19 Feb 2016 15:26:33
Question for Ed 01 .

Hope you are well mate.

What do you think about playing Coutinho or Firminho as one of the midfield three, then leaving space for another attacker with pace up front.

For instance.

Firminho Can Henderson/ Milner

Coutinho Origi Sturbridge.

Cheers

Macca.

{Ed001's Note - I think Coutinho and Firmino work too well together to leave one out. If anything, maybe drop Coutinho into a deeper role to create a space for Origi. I would certainly not leave one out.}

1.) 19 Feb 2016
19 Feb 2016 15:52:04
Been saying this for ages meself mate.
Personally, I'd use a diamond with Coutinho as one of the sides and Firmino either at the tip, or as the deeper of the 2 strikers in front of it.
I understand people may have reservations about Coutinho here, but Cazorla plays in a similarly deep position for Arsenal and has excelled there.
I also believe a diamond would get more of our better attacking players on the pitch, at the same time.
However, I don't think Klopp favours this formation (unfortunately)?

{Ed001's Note - Couts has played as a central midfielder for us before and was excellent.}

2.) 19 Feb 2016
19 Feb 2016 15:53:31
Sorry Ed, i meant play them both but one deeper.

{Ed001's Note - defo then, Couts in central midfielder.}

3.) 19 Feb 2016
19 Feb 2016 16:04:34
Macca good to hear from you again mate.

4.) 19 Feb 2016
19 Feb 2016 16:05:47
Thats what i meant Ed, both of them playing but one deeper.

Cheers

Macca.

{Ed001's Note - I would defo do that, but it would need to be a very disciplined mid alongside Couts.}

5.) 19 Feb 2016
19 Feb 2016 16:24:20
agreed. coutinho was class when he played in the middle 3 - 2013/ 14 season.

6.) 19 Feb 2016
19 Feb 2016 17:31:17
I agree with the diamond approach, have been thinking it for a while.

Coutinho in the left hand side central role, henderson right, lucas holding, firmino at the tip and sturridge and origi/ ings up front.

I think we should give that a try, but obviously, i'm not the manager.

I'd just like to see, at the very least, jurgen give chances to the plethora of young wingers we have - ojo, ibe, kent, markovic (if he comes back) etc.

7.) 19 Feb 2016
19 Feb 2016 17:53:44
Anonymous

I doubt Klopp would field such. That's too much attacking to me and he would prefer 3 CM instead ( my summation how he has set up through out this season )

As Ed01 said to have that kind of set up you need a very screwed CM alongside Coutinho.

8.) 19 Feb 2016
19 Feb 2016 18:07:22
I agree with continho in a deeper role but I don't see the diamond thing working to well, for me it would feel a bit unbalanced only really having 1 DCM and poss a right sided midfield player who would track back. I'd prefer Coutinho in a mid 3 with x2 DCM then three attacking players 2 of which out wide with pace and can track back when required.

9.) 19 Feb 2016
19 Feb 2016 18:27:22
It worked brilliantly in 2013/ 14, we conceded a lot but that was with gerrard in the holding role, who couldn't defend, and the dodgiest defence ever, which is still in the process of being fixed.

10.) 19 Feb 2016
19 Feb 2016 19:13:53
Any news on potential transfers Macca?

Thanks.

11.) 19 Feb 2016
19 Feb 2016 19:36:12
AW

Gerrard was directly or indirectly responsible for 60% of the goals scored in that season. Who do you think would spray passes like him today?
His passing is first class.

12.) 19 Feb 2016
19 Feb 2016 19:46:17
'A very screwed CM'?

13.) 20 Feb 2016
20 Feb 2016 00:46:09
I wasn't criticising his contributions going forward at all harry, he complemented our forwards very well that year.

Truth is though that he, along with skrtel, johnson and mignolet all contributed to the ridiculous amount of goals we conceded that year. He couldn't defend properly like lucas can, and lucas isn't even a top class holding mid.

14.) 20 Feb 2016
20 Feb 2016 09:02:12
Actually I think coutinho is more suited playing deeper. Our current midfielder can't link up with forward. Henderson, can, lucas, Milner, Allen all lack the vision or dribbling skills that coutinho have. And also deeper role mean coutinho have more time and space to provide a through pass.

15.) 20 Feb 2016
20 Feb 2016 16:52:19
I also like Macca's suggestion.

Coutinho's vision and creativity was great in 2013/ 2014, in his ability to thread fantastic through balls or long passes up on counters or from build up.

Ideally, however, we sign a true box-to-box player like Xhaka, Gundogan, who likewise has that vision, creativity, and technical ability, but is stronger defensively than Coutinho.

That way, you can play Coutinho further forward, but still get excellent distribution out of the midfield.

On this count, I've been really impressed with Grujic-- watched some tape on him, and he seems to similarly play a robust box-to-box role, excellent in the air, but also excellent long range passing ability. Not Xabi, but I think better in this sense than Matic, to whom he's often compared.