Coutinho

[Dahuge]

Yep, 1 deflected goal, and zero assists in those 3 games.

He might have done OK, but let's not forget he was fucking dreadful for the first half dozen games of the season, and despite being a professional footballer, he can't seem to run for 90 minutes.

I'm not about to blow my load.

Remind me again how your boys Allen and Lallana have done so far?

 

[Oncy]

Yep, 1 deflected goal, and zero assists in those 3 games.

He might have done OK, but let's not forget he was fucking dreadful for the first half dozen games of the season, and despite being a professional footballer, he can't seem to run for 90 minutes.

I'm not about to blow my load.

I agree totally. Ive been super critical of him but he has been the one player who looks capable the last 3 games.

 

[Mors]

He's started to come into a bit of form, but he's been blowing very hot and cold this season. Maybe benching him is helping, a kick up the arse.

 

[juniormember]

Least mario generally hits the target

He most certainly does not.

 

[Squiggles]

For me Coutinho has been rightly criticised during the early season matches. There has been a lack of movement ahead of him, but even basic passing was getting beyond him and he was frequently giving the ball away in simple areas. Given all the recent new arrivals, we needed the players who had been here a while to at least be getting the simple shit right, and he wasn't, and was rightly benched. That was disappointing given he has all the skill and talent required to drive this team forward and become one of the best players in the league. That's what we should be starting to see and expect now.

In fairness we are beginning to see a return to form over the last two to three appearances. Allen's return has helped him, but he needs to push on from here dramatically.

 

[localny]

Just a quick post about our little magician, I wish he was being treated with a bit more faith and respect. It seems he's the first one dragged off, regardless of form and he looks like the only player capable of unlocking teams or pulling something out the bag. Give him the time and the confidence and he'll produce the goods, he's a cracking player and the closest we've got to someone as creative as Silva. World Class on his day, and yes I know he's had dips in form, but so do many players, he's still progressing and learning.

I didn't really understand the level of stick he was getting early in the season. Last season he had two rapid, brilliant strikers playing off him, bringing out the best in him. This season he's had a static lump infront of him, of course he's going to look short of ideas.

Get him back in the side consistently and he'll produce the goods, but we've got to get around him and give him the runs that will prompt the exquisite passing range that is largely being wasted at the moment.

Him and Lallana could prove a great creative attacking pair. I really don't get this ridiculous either/or/one versus the other mentality. You've got Coutinho fans laying into Lallana & Lallana fans dismissing Coutinho, they're both great, let's get the best out of them, together.

Mark, what do you say to people who feel, like I that, yes he's amazing, but he's too inconsistent - even last season he drifted in and out of games near the tail end of the seasons, struggling to have an impact.

 

[Ryan]

Like I said, this either/or mentality is dumb, Lallana hasn't pounced on the stat charts either, but most of us can see his quality and what he brings. They're both excellent players and we should be getting the most from them. Like I said about his "dreadful" first half a dozen games, it's a bit of a comedown from having Suarez and Sturridge to feed, to having a big static lump as more or less the only option. He was the only player getting close to breaking the deadlock against Madrid and Hull.

Yeah I was probably being a bit harsh.

 

[mark1975]

Mark, what do you say to people who feel, like I that, yes he's amazing, but he's too inconsistent - even last season he drifted in and out of games near the tail end of the seasons, struggling to have an impact.

I agree mate, totally, in a midfield littered with players who on their day can be great, but not often enough (Allen, Gerrard and arguably Henderson too), he's the one who looks the genuine spark of creativity. I know he can be inconsistent, players in his role often are (Silva was up until a couple of years ago and he still can be), but I feel like the manager has been down on him for sometime and I don't want it to become a competition between him and Lallana, why should it be?

It seems like he's either on the bench or the first player hooked, I can't stand managers predetermining how long players are going to get when they start matches. There are other players who in certain games could more than feasibly have made way, yet when that board goes up, you know who's number is going to be on it.