WHEN Philippe Coutinho signed for Liverpool FC in January, I think some of the club’s fans didn’t fully know what to believe or expect.
Many knew about his talent, but despite a good six month loan spell in La Liga in the 2011/12 season there were still some murmurs about him not really making a big impact for Inter in Serie A – similar to the doubts that were looming over Daniel Sturridge, although in his case it was perhaps more based on his perceived character than his footballing ability.
The rest, as they say, is history. As with his fellow new compatriot Sturridge, all doubt had been removed in swift fashion as winter turned to spring – in a gorgeous haze of technical details, goals, assists and outside passes.
We got both a striker and a supplier in one window, without any real competition – which in retrospect is as remarkable as that pass against Newcastle. As it turned out, Liverpool actually hadn’t forgotten how to spend £20m in sensible fashion.
The thing is though, when the season starts in two weeks time both are almost starting from scratch again. A different type of doubt is starting to loom: Can they replicate it? Is this really how good they are, or was their superb form during the second half of the season the result of somewhat fortunate circumstances?
In Sturridge’s case I personally don’t have too many worries in terms of him being able of delivering the goods. He seems like a confident and determined young man who knows exactly how good he is, which is something he didn’t get the chance to prove at Chelsea despite performing quite well for them – meaning the hunger to succeed should be there.
His challenge is to prove he can perform on a high level throughout a whole season, which could hinge on another big challenge: staying fit. If he can manage that, and be eligible for at least 30 league games, he should have the potential to keep up where he left off and go well into double figures this season.
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The fact that an injury during a rather meaningless end of season international game has prevented him from participating in pre season is obviously far from ideal, but hopefully the club will have enough forwards on our books when the season starts to afford him a proper recovery and not risking him before he’s ready.
As for Coutinho, it’s possible he becomes the focal point of our attack this season. At least that’s how it has looked like during the pre season games so far. This, coupled with the fact that opposing players and managers now also know he’s our main creative force, could leave him exposed to the Robert Huths of the league.
His brilliance will hopefully prevail in the end, but Brendan Rodgers also has a responsibility to make sure the team is set up in a way that gives him the proper platform to shine; he needs to surround little Phil with sufficient quality to make sure there are others who can create imbalance among the opposition and take some attention away from him.
Both of our January signings showed last season they are well capable of becoming key players for LFC this season and beyond; their talent and ability should make them a constant thorn in the side of most Premier League defences. In Luis Alberto we seem to have acquired a player with the ability to share some of the creative burden with Coutinho, and there are also promising signs from our other Spanish import Iago Aspas.
Time will tell if those two (in addition to a certain Luis Suarez and the likes of Raheem Sterling) are considered what we need or if there is a more high profile type of signing on the near or distant horizon.
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I know it’s off topic, but I just wanted to say that it is an absolute disgrace the amount of love shown towards Luis Suarez by Liverpool fans. Do people have any self-respect left? A diver, cheater, disgusting person in every imaginable way was greeted as a hero at Steven’s testimonial. And by the looks of things he will finish higher than Jamie Carragher and other great Liverpool players in the official website poll of 100 players who shook the Kop. An absolute disgrace. He had to be sacked after the bite, but was kept at the club. Now he said and showed in every way that he wants to leave as he doesn’t rate the club (which I strongly agree with given the clown of a manager at the helm) but people still want to praise him and kiss his backside. I thought Liverpool fans were smarter than that.. What a shame!
That poll is a joke . Lucas over 20 places ahead of Phil Neal. Dudek top 20. Skrtel ahead of Nicol and Lawrenson etc etc …..Suarez top 5 ? …total joke
I agree nicky. What a bizarre reaction by the fans yesterday. Applauding someone who wants to leave the club asap despite being supported during two high profile indiscretions. I was baffled. I don’t want the bloke at the club anymore. Never liked him anyway truth be told. Even less so now
totally disagree with nicky and stevie . liverpool have done very well out of suarez. why would anyone want our best player out of our club , apart from stevie G he is the only truly world class player we have and he almost single handedly saved our season from complete humiliation last year
we have had 2.5 fantastic years from him, he has always given 100% and we will make a huge profit , so what he bit someone in a fit of anger ?
fans should be criticizing the players who give liverpool nothing – downing and allen for example , cost a fortune , have given us nothing and dont even get stuck in and give 100% , those two are not fit to wear the shirt and we will make huge losses on both. get angry at them – not the one class player we have
who can blame suarez for wanting out , he is with a midtable team whose owners wont spend , with a cheap useless manager . suarez knows things won’t improve under the current regime , so why shouldn’t he want out?
thank you bob for the above comment, for those who dont know or understand, that anfield reaction alone just increased his price from the miserly 45mil to 60mil. it simply means we are not ready to sell nd if anyone wants him, then they must *out at “least” 55mil before we can start negotiating. call me overly optimistic but the fans who did that have always been liverpool and they know better or have seen beyond you. its in the family. YNWA
Many tnx Bob for saving this situation from Nicky and Stevie, if they can only imagine Lfc’s position without Suarez last season, and stop being negative abt him cos if U r in his shoes U won’t do better.
bob, why talking like this.Why insu.ting our coach and owner.Becareful you foo.
why ? silly question. fsg are not good for liverpool , and rodgers is their lackey , and a poor manager not fit to manage a great club like ours. you should be more aware of whats going on
Suarez is a coward, diver, racist, dog nd not loyand we keeep on supporting him. He is a complete fool. I bet with you more disgrace to come if go to arsenal. Go go go unfaithful. ( In coutinho I trust). YNWA
I agree Suarez deserves to be playing Champs League based on his talent and skill but I don’t want him at LfC even if we were in the Champs league. His behaviour is downright disgusting n disrespectful to the club and fans! FSG won’t spend money and to be honest we need to sign Qaulity world class players! Out: Suarez(55mil), Borini(8mil), Downing(7mil),Skytrl(10mil) Spearing(3mil)…
IN: Diego Costa( which Fsg bid for regardless of Suarez situation) , Luis Muriel(15mil), ikER Munian(12mil), Alexis Sanchez(15mil), Erriksen(15mil), Ivan Rakatic(8mil),Toby Alderwield(10mil), Sakho(10mil)…. I belive if we managed to pull that off we would be good for a Top4 spot. Maybe even beat Arsenal to it!!! Would Luis just love that lol
I think guys we should be prepared to live life without Suarez in Liverpool FC . Liverpool FC IS NOT a one man team . As much I like him for his scoring skills but he has given Liverpool FC a bad reputation. If he wants to leave let him leave. Liverpool FC would do financially well if we got the 50 million pounds from his sale.