3 Oct 2013

Ozil vs. Coutinho: Who is the better player? LFC fans give their emphatic verdict....

In a recent column, Jan Molby claimed Arsenal star Mesut Ozil is 'on another level to most players', and whilst that's probably true, Liverpool fans can take heart in the knowledge that Philippe Coutinho has a similar skill-set to the German maestro, and will hopefully develop into a player of equal effectiveness. Who would Reds fans rather have in the team, though: Ozil or Coutinho?

I conducted a poll a few weeks ago asking that question, and the results were emphatic:

* 13300 people (approx) voted.

* 65% of voters selected Ozil ahead of Coutinho.

Liverpool fans are notoriously partisan when it comes to the club's players, but in this case, even rampant pro-LFC bias can't stop Reds fans acknowledging Ozil's genius. Hopefully, though, Coutinho will develop into a similarly effective player over the next few years.

Liverpool were tenuously linked with a move for Ozil in 2011, and when the news broke that he'd signed for Arsenal, the horrible nausea and foreboding I felt when RVP signed for Man United returned with a vengeance.

Ozil already has one goal and four assists in five appearances for Arsenal, and since he arrived, the Gunners have won every game in which he's featured. Coutinho, on the other hand, has yet to score/create a goal this season, which is a stark contrast to his sensational creative form in the second half of last season.

In a recent column for EuroSport, Anfield icon Jan Molby insisted that Ozil is 'the best player brought into the Premier League by any team during the transfer window'. He further raved:

"Ozil is a wonderful player, and in terms of pure quality, his vision is just on another level to most players. He has this uncanny knack of being able to see things before everyone else and create chances for other players. He is going to do some damage".

Arsene Wenger has a knack for signing amazing creative players, and Ozil follows in the footsteps of genius players like Denis Bergkamp, Robert Pires, and Thierry Henry. Jamie Carragher is huge fan of Wenger for this very reason, and in an article for the Daily Mail last week, he paid tribute to the Arsenal boss:

"This man has had a profound impact on British football and the game here would be poorer without him. Where would the Premier League be minus Wenger? If they [Arsenal] are successful this season, it will mean Arsene Wenger stays in the Premier League, and we need him to stay"

In my view, the signing of Ozil makes Arsenal favourites to win the Premier League title this season, and I'd be happy with that. Anything is better than seeing the Mancs or Chelsea win the trophy.



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32 comments:

  1. we just hope to see Suarez wearing our colors soon also... :)

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  2. I agree with your last sentence. And who knows, maybe we could be seeing a return of the 1980's dominance of Liverpool and Arsenal.

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  3. He's already wearing red and white ;)

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  4. Good reply D--- head!!

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  5. Arsenal favourites?
    As a Gooner I hope you're a good judge.


    I shall return your compliment. Luis Suarez is the best player in the EPL and will top the league goalscoring charts this season.


    This is all very jolly.

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  6. It will be interesting to see how Coutinho fits into this 3-5-2 system. Of course fans of the 90s will remember how Steve Mcmanaman delivered some amazing performances in the "hole" with his mazzy ball running skills and his link play with Robbie Fowler. I think over the next few games we will see Victor Moses doing a similar job as his is also very good at running with the ball as we saw on Sunday. Coutinho of course is a different kind of player and if he can repeat the form that he showed last season like the games against Newcastle then.Liverpool will be a dangerous opponent for anyone.

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  7. Dont know if Arsenal should be favourites this early but i am betting they will finish above United and Spurs.

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  8. Ozil is in a different class. Coutinho should not even be mentioned under the same breath yet.
    Hopefully Coutinho will develop like Ozil.
    Arsenal looking good.

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  9. Writing as an Arsenal supporter, I must say that Brendan Rogers is doing an amazing job at Liverpool. If we take into account the fact that Arsene Wenger has been managing Arsenal for 17 years and Rogers just over a season at Liverpool, where the club is going is obvious. The transformation in playing style is amazing and the next few years will see the return to Liverpool challenging for all the major trophies. Anyway good to see Liverpool returning to the top. I got a lot of pleasure from watching the great Liverpool teams. As an aside it was Bruce Rioch who signed Bergkamp.

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  10. Probably unfair on Coutinho at the moment to be compared to Ozil. He only just started to cement a permanent position at a club, especially his age. He certainly does have the talent to be like Ozil though.

