Philippe Coutinho

[the wes 7,212]

2 minutes ago, MoroccanBlue said:

Yes. Potential. 

We shouldn't be taking risks right now. This team needs proven quality. Felix for his own benefit should stay at Benfica a season or two more before making the jump. 

If he stays at benfica for another two seasons his value will double it's the best time to sign him now 

[MoroccanBlue 5,383]

Just now, the wes said:

If he stays at benfica for another two seasons his value will double it's the best time to sign him now 

Not unless he signs an extension, which I don't think he will. 

[the wes 7,212]

4 minutes ago, MoroccanBlue said:

Not unless he signs an extension, which I don't think he will. 

His contract ends in 2023 

[MoroccanBlue 5,383]

17 minutes ago, the wes said:

His contract ends in 2023 

Still a massive risk and for that kind of money I would want proven quality. We are already relying on CHO and Pulisic for 'potential'. 

[OneMoSalah 8,886]

1 hour ago, MoroccanBlue said:

Still a massive risk and for that kind of money I would want proven quality. We are already relying on CHO and Pulisic for 'potential'. 

Felix will eclipse both of their careers in the game, the guy will be a top, top player. He is better than both of Callum and Christian. We dont have a chance,  Ronaldo has told Juve to sign him and Barca/Real/Bayern will all be very interested too.

[NikkiCFC 8,334]

6 hours ago, milka said:

Barcelona playmaker Philippe Coutinho will join Chelsea this summer should FIFA lift their transfer ban. (Diario Sport)

Chelsea see Coutinho as a replacement for Eden Hazard and are ready to spend up to €100m to get the player. [MD]

 

CAM or  RW 

You mean CAM or LW? CAM for sure. Plus sign Pepe for RW. But with Barkley and RLC here I'm afraid we won't go for upgrade. 

 

[Superblue 6,372]

I really like Coutinho but I don't think he's worth the money being quoted. If we avoid the ban and we're prepared to go on an audacious spree then I'd be very happy for us to buy him because he's proven quality.

However we have so many holes in our team at present, I think that £100m could be used far more productively to improve the overall quality of the squad as opposed to trying to find a replacement talisman for Hazard. 

For example Pepe and a new left back for that same money would be more preferable. 

Or if we're looking at Coutinho more for a central role, then Fekir I think would be a more cost effective option.

At worst in the summer (assuming we can buy) we need to replace Hazard with a new wide player, a top quality left back and a top quality striker (I believe Reece James should be given an opportunity next year to compete with Azpi for right back).

However we could also really do with upgrading David Luiz and Jorginho. Possibly a new goal scoring midfielder too although I've seen enough of RLC in the last couple of months to believe if he stays fit he could become an excellent player in that position for us.

I just don't see Coutinho being a signing we desperately need to make unless we're prepared to be splashing out about £300m in the summer.

[BlueLyon 9,359]

2 hours ago, Superblue_1986 said:

I really like Coutinho but I don't think he's worth the money being quoted. If we avoid the ban and we're prepared to go on an audacious spree then I'd be very happy for us to buy him because he's proven quality.

However we have so many holes in our team at present, I think that £100m could be used far more productively to improve the overall quality of the squad as opposed to trying to find a replacement talisman for Hazard. 

For example Pepe and a new left back for that same money would be more preferable. 

Or if we're looking at Coutinho more for a central role, then Fekir I think would be a more cost effective option.

At worst in the summer (assuming we can buy) we need to replace Hazard with a new wide player, a top quality left back and a top quality striker (I believe Reece James should be given an opportunity next year to compete with Azpi for right back).

However we could also really do with upgrading David Luiz and Jorginho. Possibly a new goal scoring midfielder too although I've seen enough of RLC in the last couple of months to believe if he stays fit he could become an excellent player in that position for us.

I just don't see Coutinho being a signing we desperately need to make unless we're prepared to be splashing out about £300m in the summer.

I wouldnt mind paying 100m on single player, but Coutinho isnt that special to be worthy of such fee.

I agree we should rather get Pepe and Chilwell for 110 or so compared to just Coutinho for 100.

But at the same time we must stop spending on average players just to fill as many positions. Then we just brings deadwood that doesnt fix issues and we waste money and time. We have to get 3 quality players per summer window, regardless of the cost. 

Right now my priority if we can sign players would be LB and ST. Kovacic shouldnt be bought and RLC needs to play, so CM should be someone talented, but not one to eat RLC all the minutes. Id love Ndombele, but that would mean RLC career here as starter is done. If Hazard leaves, then obviously a suitable replacement for him like Pepe.

