It's fair to say that Liverpool attacker Philippe Coutinho has experienced periods of indifferent form this season, but over the last couple of months, there are encouraging signs the Brazilian magician is getting back to his best, and it's all seemingly due to the hard work he's putting in on the training ground.
Speaking to the LFC website over the weekend, Coutinho accepted that he'd struggled at times this year, and outlined the steps he's taken to improve the situation. He observed:
"I didn't play so well in some games but I've had the chance to improve.
"I'm trying to improve intensity, marking and defence forms in training. I believe this is helpful at matches as we may take the ball from the opposition and it's easier to attack when we have more blank spaces"
Prior to the recent 4-0 hammering of Everton, Coutinho had contributed a paltry one goal/one assist in ten games, but over the last six games, he's grabbed three goals/assists, and played a major part in the Reds's superb attacking play. Granted, he didn't have a great game against Swansea yesterday, but luckily, this didn't impact on the team's ability to grind out the victory.
Given its overtly physical nature, adapting to the rough-and-ready environment of the the Premier League is essential, especially for smaller attacking players, and it's good to see that Coutinho - who is now rated in the £20m-range - is dedicated to continuous improvement.
The Premier League wears its physicality like a badge of honour, and some players (Mesut Ozil, for example) don't seem to have the stomach for it. The British 'style' of football continues (IMO) to be anachronistic within the modern game, and Xabi Alonso explained its main deficiency last year, when he told The Guardian:
"I don't think tackling is a quality. It is something you have to resort to, not a characteristic of your game. At Liverpool I used to read the match day programme and you'd read an interview with a lad from the youth team. They'd ask: age, heroes, strong points, etc. He'd reply: 'Shooting and tackling'.
"I can't get into my head that football development would educate tackling as a quality, something to learn, to teach, a characteristic of your play. How can that be a way of seeing the game? I just don't understand football in those terms. Tackling is a [last] resort; it isn't a quality to aspire to. It's hard to change because it's so rooted in the English football culture"
I totally agree with Alonso here, and it's a shame that fantastic talents like Coutinho have to 'aspire' to be more defensive in order to fit into the league. I just hope that the Brazilian's desire to improve defensively doesn't lead to the subjugation of his attacking approach to the game.
Author: Jaimie K
Speaking to the LFC website over the weekend, Coutinho accepted that he'd struggled at times this year, and outlined the steps he's taken to improve the situation. He observed:
"I didn't play so well in some games but I've had the chance to improve.
"I'm trying to improve intensity, marking and defence forms in training. I believe this is helpful at matches as we may take the ball from the opposition and it's easier to attack when we have more blank spaces"
Prior to the recent 4-0 hammering of Everton, Coutinho had contributed a paltry one goal/one assist in ten games, but over the last six games, he's grabbed three goals/assists, and played a major part in the Reds's superb attacking play. Granted, he didn't have a great game against Swansea yesterday, but luckily, this didn't impact on the team's ability to grind out the victory.
Given its overtly physical nature, adapting to the rough-and-ready environment of the the Premier League is essential, especially for smaller attacking players, and it's good to see that Coutinho - who is now rated in the £20m-range - is dedicated to continuous improvement.
The Premier League wears its physicality like a badge of honour, and some players (Mesut Ozil, for example) don't seem to have the stomach for it. The British 'style' of football continues (IMO) to be anachronistic within the modern game, and Xabi Alonso explained its main deficiency last year, when he told The Guardian:
"I don't think tackling is a quality. It is something you have to resort to, not a characteristic of your game. At Liverpool I used to read the match day programme and you'd read an interview with a lad from the youth team. They'd ask: age, heroes, strong points, etc. He'd reply: 'Shooting and tackling'.
"I can't get into my head that football development would educate tackling as a quality, something to learn, to teach, a characteristic of your play. How can that be a way of seeing the game? I just don't understand football in those terms. Tackling is a [last] resort; it isn't a quality to aspire to. It's hard to change because it's so rooted in the English football culture"
I totally agree with Alonso here, and it's a shame that fantastic talents like Coutinho have to 'aspire' to be more defensive in order to fit into the league. I just hope that the Brazilian's desire to improve defensively doesn't lead to the subjugation of his attacking approach to the game.
