30 Jul 2017 10:07:15
Reports are saying we are ready to move in for Barcelona player rafinha, would they sell to us if we are not willing to sell coutinho?

{Ed002's Note - He was offered around previously and Barcelona would certainly be open to including him in a deal for Coutinho as he is very much a fringe player in order to reduce the cash commitment. If enough were offered by Liverpool they may be happy with a straight sale.}

1.) 30 Jul 2017
30 Jul 2017 10:32:08
Might we be interested in him then at this time, seperate to Coutinho?

{Ed002's Note - Barcelona would likely be interested in discussing him in the framework of the Coutinho discussions initially but to the best of my knowledge there has been no talk of him thus far. For the next few days Barcelona has to deal with the Neymar situation.}

2.) 30 Jul 2017
30 Jul 2017 10:51:22
I know this is the Liverpool page, but I feel it impacts coutinho, what is the situation with Neymar?

{Ed002's Note - PSG would like to buy him.}

3.) 30 Jul 2017
30 Jul 2017 10:56:20
Ed although he is a fringe player at Barcelona do you know if he is generally highly thought of in terms if ability at Barcelona and around Europe? I guess Sanchez was surplus to requirements at Barcelona and he turned out ok didn't he.

{Ed002's Note - He has been there about 10 years so they see something in him. I am not sure if he has played for Brazil yet.}

4.) 30 Jul 2017
30 Jul 2017 11:50:11
such an average player, I'd be amazed if this isn't bs.

5.) 30 Jul 2017
30 Jul 2017 12:36:44
Great family heritage but I'd rather break bank for his brother Thiago.

Reckon it's bull. How often do these player swaps materialise as lots of personal things to sort out.

We were supposed to get Sanchez in Suarez one etc. I remember Nunez for Owen too clearly so steer away


Also, I believe Sanchez was forced out of Barcelona by Messi power. He was a great player, and was my worlds best at the time he was at Udinese, so different scenario for me that one.

6.) 30 Jul 2017
30 Jul 2017 12:48:31
He's had caps for Brazil but only 2,doesn't mean anything really as most countries hand out caps for fun. The worry for me is that he's never played regular at Barcelona and he's 24 and the few times I have seen him (not enough to make a good judgement) he's not stood out, not a patch on his brother.

7.) 30 Jul 2017
30 Jul 2017 13:12:22
Bear in mind though that some players flourish when they get a chance to play more regularly or in their best position. Few of us had heard much of Coutinho or Firmini before they came to Liverpool. Also it's not too much disgrace to not be a regular at Barcelona. As long as he's got ability and a decent attitude why not give him a chance.

8.) 30 Jul 2017
30 Jul 2017 15:34:14
Actually, Coutinho was well known across Europe as a young talent (Rafa tried to sign him for us as a teenager), as for Firmino, anyone familiar with the Bundesliga knew about him as he'd been scoring regularly for Hoffenheim for a few years.

9.) 30 Jul 2017
30 Jul 2017 15:37:26
Because you don't replace your best player with someone "to just give them a shot" haha!

That's not how you improve mate!

10.) 30 Jul 2017
30 Jul 2017 15:57:37
Playing for Brazil doesn't mean anything anymore. Fred was a regular starting player and he stunk to high hell, and anyway, I think Ed001 said that the Brazilian national sides are picked by sponsors.

{Ed001's Note - Nike had a contract that was revealed recently, that allowed them to pick the squad for friendlies.}

11.) 30 Jul 2017
30 Jul 2017 16:31:10
What is this 'Messi power'?

Is it that others players egos cannot except that they are good enough, or that Messi calls up the 'footballer of Barcelona ego club' union together, in which he chairs an important meeting in how to force out anyone who comes close to taking over the reign as Barcas best?

12.) 30 Jul 2017
30 Jul 2017 16:37:10
Yes but just because they were involved in a deal doesn't mean they would be a straight replacement for Coutinho. The point I'm making is the profile of Coutinho and Firmino has greatly increased since joining Liverpool. Why do we get such dumb answers sometimes.

13.) 30 Jul 2017
30 Jul 2017 16:34:12
Ed mate, not trying to pin you down, I respect your opinion. If you were a betting man would you sat coutinio is going to leave this year?

{Ed001's Note - I am not a betting man.}

14.) 30 Jul 2017
30 Jul 2017 16:50:33
Agree Razor. I quite like Vázquez at Real. Watched him a few times. He's now where near coutinho level but who really is. I thought when we signed firmino it was preparing for life without coutinho.

Just got to do our best to keep him as long as we can. Be nice to get someone in early that can try and be ready to take over when he leaves.

15.) 30 Jul 2017
30 Jul 2017 17:15:33
Good answer eds. I just need daily reassurance is all mate. Personally think rahifina would be a great signing. Not as bit part deal but straight buy.

16.) 30 Jul 2017
30 Jul 2017 19:31:30
Tbf you'd have to be some player to force your way into the bar a midfield at any point over the last 10 years.

17.) 30 Jul 2017
30 Jul 2017 20:46:32
Rafinha and Vazquez are the new Antonio Nunez. Don't try and pretend they're even capable of replacing Coutinho. To sell a top class player like him and replace him with either of them would be a disastrous move.