As soon as he arrived in
January from Inter Milan, Phillippe Coutinho became a hit at
From what we’ve seen of him
so far in a Liverpool shirt, I would have to
say yes. He has shown sublime talent, and at the age of just 21 is already one
of the best players in our team. His ability to create chances is second to
none, and there is nobody in our team better than he is at picking a pass. This
talent is crucial to Liverpool , which is what
makes Coutinho such an important part of our future. Before his arrival, there
was nobody in our team capable of consistently coming up with ‘killer balls’,
that seamlessly split open the opposition’s defence. With him in the side, our
attackers can play each match in the knowledge that chances will come their
way, and often be put on a plate for them. This results in more goals, which
are the key to more victories.
He has also shown immense
versatility, something often lacking in younger players. After a couple of
games for Liverpool , at looked as if he’d been
playing there all his life! He adapted to our style of play extremely quickly,
and also gelled with the rest of the team at once. As well as this, he has
shown that he is able to perform well in multiple positions. Though best in a
central attacking role, he has also been very effective in a wider position.
With such a vast amount of good midfielders at the club all fighting for a spot
in the first team, the ability to play in multiple positions is invaluable.
However, it must be
remembered that Coutinho has been at Liverpool
for less than half a season, and has started just 11 Premier League matches for
the club. When Nikica Jelavic signed for Everton last January, he had an
immediate impact, and was arguably their best player for the remainder of the
season. However, in the 2012/13 season he was a complete flop, failing to make
an impact at all. Although all the signs point towards Coutinho being a
valuable asset for us next season, we have not yet seen enough of him to judge
whether his form from last season is permanent.
Saying this, I think it is
very unlikely that Coutinho will fade in the coming season. Jelavic is an
out-and-out striker, and when Everton made some positional changes he was
unable to adapt. Coutinho’s versatility allows him to adapt to the team around
him, meaning he should be able to continue his good form from last season. If
he does this, there is no question that he will be key for Liverpool .
Indeed, when his ability to create chances and his individual skill on the ball
is considered, it is not implausible to suggest that he will be the focal point
of our team in 2013/14.
-James Martin
Follow me on Twitter
@JamesMartin013
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