Paul-ee-oh why sat on the benchy?

[Blade56]

I demand a referendum on Coutts

 

[Cerberus Blade]

I demand a referendum on Coutts

You're right!

We loved him so much.
Then he was poorly.
Then we signed a replacement.
Then he got better again.
Then we realised his replacement was better than him.
Then he didn't really get much game time.
Then when he did get some game time he didn't look fully better.
Then we tried to find reasons why he couldn't play alongside his replacement, because we still love him.
But there aren't any reasons, other than he's not done anything to convince us he should.
Then we started to compare him with a totally different type of midfield player and say, "well, he's better than him".
But he isn't competing with "him". Because "him" only gets used on special occasions when a different tactical approach is needed.
So now we are back to the original question: Why aren't we playing Coutts more regularly?
And the simple answer is: We haven't needed to up till now.

 

[guancheblade]

I think Tufty sees him as Olly's understudy now and that they can't play in the same team.

Man City have no problem playing Bernardo and David Silva in the same team despite the similarities. Heck, they even have the same flippin name and they still make the first 11.

Not playing a better centre mid because there is another player similar in style is beyond backwards. Lundstram in his head is exactly the style of plater that Norwood is so why should he play alongside him either?

 

[RammyBlade]

Coutts is too similar to Norwood , Lundstram plays a diffferent role in that he is more defensive and this worked well at Brentford but of course when we need some extra creativity he rarely produces it . I like Lunny as he gives 100% and a good squad player so will be important in certain matches over the remaining season

 

[coolhandluke]

I guess part of the reason Fleck is playing further forward is that Norwood plays deep. Very deep. And when pressured, his instinct is to drop even deeper. Against Birmingham he was practically picking the ball up on his own penalty spot. Coutts played deep too, of course, but I imagine his 'average position' was far further forward than Norwood's is.

But if Norwood drops deep, as deep as his own penalty area to pick the ball up, then surely Fleck would drop back to cover the gap in Midfield that would open up ? I think Flecks more forward role this season, predominantly on the left hand side, has more to do with Duffy as I've already outlined .

 

[LoughboroBlade]

Coutts is too similar to Norwood , Lundstram plays a diffferent role in that he is more defensive and this worked well at Brentford but of course when we need some extra creativity he rarely produces it . I like Lunny as he gives 100% and a good squad player so will be important in certain matches over the remaining season

I disagree to some degree that he is “more defensive” on everything about his game – for me, he has always been a midfielder that gets into some great positions inside the penalty area. I don’t think I’ve seen Coutts or Norwood ever get on the end of a move in the 6 yard box – sometimes it works for Lundstram (eg the goal at Forest last season), and other times it doesn’t (eg Brentford just after the opening goal). He seems to have a more natural instinct to get into the box than either Norwood or Coutts from what I’ve seen so far. Part of that will be down to the role he’s asked to play, but I think some of it is also down to his desire to get a goal despite not being particularly spectacular (think Jason Holt, or to some degree Basham when asked to do similar).

 

[bibbity bobbity boo]

I'm liking your idea. Moore is good and we could play him as well as Henderson as a wing back.

We could have against Reading

 

[Guesty]

But if Norwood drops deep, as deep as his own penalty area to pick the ball up, then surely Fleck would drop back to cover the gap in Midfield that would open up ? I think Flecks more forward role this season, predominantly on the left hand side, has more to do with Duffy as I've already outlined .

I think Duffy is a part of it, but I also think he's driving forward more because Norwood doesn't (Norwood is also very much a 'pass first' player'). We maybe don't associate Coutts as a player who goes forward with the ball at his feet but he *did* do it on occasion. Norwood basically never does, and I think Fleck has adapted to try and fill that gap.

 

[snootyfenooty]

We all know United are a bit short on quality, we understand this as we're not flush with the necessary funds to do a lot about it. However, with this quality in short supply, it is equally difficult to understand the paradox of seeing our three quality players sitting on the bench together (Duffy, Sharp & Coutts) when two of their replacements on the pitch can be described as anything but quality (Lundstram, Washington).

 

[coaxingstar71]

They tried it at Forest and weirdly we had no control of the game or midfield at all. Coutts played ahead of Norwood in more of a right side midfielder. Adkins played him in this role or more as a winger too and it never worked.

I think if it was me and we tried them together I'd put Coutts as the base/quarter back and Norwood further forward with Fleck the most advanced. I'd like them to try this with Duffy too. So almost like a diamond and just one up top. Sounds madness but think we would dominate midfield. Not score like but summat different!

Cheers Deadbat as I was trying to think of the game where we started with those three. It was weird, although I can see Wilder returning to it at some point - the whole team was flat that day so maybe we should give it another chance.

With regard to Lundstram, I don't think he played bad at Reading, I could see him doing the covering and closing down, someone else said it depends on what his instructions were. I tend to think we were trying to contain them first half, Wilder's post match comments were that he was unhappy about the fact we were giving it away too much so he brought Duffy on to gain more control further up the pitch. We'll never know if Coutts would have been any better within that first half performance.

I think Fleck can play that forward role, he played it for 65 minutes v Swansea on the first day and I thought he played it well, he's just not on form at the moment wherever he's playing.

 

[BonnyBlade]

Personally I think lundstram would make a decent centre half in the Bashsm role strong athletic just think he'd scare other teams what do you think

 

[BushBlade]

I think Duffy is a part of it, but I also think he's driving forward more because Norwood doesn't (Norwood is also very much a 'pass first' player'). We maybe don't associate Coutts as a player who goes forward with the ball at his feet but he *did* do it on occasion. Norwood basically never does, and I think Fleck has adapted to try and fill that gap.

Coutts could make a run forwards because he takes so much care with the ball. I haven’t seen that as much from Norwood, maybe he’s easier to dispossess so tends to want to move the ball on quickly. I think Coutts may be better at drawing defenders towards him before passing, although that might be nothing more than my perception.