The Coutinho factor

[LeeB]

But Bergkamp had been a massive flop at Inter, they jury was out on him.

[olaftab]

Will put this up in 14 hours when my FB ban expires.

I have never met a FB banee before. Nice to know you😀

[Hookeysmith]

Great read, although would argue when Paul McGrath was with us he was truly world class and would of made any team in the world (Domestic and International) in his position - the true definition of world class.

I think Gerrard is the key for this - not necessarily the getting of him but he must know "the man" and know whether the would be a waster etc.

I think that teams will have to mark up on Phil like they did with Greedy and that in itself will open the door for Buendia and co to exploit

If he stays fit and retains his pace then he really is the replacement for whatshisname.

[lovejoy]

I'm a natural pessimist.

My concerns are - can he really still hack 90 minutes in the frenetic premier league?
We have a wage cap so how much of his wages is this taking up (at the opportunity cot of other players)?
The Chelsea comparison is a good one but we don't know yet if this is more Robinho.
If we need to demonstrate Villa are a team on the big stage we need to sign a world class player from the market not just someone who is best mates with our manager. I'm not saying we shouldn't applaud the approach just the relationships aspect is probably a big angle here.

[LeeB]

He looks, like Joe, that he needs to be somewhere where he's 'the man', will play every week and be the focal point of the team. That's not going to happen if he joins another of the Champs League/Arsehole clubs.

He's prepared to take a step down to play regularly for someone he trusts, I think that shows maturity and him putting actually putting his player career ahead of endorsements and status, which I think bodes well.

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

He looks, like Joe, that he needs to be somewhere where he's 'the man', will play every week and be the focal point of the team. That's not going to happen if he joins another of the Champs League/Arsehole clubs.

He's prepared to take a step down to play regularly for someone he trusts, I think that shows maturity and him putting actually putting his player career ahead of endorsements and status, which I think bodes well.

 

[Archbishop Herbert Cockthrottle]

I am very excited about this. A great move.

[Risso]

I'm a natural pessimist.

My concerns are - can he really still hack 90 minutes in the frenetic premier league?
We have a wage cap so how much of his wages is this taking up (at the opportunity cot of other players)?
The Chelsea comparison is a good one but we don't know yet if this is more Robinho.
If we need to demonstrate Villa are a team on the big stage we need to sign a world class player from the market not just someone who is best mates with our manager. I'm not saying we shouldn't applaud the approach just the relationships aspect is probably a big angle here.

Yeah you're probably right, we should have given La Liga, Bundesliga and Champions League winner Coutinho a miss, and gone for Todd Cantwell instead.

[Toronto Villa]

If you cannot get excited about this then being a football fan isn’t for you.

[lovejoy]

Too many false dawns I'm afraid. SVC, Ginola, Carbone, Warren Aspinall...

[Chris Smith]

If you cannot get excited about this then being a football fan isn’t for you.

True and I am really excited but it’s possible to simultaneously have the feeling, after all we’ve been through over the last ten years, that we’ll find a way to fuck it up. It’s Lerner-Xia syndrome.

[darren woolley]

Great read Dave.

[JUAN PABLO]

Too many false dawns I'm afraid. SVC, Ginola, Carbone, Warren Aspinall...

  I loved carbone here

[garyellis]

For me the big disappointment when you know who left in the summer was how can we replace the hole this will leave?
I never remotely considered a player of Coutinho’s standard either coming to us or being considered.
This is a game changer for us as a club and how we are perceived.
I just hope we have a bit of luck to go with this very bold move.

[Gerrin]

Too many false dawns I'm afraid. SVC, Ginola, Carbone, Warren Aspinall...

  I loved carbone here

Another vote for Carbone here, I thought he was amazing. The one let down was the Cup Final and those gold boots. The team with him and the Magic Man and his hat rick v Leeds, one of my favourite Villa games ever.