Liverpool FC Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread 2013/14 Mod request post#5808

I think people in general amongst our supporters are looking too deeply into Coutinho's poor performance this past Sunday. It's a position where the likes like Mata, Kagawa, Silva and Cazorla have played in the past (and even still in the case of Shinji -_-), and yet they've been inconsistent when playing out wide themselves. Even last season, for those 5 months Coutinho was playing with us, my only negative about him was at times he drifted in and out of games for decent length spells. I didn't blame him for that though because I realised the above. Those who remember King Luis when he first joined us and was playing out wide at times, he was very much the same. Coutinho is obviously a level or two higher than Garcia but I hope you get my point that these players need to play a pivotal role, a central role to get the best out of them.

One thing I noticed when watching the game back is that Coutinho did a lot of tracking back during the game and I imagine that did tire him out, especially when United grabbed a foothold in the game during the second half. He won't be asked to do nearly as much as that when playing centrally. Enrique couldn't be that outlet ball as much as we are used too because he had to guard against Valencia and when Welbeck and Van Persie pushed out wide which they did a fair bit. Midfield was obviously congested and Sturridge was at 70% as he himself pointed out too.

5starpool wrote: »

In theory great, but I'd be loathe to lose Henderson's energy and constant buzzing presence. Over the last 12 months I feel he has warranted inclusion. It's a hard one to call though. Before Suarez comes back though I would definitely drop Aspas over Henderson if he is including Moses.

I just feel that Moses can offer us more in the lesser games. More drive, pace and power. Something we've lacked for the most part for years it feels like except for the odd player. The additions of Sakho, Cissokho, Toure and of course Moses (my doubts about his finishing aside) are changing that thankfully.

I'm all for Henderson having his spot v Everton, United, City, Arsenal, Spurs, Chelsea and a few other away games.

I do think though that he was very poor against Stoke, despite us being well on top in the first half, it felt we were playing with 10 men in spite of his presence in the starting line up. Villa was a bit better, defensively he was worth his place. From an attacking point of view, not so much.

The moment Aspas was signed, most of us knew he was mostly going to be a squad player and that will certainly prove the case other than the odd start here and there. He'll be a useful squad player IMHO it must be said.

edit - it's great we have these options now, something we can both agree on