---------Coutinho---------
:drool:

With Keita behind them who will have rediscovered himself next season, I'm sure.
 
We are looking at 80-100 m and we already have Martial and Sanchez for that position.

Do not want .
 
Any club who want Coutinho should do a similar deal like Bayern did with Real Madrid for James. Loan with buy option.
 
I'd rather Hazard play that role If Pogba goes surely Real ain't buying Pogs and Hazard in the summer.
 
No thanks. We already have at least two players in his position and he was always rated too highly at Liverpool. Never once worried me when we played them, with all his dribbles into trouble and long range pot shots.
 
He will end up at Bayern won’t he? Seems fairly obvious.
 
I honestly think that over 90 minutes he will influence a game more than Pogba. Pogba has those hollywood passes that will net you an assist every now and then but I'm coming around to the idea that Coutinho gives us a new dimension.
 
Pexbo said:
He will end up at Bayern won’t he? Seems fairly obvious.
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Can’t imagine Bayern shelling out 100m or whatever he’d cost. Perhaps in a loan with option to buy sort of deal.
 
Just can't see anyone offering anywhere near the 90m odd Barcelona apparently want. They'll have to accept far less or he won't be going anywhere.
 
He's just not that good. Never was. Too slow for the wings and not good enough in front of the goal for the middle.
 
I just don't see the hype around him even during his pool days. Has a brilliant shot on him (after 5 or more attempts) but don't see why they paid 100+ mil for him (that neymar deal really F'ed their minds :lol:).
 
AJ10 said:
I just don't see the hype around him even during his pool days. Has a brilliant shot on him (after 5 or more attempts) but don't see why they paid 100+ mil for him (that neymar deal really F'ed their minds :lol:).
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"100+ m" doesn't do it justice, he cost Barca £140m. :D He was just about worth half that sum of money at the time. And he has set the precedence beautifully for what wantaway spoilt brats will cost money rich clubs if they come knocking, or tapping even.
 
He has no interest in coming here from the sounds of that interview( not that we should really be chasing him anyway). Plus the ghoul will probably score against us in the CL.
 
The case of Coutinho is the fact that he's at his best as a roaming player in the final third which is already Messi's role at Barca. In fact, I recall Klopp deploying his at the tip of his diamond midfield in a 41212 set up and he was so fantastic in the role before he left for Barca.

I have always known he wouldn't be able to excel in the midfield because he doesn't have the work rates nor the zippy zappy passing style to keep the ball flowing in the midfield. He's at his best roaming around the spaces in the final third and either threading in throughballs to his teammates or himself being at the end of passes however, Messi already has that role at Barca.
 
I couldn't believe my eyes when he scored that screamer.

He's been shite all season.

Nice to see him turn up for once though. There's still a very talented footballer in there somewhere.
 
Infordin said:
I couldn't believe my eyes when he scored that screamer.

He's been shite all season.

Nice to see him turn up for once though. There's still a very talented footballer in there somewhere.
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Those strikes are robben like.
 
Patrick08 said:
Those strikes are robben like.
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Indeed.

I'm amazed that so many Manchester United fans don't want him. Yeah, I get that he's a former Liverpool player and all that... but he'd improve your team instantly.

A brilliant player at his best.
 
Infordin said:
Indeed.

I'm amazed that so many Manchester United fans don't want him. Yeah, I get that he's a former Liverpool player and all that... but he'd improve your team instantly.

A brilliant player at his best.
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No he wont.
 
Infordin said:
Indeed.

I'm amazed that so many Manchester United fans don't want him. Yeah, I get that he's a former Liverpool player and all that... but he'd improve your team instantly.

A brilliant player at his best.
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He's not the type of player we need, we need direct wide players that can beat a man, like Dembele or Mane or Salah. We already have too many 'playmaker' types that score the occasional banger to justify their role in the squad (see Mata, Lingard, even Martial).
 
marktan said:
He's not the type of player we need, we need direct wide players that can beat a man, like Dembele or Mane or Salah. We already have too many 'playmaker' types that score the occasional banger to justify their role in the squad (see Mata, Lingard, even Martial).
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Also Coutinho can only be good when you give him the entire left side in some kind of free role. In the case of United the main problem is in the right.
 
He can shoot.

But he isn't left footed so we dont really need him.

Martial and Rashford are being called shit but they are good enough to be part of the future.
 
He occupies areas where Barça system has some difficulties to fit in, because he's either overloading Messi/Suarez space and having the nature to go up the field so much he won't offer support "from the back" as a midfielder either.
He's not a good fit playing as winger either, so, all Barça fans can expect is for him to adapt.
 
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