Saints boss identifies Liverpool 'Messi' (From Daily Echo)

Saints boss identifies Liverpool 'Messi'

7:10am Saturday 16th March 2013 in Sport Photograph of the Author By Gordon Simpson, Senior Sports Reporter

mAURICIO pOCHETTINO

Mauricio Pochettino believes his former player and current Liverpool winger Philippe Coutinho possesses “magic in his feet” and the same sort of quality as Lionel Messi.

The Saints manager had the 20-year-old on loan at Espanyol last season, and will come face-to-face with the Brazilian again today, when Liverpool visit St Mary’s.

Coutinho, right, scored five times in 16 appearances during his successful spell under Pochettino, and moved to Anfield from Inter Milan in an £8.5m deal in January.

He has already impressed since arriving at Liverpool, with his three Premier League starts coinciding with a trio of victories for the Reds.

That has earned him the praise of the Merseyside club’s captain, Steven Gerrard, this week, but it is Pochettino who has made the grandest declaration of all, comparing him to Brazilian star Ronaldinho and Barcelona’s Messi.

“I do think Coutinho has that same quality that Ronaldinho and Messi have, but he has much to prove yet,” he said.

“What is really clear to me is that Coutinho is a really responsible player – really dedicated and responsible to his own players.”

Pochettino added: “Philippe is a Brazilian player and, as it happens with most Brazilians, he has a special magic in his feet.

“Aside from the magic that he has, he also has an amazing work rate and that makes us doubt whether he fits the mould of a typical Brazilian player or a European one because his work ethic is outstanding.

“What is important about him is he is a good lad, a good kid - a great, humble person.”

Saints had been interested in Coutinho during January, when Pochettino had admitted there was a “small chance” they could have signed him.

The Argentine was this week not willing to discuss how serious the club’s attentions had been, though.

“What has happened in the past, happened in the past,” Pochettino said. “We can’t change it or do anything about it. “Actually, talking about it is not going to do anything positive either.”

Comments(37)

RedArmy1 says...
7:39am Sat 16 Mar 13

RAISE YOUR VOICES FOR VICTORY.

WELL DONE MP.

IDENTIFY THE THREAT.

NEUTRALISE THE THREAT !!

EVERYONE IS AWARE HOW IMPORTANT THE GAME IS TODAY TO GET A RESULT.

WE ARE THE MIGHTY SOUTHAMPTON.

BY STRENGTH AND GUILE - WE FIGHT TO WIN.

PUBS - RED LION - PRINCE OF WALES - JOSH TREE (+NORTHAM CLUB) - ROYAL OAK - MAVERICKS -CHAPEL - BRIDGE - THE STATION.

SHA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA
WHO THE F*CK IS LAUGHING NOW.

WE HATE POMPEY.

RED ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRMY.

RED ARMY 2013.COYR.
FIGHT AND WIN.

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OSPREYSAINT says...
8:22am Sat 16 Mar 13

Hope it isn't too messy today, weather is awful!

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Skating on thin ice says...
9:09am Sat 16 Mar 13

The photo caption looks like it's been typed by Red Amy.

Why not interview Coutinho and find out why he wouldn't come and play for Pedro again even though Southampton's bid was higher than Liverpool's?

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Seedhouse the Unrepentant says...
9:17am Sat 16 Mar 13

RedArmy1 wrote:
RAISE YOUR VOICES FOR VICTORY.

WELL DONE MP.

IDENTIFY THE THREAT.

NEUTRALISE THE THREAT !!

EVERYONE IS AWARE HOW IMPORTANT THE GAME IS TODAY TO GET A RESULT.

WE ARE THE MIGHTY SOUTHAMPTON.

BY STRENGTH AND GUILE - WE FIGHT TO WIN.

PUBS - RED LION - PRINCE OF WALES - JOSH TREE (+NORTHAM CLUB) - ROYAL OAK - MAVERICKS -CHAPEL - BRIDGE - THE STATION.

SHA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA
WHO THE F*CK IS LAUGHING NOW.

WE HATE POMPEY.

RED ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRMY.

RED ARMY 2013.COYR.
FIGHT AND WIN.

Nice to see The Josh finally featuring without the need for reminders!

