Coutts

[Gimli]

Fleck was having a terrible game in my opinion yesterday and was rightly subbed. In the circumstances who would you bring on?

I’m not saying Coutts was amazing last night but the circumstancss were that we were very much up against it at that point in the game and Fleck needed hooking, I think it was a good shout to bring Coutts on - did it work, clearly not but that can hardly be down to Coutts alone

 

[Millhousesblade1889]

I'd still like to see how he would cope in the role that Norwood is playing. He's never been an athletic player so expecting him to play the Fleck role , especially after so long out, is a huge ask.

But Norwood is better at that role than Coutts, younger and more athletic.

Even when Coutts was on top form he’s not as good as Norwood. You can’t afford to take Norwood off either, that one pass can change a game (if we had someone who could put it in the net!)

 

[BigBed]

Mobility was never his strong suit. That West Brom team we’re quick and mobile and strong and when they aggressively pressed or broke at speed they looked a league above. We don’t have a player that could have negated that. I think the idea was to try and keep possession to stop us being over run.

Let's be honest, look at their team.....they are a league above really.

 

[BigBed]

Fleck was having a terrible game in my opinion yesterday and was rightly subbed. In the circumstances who would you bring on?

I’m not saying Coutts was amazing last night but the circumstancss were that we were very much up against it at that point in the game and Fleck needed hooking, I think it was a good shout to bring Coutts on - did it work, clearly not but that can hardly be down to Coutts alone

Might've been better to bring Cranie on and push Bash forward.

 

[Gimli]

Might've been better to bring Cranie on and push Bash forward.

You might be right, I don’t know what the best answer was last night, but I think it’s harsh that some are writing Coutts off (again)

 

[BigBed]

You might be right, I don’t know what the best answer was last night, but I think it’s harsh that some are writing Coutts off (again)

I don't think Coutts will ever be the same player again.

 

[nopigfansintown]

I always think a player returning from a long term injury is a full pre season and a month of match fitness away from being any real use. Let him do a pre season with the fitness coaches then let's judge. There's no guarantee he'll ever be the same player, and he's out of contract at the end of the season though...

 

[LoughboroBlade]

I always think a player returning from a long term injury is a full pre season and a month of match fitness away from being any real use.

Our fans have short memories. When Kabba and Hulse returned mid-season after long injuries they looked well short of their former selves – in the case of the latter that resulted in short-sighted acceptance when he was sold to Derby and essentially replaced with Henderson, and in contrast to those suggesting he would improve substantially with a good pre-season. Having scored 0 on his return he scored 18 for Derby the following season. Having looked lightweight and rusty on his return, with a preseason behind him Kabba quickly pushed Webber out of the side in the first half of the following season and was excellent up to the contract issue. Coutts quite simply isn’t going to be right till next season – it’s why we invested in Norwood rather than get someone in temporarily till Coutts returned to training.

That’s not a guarantee of course that he will be back to his old self – I’m simply saying it’s too early to make that judgment.

 

[DronnieBlade]

But Norwood is better at that role than Coutts, younger and more athletic.

Even when Coutts was on top form he’s not as good as Norwood. You can’t afford to take Norwood off either, that one pass can change a game (if we had someone who could put it in the net!)

He isn’t.

He was.

UTB

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

I don't think Coutts will ever be the same player again.

Said it before but Wallace looked a better player than Coutts when they both arrived but Wallace unfortunately didn't progress as well as Coutts did, give him time.

 

[diplomat]

Let's be honest, look at their team.....they are a league above really.

Really athletic weren’t they? Some nous in Barry, goal threat from several places, we kept quiet the obvious ones and two people who rarely score did. A few round me kept saying they were crap but they aren’t, they’ll be too two or close to it. Sadly first half we made them look ordinary but couldn’t capitalise.

 

[BigBed]

Said it before but Wallace looked a better player than Coutts when they both arrived but Wallace unfortunately didn't progress as well as Coutts did, give him time.

If he was playing regular football, maybe time would do it, but he isn't, and to shift Norwood would take something like a miracle.

