Well it was looking more and more imminent over the last couple of days and now it’s actually happened.
This surely has to be our biggest ever signing and I’m not just talking about money. In fact, I can’t think of another player who comes anywhere near.
If I’d suggested six months ago that we would sign a top player, who isn’t in the last few months of his playing career, from one of the biggest clubs in the world in Barcelona, you would have thought I’d lost my mind.
Such is the pulling power of Steven Gerrard then that we’ve signed Phillipe Coutinho, who just four years ago was one of the finest players in the world.
Can he revert to the same level he was at when he left Liverpool?
Let’s remind ourselves where “the magician” can play.
It’s attacking midfield, winger or as back up striker. He’s totally two footed, can take a pretty good free kick and has an eye for a quality pass, along with the ability to take a cracking long distance shot too. All in all then, he’s very versatile and exciting on his day.
Which makes you wonder what Stevie G has in mind for him, although it would be fair to say that there are plenty of players who could easily be replaced. The question has to be does Coutinho still have what it takes to be a decent Premier league player?
I’m looking to Wiki here for the facts, but I remember Coutinho as one of my favourite players at the time he left Liverpool. And no wonder, when he played 20 games in his final season (2017-18) for them and scored 12 with 9 assists before leaving in the winter window.
He joined Barcelona then, but didn’t actually play for them that much. He did win La Ligue twice, which is no mean feat, but left after playing 76 games and scoring 17 goals. There’s no mention of any assists, but you can bet there were a few.
And then he left for Bayern Munich for the 2019-20 season, where he played 23 games and scored 8 goals, which is a very decent return. The Wiki article isn’t the best though and there’s no explanation as to why he played so few games. Even so, he was a member of a squad that did the German treble.
The worrying thing is there’s mention of games up until December and then nothing until a sub appearance in the Champions’ league quarter final in August. So that’s eight months that’s unexplained. Was he injured or was he just out of favour?
There’s nothing you can do about an injury, if indeed that’s what it was, but then it gets even more concerning.
It would seem that after returning to Barce, he played under Ronald Koeman, but then suffered a knee injury in December 2020.
And then there’s no reference to anything and it would appear he hasn’t played since.
That’s a whole year, where we know what that can do to a player.
When Wesley got injured I was quick to say that I thought he was finished as a Villa player. Sadly. it looks as though I’ll be proved right. Which is where I find myself wondering if Coutinho’s half decent, let alone best days, are behind him?
They really shouldn’t be, as 29 is not an age that makes recovery a major problem.
But it’s when you also wonder if he still has the desire to give it his all that doubts set in.
At least they do for me.
There’s no doubt though, that this is a good signing. it’s a deal that has given the club massive publicity and seriously raised our profile. This is one of the real plusses in having such a universally admired player in Gerrard as our manager. If anyone had doubts about his pulling power, they’re now surely dispelled and if this signing works, think of the other players who we might be able to attract. The sky really could be the limit. Or at least our owners ambitions would be all that would be stopping us.
It’s a shame that we don’t already have that bigger ground capacity in place, as he’d surely be adding bums on seats.
You’d expect plenty of fans will be wanting that name on the back of their new shirts too, so we’ll recoup some of those very expensive wages.
But there’s also no doubt that this is also a very risky signing. A player who’s been out so long always is and this could just prove yet another disaster signing in a very long list of disaster signings. It’s what we do best after all, isn’t it?
Still, it’s seriously fired up the support and given us renewed hope, which has to be a good thing in itself.
Add in another couple of signings and there’s still time for us to push further up what is a very poor league this season.
While I’m actually feeling very positive myself, I might as well remind us all that Europe is by no means beyond us.
Time will tell, I guess.
I really hope he’s good for us, as he could be a real focal point for a team.
Good reflective piece Badger.
Balugue, like you, questions whether he can ever recapture the form he showed at Liverpool and, I suppose, that’s why Villa refused to agree to an obligation to buy and would only accept an option to buy at a pre-agreed price of €40m. Good business imo.
Two reoccurring comments have been made:
1. It seems he’s very shy and needs an ‘arm’ around him – something that would have been lacking at Barca. Gerrard knows him well (‘he’s my friend’) and seems to be a good man manager. Let’s not forget one of Sir Ron’s greatest skills was his man management. The challenge will be to make the differing relationship work.
2. He went to Barca to replace Iniesta but he played a completely different role in central midfield in the Barca side to that of Coutinho at Liverpool where we played the No 10 role. Some have observed that Barca didn’t have a proper plan for him.
Shy lad being played out of position but expected to live up to a £142 m (third highest transfer fee) price tag – no wonder he lost the self confidence that all great sports people need,
Stevie G should know that Coutinho has to play on the left side of a front three to get the best from him so the question that arises is – how does Buendia fit in?
Ah, I didn’t know he was shy.
That probably makes Barce the second worst club in the world to go to then, after Real.
As you suggest, make him feel good about himself and he could really come good for us.
