WHEN Philippe Coutinho signed for Liverpool FC back in January 2013, not only did it signal the arrival of “a proper Brazilian” at the club, but also the belated arrival of a proper number 10.
Not since the halcyon days of the ‘80s when a certain John Barnes graced the Anfield turf with 10 on his back, has a player seemed more befitting of the game’s most symbolic number for the red half of Merseyside.
Of course, Barnes was primarily a winger during his imperious best with Liverpool, however the magic that twinkled in his toes, accompanied by his sublime technique and vision was more akin to the great playmakers who dominated the Continent during that time.
And apart from Luis Garcia’s all too brief stint as an authentic 10 (when used as such by Rafa Benitez – primarily in European fixtures), players in the playmaking mould who have bewitched The Kop down the years have tended to wear the club’s iconic number 7 shirt – Dalglish, Beardsley, and McManaman – whilst another exception, Finnish fantasista, Jari Litmanen (criminally underused during his even briefer stay on Merseyside), chose to wear number 37 (3+7=?) as his favoured 10 was occupied by…
Michael Owen shone wearing the Reds number 10, as one of the most feared strikers in Europe whilst the less said about Andriy Voronin, the better. However Liverpool’s fans witnessed perhaps their biggest false dawn when the ‘mercurial’ Joe Cole arrived on a free transfer and took the vacant shirt number. Here, at last, was a proper playmaker…or so they thought.
With Cole’s long overdue (and expensive) departure – after providing, well not very much – Liverpool fans clamoured for a player who would finally deliver the goods in a role their team seemingly cried out for. Having asked Brendan Rodgers this very question myself, ahead of the last transfer window, the LFC manager replied:
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“You’re spot on, 150%. That’s a priority for me…is that clear, creative, top number 10. If the right one’s available I would like to think that we would be in the market [for him]. But that’s certainly an area I believe can help us.”
Enter Coutinho, who arrived just one month later at a cost of £8.5 million and was instantly handed the available number 10. His role, accompanied by the significance of his shirt number is not lost on the young Brazilian.
“I know the importance of the number 10,” says the 20 year old from Rio. “In Brazil the one who wears 10 constructs the attacks. That is what I will try to do here. The number I have at Liverpool does not give me any added pressure. The pressure I have is to play well and do my best for the team. I know that I am representing a huge club and I want to enjoy my football.”
Hailed as “the future of Inter Milan” by the Nerazzurri’s president Massimo Moratti, Coutinho cites countrymen, Kaka and Ronaldinho, as his role models. If he goes on to achieve half of what those former Ballon d’Or winners did, Liverpool will have struck gold. The initial signs have been promising, having either scored or created a goal in his first five starts for the club, as well as producing various other chances in a new, attacking line-up which includes Daniel Sturridge and South American, Luis Suarez.
His almost flawless technique is what fans have come to expect from a player hailing from his part of the world; something which new team-mate Lucas Leiva joked about, having suffered the indignation of many questioning his true nationality when he first arrived on Merseyside. Labelling Coutinho “a proper Brazilian,” his compatriot added, “like the fans were probably expecting when I signed.”
Read more: To continue to the full version of the above article click here, courtesy of www.fantasista10.co.uk
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It’s early days yet…looks good though
How much would John Barnes be worth in today’s market??? What a player
It’s good that this transfer committee is in place to buy our players…otherwise we wouldn’t have coutinho
I’m glad they don’t trust Rodgers with our money
When people slag off rubbish like allen and Borini , some dopes say “wait have patience ” that’s bullsh
A class player can adapt and play well immediately. We could see coutinho was class after 5 minutes
He can be a great Liverpool player if he keeps it up
Do you remember Henry when he first arrived? Needed time. Players adapt at different times and levels a players peak is around 28-32 nowadays. Why people go after players ill never know. Lucas came in people hated him now without him we look spineless.
Bull
Not bull you fool. Attacking players it’s easier obviously to see immediately their talent. Tactical or defensive can take longer. COMMON SENSE. This ain’t FIFA fool
next season will be even better than mata bit off added top notch quality in squad like diame of w ham to do the runnin for steve g then top 4 no wer Liverpool we should be goin for 1st
I think Coutinho is a complete player. With him, Suarez and perhaps Ben Arfa liverpool will have a deadly attack
It is so hard but LFC must release out deadwood or passenger into the team……A.Carroll, F.Borini and S.Downing is going rusty talent and sink in football carrier soon.Football is about result and result is about how many goal did you score every season.Please tell us, how goal now that this trio already score in 2 season.Not very worth with the fee you paying for them now.Also LFC must review on Lucas Leiva and Jordan Henderson too.They are just ordinary players and can hit to maximum level.LFC must improve at CENTRE DEFENSIVE MIDFIELD before fixing centre back areas.Fortress must be solid and tough, if the door of fortress too easy leaking the ball ( can penetrate), we cannot give biggest hope to defenders players.They will tired cover up others players weakness and cannot focus on own duty.LFC must looking to sign in versatile players and having advantage can keep scoring the goal.In era R.Benitez, every players and position can able score the goal.
Don’t you think we need. To keep the likes of borini,downing and hendo as squad players.We can’t afford a team of suarez’s and gerard’s. When chelsea got there money they had 2 players in every position who could play in the prem. Brendon rodgers doesn’t make players worseonly better,so keep them 3 as squad players and sell off a few unusable players like carrol put the money towards whatever we have already and buy the 3/4 quality players brendon said we need. Ynwa
we need another goal poacher this summer , i don’t know when was the last time sturrigde scored a goal . a defensive mid,2 wingers , bach up for enrique and reina.
Keep it up COU…. if we only add atleast one defensive midfielder with one attacking playmaker..i hope we will be in a a good position
Now it turns out coutinho was not Rodgers choice at all
It was a ttransfer committee.Rodgers can take no credit for signing him
Rodgers is on the committee dummy.
If you think one man, even Ferguson, is responsible for transfers on his own, you’d better get back to Football Manager
No .he is not