The enigma that is Paul Coutts

[Ricky]

Sorry, I've come in late. This thread is about Kevin McDonald, right?

A very poor replica, yes.

 

[Cyprus Blade]

I've not been today due to reasons of distance but I did manage the three previous home games. Coutts for me is a decent technical player who has major defensive frailties, lacks pace, rarely makes incisive defence-splitting passes and doesn't score. He is a bit of a marmite player I think - Edwards commented that Coutts (and Flynn) were lucky not to be substituted today and he was derisory about Coutts' contribution today. Reading the above posts it seems clear that some here thought he was MoM. As I say, I wasn't there and haven't watched the match yet. He is definitely fitter than he was last season and early this season, but I think that is true of a number of the players ( well done Adkins and co for that).

But I find the idea of retaining our current midfield as the springboard for success to be intensely depressing - Hammond has improved the last few matches but I think the wage money for him would be much better spent elsewhere on a younger and fitter player of his type, Coutts has a year on his contract but he's not creative enough to build a team around in my opinion and goes missing too often, Reed has slipped down the pecking order (the raw Whiteman and Cuvelier seem ahead of him at the moment), Basham has a fifty pence shaped head and two left feet when it comes to passing, Woolford is very, very poor and Flynn tries hard but doesn't really influence or dominate a game. Where are the goals and assists in that midfield?

A settled side is key but we really do need to improve CM to progress and dominate.For me the current midfield collectively just isn't good enough.

 

[JohnDenver]

But I find the idea of retaining our current midfield as the springboard for success to be intensely depressing

Surely Hammond's legs are now so patently gone that we cannot sign him. Surely...

 

[Bladesman]

The classic Clough midfield signing.

Never scores, rarely assists, very slow, often injured. Little to no end product.

Woah! woah! Coutts was a top class player, Adkins has turned him to shit.

 

[SwissBlade]

There in lies a problem though. The alternative to Coutts in the middle is Reed.

It's an area we must strengthen over the summer.

UTB

We've got the following all pushing for 3 slots:
Coutts
Reed
Hammond
Flynn
Cuvelier
Whiteman
Basham

Adkins will lose Flynn and Cuvelier as their contracts are up and Hammond goes back to leicester.

I can see him trying to bring back Hammond but surely he'll want to try his luck in the championship (think hes too slow for that personally) and i can see him wanting to keep one of flo or flynn

 

[Fulwood Blade]

Honestly thought he was possibly the best player on the park today. He was busy, his control and first touch were first class, he played some nice balls and linked up well, but questions remain over his fitness and work rate and remarkably he is still yet to score for us.

I wouldn't knock Billy, but he's had a stinker today.

Agreed - but what he must have is a creative player at the side of him.

He is reliable, but still hasn't scored and doesn't play many killer balls.

Would defo be in my team next season.

UTB

 

[Living In a Fantasy World]

certainly the best player today, everyone else ... ehmm average.

 

[Jehovah]

He's a shining example of the shit we've been served this season. Long, J Mac, Basham, Coutts, Hammond have been awful at many times throughout the season but the odd reasonable performance results in ridiculous defences from fans. Get rid of all of them, we have been wank all season with these wannabee footballers.

 

[Bladesman]

We've got the following all pushing for 3 slots:
Coutts
Reed
Hammond
Flynn
Cuvelier
Whiteman
Basham

Adkins will lose Flynn and Cuvelier as their contracts are up and Hammond goes back to leicester.

I can see him trying to bring back Hammond but surely he'll want to try his luck in the championship (think hes too slow for that personally) and i can see him wanting to keep one of flo or flynn

Whiteman for the midfield role.

Hammond is a player we should have signed 10 years ago when we were first looking at him. You can see that Hammond is a decent player but just no where near as quick as he used to be.

 

[sitwell]

I've not been today due to reasons of distance but I did manage the three previous home games. Coutts for me is a decent technical player who has major defensive frailties, lacks pace, rarely makes incisive defence-splitting passes and doesn't score. He is a bit of a marmite player I think - Edwards commented that Coutts (and Flynn) were lucky not to be substituted today and he was derisory about Coutts' contribution today. Reading the above posts it seems clear that some here thought he was MoM. As I say, I wasn't there and haven't watched the match yet. He is definitely fitter than he was last season and early this season, but I think that is true of a number of the players ( well done Adkins and co for that).

But I find the idea of retaining our current midfield as the springboard for success to be intensely depressing - Hammond has improved the last few matches but I think the wage money for him would be much better spent elsewhere on a younger and fitter player of his type, Coutts has a year on his contract but he's not creative enough to build a team around in my opinion and goes missing too often, Reed has slipped down the pecking order (the raw Whiteman and Cuvelier seem ahead of him at the moment), Basham has a fifty pence shaped head and two left feet when it comes to passing, Woolford is very, very poor and Flynn tries hard but doesn't really influence or dominate a game. Where are the goals and assists in that midfield?

