What was everyones impression of little Phillipe on his first start? Put, Downing, Borini and the missing Assaidi to shame. On a side note, why is Downing still playing?
Thought Downing was decent today Coutinho grew in to the game, looks like a more experienced version of Suso. Quick with the ball in his feet and a great awareness of players around him. Something we've been crying out for.
Downing is always going to play well if the opposition sit back and give him time! I thought Coutinho did very well and I'm actually a little excited by his arrival having seen a couple of brief appearances now. He made a couple of good runs and managed to get a goal too although it involved a degree of luck and he could have finished it better. Edit: was wasn't shy of getting stuck in either, made a good sliding tackle / interception too.
Looks like he could be a very good player. A lot of potential there lads. Didn't look like it was his first start in the Prem. Looked at ease in the side
simple, play Suso thurs in same position, and hopefully he will chip in with a goal or 2 now Boriini is injured be nice if Suso was give a run out esp at home with the crowd behind him.
I think Allen will be ****ting himself about getting a start now. Coutinho seems to be fancied in the middle as part of the midfield 3, Hendo's been playing really well there and again today looked really good...leaving Allen. PS: Did he even play one forward ball in his 20minute cameo? I'm almost sick of criticising him, but against Swansea's second team sitting back and 5-0 up, not a single forward pass >.> Also, what of Shelvey now? He must be down to 4th in the midfield pecking order now (assuming Lucas/Gerrard always fill the other 2 spots)
I don't think Coutinho was part of the midfield trio today, he was on the left of a 442 with Downing on the right, Gerrard and Lucas in the middle, plus Suarez roaming. Shelvey is behind Gerrard, Lucas, Henderson, Allen and possibly Coutinho now too. That makes him fifth or sixth
To me, it seemed all the width came from the fullbacks, Downing and whichever forward decided to move to the flank; sometimes it was Sturridge, sometimes Suarez and sometimes Coutinho drifted there as the more advanced of the midfield. Either way, I don't see Allen breaking into the first team for a long time. Hendo and Coutinho both looked good.
I thought Coutinho hugged the left line a fair amount providing the width before cutting in. Enrique didn't get forward anywhere near as much as he usually does IMO but Johnson did on the other side. Funny how people see the same game differently isn't it? I agree on Allen but think it was harsh to drop Hendo
Yeah, funny how you're wrong and I'm right Harsh on Hendo, but I'd like to think BR spoke to him and said for a fairly easy game, Swansea resting players and at home, he just wanted to give Coutinho a run out for 60mins or so. There's definitely strong competition there. Hendo for tougher teams being stronger and fitter, and Coutinho to unlock defenses...Shelvey to, er. Allen to, er.
You've obviously not read my profile BR didn't know for definite that Swansea were going to rest players when he would have had to put his team sheet in. Looking at the fixtures, this was the best game to introduce him regardless of what team they put out.
At least there is strength in depth in the squad now, especially in the Midfield area. Should ensure that starting players are not complacent as there are others fighting to get into the team.
