January 2023 Transfer Rumours, Discussions and Done Deals Thread

[frank black]

Comparing international football to the Premier League is difficult, but look at how Messi plays for Argentina.  The team is basically built around and compensates for him not really offering much off the ball at all.  What he did do though was to get into positions where when they won the ball Back, he could cause the opposition problems.

I think Coutinho and Buendia to some extent, need to be given that type of role if we are to see the best of them.  I think Buendia offers more without the ball, but Coutinho has that touch more quality.  I would be disappointed to see Coutinho go without the opportunity to have a run of games.

I don’t think Coutinho is mentally where he should be. Seems to me to be one of those players that gets a move of a lifetime and is sorted financially. That’s it then, game over. Barca realised, now we have been stuck with him. I expect an expensive contract release/move.

[brontebilly]

Gerrard ruined him. End of story.

How did Coutinho end up at Villa in the first place? Without Gerrard he wouldn't have come anywhere near us but the fact a midtable club could get him even on loan just showed how far his star had fallen. Everton had same issue with Rodriguez, great start but ultimately these guys don't take their careers seriously any more and get found out.

We already had spent a club record fee on Buendia and Gerrard seemed set on 433 anyway. For footballing reasons we should never have gone near him.

[Clampy]

Gerrard ruined him. End of story.

How did Coutinho end up at Villa in the first place? Without Gerrard he wouldn't have come anywhere near us but the fact a midtable club could get him even on loan just showed how far his star had fallen. Everton had same issue with Rodriguez, great start but ultimately these guys don't take their careers seriously any more and get found out.

We already had spent a club record fee on Buendia and Gerrard seemed set on 433 anyway. For footballing reasons we should never have gone near him.

I don't recall you saying any of that when he signed.

Lets face it, nearly everyone on here was delighted when he joined and understandbly so. If he ends up moving on, then so be it but for £17m, it was worth the punt.

[Axl Rose]

Hopefully he returns to form under Emery, as he was brilliant when he first signed.

[markeeeebeeee2005]

The point about Coutinho is not whether he can contribute or not. Maybe he will, maybe he won’t. But whether he’s world class. Messi is world class. Mbappe is world class. Martinez is world class. He’s not.

[OCD]

The Liverpool version probably was though.

[markeeeebeeee2005]

He was certainly very very good at Liverpool. I’d be thrilled if we could see a glimpse of that. 

[john e]

His influence waned last season, but i still loved watching him on the ball,
Just the way he receives and controls the ball is beautiful to see

 not a single player improved under Gerrard most regressed, so I don’t think it’s unreasonable to think he suffered under Gerrard tactics and formations, even though he was his big mate,

I would be hopeful under a better coach like Emery he could regain his form and play a big part

For me he’s still a class player

[nigel]

Aston Villa have opened talks with Villarreal over a deal for Netherlands winger Arnaut Danjuma, 25. (Todofichajes - in Spanish)

[Bent Neilsens Screamer]

Wolves about to sign Matheus Cunha according to BBC

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64093737

[eamonn]

Gerrard ruined him. End of story.

How did Coutinho end up at Villa in the first place? Without Gerrard he wouldn't have come anywhere near us but the fact a midtable club could get him even on loan just showed how far his star had fallen. Everton had same issue with Rodriguez, great start but ultimately these guys don't take their careers seriously any more and get found out.

We already had spent a club record fee on Buendia and Gerrard seemed set on 433 anyway. For footballing reasons we should never have gone near him.

I don't recall you saying any of that when he signed.

Lets face it, nearly everyone on here was delighted when he joined and understandbly so. If he ends up moving on, then so be it but for £17m, it was worth the punt.

Brontebilly called this from the start much to the rolling of eyes of those who thought it was nothing like the James Rodriguez situation.

[eamonn]

Plus we presumably broke our wage structure to sign him.

[Clark W Griswold]

He was certainly very very good at Liverpool. I’d be thrilled if we could see a glimpse of that.

I think he’d arrived at ‘world class’ at the time Barcelona signed him. And that’s why it was always worth a try, and I still hope it’ll work out.

[markeeeebeeee2005]

He was certainly very very good at Liverpool. I’d be thrilled if we could see a glimpse of that.

I think he’d arrived at ‘world class’ at the time Barcelona signed him. And that’s why it was always worth a try, and I still hope it’ll work out.

Really hope so too. He was fantastic at Liverpool and a mixed bag since then. But at the moment he’s a bit part player for a mid table team.

[Rigadon]

Sign a goal scorer.  Everything else can wait if it has to.