Kouta - 2007

[Blu3_Boy]

Kouta's last year. ABSOLUTE LEGEND! Where do you see the Kouta playing in 2007?

Thoughts??

 

[marcmurphy3]

He should play in the middle. It's by far where he's most valuable.

P.S. I'm posting from Singapore airport

 

[Big Delut]

I agree. He should definitely spend some time in the middle. Rotating between the forward line and on the ball is where he was most effective last year. Would be great to see Kouta line up in the centre with Gibbs and Murphy. Sensational.

 

[roly]

middle rotating forward and the bench

 

[HBF]

In the middle of the ground! The where he plays his best footy, and it's also where he is the most damaging to other clubs. Will be great to see the big No.43 out there next year picking up clearances as will.

 

[blues4flag]

Midfield, although he'll need to rest in the forward line.

 

[BlueBelle]

Rotating through the midfield, forward line and the interchange bench.

 

[stokesy]

Midfield. Can still rack up the clearances and a quick handball to Gibbs who handballs to Simpson who then takes a bounce and handballs to Walker who dobs a 40m goal. To easy.

 

[Kooley]

kouta could lead the blue birds out of retirement

 

[blues2007]

Definately in the forward pocket as he will still cmmand a half decent defender. SO Fev will get the best backman, Waite or Whitnall at chf will get the next one, Kouta the 3rd which might release a player like Kennedy etc.

 

[Tex Walker]

what do you guys rekon about kouta on a wing?

 

[btdg]

I honestly can't see where he fits into our side any more - he's just lost so much mobility.

He can definitely still pinch-hit in the midfield, but any length of time and fitter and quicker opponents will start to exploit him going the other way. He no longer has that mobility to exploit their lack of height pushing forward too. He can still win the ball in clearances, which is solid, but really with a properly rotating midfield he'd only be in there for maybe half the game.

He's a liability on the forward line because his lack of mobility means opponents can zone off more and pressure Fevola. Defensively, he might hold down CHB against a few older types, but not against the younger, more mobile CHF who cover a lot of ground (Riewoldt, Brown etc).

I'd maybe start him as an extra loose man in defence, then at about the 10 minute mark put him into the center square. Then to the bench at the 20 minute mark as the third midfield unit comes in. He has to be a part of our team purely for his leadership, but I'm not sure he's still in our best 22 players outright. Still, its his last year so giving him a farewell tour is fair enough

 

[stokesy]

- he's just lost so much mobility.

Didn't appear to have lost any mobility in dancing with the stars...

 

[pumped]

Didn't appear to have lost any mobility in dancing with the stars...

Further really picked up in his general play and mobility in the last 4 rounds or so. If he continues as he finished 2006 he will be very valuable.