Should Emi Buendia and Philippe Coutinho both start?

[RamboandBruno]

At the moment it is an easy decision - only Buendia should start.

Coutinho has contributed very little in recent games and versus Bolton he was poor - two abject shots in the first half and a woeful freekick, followed by a terrible pass intended for Watkins when he only needed to lift it over the last defender.

I also think at the moment that the ambition of players to involve him in the build-up (as with Grealish) is slowing down the speed of our attacks. And when he drops into midfield to get on the ball it is more often disruptive than the prompt for something incisive. UTV.

Coutinhio was poor first half against Bolton as were most of the team, but for 20 minutes in the second half he ran the show, which coincided with us dominating the game.
It was only Bolton, but if he can get his confidence up and play like that, he will still be some player for us this season. We really do need him on form and in the team.

[Delboy Villan]

Watkins and Ings don't work and these guys both struggled recently when played so try them together again? Play Bouba, Tim and Dougie behind them? Watkins upfront. Sorted!

[oldhill_avfc]

Neither vs West Ham

Would prefer to consolidate in the central midfield area to counteract Rice.

2 holding then Ramsey, mcginn and luiz having licence to get forward maybe?

[edgysatsuma89]

Buendia for me. Brother met him in the Villa shop the other day and my niece is nearly already bigger than him! (She's 13). Was funny to think that he actually went in to the shop to get his kids a villa kit rather than just phoning someone else to do it. Fair play.

[Footy-Vill]

I see Vs West Ham it's back to Coutinho Watkins and Ings Vs West Ham
I think that the 3 that played v Everton yet it was Buendía that made the difference.

[Footy-Vill]

I've heard Coutinho pulled his hamstring or cramp
That's a concern.
But now it's enforced to bring Buendía on so that's a plus.

[Bad English]

Hopefully.

[levico]

Can’t help but think that Courtinho was an expensive gamble that’s gone badly wrong.

Cramp after 60 mins ? Pathetic. Such a lightweight. Totally lacking in physically and athleticism. Unfit for the PL.

[brontebilly]

To get away with playing Coutinho, you would need to have a group of serious athletes all around him. We have likes of Ings and Luiz. Coutinho walks around the pitch, the odd nice touch here and there but that's it. He's done at the highest level.

[Footy-Vill]

From what I understand and read, Rice was being shadowed by Coutinho, and when PC went off, Buendía failed to stay on task, allowing Declan Rice to step forward and pass the ball to Fornals for the goal.

I've since watched footage and it is the case Buendía had not done his duty in preventing the goal in his failing to disrupt their buildup, which may be a reason why SG prefers the more experienced Coutinho and would be concerned about playing both. I can't imagine SG will be happy with Buendia for that one.

Indeed the Guardian wrote:
"Risking Emiliano Buendía in creative tandem with Philippe Coutinho continues to be off-limits and a big part of Coutinho’s detail was to stick as close to Rice whenever Villa were out of possession, the West Ham captain struggling with such close attention....

And when Rice strode forward to set up Fornals’ goal he was no longer being shadowed. Clearly missing the memo, Buendía was nowhere near and Emiliano Martínez could only watch as the ball spun beyond his reach and in."

[oldhill_avfc]

Doesn’t tally with what I saw.

West Ham Sat deep in the first half with five at the back and two central holding midfielders.  This nullified us trying to play through the middle.

In the second half they changed their shape.  Rice pushed them 30 yards higher up the pitch and controlled the right side with ease picking out quick incisive passes.  Rice was in control regardless of Coutinho or Buendia being on the pitch. 

In other threads on here, several posts make the point that luiz going off and giving rice more freedom was the telling change.

[AlexAlexCropley]

Coutinho shadowed Rice? Was this on Earth 2.0?

[ChicagoLion]

Coutinho shadowed Rice?

Complete bollocks,

[LeeB]

He was really buzzing around in the first 25 minutes, trying to make things happen. I feel him, his form isn't great but he hasn't got much to work with, his teammates seem to want to pull up a chair and watch once they give him the ball.

[Clampy]

Yep, some of his passes in the first half were superb.

As for him supposedly supposed to be shadowing Rice, what nonsense that is.