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  11. If u consider all competitions, as you have for Ozil, then Coutinho does have an assist this season, in the League Cup

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  12. Ozil has excelled on the world stage, for one of the best clubs in football and is showing his class in probably the most competitive league in football. We all know comparing him to Coutihno is a a bit of a mismatch. But the fact Coutihno can even be mentioned in the same sentence as Ozil shows the regard most LFC fans hold him in. He has the ability to match Ozil over time, in my opinion. Lets hope he keeps his feet grounded, and keeps improving.
    Watching Arsenal against Napoli the other night was like watching them back in their pomp under Wenger. Great to watch, and like most non biased football fans would love to see a team playing like that winning the leagu. (outside of Lpool of course)

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  13. Ozil was bought for 40 million pounds, Coutinho for 8 mil. Theres no need to compare.

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  14. arsernal dont have a suarez or sturridge
    so it evevns out

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  15. that's true but their midfield sh*ts on ours...

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  16. Asenal seem to be the only one of the top teams who no what they're about - their midfield is superb with great depth and Ozil is the icing on the cake. Defensively the've improved beyond recognition too. The change in manager's at other clubs doesn't seem to have had a positive effect yet. It's still early, but I agree Arsenal look like a good bet for the title. We just need to hang onto their coat tails...

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  17. It's 3-4-3 really -- which makes it a bit easier to see where a number 10 fits!

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  18. Arsenal can have bad run of form any time. They just go out of form in crucial times before coming back hard. I hope they do well this season because I love the club and manager, they have lot of class. I wouldn't be sad if Arsenal and Liverpool stay at the top and Gunners win by 1 point/GD.


    Obviously, its not gonna happen. Liverpool need lot more players, quality players.

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  19. Giroud is doing pretty well.

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  20. And I wish to see Ozil wear ManUre's colors :3

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  21. Arsenal are increasingly reliant on Giroud. They are brimming full of confidence at the moment, not sure how long their unbeaten run will last but you have to hand it to them for their current form.
    Early days for both us and them.

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  22. I don't really think they are reliant on Giroud.

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  23. I don't know, the last couple of games it has felt like moses has been playing more in the middle compared to his first home game vs Southampton. It has more of a feel of the 90s system.

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  24. I dont have the same hate for Arsenal as I do the other big clubs. I'm not entirely sure why this may be but I just don't like them. The manchester clubs for obv reasons, Spurs probably for poaching all our potential targets and chelsea.. well because they are Chelsea. I have a certain level of respect for Arsenal and I felt exactly the same as you Jaimie when Ozil signed. He definitely has the capacity to guided them to a league title this season and if it can't be us than I'd like it to be them.

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  25. I always enjoy conversations with Gooners. At least respectable conversation can be had. Its a nice change of pace. I wouldn't be surprised in the slightest to see Arsenal win the title this season with Ozil racking up a crazy number of Goals and Assists combined. Somewhere in the 30's if I'm honest.

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  26. I think Chelsea are seen by many as the favourites still but week by week Arsenal are staking a stronger claim. I'm also a little scared of Spurs. They like us dont quite seem like they can put a full 90minutes together but when they do I fear for their opposition.

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  27. I agree. In terms of Attacking midfielders he rates as one of. if not the very best, in world football IMO. I definitely think Coutinho has the ability to develop into a player of that quality though. He just needs to gain more consistency in his end product.

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  28. I agree. This current Arsenal team winning the league would actually make me very happy. Liverpool winning it would obviously be a much more favourable outcome but I've always respected and enjoyed Arsenal.

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  29. mmhmmm. I'd take Cazola and Ramsey any day of the week over our midfield. But then again.. Giroud and Bendtner Vs. SAS.. thats not a tough choice at all.

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  30. He has started very well admittedly and off the back of an excellent preseason. If he can extend this form throughout the season than that will be something.

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  31. I've always thought their defence lacks not only quality but depth however they currently seem to be doing quite well. How that will go over the season remains to be seen though. Their midfield is probably the best in the PL though, Spurs may rival them but it'd be close. On midfield quality alone I think they can win the league. Ozil is THAT good.

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  32. If anything they are more reliant of Ramsey than Giroud. Giroud has finished off some quality moves this season with some superb finishing but I dont think they are reliant on him. Podolski has 2 league goals also before he got injured.

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