Curious Case of Coutinho...

Still wouldn't want him. He scored a great goal but half the forwards in the Premier League could do the same with the amount of space we gave him. He didn't particularly stand out at all otherwise. It was always the way when he was at Liverpool. He'd sit there taking pot shots all game and occasionally one went in and we'd declare him world class. He's just not dangerous in the way a Suarez, a Neymar, or a Messi is.
 
11101 said:
Still wouldn't want him. He scored a great goal but half the forwards in the Premier League could do the same with the amount of space we gave him. He didn't particularly stand out at all otherwise. It was always the way when he was at Liverpool. He'd sit there taking pot shots all game and occasionally one went in and we'd declare him world class. He's just not dangerous in the way a Suarez, a Neymar, or a Messi is.
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Half the forwards like who? He did exactly what the majority of the cowards ours included can’t do when given that space.
 
Mainoldo said:
Half the forwards like who? He did exactly what the majority of the cowards ours included can’t do when given that space.
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Score in space from 25 yards out? Most could. Pereira scored an identical goal a few weeks ago.
 
I thought his celebration was aimed at United fans for booing him when I watched it live... turns out it was directed at Barca fans. Reckon he might be off to PSG or Juve if Barca drop their asking price.
 
Torn.

If a rival got him, I’d think “oh ffs, he’s going to be brilliant for them”

If we got him, I’d feel we’d been stitched up somehow
 
Think there’s a touch of the Di Maria transfer in this.

Brilliant player who doesn’t want to be here. Will most likely have a bunch of good games but lose interest.
 
crossy1686 said:
We need to start targeting players who want to play for United, not players who would do anything not to play where they currently are.
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I agree. It could be Coutinho would love a chance to play at United and is itching to become enemy number one on Merseyside, but somehow I doubt it. We should certainly find out for sure before we bring in another expensive tourist.
 
Curious as to why he looks like a male doppelganger of Sofia Boutella. Woody might see a marketable asset in that.
 
Can see Chelsea wanting him if Hazard goes but Barca will have to take a big loss. 80m seems about right.
 
The following probably will happen this summer.

Man Utd will buy Bale from Real Madrid for 100m
Real madrid then will buy Hazard from Chelsea for 100m
Chelsea then will buy Coutinho from Barcelona for 100m
Barcelona then will buy Griezmann from Atletico Madrid for 100m
 
ThierryHenry14 said:
The following probably will happen this summer.

Man Utd buy Bale from Real Madrid for 100m
Real madrid then buy Hazard from Chelsea for 100m
Chelsea then buy Coutinho from Barcelona for 100m
Barcelona then buy Griezmann from Atletico Madrid for 100m
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Not going to happen
 
ThierryHenry14 said:
The following probably will happen this summer.

Man Utd will buy Bale from Real Madrid for 100m
Real madrid then will buy Hazard from Chelsea for 100m
Chelsea then will buy Coutinho from Barcelona for 100m
Barcelona then will buy Griezmann from Atletico Madrid for 100m
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Atletico get Bale for 0 in 12 months to get him off Utd’s books.
 
We need players with strong mentalities. Coutinho is just not that. He is a player that grows when his team plays well and disappears when they are struggling. This type of player is not what we want.
 
Coutinho has got good football brains but what on earth happened to him at Barca? What i've read is the guy does NOT want to leave so he's like Bale, holding out and might end up riding the bench for a year at least.
 
I reckon Chelsea will sign him as Hazard replacement. Barcelona will be keen to sell him after they signed Griezmann & Coutinho will be more interested to join Chelsea than us due to CL & Liverpool connection.
 
UNITED ACADEMY said:
I reckon Chelsea will sign him as Hazard replacement. Barcelona will be keen to sell him after they signed Griezmann & Coutinho will be more interested to join Chelsea than us due to CL & Liverpool connection.
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Chelsea can't sign him because of the transfer ban... Or am I missing something?
 
Barcelona should just sack Valverde and keep Coutinho. He’s a fecking brilliant player who is being horribly misused. I would take him here in a heartbeat, IF he really wanted to come. But I sincerely doubt he does.
 
Fer said:
Chelsea can't sign him because of the transfer ban... Or am I missing something?
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They appealed right? Surely they appeal, otherwise they will stuck with no replacement for Hazard.
 
UNITED ACADEMY said:
They appealed right? Surely they appeal, otherwise they will stuck with no replacement for Hazard.
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Maybe Pulisic and Hudson-Odoi would take his position... And William with Pedro rotating on the right wing.
 
Fer said:
Maybe Pulisic and Hudson-Odoi would take his position... And William with Pedro rotating on the right wing.
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Let’s think about it.

Sell Hazard and replace with two young players who struggle to get first choice selection last season? I don’t think so. And also Kovacic on loan has finished, if they don’t sign anymore players it’s like downgrade their current squad.
 
Terrible signing. Possibly cost them the CL when you think of how much they could have improved spending 140 million wisely.
 
Barca will be looking to get back as much possible for him. What other mug would pay the silly money Barca want for an unwanted player? Enter Woodward.
 
I'd avoid him for the moment, too much money, too high wages and not your priority. But if pogba goes to Madrid then he would be a great replacement, at the moment I don't see how they play in the same team.
 
Exactly the type of player we should be avoiding. I'd much prefer players who see United as a step up rather than a step sideways (or down).

Always found him to be quite considerably overrated too. MotD player.
 
I'd love him at United. We'd have to sell Pogba first, but I think a shift to 4231 could be of benefit overall.

In the last three seasons:

Pogba has 6, 6, 5 non-penalty goals

Coutiho has 5, 15, 13 non-penalty goals

Pogba has 9, 10, 4 assists

Coutinho has 2, 11, 7 assists

Obviously, Coutinho is coming off a relatively poor season for Barca, but that's because he's competing with Messi for space in the hole. He won't have that problem at United (assuming Pogba goes to fund the deal).

Ole is trying to solve an almost impossible puzzle to create a system that can accomodate a luxury player in a team that isn't good enough to carry him when the going gets tough. The easiest solution is to throw the old blueprint away and opt for an XI full of specialists in every position. Those who like to defend can defend, those who like to attack can attack.

A proper #10 in front of a double pivot would be a quick fix to a years old problem. And the defensive midfielders we need might possibly already be at the club.
 
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Pierluigi Casiraghi said:
Exactly the type of player we should be avoiding. I'd much prefer players who see United as a step up rather than a step sideways (or down).

Always found him to be quite considerably overrated too. MotD player.
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How are players at top clubs supposed to see us as a step up when we quite simply aren't? Should we be signing players who are deluded?
 
If Pogba leaves...
Would you prefer Coutinho, Fernandes, Eriksen or Havertz? (to replace him as our most avanced midfielder)
 
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