Author: Jaimie K
I don't think Liverpool any of the current Liverpool players will mention tackling as their strong point. I don't see any harm in learning how to tackle but its the responsibility of the coaches/trainers to emphasize that it isn't the be all, end all of defending. Awareness and positioning are important too. Our current crop of youngsters seem to be made aware of this; but its the old guard that's letting us down time and again. I don't blame them, they are set in their ways of defending, but it's about time they put some extra effort into learning it like the young ones do.
ReplyDeleteIronically if you look at the top 20 teams with most tackles in Europe's top 5 leagues, none of them are English - most are spanish. Of the top 20 players for tackles, none are english either (2 of the top 5 are spanish), but 2 play in England (Lucas and Yacoub) .
ReplyDeleteIt's not a bad skill to have - and it seems it's mad him more effective, may he continue tackling
I have no issue with the physicality of the English game, makes for a more enjoyable game - what I do believe is necessary is a little more intervention from the refs at times. If you look at the amount of fouls/game, the Premier league is the lowest by quite some margin (about 22/game vs. about 32/game in germany). I'm not saying that the game should be slowed down, or more weak challenges called, rather the dangerous ones dealt with more seriously to keep things cleaner, and a few more cards given out. Think Eto'o's challenge on Henderson, Mirallas on Suarez, the whole Hull team on Suarez.
ReplyDeletePhysical is fine, injuring or potentially injuring isn't.
As for Coutinho specifically, I think the increased dynamism he has shown recently has improved his game and the overall stability of the team. When he is nicking the ball of people higher up the pitch, it gives him a chance to run at the opposition and play a quick direct pass, as is his forte.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it should be looked upon as the stifling of a creative player, because I think encouraging him to win the ball back quicker favours his game (not to mention the team).
Tell Claude Makelele that tackling isn't an art form...
ReplyDeleteI just want to point out that there is a difference between tackling and assault (Here's looking at you Robert Huth & Jonas Olsson)
ReplyDeleteSpot on!
ReplyDeleteAlonso could have fooled me. If this is his attitude he made an art form out of his last resort. He still does it at RM.
ReplyDeleteThat is a ridiculous piece from Alonso. Tackling and closing down is essential in football. How do you get the ball back????
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure that what Coutinho is talking about is what Alonso is talking about. Surely the intensity and defensive forms are a way of defending that is not necessarily linked to tackling. Its about closing down ad cutting off space. That helps with interceptions as well as tackling. That kind of thing has been done by many teams across different leagues. It is different to what Alonso is talking about. All that aside I have enjoyed seeing Cout bounding around and making it harder for opposition players to play their own way.
ReplyDeleteAgree...think what PC is talking about is pressing to take the ball or force the hurried (usually bad) pass.
ReplyDeleteI think Lucas would
ReplyDeleteWow... you'd be crying blue murder if the players took that attitude with the club!! Unless we sign Montoya or another RB, we need to keep Glen, simple as!!
ReplyDeleteHere here!!
ReplyDeleteWe should all love our tackle :)
ReplyDeleteThe solution is simple, buy a right back and push Johnson up to right wing, as we know, he has always been known for his attacking side rather than his defensive astuteness., capitalise on that I say. So he's been off form and recently come back from injury, is that a reason to sell him? For me, it is not.
ReplyDeleteI see Allen as being highly overrated and overpaid by BR just because he's his prodigy from Swansea. He has yet to turn in a full 90mins of good performance!!! We could do without Allen & Johnson with new replacements.
ReplyDeleteHe did seem to change the type of game swansea wanted to play when he came on. good hustle and effort.
ReplyDeleteAs you said next season we will have more games (Hopefully) and sometimes the squad needs some guys who wanna work.