A settled side is key but we really do need to improve CM to progress and dominate.For me the current midfield collectively just isn't good enough.

Edwards never praises Flynn or Coutts ,hes just a miserable wanker these days who really doesn't give any accurate assessments of a game and is more interested in private jokes and talking about himself. Deadbat and others on here are a far better gauge of a United match than him who seems to hold personal vendettas (Warnock eg) and doesn't paint an accurate view of a game.

 

[Woodwardfan]

Coutts and Hammond played the game more at the pace of the Walking Football on at half time. They were overwhelmed by the workrate of the opposition and just do not make themselves available for passes through central midfield. Despite having a three man central midfield we always seemed to be one short in there where Flynn worked extremely hard but to no avail.


Coutts doesn't even go through the motions defensively, he just doesn't do defending and tracking back.


I dread watching a one year older Hammond next season.

 

[Jehovah]

He's our best footballer. He's the only one you trust not to lose the ball. He's the player you most want to have the ball. Yet he never produces anything with it.

That says it all.

Why do you want someone who gets fuck all assists and no goals to have the ball???????

 

[Fulwood Blade]

He's our best footballer. He's the only one you trust not to lose the ball. He's the player you most want to have the ball. Yet he never produces anything with it.

That says it all.

You are right about Coutts, but we need a player like Coutts IF there were 1 or 2 creative players around him to play the killer pass.

With a midfield of Hammond, Coutts, Flynn, Basham and Done - Coutts should be firston the team sheet, but the whole of that midfield is going to create very little - sure we are strong, but strong doesn't win games like Gillingham and Barnsley who just soaked up everything we threw at them and scored........zero.

Adkins has a dilemma.

UTB

 

[Ricky]

I could only tolerate two of the current midfield starting next season if we signed at least two quality defenders and a genuine wide threat.

Why do you want someone who gets fuck all assists and no goals to have the ball???????

Because as I said, he's the only one you trust not to lose it. If you don't lose the ball you'll occasionally build attacks. Otherwise though you're just adding to my point. Wanting arguably our least productive player to be the one on the ball sums up our desperation.

 

[super_pig]

You are right about Coutts, but we need a player like Coutts IF there were 1 or 2 creative players around him to play the killer pass.

With a midfield of Hammond, Coutts, Flynn, Basham and Done - Coutts should be firston the team sheet, but the whole of that midfield is going to create very little - sure we are strong, but strong doesn't win games like Gillingham and Barnsley who just soaked up everything we threw at them and scored........zero.

Adkins has a dilemma.

UTB

no he doesn't .. get rid of them all.. we never win second balls . we are either too slow or get muscled off the ball

 

[super_pig]

I could only tolerate two of the current midfield starting next season if we signed at least two quality defenders and a genuine wide threat.




Because as I said, he's the only one you trust not to lose it. If you don't lose the ball you'll occasionally build attacks. Otherwise though you're just adding to my point. Wanting our least productive player to be the one on the ball sums up our desperation.

have they changed the rules?? do we get points for keeping the ball now?

 

[Fulwood Blade]

no he doesn't .. get rid of them all.. we never win second balls . we are either too slow or get muscled off the ball

the dilemma for me is that Adkins has now created a difficult side to beat.

He could go into next season with the same team that has played the last half dozen games, and it would be solid and boring.

That team today would easily finish 3rd to 6th, but would not finish 1st or 2nd.

So, whilst I agree with you about getting rid - Adkins dilemma is simple:

Get rid, bring in lets say 10 players which might not gel and he could be out of a job by Xmas - or keep what we have and try and tweak it.

I don't envy him at all.

UTB

 

[alcoblade]

We've got the following all pushing for 3 slots:
Coutts
Reed
Hammond
Flynn
Cuvelier
Whiteman
Basham

Adkins will lose Flynn and Cuvelier as their contracts are up and Hammond goes back to leicester.

I can see him trying to bring back Hammond but surely he'll want to try his luck in the championship (think hes too slow for that personally) and i can see him wanting to keep one of flo or flynn

Shiver!

UTB

 

[Slug]

Like a few have said on this thread, very neat and tidy when the ball comes to his feet but unfortunately he would still be way off the pace in the over 35s league

 

[super_pig]

the dilemma for me is that Adkins has now created a difficult side to beat.

He could go into next season with the same team that has played the last half dozen games, and it would be solid and boring.

That team today would easily finish 3rd to 6th, but would not finish 1st or 2nd.

