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Piece of the Jigsaw

Coutinho: Liverpool FC’s New ‘No.10’

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Philippe Coutinho of BrazilMANY people were sent scrambling to search for any and every bit of news they could muster when Liverpool FC were linked with Philippe Coutinho in this transfer window.

For what seemed like an eternity, at least to those who were anxious for another player’s signature, reports were bounced around the internet with numbers and bids varying.

There was speculation that the player didn’t want to leave Inter Milan, that Liverpool were not going to fork up the cash Inter were demanding, and that Southampton was somehow going to steal the show.

There was even dizzying speculation when it was discovered that Lucas Leiva and Coutinho had become ‘friends’ on Instagram. But now the speculation seems to be winding to a halt with various sources, including ESPN and the Daily Mail, reporting that Liverpool have had a bid in the region of £8.5 million accepted by Inter Milan. The only uncertainty that remains is: what kind of player will LFC have purchased?

For starters, Coutinho is only a mere 20 years old and hails from Brazil. He came up through the ranks at Vasco da Gama before getting a move to Internazionale where he was originally deployed on the wing. Although the talent was there, Coutinho was unable to influence games the way it was hoped, so a loan to Espanyol was secured. It is here where the player would begin to assert himself.

While at Espanyol the young Brazilian netted 5 times in 16 appearances, often in superb fashion. His time at the mediocre Spanish club has shown that he is not afraid of being the focal point of the attack and won’t shrug off the difficult option for the easier route.
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In typical Brazilian fashion Coutinho seems to thrive with the ball at his feet and appears to be most comfortable when allowing his quick feet to do the hard work for him. His dribbling ability can’t be ignored but it must be noted that fans and teammates alike came away frustrated when the dazzling footwork didn’t lead to concrete productiveness; something Brendan Rodgers will surely focus on.

Positioning and tactics can be taught. Innate ability is, however, God given. If given the time Rodgers and his staff should be able to develop the young player into an exciting attacking force. The key question remains whether or not the player can stay healthy but at 20 years of age the attacking midfielder certainly fits the bill of the type of player that Brendan Rodgers is looking for.

Philippe Coutinho has shown that he adds an extra attacking threat and is capable of playing out wide, either from the get go, or as play develops. The exciting young midfielder will certainly add a different dimension to Liverpool’s threat but uncertainties still remain as they often will with young players.

This article is definitely not the final verdict on the player, but rather an introduction to his background for those who may be unfamiliar with him and any and all discourse is welcomed.

For those who wish to see the player in action, check out the impressive video below.

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