What's new

COUTINHO

Mattspur

ENIC IN
Jan 7, 2004
4,885
7,257

dontcallme

SC Supporter
Mar 18, 2005
33,985
81,903
Seems to be a horrible juggling act. We bought Ndombele and Lo Celso and these were seen as potentially good signings.

To this stage Ndombele isn’t performing so we’re ruing not buying Bruno Fernandes.

If we bought Coutinho no doubt some would be complaining about us not buying Dybala.

We can’t buy all the players.
 

Japhet

Well-Known Member
Aug 30, 2010
19,232
57,388
Seems to be a horrible juggling act. We bought Ndombele and Lo Celso and these were seen as potentially good signings.

To this stage Ndombele isn’t performing so we’re ruing not buying Bruno Fernandes.

If we bought Coutinho no doubt some would be complaining about us not buying Dybala.

We can’t buy all the players.


IMO, Ndombele's failures have grabbed so much attention that his successes have been almost totally forgotten. Take a look at his highlight reels for us and try to convince me that most of that doesn't balance out his poor showings other games to some extent. There is now a narrative that we've bought a complete dud who has contributed nothing at all but that simply isn't the case. Yes, we're entitled to expect a whole lot more but the obvious example where he looked like he couldn't be arsed v Wolves has overshadowed some very good moments and decent performances. He was a different class v Norwich for example.
 

chrisp

Member
Nov 8, 2004
35
42
What's so bizarre about the suggestion Poch didn't rate him? He was great for Liverpool but has now failed to really make a proper impact first at Barca and now Bayern. Doesn't mean he is rubbish and still wouldn't hate it if he came here but its clear that not all managers love him for whatever reason. Truly elite players shine anywhere, then there is the echelon below that that can look special in the right circumstances - perhaps Coutinho is in the latter category as opposed to the former? If so then managerial preference will count for a lot because it will depend whether he fits in the system or not.
 

hellava_tough

Well-Known Member
Apr 21, 2005
9,429
12,382
Weren't we negotiating for Dybala as well, at the time?

If it came to the crunch and Levy said to Poch we can get Coutinho, but won't get Dybala, Poch may well have said I'll take my chances on pursuing Dybala because he's my first choice. Unfortunately, all parties concerned couldn't get the Dybala deal over the line.

I think Poch deserves some criticism over his inflexibility in the transfer market, but I can't really blame him if the above scenario happened. Sometimes you take a risk and it doesn't pay off. That's life.
 

dontcallme

SC Supporter
Mar 18, 2005
33,985
81,903
Weren't we negotiating for Dybala as well, at the time?

If it came to the crunch and Levy said to Poch we can get Coutinho, but won't get Dybala, Poch may well have said I'll take my chances on pursuing Dybala because he's my first choice. Unfortunately, all parties concerned couldn't get the Dybala deal over the line.

I think Poch deserves some criticism over his inflexibility in the transfer market, but I can't really blame him if the above scenario happened. Sometimes you take a risk and it doesn't pay off. That's life.
Problem is, we just have to accept we don’t know the details of transfers.

Fans often lament us over not buying a player thinking we just had to offer a bit more money but there are so many factors involved.

We turned down Jo Cole and last minute got VDV but we are not always so lucky.
 

razzmaster

Well-Known Member
Jun 21, 2008
2,311
13,051
IMO, Ndombele's failures have grabbed so much attention that his successes have been almost totally forgotten. Take a look at his highlight reels for us and try to convince me that most of that doesn't balance out his poor showings other games to some extent. There is now a narrative that we've bought a complete dud who has contributed nothing at all but that simply isn't the case. Yes, we're entitled to expect a whole lot more but the obvious example where he looked like he couldn't be arsed v Wolves has overshadowed some very good moments and decent performances. He was a different class v Norwich for example.

The only thing Ndombele is missing is fitness. Sort this out and his workrate should improve and we will have an absolute star on our hands. As a professional sports club the least I would expect is to be able to get a player fit.
 

rabbikeane

Well-Known Member
Mar 29, 2005
6,884
12,675
Only place he's been really good is at Liverpool where he's had the team built around him, and going by evidence even how good he was they became better when he left and they grew more as a team. Signing him means no Dele and only one of Lo Celso or Ndombele playing (which maybe some are okey with in hind sight, but would be a strange decision last summer.) Reckon we have other positions to tend to.

Besides, any big money signing is being optimistic these days
 

ajspurs

Well-Known Member
Jul 7, 2007
22,987
31,167
Still a quality player IMO. I think he's one of those players who's quality will also show in that he won't give the ball away cheaply or easily, something that a few of our players are too guilty of.
 

TorontoYid

Well-Known Member
May 30, 2013
1,640
1,691
I hear too often how Levy is trying very hard to sign a player then starts messing around with low-ball offers he knows will never be accepted and waiting till the last minute. More inclined to go with the original version I heard which was that Levy messed it up. Poch was probably so desperate for players at that point I doubt he would have turned down a decent one just to stick on the bench.
 

lincspurs

Well-Known Member
Jan 19, 2011
679
1,310
Only place he's been really good is at Liverpool where he's had the team built around him, and going by evidence even how good he was they became better when he left and they grew more as a team. Signing him means no Dele and only one of Lo Celso or Ndombele playing (which maybe some are okey with in hind sight, but would be a strange decision last summer.) Reckon we have other positions to tend to.
Besides, any big money signing is being optimistic these days
Agree that pool have improved without him but not so sure about the only been really good at Liverpool bit. Played against us for Barca & for BM last season & scored in both ( I think) but nonetheless recall him as being outstanding, particularly for BM at our place.
 

aliyid

Well-Known Member
Dec 28, 2004
6,944
19,927
He’s always been a 1 decent game in 3 type of player. Liverpool supporting mates of mine used to get so frustrated by him and never rated him as highly as non-liverpool fans.

Always used to say he looks good on MOTD but drifted through most games without doing anything. Interesting to see he’s had a similar response at Barca and again at Bayern.
 

Finchyid

Well-Known Member
Jun 27, 2017
3,769
11,975
He’s always been a 1 decent game in 3 type of player. Liverpool supporting mates of mine used to get so frustrated by him and never rated him as highly as non-liverpool fans.

Always used to say he looks good on MOTD but drifted through most games without doing anything. Interesting to see he’s had a similar response at Barca and again at Bayern.

Sounds familiar
 

McFlash

In the corner, eating crayons.
Oct 19, 2005
12,740
45,362
Never really been a fan of the lad.

Although he's not a striker, he brings to mind that saying about "would you rather a great goal scorer, or a scorer of great goals?".
 
Top