03 Jan 2018 07:15:10
Morning Ed001

In your opinion mate do you think Coutinho will play for us again?

{Ed001's Note - no, in all likelihood he is done.}


1.) 03 Jan 2018
03 Jan 2018 07:42:29
Ed1, my take on it is that we would make a summer time sale work if all parties are on board but that coutinho's willingness to wait a wee bit isn't there. And then we must determine that his input / buy-in would detroriate if we held firm like last summer, so best to agree a sale now? That about right?

{Ed001's Note - more that he is a whining little get and needs to go before he disrupts the team any further. Though I have no problem with him leaving, the club would be quick to get rid if they didn't want him, it is the way he is going about it I find abhorrent.}


2.) 03 Jan 2018
03 Jan 2018 07:45:03
Ed01 if you were a betting man would you see a replacement brought in this month?

{Ed001's Note - I am not a betting man and the club tends to let me down so often I would not have faith in them to get one, though they are intending to replace him this month.}


3.) 03 Jan 2018
03 Jan 2018 07:49:17
Ed hope it doesn’t drag on all January and we have replacement already in place.


4.) 03 Jan 2018
03 Jan 2018 07:50:06
Thanks for that clear response Ed001. Is it a January departure for Coutinho do you believe Ed001? And do you understand if the club have advanced any approach for a replacement? Respect if you don't want to go into this detail Ed. Thanks in advance.

{Ed001's Note - yes. I fully expect him to go in Jan, it has been in preparation in the run up to the window with the club actively searching for the right replacement. However I am still catching up so not sure who is being moved for and if anyone is likely or been ruled out yet. Hopefully get some more info today to clear things up a bit.}


5.) 03 Jan 2018
03 Jan 2018 07:53:55
Thanks Ed001, it’s going to be a long month.

{Ed001's Note - very.}


6.) 03 Jan 2018
03 Jan 2018 07:55:57
Cheers ed. Its quite disappointing really, i was genuinwly surprised at his out put since coming back into the squad and was hoping to see him knuckle down suarez / ronaldo style for the rest of the campaign. Its a terrible time for us to be looking for a replacement and the timing suits Barcelona only here. You may have given your preferences already but i was thinking something a bit left field. Say someone like ndidi to allow the likes of can, gini, hendo, lallana, ox and co to play their natural box to box role. I think there is enough creativity in that group and would add some defensive energy / nous to the midfield which we've been sorely lacking imo.

{Ed001's Note - I would love us to sign Ndidi personally, but as well as a creative player.}


7.) 03 Jan 2018
03 Jan 2018 08:01:58
Agreed about the creative player! Alli!? Will let the club figure out who the right player is, but hoping we use the money wisely and address key areas.

{Ed001's Note - I wouldn't see Alli as that player personally, he is not the most creative passer of the ball around. He is more about late bursts into the box to get on the end of someone else's creative pass.}


8.) 03 Jan 2018
03 Jan 2018 08:06:06
Thanks for all the info Ed001. Is his departure dependant on getting a replacement in or will the club agree to sell him even if a suitable replacement cannot be secured in January do you understand? Thanks Ed.

{Ed001's Note - it is no longer dependent on a replacement, just about getting the best deal.}


9.) 03 Jan 2018
03 Jan 2018 08:21:59
Dybala would be my first choice personally, he’s having a poor season but he’s very close to Coutinho, special talent in my opinion-I know it won’t happen, seems like a push for Lemar is Likely.


10.) 03 Jan 2018
03 Jan 2018 08:33:39
No chance we could get Dybala unfortunately.
Ndidi would be great for us in the middle but it seems Klopp isn’t interested in a midfielder in that mould.
Most of the players mentioned on here are wingers or at least primarily used as wingers, someone like Lemar seems more versatile and young enough to adapt to Coutinhos position so he would be my choice, although I must admit I haven’t seen much of Monaco this season.


11.) 03 Jan 2018
03 Jan 2018 08:48:23
Ed are we looking to get rafinha as part of the deal?

{Ed001's Note - more that Barca are looking to include him.}


12.) 03 Jan 2018
03 Jan 2018 09:00:04
Is he any good ed and is he the type of player we need?

{Ed001's Note - not from what I have seen of him.}


13.) 03 Jan 2018
03 Jan 2018 09:09:15
Honestly tho, this presents us an opportunity to bring in someone into that central midfield group that is better than what coutinho brings atm. I'be always thought he was an avg cm for us and this season no different and no surprise his best performances have come starting on the left either as wing of front 3 or as attacker behind front 2. We have keita who will ne doubt occupy one of the box to box roles. He offers far more in that position than coutinho imo, but we have to wait until next season. To me he is the direct coutinho replacement in terms of position keita will play.
Thatwill free up mane, salah and firmino. that's why i was suggesting a more subtle addition to the squad to bring balance. Ndidi again plus another creative attacking mid perhaps with flexibility to play in front 3 to would be useful. But I'm not sold that we need to bring in a like for like replacement this month. Crazy, I know.


14.) 03 Jan 2018
03 Jan 2018 09:38:01
I agree faith we don't need and probably can't get a like for like replacement.
The PC money just needs to be spent on real quality, no matter what position. I would start looking in centre midfield.


15.) 03 Jan 2018
03 Jan 2018 10:03:54
Stupid question ed I apologise but I might be watching swansea vs Liverpool on 22nd, you reckon Coutinho will still be around by then? I'd like to see him play before he goes lol.

{Ed001's Note - I don't expect him to play even if he is mate.}


16.) 03 Jan 2018
03 Jan 2018 10:34:53
Sounds like we have seen his last game then 😐.


17.) 03 Jan 2018
03 Jan 2018 10:36:10
Indeed, very good player, you mentioned you thought that Leicester signed a better player than Ndidi but got injured straight away, who was it again mate?


18.) 03 Jan 2018
03 Jan 2018 11:30:50
Ah well As long as my boy Salah is there I'm happy!


19.) 03 Jan 2018
03 Jan 2018 15:17:43
Hi Ed001. Sorry mate if I am jumping the gun🤔. You said above you were hoping to catch up and find out any updates today mate? Anything else on Lemar?

{Ed001's Note - not yet mate.}