04 Jan 2018 11:44:26
Ok lad's what are the pro's and con's of keeping/ letting go of Couthino in January?

{Ed025's Note - keeping- a world class player who can do what most other players cant and can turn a game in an instant barry...letting go-the money but only if its used to strengthen the squad..

1.) 04 Jan 2018
04 Jan 2018 12:18:00
He's going to be a big loss to the team that there is no doubt Ed. So if it could be done a deal that sees him go 100% to Barcelona Ed like the deal we did with RBL but the thing is if he doesn't go now will he spit the dummy even more lad's?

{Ed025's Note - to be fair to the guy he has still contributed barry, yes the injured and playing for brazil was naughty but quality like him does not come around too often mate..

2.) 04 Jan 2018
04 Jan 2018 12:23:54
I guess you can look at it having both positive and negative affects especially if he stays. Will he knuckle down like he has for the first half of the season and be professional or will he spit his dummy out ( if rumours and reports are to beloved ) like he seems to be doing now? I think I would rather cash in than risking upsetting a dressing room that seems to have togetherness at the minute and on a 16 game unbeaten run.

3.) 04 Jan 2018
04 Jan 2018 12:50:48
It's all cons for me. Make the deal for Summer, not half way through the season with no replacement.

4.) 04 Jan 2018
04 Jan 2018 12:53:02
Cons:

Selling a world class attacking player who most teams in the world would want

High risk - very few cases where selling a top player has been strengthened by replacements. Examples: Liverpool selling Suarez, United selling Ronaldo, Spurs selling Bale. Exception: Juventus improved after selling Pogba. So not impossible but high risk. Replacement is key whether its a direct replacement or otherwise. His attacking quality will need replacing.

Trending/ world image: Liverpool will continue to be selling top players. Not pointing fingers here but top players continue to drive for exits. Liverpool to find some way to stop this.

Firmino loses a dance buddy.

Pros:

Liverpool sell a player who doesn't want to be at the club and is causing disruption behind the scenes.

Liverpool pocket what should be a very large sum. If that is reinvested wisely to add to van dijk and Kieta then there's a chance we might do a Juventus on it.

I really am torn on this. I feel we need to find some way to stop selling our best players but what can you do when players push so hard. My only hope is Lemar or whoever replaces hits the ground running and we can move on quick. I do feel signing Salah softens this a big bit but will he be next in the summer. something has to give somewhere if we want to reach our goals.

5.) 04 Jan 2018
04 Jan 2018 12:55:17
I am not worried about Coutinho going I am worried about not getting someone of quality in. Liverpool should focus on getting someone in and then deal with Barcelona.

6.) 04 Jan 2018
04 Jan 2018 12:59:24
A run of which he has been very much part of. Barcelona have to bid first, and bid big enough. A no nonsense deal which makes sense in today's market, then they can have him. You don't sign a 5 year deal while at the same time posturing for a move and expect to be let go for peanuts. If he stays, he'll sulk but he'll also get on with it after a time. Whatever his motives are to play, being ready for the World Cup will be in his mind somewhere.

Saying all that, he's been here 5 years. Let's him go, its long enough at one place of employment in a short career.

7.) 04 Jan 2018
04 Jan 2018 13:32:59
It would be in the clubs interest to sort a deal out now to sell him in Summer IMO, provided Coutinho is willing to accept this. No doubt he ideally wants to go this month, but if LFC state Barcelona must pay a £*** to sign him and take him now, but will accept a slightly lower figure to keep him until end of season.
If we do sell now and bring in say Lemar he will be ineligible for CL, which is not ideal.
Will be interesting to see what LFC will do and who they will target.

{Ed002's Note - He wants to leave, he has made himself unvailable for selection again.}

8.) 04 Jan 2018
04 Jan 2018 13:36:01
Well red, I’m not disputing the fact he’s been a big part if not the biggest part of our unbeaten run but that Dusnt excuse the fact he could disrupt the dressing room if he decides to act up. Phil has been a great servent to the club and in all honesty I’m not happy but I’m not sad to see him go, for me it’s six of one and half a dozen of the other. Let’s just hope we get it right first time with his replacement.

9.) 04 Jan 2018
04 Jan 2018 13:39:51
Ford is right it's not as much the going because we all know that he is going but it's who's coming in.

10.) 04 Jan 2018
04 Jan 2018 13:43:04
I think the disruption element has been massively exaggerated. He still seems very popular in the squad and AOC publicly defending him supports that.

There isn't a player available who would adequately replace Couts, you know how I know that? Because Barcelona would be trying to sign that player instead.

I also don't want to make a deal now for the summer as that would really need with his motivation. We don't want what's happening with Keita happening here.

Keep him now, sell him before the world cup.

11.) 04 Jan 2018
04 Jan 2018 13:53:42
I think people need to realise that when Barcelona and Real Madrid come calling it is most players dream.
If we were selling our top players to tom dick and Harry then yes I would agree we are a selling club.
United couldn't keep Ronaldo, Spurs couldn't keep bale so we need to understand our place in the pecking order.

12.) 04 Jan 2018
04 Jan 2018 14:41:11
Picking up in Ed25’s comment, saying he’s contributed during this anxious time - Poor Couthino.

Patting a player on the back for doing a job he’s paid very highly to do? Drives me insane.

I hope we get as much money for him as possible and on our terms.

13.) 04 Jan 2018
04 Jan 2018 14:33:37
Pros:

We can sign a player we want who wants to play for Liverpool.

Cons:

If the door hits him as hard as I'd like it to on the way out, we might have to get it re-painted. Unless it's already red, of course.

14.) 04 Jan 2018
04 Jan 2018 16:00:26
There's no pro in keeping him in my opinion because he doesn't want to be here.

15.) 04 Jan 2018
04 Jan 2018 16:01:02
He will go at some point. Like eds 25 said as long as the money is invested wisely back into the squad and not wasted then a happy. On the down side we won’t find that level of player again so we would have to buy and teach him which takes time.
Life go on!