Couldn't agree more. Give McLaughlin a go, guarantee he will put in a better shift then McLazy Johnson
ReplyDeleteJohnson drives me nuts, he is an outstanding athlete and a great talent, yet I always get the feeling he doesn't apply himself 100% in games, always seems to be coasting. Sell please, I can't stand his approach to games. Flanno doesn't mind getting stuck in and I love that.
ReplyDeleteowen made this comment live against arsenal "gerrard loves a good tackle" - i fell on the floor!
ReplyDeleteMissing the point ... Alonso is talking about tackling, however if you watch him play and most top Spanish midfielders, they understand positioning, when to pressure and when not to, etc. They don't need to fly in with big tackles, their positoning allows them to intercept or nick the ball away, or simply pressuring the other team into a mistake. Alonso obviously thinks DEFENDING is important and a skill, but TACKLING is not part of that. Coutinho is learning this part of the game, which is extremely important, liverpools whole style is based on pressure and working hard off the ball.
ReplyDeleteAgree with you that our philosophy is about closing down. BR learnt his trade in Spain. He not too keen on lunge tackles that are part and parcel the British game, maybe only used as a last resort you should lunge in or by a defender. If you watched the 'Being Liverpool' fly on the wall program, he was screaming his head off at someone not to dive in. If you don't over commit yourself, it allows you to recover and carry on pressing again.
ReplyDeleteSaying that we're conceding a boat load off goals, but these are from individual errors, as he's also pointed out.
RE; Alonso talking about tackling, puts into perspective why Pepe can be considered a defender, as tackling isn't a requirement in Spain.
Yes, Yes, Yes. Spot on
ReplyDeleteAlonso is right in a sense, if you listen to interviews with older epl defenders (think Carra/Tony Adams even mentioned this), as they got older the less tackles they made. Their reading of the game and understanding of the position improved, so they defended spaces as a pose to the person more often than not. That's why we see English defender at the later part of his career, and say he looks cultured now. On the continent they teach youngsters to defend areas via pressing and positioning Think Gary Neville and Carra had this debate about Pique couple of months ago.
ReplyDeleteMcLazy! HAHA!
ReplyDeleteSELL..........HIM
ReplyDeleteAllen is only a good sub the most
ReplyDeleteCoutinho has to "aspire to be more defensive" if he wants any chance of playing in a central role for the club.
ReplyDeleteDisagree with Alonso, tackling is a quality, it's just as important as cutting off passing lines and pressing.
I think he is also wrong when he says tackling isn't something to learn or a quality to teach. There is much to learn. For example, if you face an attacker with the ball with your legs parallel you can easily be nutmegged, you should always angle yourself, depending on tactics and the opposition player you can show them the line or force them inside etc.
I thought Joe was excellent yesterday. He definitely helped us gain a little more control of the game which we were lacking in previously.
ReplyDeleteAllen, like Agger is injury prone. You can't build a team around players who are always 2-3 full games away from another spell in the treatment room.
ReplyDeleteSell, he is a poor defender who for some reason runs on his toes so has no grounding when he receives the ball. More often than not this then leads to the ball bouncing off him and giving opposing teams the chance to get at him. His crossing is suspect at best and he has a problem making quick decisions. If i were an opposing team manager i would target him all day long and it seems that most managers are doing this as he is a weak link
ReplyDeleteTbh, there isn't really a place for Allen in our current starting XI, but the same could easily be said for both Gerrard and Lucas.
ReplyDeleteIf we had a player that combined their best abilities (Gerrard - leadership & distribution / Lucas - spotting danger & tackling) we'd have a pretty decent midfield - ironically its Allen who has the best combination of those skills.
As it stands, something is gonna have to give next season as non of these 3 are ideal for that holding role and we'll get massacred in the group stages of the CL without it being properly addressed.
Exactly.....
ReplyDeleteJoe Allen isnt a Defensive midfielder. He is someone who gets on the ball and passes it between the midfield. He keeps things going and retains possession. He isnt meant to block the ball or provide clearances. Like Xabi Alonso says "Tackling isnt football".
