If we had two Suarezes, they'd be banned for at least 20 games per season for fighting with each other on the pitch and being bezzie mates off it...
This is the argument most Chelsea fans use. Fact is, who gets into the Brazil squad is the choice of the manager, and not cast iron proof that one player is better than another. Add this to the fact that Coutinho wasn't playing regularly for Inter before he came here. Now he is here, and is playing regularly, you can see he's a quality player. As good as Oscar? Hard to say just yet. But to put it in black and white based on international selection is to not engage with the issue at all.
Ok then the fact that Coutinho failed at Inter shows that Oscar is better because Oscar is is playing regularly for a better team than Inter
Too simplistic that. When Rafa was there Coutinho was by far thir best player alongside Eto'o ( Who Rafa played up front and he was getting the goals). THen there was the sacking, the chopping and changng, and think it hurt Coutinho for a bit. We shall see, just trying to spark a bit of debate about two future Brazil no.10's and playmakers for each club. Will say it was quite brave of Oscar to go straight from Brazil to the prem, normally players go to Italy/Spain/Portugal before going to the prem.
I saw Coutinho in his early days for Inter and thought he'd become a world beater, he's had a bit of a slump since then but seems to be beginning to find his feet at Liverpool. Oscar is an international footballer and a key player for Brazil. He's been played out of position too many times this season for me, Rafa's system needs two proper wingers and Oscar just isn't that player. I think when he's played like he is for Brazil or even in a deeper role, he'll become one of the best at what he does. Not bad for his first season in the Premier League straight out of Brazil, who's players have been known to fail in our league. Experience is the main difference between the two and Oscar is the better player for me.
I think an underlying theme is that we want these types of exciting players in the league. Drogs, did Oscar get in every game he has played in some sort of sly dig at being "frail/dimmunitive/weak/ don't know if he is physical enough"?
I think we have to say Oscar is the better player at the minute because Coutinho as not been here long enough yet.
Not sure what you mean mate? If you're asking if he's been criticised for being weak then yeah I've heard that at times but I don't think you need to be as a CAM, if he drops deeper then he'll need to strengthen up but I think he proved against Pirlo he has a physical edge to his game.
Don't agree with your view of Rafa's system (unless he's changed it from his Liverpool days). He plays two DMs to cover tge attacking FB's, the two FBs provide the width meaning the two wide players wonder/cut inside. They are not wingers IMO, they are attackers which can either be a converted foward (Sturridge, Kuyt, Anelka, etc) or a AM (Benayoun, Oscar, Gerrard, etc).
His system with us has been crying out for wingers. It's no surprise we're much better when Moses players.
I think that is what he means. Ford is always criticised for being weak but I am yet too see him get bullied. Being small does not mean a player is weak anyway, they may be smaller and lighter but the also have a lower centre of gravity and therefore it is harder to push them over. #science
Ya you hit it on the head what I was asking. Every game, one of the commentators loves to have that little " YOu look at Coutinho and you have to wonder if he can handle it....." etc. Why I loved that on the third goal he just moved HBA out of the way and was strong on the ball. Along with being brilliant of course.
Gotta say when we were linked with him, wasn't too sold on him but he looks to be the business. Think playing for Nigeria has helped as well with more pressure sitations and first team experience.
Messi is sole proof you don't need strength anymore. In PL terms, Mata is also a shining example against that theory. I was happy for the price we paid at the time and always thought he was good but my opinion of him has risen a lot since he's joined. He'll never be a world beater but he's a brilliant squad player.
Yeah, good one. Why are you even posting on this thread if you've the square root of nothing useful to say on the matter?
Some good balanced views on this thread, very good to see. In my humble opinion Oscar just edges it at present because he seems to have a little more to his game, a bit more direct and more of a threat. Over the next season Coutinho will improve on this as he settles into the team and the league, he already has terrific control and skill and his eye for a pass can`t be faulted with most of them actually finding their target.
