Coutinho.
Im a bit worried about him. Its genuinely like he (and Mr Rodgers) wasnt expecting teams to give him any special treatment this season.
Both games so far he has been doubled up on and both games he has underperformed. He is such a brilliant footballer that we are going to rely on him this season to be at the level he was last year, and to do that FIRST he has to play a bit differently this year. He has to accept that he will not get the time he got last year (Villa in particular knicked the ball off him constantly) and that opposing managers and players will be anticipating him always trying the killer pass. He has to learn to keep it simple, especially when we are under pressure and need to retain possession.
I dont want to start any big thing about it, but two games in a row he has been marked and pretty much bullied out of the game. I hope he (and Mr Rodgers) can find a way to counter that and to get him more freedom. If im honest the only way I see of doing that is signing better players to play with him. If I was Lambert or Hughes (or Moyes) id be saying fuck Henderson and Aspas too.
Sturridge did well countering the same problems but far too often for him that meant drifting miles away from goal leaving no one in a position of threat. Suarez returning should help all of these things but I really do think another player of ability to make it more difficult for the opposition to nullify our ONE threat is a must. If that doesnt happen the little wizard has to be able to adapt his game to the needs of ours.
I know a load of cockends will get all defensive about it now and thats fine, I see a problem and I hope we nip it in the bud quickly. We need the little guy on the ball, but with some freedom to use it too.
Im a bit worried about him. Its genuinely like he (and Mr Rodgers) wasnt expecting teams to give him any special treatment this season.
Both games so far he has been doubled up on and both games he has underperformed. He is such a brilliant footballer that we are going to rely on him this season to be at the level he was last year, and to do that FIRST he has to play a bit differently this year. He has to accept that he will not get the time he got last year (Villa in particular knicked the ball off him constantly) and that opposing managers and players will be anticipating him always trying the killer pass. He has to learn to keep it simple, especially when we are under pressure and need to retain possession.
I dont want to start any big thing about it, but two games in a row he has been marked and pretty much bullied out of the game. I hope he (and Mr Rodgers) can find a way to counter that and to get him more freedom. If im honest the only way I see of doing that is signing better players to play with him. If I was Lambert or Hughes (or Moyes) id be saying fuck Henderson and Aspas too.
Sturridge did well countering the same problems but far too often for him that meant drifting miles away from goal leaving no one in a position of threat. Suarez returning should help all of these things but I really do think another player of ability to make it more difficult for the opposition to nullify our ONE threat is a must. If that doesnt happen the little wizard has to be able to adapt his game to the needs of ours.
I know a load of cockends will get all defensive about it now and thats fine, I see a problem and I hope we nip it in the bud quickly. We need the little guy on the ball, but with some freedom to use it too.