My biggest doubt is that if he hasn’t played for over a year, will a six month loan be long enough to get him sorted and flying?
I doubt it, but at least we’ll have a good idea about him.
A few responses to comments made:
Phil can (and should) play wide left with licence to roam – where Jack played, while Buendia can play the role Barkley played in the first half of 2020-21 when we were flying. Tantalising…
Selling El Ghazi to another PL club who are challenging for CL would make no sense whatsoever and will end up with all sorts of omelette on Purslow’s face. If he’s on the way out, sell abroad. He’s a very good player; let’s not make one of our rivals (who are ahead of us) even stronger.
Some talk of Watkins being sold on here. Stop it. If we’re serious about pushing on, you don’t sell top-quality players who are coming into their prime in the next 2-4 years. Potentially top class and future England regular.
I’d be surprised if Gerrard ditched Mings and don’t think the skipper is under pressure at the present time.
A general comment on Gerrard’s start. Before Brentford, he had won all the games against the teams we want to be finishing above. The only games we lost were against nailed-on top 4 teams, who we aren’t yet competing with. If Brentford was a festive blip and he continues that trend, we should be sitting pretty come Easter. Just keep beating the teams we expect to finish above and the league position will take care of itself. The question is, where do we want to finish and what does the manager expect? If it’s 8th, we can lose to 7 other teams. If it’s 6th, we can only lose to 2 more teams to those Gerrard lost to (City, Pool, and Chelsea). And so it goes on. In short, play to win and demand the win, but don’t worry if the big boys take the points, aided and abetted by the officials.
UTV
Hayden has been recalled to Villa from Swindon. It appears he will now be the person to put pressure on Marty Cash. This is good news as it means funds can be directed elsewhere. Further, it shows other youngsters who go out on loan and perform there is a route to the first team.
Sid – quite a number of our Youth Cup winning youngsters have either returned or been recalled from loans – Revlan, Barry, Young and Raikhy. It will be interesting to see how many of them are kept at BMH for the remainder of the season
Badger an excellent article.
Without doubt this is a major statement of intent by our owners. This is a coherent aspect of increasing the strength of the Villa brand. Couthino increases world exposure and should act as a magnet to draw other players to our club. The development of links with feeder clubs such as ZED FC in Egypt and franchise plans for Las Vegas Villains in the US. All should help increase the financial strength of our club. These are exciting times. Especially as this appears to be a sustainable strategy and not one that risks our long term future.
I also feel SG is looking to get the spine of the team sorted this transfer window.
With Tuanzebe gone and Mings under pressure, I expect to see movement on a new centre half. I note Feeney was on the bench the other day. Great experience for him, but I am assuming he is not ready to be a regular starter yet.
But, there still is the glaring need of a defensive midfielder. There is talk of Bissouma which is gathering traction. He would be an excellent signing.
And what about cover at left back?
All of this costs an awful lot of cash. In a simplistic model, I am assuming the sale of El Ghazi to West Ham would fund Countinho’s wages for 6 months. But even if we could sell Traore and Trezeguet ( all surplus I believe) there is still a funding shortfall for quality additions. Does it mean that last summer our owners had £100m set aside for new players, but Grealish’s departure brought in an additional £100m. Is this the bonus reserve they are dipping into? I am confident we will remain in the Premier next year. This in turn improves our FFP outlook after the Championship years.
The future is bright for Villa.
In FFP terms NSWE have only spent a fraction of the Grealish money.
Sell Grealish – income of £100m goes to the bottom line.
Buy Buendia, Ings and Bailey – combined sum c. £100m but this can be amortised over the length of their contracts – average 4 years. So only £25m goes into the accounts per annum.
On that basis and assuming NSWE are prepared to operate at the limits of FFP they still have £75m to spend (which can also be amortised) less the cost of Coutinho.
In FFP terms, they can afford to buy a defensive mid, left back and centre back.
And that ignores any income from sales although I suspect we might not see any until the summer
Coutinho, if he’s dropped wages 35% as reported means he’s on around £180,000 a week. Multiplied by 26 weeks is less than £5m. We’d get 3 times that for Ghazi if he goes.
Loadsamoney to spend!!!!
What a turn a round , heads are now looking up at Aston Villa the great times to come, I’m at the age when Villa was riding high and winning cups at Wembley that most of today’s fans could only dream of . I see the glory days around the corner and with the knowledge that my grandkids are following the team of their grandfather. I would think this signing will make even the Villa team understand every game they play is for the shirt and those who jumped ship think why did I do that.. Gerrard keep us smiling mate it’s been a long day coming. V.t.I.D.
Indeed Sid. I definitely think that this signing was as much about raising our profile, as much as anything.
It’s a good fit for our expanding profile, as you say.
The impressive part is that it seems that NWSE have a definite plan for us, which we’ve not seen before at the Villa. It’s really encouraging.
I earlier thought we wouldn’t do much business, but now agree, there are at least a couple of positions that need reinforcements. I’m also reminded of the comment I made not long back in that Gerrard signed 45 players and got rid of 31 in 3 seasons! (I think those were the figures).