ReplyDeleteWhen I talk about the defence I always include the goalkeeper as they are an integral part.
ReplyDeleteIf you goal keeper does not inspire confidence then it doesn't matter who is in your defence and vice verser.
So in regards to how we have defended this season you can not excuse Mignolet's role.
Yes it was a good decision that saw us to the end of a tricky game and a vital 3 points
ReplyDeleteWe have also scored far more too. You can't have everything. I would much rather see the open attacking play we are producing this season with more goals scored and yes more conceded than what we were producing last season. Im sure you would all agree. So why are you moaning about it?
ReplyDeleteI think there are a umber of issues at play here. This season has seen more defensive changes game by game than I can remember for along time. every week we seem to be shifting players in and out, from left to right. Players are brought back too quickly, subbed during games. Ideally you want your keeper and back four to stay the same for as many games as realistically possible. This season only Mignolet and Skrtel seem to be mainstays of the team. We have had a ridiculous number of injuries, often at the same time, but I also think Rodgers is worried about conceding and that filters through to the players.
ReplyDeleteWe have also had, for many seasons, a dedicated DM that protects that back four. The fact that Lucas has either been injured or on the bench enables us to be more attacking from that position but will always have an impact.
But I think the main issue, and it's related somewhat to Mignolet, is that for the first time in a long time we don't seem to have a natural leader in the back four/five. Common sense suggests Toure was brought in partly for that role (certainly in the dressing room and in training) and promoting Danny Agger to VC when on teh pitch but none of them has the presence of Carra or Reina. Johnson has never done that job, Skrtel is a pure defender who can marshal his area but shouldn't be asked to control the whole line, Agger should be able to fulfill that role but a) is too often injured and b) doesn't seem to have the full support of Rodgers, Flannagan is too young but may develop into that player.
Mignolet again, is probably too young at the moment, is new to the club and comes from a team where he probably never had to do that role previously. Sunderland had Wes Brown and John O'Shea in front of him; two of the most experienced CBs going with league titles, european cups etc between them.
We need someone to step up to that role and quickly. Someone needs to take control of marshaling the back line and organizing everyone. Importantly that person needs to play . . . every week and they need to have the respect of everyone around them. Unfortunately the whole defence is currently tarnished with something - too young, too old, too error prone, too injury prone. Sakho could well be the one to fill that role but he's come into a club with two experienced center backs that have been at the club for a number of years, both captains of their countries.
Personally, I still think the man for the job is Agger. But he needs to start manning up sharpish. He still looks lightweight up against the biggest CFs. Carra used to get bossed by Drogba every season but he always left a bit on him as well. Drogba knew he'd been through a game come the end. Agger needs to get that attitude and take some of teh example that Skrtel sets. I don't think agger is scared by the challenge but he needs to go balls out and make a statement; unfortunately I get the impression he may just break every time he tries it. Only time will tell but sort out the defence and we might . . . MIGHT earn ourselves a title!
I don't rate Sakho.He may be physically intimidating but he never looked comfortable on the ball. Not sure why we paid the ransom. I'd rather the Greek defender from a German team who is equally athelatic n looks more intimidating n keeps the ball well on his feet n really calm when pressured. Very composed I must say n Sakho had caused several goals already n I m worried with him playing than when not.
ReplyDeleteGet rid. The last decent perfomance by Johnson was against United at Anfield near the start of the season, the match in which he got injured. He's been way off form since then, and he's never been solid defensively.
ReplyDeleteGlen Johnson has not been performing at a level that merits over £100,000 a week so I have an opinion on the matter and that is to sell him. I was a fan but he cannot put 2 good games together now so sell while we can and PLEASE do not do a Reina and loan him out and let his value drop as there are top teams that will take Johnson and for decent money as well. Why we just didn't sell Reina is hard to believe. I mean there were teams who would have bit the hand off LFC for him last season. Arsenal included.
ReplyDelete