I understand the sentiment but frankly, that's what it is, a sentimental response. No way he's a worse player than Lallana or Shaqiri. Of course he's at our level. There are perfectly understandable reasons to oppose his signing, but it's not his ability.
For me it's a tricky one, I'm not sure I'd say he's not at our level anymore because he was top quality player for us and became World Class. But I would say we have massively developed since his departure and improved all over the pitch so for me it's not a question of whether he's good enough for us now, but a question of whether or not he is suited to us now. When he was here, we were very reliant on him and we always used to look to put as much as possible through him but now we have much more of a balance.
Personally for me, I don't want him back because he made his decision and the faking of a back injury and the transfer requests the day before the season started and then again in the winter was bad enough, but then when he joined in the antics of Barca and started trying to buy cheap fouls against us was the final nail. But regardless of whether I want him back, you want him back or anyone else wants him back doesn't change the fact that if he was to return, there would be a lot more pressure on him now than there was before because not only would he be expected to match and exceed the level he was before he left, he would also have to redeem himself for the way he behaved.
Any other manager then I think we'd be bringing him back, but with Klopp I think it's very much a case of you only get one chance with him, if you decide to go then that's it, you aren't coming back under his management. Klopp made it perectly clear how much he wanted Coutinho to stay and how with us he can be a legend but would just be another player anywhere else and Coutinho chose not to listen and essentially throw it back in Klopp's face, thinking he could do better than us. Ironic really, left us to win the Champions League and we've since had 2 finals, putting him out on the way to winning it. A player that will finish his career with huge regrets over a poor career decision.
« Last Edit: Jul 15, 2019 09:42:40 pm by 7-King Kenny-7 »
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