Paul Coutts

[Slug]

Forget Dan Burn, move Bash back to centre half alongside Edgar or Collins and give Coutts and Hammond a run together in midfield with Baxter pulling the strings in a 4-3-3......goals, goals, goals!

Howard

Freeman
Basham
Collins/Edgar
K Wallace

Coutts
Hammond
Baxter

Adams
Sharp
Done

Nice in theory but that midfield 3 would be an absolute car crash when defending as none of them are mobile. Unless we sign someone else, we need Bashams legs in midfield

 

[sitwell]

Brilliant but didnt Baxter do similar further forward with a lot less ball and space to collect?

No

 

[Bartleby]

Got to be behind centre halves and goalkeepers for his crossing ability.

I wouldn't play him that deep

 

[LSF]

This will be the issue. Coutts was good tonight - but the skills he showed aren't really in question. He doesn't have the physical attributes or engine necessary when it's tight and we are facing good athletic midfielders.

Well played tonight though.

UTB

Coutts appears to play at strolling/walking pace, does it well when we are on the ball and going forward.
The other bits, running, tackling, defending appear foreign to his nature.

 

[alcoblade]

I was going to start a thread on him too. I thought he was great and showed exactly what he can do.

If we can get him and Baxter at their best every game there aren't many midfielders in the league as good.

Campbell-ryce though. Sorry, its not his thread but my god he is dog shit. Takes a player on with ease, clearly our most gifted player in terms of taking on a man and trickery etc. Got to be behind centre halves and goalkeepers for his crossing ability.

If we played Coutts and Baxter as a midfield 2, we'd be run ragged more often than not. They haven't got an engine between them.

UTB

 

[boo radley]

No

I've since decided yes upon speaking to a couple of others who attended last night.

 

[Bergen Blade]

If we played Coutts and Baxter as a midfield 2, we'd be run ragged more often than not. They haven't got an engine between them.

UTB

We tried that first half vs Rochdale with Scougall just in front of them. I agree that it didn't work due to their inability to cover enough ground.

 

[Fulwood Blade]

I hope this "Coutts" thread FINALLY puts to bed the idea of Baxter playing in front on the back 4.

For the ones who went last night, the CONSTANT movement of a player in that position is what is needed - ie: what Coutts did.

It should also SHUT up the people saying Doyle did a good job in that position - he didn't.

Coutts was exactly what that type of player should do - he wasn't fit enough last season to do it - he is now and at least "some" are seeing what a good footballer he actually is.

Point taken about Fleetwood were out of it for most of the time he was one the pitch - true, but that doesn't mean to say, Coutts couldn't have been better than what he was. He did the job that was required of him given the circumstances of that game.

His best games last season was when he played in the middle, and last but not least........right midfield for Coutts - what a joke and probably the reason he took stick from a load.

UTB

 

[alcoblade]

I hope this "Coutts" thread FINALLY puts to bed the idea of Baxter playing in front on the back 4.

For the ones who went last night, the CONSTANT movement of a player in that position is what is needed - ie: what Coutts did.

It should also SHUT up the people saying Doyle did a good job in that position - he didn't.

Coutts was exactly what that type of player should do - he wasn't fit enough last season to do it - he is now and at least "some" are seeing what a good footballer he actually is.

Point taken about Fleetwood were out of it for most of the time he was one the pitch - true, but that doesn't mean to say, Coutts couldn't have been better than what he was. He did the job that was required of him given the circumstances of that game.

His best games last season was when he played in the middle, and last but not least........right midfield for Coutts - what a joke and probably the reason he took stick from a load.

UTB

If he's really back to full fitness then his overall performances prove that he isn't the answer to much in midfield.

Like so many of the squad, he is a limited footballer, just in different ways to some of the others. Lack of athleticism seems to be a theme though, and Coutts epitomises that.

UTB

 

[Fulwood Blade]

If he's really back to full fitness then his overall performances prove that he isn't the answer to much in midfield.

Like so many of the squad, he is a limited footballer, just in different ways to some of the others. Lack of athleticism seems to be a theme though, and Coutts epitomises that.

UTB

He showed considerable athleticism for 30 minutes - perhaps that is his present limit.

Yes, some of the squad are limited, but it is up to Adkins to find slots for players where they are most effective.

Personally I can see a Charlton type clear out if we don't go up, but considering our wage limitations solutions have to be found from within the present squad - whatever that might be.

At least last night we showed a modicum of movement/tempo/commitment when we stepped it up 10/15 mins into the 2nd half.

What no one has mentioned yet, is the pitch seemed very wet before the game and for the first time this season, all sprinklers were on full pelt for what appeared to be longer period during the half time interval. Seemed like Adkins wanted the ball to move really fast in the 2nd half - you could say it paid off for the purple patch we had.

UTB

 

[Cyprus Blade]

Personally I can see a Charlton type clear out if we don't go up, but considering our wage limitations solutions have to be found from within the present squad - whatever that might be.

I think this will be the case either way given the quality of most of the squad and the number of contracts running out at the end of the season.

 

[Dec]

Still some weren't happy with his performance - to quote Nigel, "wowzer!" What the fuck do you want from a midfielder?

Just because he isn't himself rampaging forward and getting into the box, doesn't mean he didn't cause the opposition trouble. His movement and 'give and goes' pulled them all over the place, allowing for more space on our left wing, for instance - where we created both of our goals.

I'd absolutely love to see one of Bergen Blade's analyses of his play last night.

When we've got 3 natural goalscorers ahead of him, his job isn't really to be looking to get on the scoresheet as such.

 

[Torrix1889]

Nice in theory but that midfield 3 would be an absolute car crash when defending as none of them are mobile. Unless we sign someone else, we need Bashams legs in midfield

Maybe so but if they score 3 we will score 4....lol

 

[Patrick Suffaux]

This is the other good thing about a quality player (in this case Hammond). It forces existing squad players to up their game if they still want to be involved. I would love to see Coutts start putting in consistent displays. Certainly seems to have something about him.

 

[Kevincarterversion2.0]

I thought Baxter was a bit unlucky to lose his place, as he has been doing OK in recent weeks. I hope to see him in the same team as Hammond and Coutts in the coming weeks.

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

Maybe Coutts' best role has been discovered (for the timebeing at least) - "impact" sub, coming on when the game's opened up a bit & the intensity of the opposition's pressing game has died down?

 

[Slim Man]

Coutts really was fantastic when he came on.
To be honest, he'd have been in for a shout for MOTM in that short appearance if not for the impressiveness of Wallace at left back.

McGahey and Basham also impressive for me. As well as obviously the front two.