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Making the most of Coutinho

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Squiggles

Squiggles

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I've argued that we consider him from the left in the match thread due to his nature of cutting in and shooting. Now someone on Reddit has kindly put together his goals from doing so.

QPR
http://gfycat.com/AstonishingPalatableGrunion
Arsenal
http://gfycat.com/GiftedEnergeticGuineapig
Bolton
http://gfycat.com/MilkyEntireImperatorangel
Southampton
http://gfycat.com/ConcernedWeepyAmericanmarten
City
http://gfycat.com/RaggedDependableCatbird
Stoke
http://gfycat.com/PleasedWildAnhinga



I think this will be our line up pretty soon if you assume Henderson and Milner are guaranteed starters.

-------------Benteke-----------
--Coutinho-----------Firminho
-----Milner-------Hendo----
---------Can/New DM-----------
 
Good line up that, I can see us employing a formation more like yesterdays in the tougher away games though.
 
Agree. At number 10 he's going to get crowded out of space. From the left he has space to run into by cutting in and evading markers.
 
..............Benteke
Coutinho..Firmino....Sturridge

That's how I see it when everyone's fit.

Or the 442 diamond

.....Benteke....Sturridge
............Firmino
Coutinho..........Milner
...............X
 
It's hard to believe that a few years ago we had a central midfield of Mascherano, Alonso and Gerrard. In a 4-2-3-1, that is literally the perfect midfield.
 
I think we should not try to fit all the players just because they are available. The midfield of
Can
Henderson Milner

OR

Lucas
Henderson Milner

should start every game imo. When we need to score a goal or two, get Cooutinho in midfield, in place of Milner and get Ibe or Lallana further ahead in Coutinhos place. We have enough games, so need to worry at all.
 
If Lucas goes I'd like to see Rossiter in the holding midfield role for the group stages of the Europa.
 
TheRedCrusade said:
When we need to score a goal or two, get Cooutinho in midfield, in place of Milner and get Ibe or Lallana further ahead in Coutinhos place. We have enough games, so need to worry at all.
Click to expand...

You seem to be assuming that more attacking players = more goals. Ossie Ardiles had the same philosophy and it didn't work for him. You need players to win, keep and distribute the ball as well. Otherwise you might as well play 1-1-8 and go for the 10-9 win.
 
I have no interest in discussing this thread. It's just the first one I've clicked on after not being able to post in the locked 'Benteke/Balotelli thread'. So 2 things;

1 - Why in the name of fuck do people lock threads when there's a classic full-on argument going on? For fucks' sake, we're forced to sit through unending streams of thread where mouthbreathers like Dreamy and Mors bore the arsehole off us, then the second we get a full-on head-to-head someone locks it?! Way to ruin all the fun.

2 - Woland's "that's only the second time we've beaten Stoke in the Premier League" comment in that thread is nice, but it's completely untrue.
 
I got the impression that he meant that's the second time we've beat them at their gaff.
 
anyways if we're gonna hijack a thread because a perfectly good one got locked then specifically on Balotelli... the consensus seems to be that he's got the talent but his attitude is shit. Well I thought his attitude is fine but he's not very good at football. He trained ok, stayed fit, he didn't set fire to his balls or crash his car or go missing or get pissed or anything mad. He's just just fucking rubbish
 
To be fair, yeh, attitude wise what exactly has he done wrong? Nothing, he's just not a very intelligent footballer. Technique and a good shot is great, but if you don't have the intelligence or instinct to play the game, you're left with an average footballer like Balotelli.
 
I thought Macca was being ironic/sarcastic/funny during that thread, but I'm drunk and may have read it incorrectly.
 
Squiggles said:
I've argued that we consider him from the left in the match thread due to his nature of cutting in and shooting. Now someone on Reddit has kindly put together his goals from doing so.

QPR
http://gfycat.com/AstonishingPalatableGrunion
Arsenal
http://gfycat.com/GiftedEnergeticGuineapig
Bolton
http://gfycat.com/MilkyEntireImperatorangel
Southampton
http://gfycat.com/ConcernedWeepyAmericanmarten
City
http://gfycat.com/RaggedDependableCatbird
Stoke
http://gfycat.com/PleasedWildAnhinga



I think this will be our line up pretty soon if you assume Henderson and Milner are guaranteed starters.

-------------Benteke-----------
--Coutinho-----------Firminho
-----Milner-------Hendo----
---------Can/New DM-----------
Click to expand...


I don't like this idea. Coutinho is versatile and good with both feet and it would be a waste to limit his game to one "signature" move. Besides, he would not be nearly as effective as someone like Robben due to his relative lack of speed. He should be in the middle.
 
The team should be set up around him and the tactics should be tailored to get him the most possible space in dangerous areas.

He's hands down our most creative player.
 