[Arlen Correa 161]

The only way he can be effective is if you give him the entire left side of the pitch. The full back will always look worse with him there, the left midfield will struggle. I think is similar case to Dybala. You need to adapt everything to play him. Its not worth it. At least Dybala is a wc finisher.

 

Look Pogba at United: if the team is doing well he will play well. If the team is not working you never see him in the pitch. Exactly the same with Coutinho. 

[Superblue 6,372]

5 hours ago, BlueLyon said:

I wouldnt mind paying 100m on single player, but Coutinho isnt that special to be worthy of such fee.

I agree we should rather get Pepe and Chilwell for 110 or so compared to just Coutinho for 100.

But at the same time we must stop spending on average players just to fill as many positions. Then we just brings deadwood that doesnt fix issues and we waste money and time. We have to get 3 quality players per summer window, regardless of the cost. 

Right now my priority if we can sign players would be LB and ST. Kovacic shouldnt be bought and RLC needs to play, so CM should be someone talented, but not one to eat RLC all the minutes. Id love Ndombele, but that would mean RLC career here as starter is done. If Hazard leaves, then obviously a suitable replacement for him like Pepe.

This point is important. We can't have another transfer window like summer 2017.

I think the key is our focus must be on first team quality, not squad filling. This is regardless of price. If we can find an Andy Robertson type player for £10m then fantastic. If that player however costs far more then that is what needs to be done.

The squad can be filled out with academy players. Summer 2017, Aina could have been pushed into Zappacosta's spot and RLC into Drinkwater's spot. That would have saved us around £60m in transfer fees! 

If 2 or 3 more academy players can come into the squad in the summer, alongside CHO, RLC and Christensen, it freshens up the make up of the squad for free and boosts the club's academy profile and homegrown quota. 

This will allow us as you alluded to, focus on 3 or 4 key positions in our first team to improve and also not worry about homegrown levels. They can be the best players we can feasibly get hold of.

[Jase 43,479]

He does it well but Coutinho is basically a long range shooter merchant. That's all he is. 

[OneMoSalah 8,886]

6 hours ago, Jason said:

He does it well but Coutinho is basically a long range shooter merchant. That's all he is. 

Not really. Hes great at dribbling and finding a final pass also.

His time at Barca hasnt been a huge success and his stats are poor but the player he was at Liverpool was more than basically just a long range shooter merchant. He was hugely overrated based on the fee he went for but theres so much more to his game than just shooting.

In 152 PL games for Liverpool he had 41 goals and 35 assists which means he was involved in a goal (scoring or assisting) every 2nd match, which for a attacking midfielder or wide 10 is pretty good, obviously some goals were shots from outside the area but he got a decent amount of assists too. Would basically be like calling Lampard nothing but a long range shooting merchant or Hazard nothing but a dribbler. Theres much more to his make up than just long shots. I am surprised hes struggled at Barca though, really quite am and that has put me off the idea of going for him in any capacity, particularly even more as the most advanced midfielder in our 3 which a lot of people seem to think he has excelled in during his career although he struggled at Barca in that role where he was specifically picked out to be the long term replacement for Iniesta. His best football has been from the left side be it in a 433 or 4231 or 3421 or 442.

 

[Strike 7,492]

On 4/28/2019 at 0:56 PM, Jason said:

He does it well but Coutinho is basically a long range shooter merchant. That's all he is. 

Wouldn't mind one of them in the squad for a change

[Vesper 30,219]

Roman Abramovich to sanction Chelsea move for Philippe Coutinho as Eden Hazard replacement

https://metro.co.uk/2019/05/11/roman-abramovich-sanction-chelsea-move-philippe-coutinho-eden-hazard-replacement-9499337/

Chelsea are reportedly preparing to push ahead with a move for Barcelona playmaker Philippe Coutinho as they plan for life after Real Madrid target Eden Hazard. The Belgian is widely expected to leave Stamford Bridge this year having refused to sign a new contract with the club; he has just a year left to run on his current deal and Chelsea fear they will need to cash in. Real boss Zinedine Zidane has made Hazard his top transfer target and is ready to offer in excess of £100million to land him.

Now Spanish radio station Cadena SER report that Chelsea are braced to lose Hazard and will immediately reinvest the funds on Coutinho, transfer ban permitting. The west London club are still hopeful that they will be allowed to buy players this summer and are the only club to have expressed concrete interest in signing Coutinho.