 

[Cerberus Blade]

I like Coutts. I liked him when others were slagging him off several years ago. When Wilder was appointed and we had that terrible start I was posting that we needed Coutts in the team because he is a calming influence and can hold and pass the ball. He came in and did just - he made a huge difference.

Fast forward to the last few games and I’ve said he’s nowhere near ready. And he’s not. Nowhere near. He cannot run FFS! Why he is anywhere near the first team squad is a mystery to me. All these on here who’ve been wanting him in the team ought to have learned last night why he isn’t.

I feel sorry for the lad and I hope he can get back to where he was. But he’d not make the match day squad for me, not at this level of fitness.

 

[benn5712]

Let's be honest, look at their team.....they are a league above really.

Agree.
When you see the teams that have just, or recently been relegated from the Premier, you can see they are that bit quicker, think a bit smarter, move a bit better. Their touch is better, they even look slightly more athletic. Bit better quality. Look at Swansea and Stoke at home.
Our players have to try and match that up and have to be at 10 tenths constantly.

 

[BladesOnToast]

But Norwood is better at that role than Coutts, younger and more athletic.

Even when Coutts was on top form he’s not as good as Norwood. You can’t afford to take Norwood off either, that one pass can change a game (if we had someone who could put it in the net!)

Even the clowns at TalkSport2 (whose commentary I listened to last night) described Coutts as "the best player in the championship for the first third of last season". I don't think anyone would describe Norwood as the best player in the championship. He is definitely capable of supplying the best outside-of-the-boot 75 yard cross-field pass not just in the championship but probably the entire world, but he's certainly not the best player.

 

[FTPE]

I love everyone on here, we are family, but fucking hell some of us have some seriously different opinions.
Coutts is Done? Finished? After 2 or 3 weeks of being fully back.
Norwood needs dropping and is bad for the team!?
Coutts before his injury was better than Ollie!?

 

[DaleHillBlade]

Norwood is proper quality and Wilder could do worse by forming the team around him.

The team that has brought us all the magic in recent seasons is aging.

The time has come to be brave.

 

[bibbity bobbity boo]

But Norwood is better at that role than Coutts, younger and more athletic.

Even when Coutts was on top form he’s not as good as Norwood. You can’t afford to take Norwood off either, that one pass can change a game (if we had someone who could put it in the net!)

Unfortunately the game changing pass went straight to an Albion player and they did have someone who could put it in the back of the net

 

[Laney Blade]

Coutts is shot based on that performance. He spent ages building up his level of performance with us, it will take even longer to get back to that standard IMO.

Couttsy does need longer to slowly build up his game minutes to help his confidence. He is a player who needs to feel the love or he starts just walking about like he did under Clough & Adkins. So he has to build up to running again as he has done previously only for Chris Wilder.

 

[Laney Blade]

I'd still like to see how he would cope in the role that Norwood is playing. He's never been an athletic player so expecting him to play the Fleck role , especially after so long out, is a huge ask.

None would cope with the pressure of Norwood's role. He always looks to get the ball in the box as quickly as possible. He makes the odd mistake because he takes the risks to do this. We can't have all our midfield playing safe with sideways passes outside the pen area.

 

[Kozzy_is_my_Dad]

A few need to give their head a good wobble.

 

[Laney Blade]

Unfortunately the game changing pass went straight to an Albion player and they did have someone who could put it in the back of the net

True but not easy when trying to take a risk for good of the team ... when rest of midfield playing stay safe with crap sideways passing outside the pen area & you can't be criticised. This season Bash & Ollie are the players who strive to drive us forward. Bash must be the Player of the Season so far. He never stops trying to drive us forward ... he never joins in the sideways passing exhibition type football just to make himself look good. Bash is unselfish & a real team player who is desperate for us to win.

 

[true99blade]

Nostalgia.
It very rarely works in football.

Don’t usually count one year ago as that strong a feeling of nostalgia. It’s what’s worked for us the most in the last 18 months.

 

[boo radley]

Don’t usually count one year ago as that strong a feeling of nostalgia. It’s what’s worked for us the most in the last 18 months.

That would be Mr Wilder then.