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Southampton boy says...
9:21am Sat 16 Mar 13

It does not make any difference all we have to do is get a result one way or another so come saints give us something to cheer on a wet day COYR's

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SFCOLDBOY says...
9:25am Sat 16 Mar 13

Lets use the harsh lesson handed out by the FA to galvanise the team and supporters to get the 3 points today.
Double standards have been displayed once more so lets get angry.
COME ON YOU SAINTS
Lets use some ale house football if we have to.
DRIVE
CONTROLLED AGRESSESION
IN THEIR FACE
TAKE SOME BOOKINGS iF NECESSARY.

WINNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!!
!

COYS.

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Seedhouse the Unrepentant says...
9:48am Sat 16 Mar 13

The Final Countdown

Twenty Five

They're leaving together
But still it's farewell
And maybe they'll come back
To the league, who can tell?

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Confucious says...
10:02am Sat 16 Mar 13

It's a big day alright. Gee up Saints.

INCONVENIENCE THEIR DEFENCE!

ADJUDGE EVERY PASS WITH PRUDENT CIRCUMSPECTION!

DISPUTATIOUS DEMEANOR THROUGHOUT!

MAXIMAL BELLIGERENCE AND UNFRIENDLINESS!

TRY A LOT TO FLOURISH!

Pre match boozer for New Forest
fans: William Wilberforce Lounge, Chewton Glen Hotel.

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manchester exiled Saint says...
10:11am Sat 16 Mar 13

My son got concussed playing ice hockey last night. So now got spare ticket. Block 36. Corner of Kingsland and Northam.£38. On the road down now. Wife can sort out.

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dadofmy3sons says...
10:14am Sat 16 Mar 13

Shankly called us "alehouse brawlers" and it became a favourite chant on the Milton end.
At the time I thought it was brilliant.
We had several players you would cross the road to avoid and nobody messed with Saints.
Down the years we have had our fair share of real hard men
John McGrath, Jimmy Case, Dennis Hollywood, Terry Paine once left a full back in a heap and asked the linesman who was stood right next to the incident what was wrong with the challenge.
And the ultimate, Terry Hurlock! His name was a bookable offence and the hair was immense.
Down the years we have had some fantastic characters and recently I was reminded about Frank Worthington. Now he was a maverick!
The game doesn't have these players anymore, even Paul Gascoigne would struggle to get a game because managers trail individualism out of all youth players and leave us with a sameness. Lallana is constantly being chastised for not making enough team effort, he is a genius, let him play and get someone else to do his running for him.

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mack chinnon says...
10:28am Sat 16 Mar 13

Come on Donny.

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Seedhouse the Unrepentant says...
10:30am Sat 16 Mar 13

mack chinnon wrote:
Come on Donny.

Good to have you back mack.

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mack chinnon says...
10:35am Sat 16 Mar 13

Seedhouse the Unrepentant wrote:

mack chinnon wrote:
Come on Donny.
Good to have you back mack.

Good to be back. I missed you all.

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Baddesley Bill says...
10:45am Sat 16 Mar 13

Confucious wrote:
It's a big day alright. Gee up Saints.

INCONVENIENCE THEIR DEFENCE!

ADJUDGE EVERY PASS WITH PRUDENT CIRCUMSPECTION!

DISPUTATIOUS DEMEANOR THROUGHOUT!

MAXIMAL BELLIGERENCE AND UNFRIENDLINESS!

TRY A LOT TO FLOURISH!

Pre match boozer for New Forest
fans: William Wilberforce Lounge, Chewton Glen Hotel.

Are the pies any good?

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likewatchingbrazil says...
10:58am Sat 16 Mar 13

saints will win 2-1
poosmuff lose 2-1
thats the bet for today.
coyr

Report this post »

Confucious says...
11:15am Sat 16 Mar 13

Baddesley Bill wrote:

Confucious wrote:
It's a big day alright. Gee up Saints.

INCONVENIENCE THEIR DEFENCE!

ADJUDGE EVERY PASS WITH PRUDENT CIRCUMSPECTION!

DISPUTATIOUS DEMEANOR THROUGHOUT!

MAXIMAL BELLIGERENCE AND UNFRIENDLINESS!

TRY A LOT TO FLOURISH!

Pre match boozer for New Forest
fans: William Wilberforce Lounge, Chewton Glen Hotel.
Are the pies any good?

They don't do pies, but you can get crisp sticks of celery and Evian mineral water in the health spa. They don't actually let me in there any longer because I like to lie down and then put a lot of salt in my belly button and dip my celery in it.

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Flashin the pan says...
11:25am Sat 16 Mar 13