Philippe Coutinho is the player I most enjoy watching play for Liverpool.
Even with the brilliant play last season of Suarez, Sturridge, Gerrard and Sterling, it is the little magician’s game that most brings a smile to my face.
Despite ESPN Brasil naming Coutinho as the best foreign based Brazilian player in the 2013/14 season, Luiz Filipe Scolari incredibly still managed to overlook him, instead picking tried and trusted mundane midfielders like Ramirez and Paulinho. Unsurprisingly with Neymar injured and no other player in the Brazilian team capable or dictating the tempo of a game, Brazil were whitewashed, first by Germany and then by the Dutch.
Liverpool have now started their pre-season and with 2 of the 4 new signings being playmaker type footballers, Lallana & Markovic, there is even more competition for Coutinho’s role in either a midfield 3 or out wide. Furthermore the imminent signing of Loic Remy, who often plays wide in a front 3, adds further options to Brendan Rodgers.
If that isn’t enough, Liverpool are being linked, spuriously or not, with other high quality play makers like Di Maria, Reus and even Isco on loan (although there is very little concrete evidence for such gossip).
Reus and Di Maria are World Class players who would certainly improve our first team and I would love either (or both!). But I for one don’t see the need for Isco, who is still young and at a similar level to Philippe. Especially if it would be on loan – that would simply limit Coutinho’s development and Isco would return to Madrid a better player.
While I think Lallana, Markovic & Remy are all good players who can bring excitement to the team, I would hope none of them actually take the place of Coutinho. Playing in a midfield 3 with Henderson and Gerrard, Coutinho adds the perfect balance to a very fluid and offensive team. He is also proven at the highest level in the Premier League, where he has run games against the likes of Man City, Man United and Chelsea.
Philippe’s ‘Stats’ are often cited as an area for him to improve – he scored 5 goals in 37 games last season with 7 assists. However it must be remembered he’s played many of those games in central midfield, where he plays deeper than other No.10 type players and has a lot of defensive work to do covering on the left side or midfield. His work rate, diligence and defensive interceptions (he made 16 last year) are improving and there is still no simple statistic that can describe how he ‘knits’ teams together.
Just watching Liverpool’s last two pre-season games it is immediately evident that Coutinho was a class above anyone else on the field, with his ability to ghost past players, play little triangular passes and constantly probe for an opening.
As I’ve said before, Luis Suarez said it best:
“When Coutinho’s right, he is the difference that makes Liverpool. I believe that he is a very great player”
Now he’s well rested, unlike many of our other players, I’m sure Philippe is well set to kick-on even further, perform even more consistently at a higher level and realise is fantastic potential.
As the Transfer Window gathers pace Liverpool will continue to add to their burgeoning squad, but whoever we buy, Coutinho should still start.
You can catch more from me on my own blog: http://taintlessred.blogspot.co.uk/ or follow me on twitter: @taintlessred
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I think so because I as a liverpool fan I love th guy because he is great and can change game, I hope he keep on developing and I can’t wait to see him in the champions league
I totally agree! I was a bit miffed last season when Phillipe was benched for a few games as Liverpool went to a ‘diamond midfield’ with Sterling as the playmaker. Sterling is a great player but he isn’t the natural playmaker that Couthino is imo. I also feel Phillipe is better equipped with the skills to unlock a packed defence that I’m sure Liverpool are going to encounter this season. His only weakness is his shooting though his winner against City last season shows he has the ability, he just needs to spend some time working on that aspect of his game to become the complete number 10. ( a few hours working with Robbie Fowler would sort it! )
thats the playermaker we need this season to unlock stuborn defences. We need hard tackling anchorman then let coutihno and llalana to boos midfield attack.coutihno s a true playermaker
I strongly believe that Countino should start. I know that we lacked team depth last year and that strongly affected our campaign last year. Playing in numerous competitions this year, we need additions. But our major problem last year was a weak defence and that is the area that needs significant improvement
continho is jst the magician we need this season nt lallana or macovic all haul continho
couthino should start, liverpool ll be more dangerous than ever this season , i do want liverpool sell joe allen, lucas, toure ,boroni,assadi and i also prefer agger then sakho coz most of the game played last season we didnt lost any.
j.rodriguez cost real madrid 80m euros.then how much coutinho cost.he is a better playmaker than the likes of james R,oscar,isco….bur needs to improve finishing.he will be the star for liverpool this season.YNWA
Glad to hear that in every single comment fans agree Coutinho should start. The systems able but our little Magician is boss
i will luv 2 see coutinho and marco rues 2gether in first team then play 4..4..2 formation marco rues should suport sturage up frot coutinho must start any liverpool game thanks fan
No doubt abt that.Litle phill is the key to our success this campaign-YNWA.
Coutinho was a tad inconsistent last year and almost every year, fair enough he’s only been here a short time and there are mitigating factors, however I sense the following:
Rodgers has sensed Coutinho’s inconsistency and is not surprised by it, What with age, language/culture, harder league and competition not strong, it’s not unreasonable to think that consistency may suffer.
Now we looked to have addressed the competition factor alongside another years development for the Brazilian lad, that consistency may improve this year, if it does then he will retain his place until a tactical change is required.
If, on the other hand, new players are able to make more impact, then looking at a bench containing young couts is a very positive thing.
We are on a hunt for a trophy in four competitions, you have to rotate players or risk many failures for varying reasons, Coutinho will be part of our squad and play his fair share, as will all other important players.
My visage for the season is as follows.
Mignolet/Reina (that’s my dream and I don’t care how unrealistic that looks)
Johnson/Flanagan
Skrtel/Lovren
Sakho/Agger (I don’t care what you say, two left footed defenders can play in the same defensive pairing)
Enrique/(a decent left back)
Gerrard/Can (Lucas, sorry mate you might struggle this year)/(maybe another decent defensive midfielder)
Coutinho/Allen/Henderson/Suso
Lallana/Sterling/Markovic/Ibe/(another decent midfielder attacker/winger)
Sturridge/Remy/Lambert/(Another attacker, not Borini)
I ‘think’ that, along with the kids, is enough to have fights in our bellies, possibly for all competitions.
Moreover is a squad we could all unite behind, Allen, Johnson, Enrique, Lucas, Sakho aside for all you fickle fans.
the perferct replacement for suarez is coutinho. His a magician a super star complete player. I love evertin abt him n he deserve the starting eleven.
I Have to agree with Suarez about the importance of Coutinho -he is essential to the team . I hope we do not fill the Squad with lots of average players.Its good to have the strength in depth but hopefully not at the expense of Coutinho. I agree with the writer of this article that getting Isco or even Milner is not the way forward.
I swear aside frm watching suarez ave always want watch coutinho cos is ma best player so far and I really believe in him for dis new campaign d@ he’s gonna bring something gud for liverpool and I really commend roger effort concerning all dose signings but I prefer pogba* dan vidal…