I also said when we sold Grealish that I thought we’d already got money in the pot for signings and just sat on it while letting Smith spend the new funds.
Probably because it made good sense not to give Smith £200 million to totally waste, which looks a really good choice now.
So while I don’t think money isn’t an issue, I do think now is not the best time to spend it.
And then we also have to consider FFP. We can’t keep chucking £100 million in too often.
Hitch has long made the point that if you’re not incurring debt, you should be allowed to spend what you want and he’s 100% correct.
Unfortunately, we have to play by the rules and it will hinder us.
Absolutely Badger.
Cash flow is always the issue that brings companies down not losses per se although no company can carry losses for ever.
We have a strong balance sheet and no debt so if NSWE are prepared to invest monies through the issues of shares (rather than loans) then I can’t see what FFP does other than protect the richest clubs (particularly in Europe) and stop any usurpers from joining the club.
Isn’t that exactly what the super league (or whatever it was called) breakaway was – just a further enunciation of the same theme?
As I said the other day; let’s give the player some time before we judge him (or the club for signing him) – from what I can see, he hasn’t played much football at any level for the last 12 months.
As a signing, it’s great and makes a statement about ambition, the ability to attract potentially ‘world class’ players, finances, etc.
With any luck we might get to see him somewhere near his best before the end of this season, then the questions will be whether he wants to stay, and whether we actually buy him!
On a different note.
I see that some media are apparently linking us with a bid for Brighton’s Yves Bissouma.
Apart from the fact that he’s supposed to be playing in the Africa Cup of Nations this month, he’s apparently on police bail at the moment on quite a serious charge.
Two reasons I’d think that the rumours can’t be true?
You have to laugh, Ardent.
Didn’t realise he was on police bail. Shame he’s a very decent player.
As a Midlander first and foremost – brilliant news that Kidderminster have beaten Reading in the Cup.
Icing on the cake is Newcastle losing at home to Cambridge but also note Burnley lost to Huddersfield.
Did they both sacrifice the Cup to concentrate on the league?
Signing Coutinho on loan till end of the season with an option to buy means it’s a risk free deal. The positive outlook is that he knows he will have to perform well to make the Brazilian squad for the WC. It will raise the clubs profile across Europe and rest of the world. If he gets the form back he achieved at Liverpool, he will definitely lift the levels of the players around him. I think a front 3 of Coutinho, Watkins and Buendia with Ramsey, Luiz and McGinn behind offers enough to push us up the table.
As for Bissouma, I think the club needs to know what is going on with the sexual assault claim against him before doing anything. If he is innocent then he would be a good signing offering that strong DM we have been shouting for.
According to some reports in Scotland Villa have tabled a bid rising to £800k for Kerr Smith, 17 year old right back at Dundee.
If true, what does that mean for Hayden?
Home draw with Middlesbrough if we can just get past United?
Digne on his way from Everton for £25m.
Wow – so no Aaron Hickey then and what does it mean for Targett?
Suggest he’s not going to be playing regularly.
Gerrard certainly not shy in rocking the boat.
Some speculation of AEG going the other way?
“Gerrard certainly not shy in rocking the boat.”
I think you’ve hit the nail on the head there H60; everything I see and hear from SG suggests that he’s not someone who takes ‘long term’ to mean 3-4-5 seasons (which was always my impression of Dean Smith). He’s on a mission.
Gerrard seems like someone who realises that we won’t win anything this season, but he’s not going to settle for ‘consolidation’ again – he’s determined that if nothing else, by the end of this season Villa will be a team that nobody looks forward to seeing on the fixture list!
Tsrgett will play second fiddle i.e cup games or if Digne is injured or suspended I’d imagine.
Shame, player of the year for me last season but this year he has been murdered a few times.
Agree, he played out of his skin for a large part of last season, but has struggled to get near that form again this time around.
It’s gotten to the point where now when I see Targett ( & Cash, for that matter) tackling in our area, I just expect a penalty and/or red card…
Maybe we’ll go for Hickey as well and ship Targett out.
Badger has made the point about how many players Gerrard shipped out and then replaced at Rangers. He’s not going to stand still that’s for sure.
I have a feeling we’ll be looking at a much changed Villa line up come the start of next season – for good or for ill.
Certainly not going to be boring – hope NSWE realise they’ve got a ‘tiger by the tail’. 🙂
Digne now 1/8 to join Villa on Sky Bet – next odds 8/1 Newcastle.
Sound familiar? 🙂
So what we do with Tagget now? Any ideas.
Bill – same thought occurred to me.
If they buy Aaron Hickey as well then I think he’s off otherwise I suspect he’ll be second choice to Digne.
We need more real competition for places in defence and not just at full back either.
Having said that we haven’t signed him yet.
True Hitch, this is not today’s work apparently we’ve been in talks a while, and yes i thought we needed other positions to fill rather full backs.