03 Jan 2018 18:00:43
Here's a novel idea, let's not blow all the coutinho money on a fruitless attempt to sign a like for like replacement. we have coutinho's replacement already in Mane. Coutinho's best games have been at left wing in a 4-3-3 or one of the attacking mids in a 4-2-2-2 which we rarely play. But he has been avg as one of the 3 CMs. If we are thinking we need to replace coutinho as a CM then we already have that guy coming. keita is a true #8 and far better value than coutinho in that position imo. He has everything, creativity, defense, energy, he is excellent. But we have to wait until summer, unless there is a change. I'd like to see the coutinho money used to bring balance to the squad and adding quality depth to our attacking group.

A player like ndidi to free up hendo, can, ox, lallana, gini to play box to box would be fantastic imo and then someone to support the attacming group. I have no idea who, but that would be my approach!

1.) 03 Jan 2018
03 Jan 2018 18:28:25
Your giving me a headache with the money talk, and as for the rest of that post.


WHAT?

2.) 03 Jan 2018
03 Jan 2018 18:37:37
If you’re dividing the team into a defending group and an attacking group then Coutinho would be in the latter anyway. I believe we need somebody to replace Coutinho the attacker and a more defensive midfielder like you say though.
You name Hendo, Can, Ox, Lallana and Gini as midfielders and I would largely agree but that leaves Firmino, Mane, Salah, Solanke, Sturridge, Ings and Woodburn and in my opinion only 2 of those are decent out wide.

3.) 03 Jan 2018
03 Jan 2018 18:48:31
Ye so read the post barnseybob. let's add quality depth to that attacking group and bring in more suited player for CM role. Keita is one already coming who can do everything as a #8 and suits klopp way more than coutinho does imo. Altho klopp obviously thought differently as he would still play coutinho there occasionally! But from what i could see, this season so far and all of last season coutinho was best as part of the attacking group. Not separating attacking from defense just giving them a name. The front 3 if you like.

4.) 03 Jan 2018
03 Jan 2018 18:50:54
Savvy, barely mentioned money mate. Just in context of the situation, but not going to grt into 30mil for him and 45 for him ewuals coutinho lol nah won't do that.
What's your take on the rest of my post? Disagree? Put it out there for discussion man!

5.) 03 Jan 2018
03 Jan 2018 20:06:49
Faithinworks, have to disagree mate, Coutinho is at his most effective when he’s basically allowed to roam free just behind the front 3, the problem this year is, as part of the midfield he’s lost the appetite to track back and get stuck in, which in previous seasons he’s been deceptively good at. In the games where we struggle to break teams down he has consistently provided a little bit of magic (a burst of pace, a wondergoal, a killer pass etc. ) to unlock an opposition defence and whilst Mane possesses some of those attributes I would argue that passing and vision is not really one (or 2) of them. The Mane of last year is absolutely suited to playing wider, either bursting down the flanks and getting the ball in the box, or cutting inside and having a pop. We need someone else who can do what Coutinho does, and I personally would really like to see Brandt, I think he’s made for the Premiership, can dribble/ run at people, good pace, can be physical, great vision (passing perhaps at this stage inconsistent), and a good workrate, in my opinion at 21 has the potential to be even better even than Coutinho.

6.) 03 Jan 2018
03 Jan 2018 20:34:17
Fair bruce, but coutinho barely played in centre mid last season. He was our left winger, and yes tracked back well from that position. When he has been effective in midfield it has been when the system was changed so we could accomodate him as a focal point of the midfield with two CMs protecting him. But by far our most natural way to play under klopp is with 3 dynamic CMs. 2 go box to box and one a bit deeper. Coutinho hasn't suited the box to box role, he just doesn't have the engine or physique for it. But yea as an attacking midfielder when we change the set-up for him, absolutely he is great. We just very rarely do that.