Ryan said:
Ok Dreamy, explain how you do that...
Click to expand...

I'll leave that to you as apparently I'm only a mouth breather that would bore the arse off you anyway.

By the by I would have loved to have got stuck into the Tekkers vs Mario thread.

I mean what the actual f&ck, Benteke is such an improvement on Ballotelli it's laughable anyone would suggest otherwise.

And I don't even rate Benteke or think he will work out long term for us.
 
Dreambeliever said:
I'll leave that to you as apparently I'm only a mouth breather that would bore the arse off you anyway.

By the by I would have loved to have got stuck into the Tekkers vs Mario thread.

I mean what the actual f&ck, Benteke is such an improvement on Ballotelli it's laughable anyone would suggest otherwise.

And I don't even rate Benteke or think he will work out long term for us.
Click to expand...


Do you want me to explain it for you?
 
Ryan said:
Do you want me to explain it for you?
Click to expand...

I have my thoughts on it, but I'm always happy to listen to the opinions of others.

My original point wasn't to point out how it should be done, more so that we should set up around him as opposed to say Lallana or Firminho or Milner.
 
rurikbird said:
I don't like this idea. Coutinho is versatile and good with both feet and it would be a waste to limit his game to one "signature" move. Besides, he would not be nearly as effective as someone like Robben due to his relative lack of speed. He should be in the middle.
Click to expand...

Agreed. Despite the improvement in his shooting, Coutinho's still pretty much a pass-first player.

Like it or not, he will not transform into a goalscoring wing-forward - he doesn't have the pace or the explosiveness. 8-10 goals are the best I'm hoping from him a'la Iniesta. The focus should be on making the most of his creative ability, which is by far his best attribute, rather than getting him on the score sheet more (that's just a bonus IMO).

Coutinho's creative game is hampered when he has no runners ahead of him. Putting him on the left would just compound that problem. He might score the odd wonder goal (which he anyway will in the centre), but he'll otherwise struggle to impact the game.
 
I think the way you get the most out of Coutinho is to get better players to play alongside him.
Firmino is a very good start I think.
With those two we should also get to see if Lallana looks a better player with better around him as well.
 
I know you're kidding, but that's not necessarily correct. Benteke is actually quite a good player, but IMO just not suited to playing in front of Coutinho alone. The only way I see that being remedied is if you pair a runner with Benteke and play Coutinho behind them. It'd still require Benteke to get better off the ball, but I think there's a better chance of it working.
 
dmishra said:
I know you're kidding, but that's not necessarily correct. Benteke is actually quite a good player, but IMO just not suited to playing in front of Coutinho alone. The only way I see that being remedied is if you pair a runner with Benteke and play Coutinho behind them. It'd still require Benteke to get better off the ball, but I think there's a better chance of it working.
Click to expand...

Well, I am only half kidding.
Coutinho's best form of last season was when Sterling played as striker.
Although his finishing maybe suspect his movement and instinct were good and it gave Coutinho the outlet to create he needed.
I am not sure Benteke is the type of striker to make those moves though he looks far better than Mario at it already.
I have great hope for Firmino, in case you haven't already guessed. 🙂
 
Coutinho got completed crowded out in the middle against Stoke and wasn't until he moved wider he eventually found some space. He's been listed as once of our worst players before the wonder goal. Sure he might find space against other sides, although I suspect not due to his increasing threat, which leaves two options; dropping him deeper in place of Milner or Henderson, which seems unlikely although potentially sensible, or pairing him in wider in a attacking three. The problem with playing him centrally is when Benteke is struggling to get involved, he drops deep into Coutinhos space, the defence and midfield converge on the area and we're left trying to pass through a crowd of bodies. Hopefully it might start to work, but I struggle to see Coutinho sitting behind Benteke working long term.
 
Squiggles said:
Coutinho got completed crowded out in the middle against Stoke and wasn't until he moved wider he eventually found some space. He's been listed as once of our worst players before the wonder goal. Sure he might find space against other sides, although I suspect not due to his increasing threat, which leaves two options; dropping him deeper in place of Milner or Henderson, which seems unlikely although potentially sensible, or pairing him in wider in a attacking three. The problem with playing him centrally is when Benteke is struggling to get involved, he drops deep into Coutinhos space, the defence and midfield converge on the area and we're left trying to pass through a crowd of bodies. Hopefully it might start to work, but I struggle to see Coutinho sitting behind Benteke working long term.
Click to expand...

Firmino should help take some of the attention away from him.
 
Dreambeliever said:
I have my thoughts on it, but I'm always happy to listen to the opinions of others.

My original point wasn't to point out how it should be done, more so that we should set up around him as opposed to say Lallana or Firminho or Milner.
Click to expand...


What are your thoughts on it then?
 
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