So, whilst I agree with you about getting rid - Adkins dilemma is simple:

Get rid, bring in lets say 10 players which might not gel and he could be out of a job by Xmas - or keep what we have and try and tweak it.

I don't envy him at all.

UTB

Chris Powell managed it at Charlton. he got rid of the lot of them. bought a totally new team. won the league

 

[Rodley]

Edwards never praises Flynn or Coutts ,hes just a miserable wanker these days who really doesn't give any accurate assessments of a game and is more interested in private jokes and talking about himself. Deadbat and others on here are a far better gauge of a United match than him who seems to hold personal vendettas (Warnock eg) and doesn't paint an accurate view of a game.

He's just not at it.

 

[Fulwood Blade]

Chris Powell managed it at Charlton. he got rid of the lot of them. bought a totally new team. won the league

yes he did very well - but how often has that actually been done?

Name me another................

I am not actually disagreeing with you about getting rid - the fear is what happened to David Weir - mass changes, no chance of buying after September 1st and a poor start due to all the new players.

Adkins will be a very brave man to dump every single player out of contract - especially after the slight improvement in the past 6 games.

UTB

 

[super_pig]

yes he did very well - but how often has that actually been done?

Name me another................

I am not actually disagreeing with you about getting rid - the fear is what happened to David Weir - mass changes, no chance of buying after September 1st and a poor start due to all the new players.

Adkins will be a very brave man to dump every single player out of contract - especially after the slight improvement in the past 6 games.

UTB

why? they simply aren't good enough.. are you seriously suggesting that we resign 'any' of them?

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

The thing is Couttsy can play.

Against Gillingham, he was superb (& he was productive, if you ignore the JCR-like crossing he indulged in from time to time).

Today: some lovely touches, but pretty much totally ineffective.

What was the difference in the two games? - more pressure (causing him to retreat into playing it safe, rather than revelling in it like v Gillingham)? a lower tempo (making him look lethargic, rather than energetic like he looked v Gillingham)?

An enigma, indeed. If we had that Gillingham Coutts playing week-in-week-out though, we'd be laughing. Find the key, Nige, find the key...*



(* or get rid.)

 

[Fulwood Blade]

why? they simply aren't good enough.. are you seriously suggesting that we resign 'any' of them?

I did ask you to give me another example of another club that did what Charlton did.

The danger of getting rid of every single player out of contract is fraught with disaster - especially after the players brought in by Adkins this season.

If you cannot see the dilemma that Adkins has then I can't explain any more - sorry.

UTB

 

[INTERUNITED]

I did ask you to give me another example of another club that did what Charlton did.

The danger of getting rid of every single player out of contract is fraught with disaster - especially after the players brought in by Adkins this season.

If you cannot see the dilemma that Adkins has then I can't explain any more - sorry.

UTB

Not being funny mate but why would you keep players who are proven failures over a number of seasons just in case the new players are no better?? We won't get out of this division with these players, that's been proven. We need to get rid of all the out of contract players and change the dynamic of the side. It may or may not work, but the current bunch are proven not to work. Hardly a gamble in my eyes.

 

[super_pig]

I did ask you to give me another example of another club that did what Charlton did.

The danger of getting rid of every single player out of contract is fraught with disaster - especially after the players brought in by Adkins this season.

If you cannot see the dilemma that Adkins has then I can't explain any more - sorry.

UTB

keeping them is fraught with disaster. So we have to sign them because we can't get anyone else.. because whoever does recruitment is totally useless. We're doomed.

 

[Dnblade]

Agree with Coax,thought he was our best player today...kept finding a white shirt,but far to often others around him lost possession or took the wrong option..we hardly had a threat in behind,couldn't hold the ball up top or link up today..poor service from wide areas.

 

[robbiez666]

He's not an enigma he's a lazy cunt. If he'd have given his all every game this season we'd be in the play-offs. He does actually nothing. doesn't tackle, doesn't score, doesn't mark, doesn't create, doesn't run.

He's a vastly better player if he actually gave a shit. notable, that his only vague contribution this season is nearest to a transfer window. Utter twat. He should never play for the club again.

 

[Esablade]

You are right about Coutts, but we need a player like Coutts IF there were 1 or 2 creative players around him to play the killer pass.

With a midfield of Hammond, Coutts, Flynn, Basham and Done - Coutts should be firston the team sheet, but the whole of that midfield is going to create very little - sure we are strong, but strong doesn't win games like Gillingham and Barnsley who just soaked up everything we threw at them and scored........zero.

Adkins has a dilemma.

UTB

The dilemma is Coutts is contracted for another year...probably on around £10k at least. ( thanks Cloughy)

No one will buy him/take him off our hands ( come on Cloughy), what do we do?