20 Mar 2017 04:24:05
we really need coutinho and firmino to get out of this slump they are currently in and show the form they showed last year, we are not shy as fans to give can, wijnaldum, klavan, milner and mignolet plus lucas to name some of our favourite whipping boys a hard time when there form is not up to scratch, so let's not let these 2 off the hook, getting them back in form will go a long way to ensuring a top 4 finish. We know what they are capable off we really need them both to start showing it again.

{Ed001's Note - seriously? They both had good games last night and caused City nightmares at times. Why would we want to get on their backs as they come back into form?}


1.) 20 Mar 2017
20 Mar 2017 04:38:39
Was not impressed with Coutinho last night. Lost the ball too many times in spite of taking few risks. Firmino was good though, pressed a lot and got into goal scoring positions. Just needs to work on his composure in front of goal a little.


2.) 20 Mar 2017
20 Mar 2017 04:48:17
I will have to disagree with you there ed001, coutinho has not played well since his return from injury and firmino once again was found lacking when he had a great chance to make it 2-0, this is not a witch hunt I just personally feel both players can do better as they have shown in the past, looking forward to reading your match review as always ed001.

{Ed001's Note - I am just rewatching the game and doing the match review now. It is past the point where Couts went off and I thought he did well, but was let down by the finishing. Still not at his best, but he played some good balls, made some good runs but was never really given space or time on the ball by City. Firmino was excellent, bar his finishing, but it is a bit harsh to have a go at a player who has played so well. On another day he will score goals galore, he just needs one to go in off his backside or something to give him a lift.}


3.) 20 Mar 2017
20 Mar 2017 05:07:57
that's where I feel both players need to improve ed001, firmino should really be bagging 15-20 goals a season he has all the attributes required to do so, his finishing does seem to be eratic at times I felt he should have lifted it over the keeper coutinho on his day can win a match all on his own. As I have said this is not me taking the chance to slag them off, its just frustration talking as I know what both players are capable off.

{Ed001's Note - yes, they can improve, but their performances have been getting better and yet now you choose to dig them out. If they were playing poorly and not showing signs of improvement, you would have a point, but they are playing better by the game, so why complain?}


4.) 20 Mar 2017
20 Mar 2017 06:17:27
i thought origi on the wing was awful and he looked clueless. firmino is not a good striker, he's being wasted in that role while also taking someone elses chance. wijnaldum looks like an upgrade on lallana, klopp must be over the moon with his new workhorse. i think we should drop continho and put firmino in his role. then bring on continho as a super sub with a point to prove. i think we should keep alternating between the 2 to see who wants it more. I doubt it will ever happen because it would upset the players. we don't want that do we. we have to keep everyone thinking their spot is safe and become complacent.


5.) 20 Mar 2017
20 Mar 2017 06:32:25
Kingkenny, to say "so let's not let these 2 off the hook", sets the tone for your views. What? we should lay into them cos' they deserve it? What's that supposed to achieve besides provide a platform for the plastics to rant?


6.) 20 Mar 2017
20 Mar 2017 06:53:18
Had we won the game Iam 100% sure a diffrent tune on both players would be ung, both played well last night, give them support.


7.) 20 Mar 2017
20 Mar 2017 06:55:17
i kinda agree with wiseryan, about the rotation. with coutinho on the bench and dropping him in midfield or wide left seeing who of Lallana or frimoho of Orgi who needs replacing. That said that city game could of gone any which way.


8.) 20 Mar 2017
20 Mar 2017 09:32:03
You could give some credit for Pep and Fernandinho who kept Couts very quite. Not many players could do that. They knew the threat and played him over Sagna.
Couts should move in to the middle, We badly need a left winger with pace and trickery!


9.) 20 Mar 2017
20 Mar 2017 09:33:34
Wiserayan

A point to prove? Fernandinho is the best city player and tbh the only player who could have kept Couts quite and they know the threat. Firmino on the flanks is dreadful as good as Sturridge on the flanks. We need a left winger. An actual left winger, someone like me.


10.) 20 Mar 2017
20 Mar 2017 10:00:19
we also need a world class striker for next season, its obvious sturridge won't be here next year.


11.) 20 Mar 2017
20 Mar 2017 10:22:40
we got a point at City which at the start of the season you would have jumped to get, Now again i come o this site which i love and i like the diverse reactions and opinions, but the same poster are bashing players. If their usual victims have a good game they just move on to another player they are never satisfied enough to say what a good point, I have to question their loyalties as fans.
On Coutinho i would say he got physically dominated at times by a physical midfielder playing right back but i thought he had a good game and worked hard. On Firminio whom is not a number 9 you have to realise what he brings to that team to really appreciate him, in my opinion he is the player tat is key to the press and like the great Ian Rush he starts our defence from the front, he also had a good game and you guys just don't appreciate the off the ball work enough to realise it.