The Brazilian has endured a difficult time at Camp Nou since making a move that could cost a total of £142m and has been heavily criticised – and even jeered – by fans. According to Cadena SER, Barca tasked intermediaries with finding a new club for Coutinho in the Premier League and only Chelsea responded positively, with Roman Abramovich believing he is the ideal man to lead the club’s next cycle in Hazard’s absence.

snip

ffs

[Pizy 18,944]

I really like Phil Coutinho's game but I don't think he's a wide player. He's best right behind the striker. 

Seeing as Sarri doesn't deploy a traditional #10 I don't think we'd even consider moving for him, and certainly not at the prices being thrown around.

Barca will have to take a massive loss to dump him. He's got Man United panic buy written all over him.

[Vesper 30,219]

14 hours ago, Pizy said:

He's got Man United panic buy written all over him.

if those Scouse cunts win the double (or even just the CL) and Manure does take him, lolol, the first game back at Scamfield will be glorious, he will get so much stick every time he touches the ball it will be deafening

[1905didierblue 748]

On 4/25/2019 at 2:04 AM, NikkiCFC said:

You mean CAM or LW? CAM for sure. Plus sign Pepe for RW. But with Barkley and RLC here I'm afraid we won't go for upgrade. 

 

Coutinho is an upgrade on RLC?

[Vesper 30,219]

1 hour ago, 1905didierblue said:

Coutinho is an upgrade on RLC?

the only way Coutinho makes sense is as a LW, but there are much better values out there

he will cost over £100m

hard pass

I am sticking with my

original 4 LWer targets (now 3 as Thorgan Hazard is going to Borussia Dortmund)

Hirving Lozano, , then Ismaïla Sarr, then Ante Rebic, maybe add Steven Bergwijn of PSV  (zeo chance they can keep both him and Lozano) as the new 4th

 

IF we had REALLY big jacobs, and IF they sell him do to his refusal to sign new contract

I would go all out for Leroy Sane

even BIGGER (as in biggest player in the world)

make a move for Mbappe (he plays mostly CF now) next summer (we would HAVe to have CL in 2020-21

ZERO chance Roman drops £250-£300m plus £500 to 600K PW salary to grab him though

finally a future forward option

Rodrygo, another superstar 18yo LW Brasilian is now with Real Madrid

I do not see how they can keep all those LWers (Vinícius Júnior, Asensio, and even Isco plays ere at times, PLUS now Rodrygo??)

maybe prise out either Vinícius Júnior or Rodrygo (hard pass on the other two, and Isco is an AMF mainly anyway)

it all will depend who is left in summer 2020 when we can buy again

 

plus there is CHO to sort out

 

I would be over the moon with our 4 wingers as

LW Lozano

LW CHO

RW Nicolas Pepe (but he will be sold this summer)

RW Pulisic

all but Pepe can play ether wing as well, so very versatile

 

we really fucked up by turning down the £175m for Eden last summer and then buying Ousmane Dembele (Barca would have taken only £100 to 110m or so, now I so doubt they sell him) We also could have ramrodded though a Willian plus £20m or so offer to Manure for Martial when Mo was still there, now there is zero chance as well.

The numpty board is probably in middle of offering the cunt a 3 or 4 year extension, now that Luiz has broken our no multiyears for 30-somethings hard rule

[Superblue 6,372]

I would far rather that Hazard money be spent either on a world class striker or on improving the defence (left back and centre back).

I really like Coutinho but I don't think he's worth 'that' amount of money and as some have mentioned there are cheaper options to replace Hazard.

Someone told me the other day that Ziyech has a £25m release clause in his contract. Chelsea should be all over that if its true, I've been impressed every time I've seen him for Ajax in the Champions League this season. In the current market that is an absolute bargain and he would offer a much bigger goal threat than all of our current wide and creative players, Hazard not included.

[Vesper 30,219]

46 minutes ago, Superblue_1986 said:

I would far rather that Hazard money be spent either on a world class striker or on improving the defence (left back and centre back).

I really like Coutinho but I don't think he's worth 'that' amount of money and as some have mentioned there are cheaper options to replace Hazard.

Someone told me the other day that Ziyech has a £25m release clause in his contract. Chelsea should be all over that if its true, I've been impressed every time I've seen him for Ajax in the Champions League this season. In the current market that is an absolute bargain and he would offer a much bigger goal threat than all of our current wide and creative players, Hazard not included.

100% agree