12.) 20 Mar 2017
20 Mar 2017 11:50:03
his finishing is nothing like the great Ian Rush if it was the whole of Europe would be trying to sign him. Coutinho was poor again imo, after he was subbed last match for a 17yr old I expected him to come out all guns blazing yesterday he didn't, I am giving my opinions not slagging off players for the sake of it, these are our most talented players and if we can get them back into form we can qualify without being nervous for the champions league.


13.) 20 Mar 2017
20 Mar 2017 12:46:45
I'm with ed on this one, Cout in the first half was as poor as usual but really upped his game in the second half and was the player instigating most of our attacks, it looked like he had his confidence back in how he was taking players on with ease again.

I certainly feel he'll be back to his best soon and benching him is not the why to go about it, I personally thought Firmino was playing worse than him in the second half and really needs to improve his consistency in finishing if he is to nail down the number 9 role.


14.) 20 Mar 2017
20 Mar 2017 13:00:09
you see kenny you read what i wrote and took your own opinion from it i compared Firminio to Rush because he starts the press and defends from the front i never once mentioned his finishing. as for Coutinho you need to loo at city squad and realise fernandinho was played there to do a job on continho he was even moved to midfield after coutinho was taken off, on another day he would haved recieved a yellow card for at least one of the tackles on coutinho, but yet as poor as you said he was i thought he was still a threat and Guardiola must have agreed to take their best defensive midfielder to do a job on coutinho.

{Ed001's Note - one yellow? Fernandinho should have got 4 or more! I have no idea what he would have had to do to get booked but it would probably involve public beheading. Even that might have just got him a tallking to with Oliver in charge.}


15.) 20 Mar 2017
20 Mar 2017 14:49:06
Firmino is an excellent CF and while not the most clinical finisher (but still better than most! ) he creates so many chances and is so key defensively I'd be happy to play him every day until we can get a real world class finisher. He had two good chances of his own yesterday and set up a few for others, not least of which was a sitter for Llalana on the back of his clever movement and first touch.

What he does need however is for others around him to be on form as the goals need to be shared around. Coutinho is still working his way back to form but even then I'm not 100% sure that LW is his best position - I could really see him playing midfield over time and another Mane style player on the left (if we can find one) .


16.) 20 Mar 2017
20 Mar 2017 14:57:40
I was really dissapointed yesterday.

As individuals there were some good moments, but as a team i thought we were terrible for the most part. couldn't steing 2 passes together apart from the odd flash. The press wasnt there as a unit. Every player was struggling to make simple 5 yard passes. They looked knackered tbh.

Good result but i've seen us play like this before under rodgers where we got the result or should of had more but just couldn't get into 2nd gear

The same last week against burnley and we won. So its all good at the momebt.

My point i guess is with 10 games to go i don't see us getting into a run like chelsea are on where there good results turn into a real great end to the season

Im going for 4 wins 3 draws and 3 loses.

71 points total.

Will that be enough. Fingers crossed.


17.) 20 Mar 2017
20 Mar 2017 16:46:20
For me couts is better in the centre. Firmino is very good but sometimes wasteful and gets caught you wonder if he will get you 20 a season? But i will always remember a few of the dribbles couts has done from deep in the middle and when he has movement infront of him his passing sometimes is unreal. He is good on the left i just think really you move him to the centre and if we bought another winger, or maybe used youth/ marko on the left i think we would have a really nice attacking trio but then you have to choose only 2 MF if we have firmino up top. I think studge will go tbh i love him but doesn't look like he will get a game.

thought the team played well, it was an open game and could have gone either way, will take the point.

Was impressed with GiGi, i have been fairly critical but the last few perfomances he has been so good. Definitely settling in and getting more invovled and is scoring some goals!


18.) 21 Mar 2017
21 Mar 2017 10:54:21
Supermane, BR should be left where he is as he has no bearing on how good or bad we do. I'll take the point cos they could have won it like we could have. That's football.
KK, steady on there, lad. Couts may not have been at his best but it was a marked improvement from his recent perfs of late. Fernandinho is a very physical DM and he was plaed there as RB to nullify Couts cos Pep knew neither Zab nor Sagna could deal with his pace and trickery. Also, both Fernadinho and Couts play for Brazil so he will know his game thru and thru.

In spite of all that, Couts played in som good balls and had his shot gone in or had Firmino converted his blind pass, you're not here complaining and slating him. Same for Firmino. You do know that he only trained two days before the game and was prolly still carrying an injury and in spite of all that, he had a great game due to his movement, skill, guile and intelligence. Had Lallana not missed a sitter and had he got lucky with his shot, you're not complaining either. You are entitled to your opinion BUT a little context is required.