Agbonlahor: Philippe Coutinho and Aston Villa teammate should be axed amid training ground claim
Philippe Coutinho looks “disinterested” at Aston Villa and should be dropped alongside Emiliano Buendia, according to Gabby Agbonlahor.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Aston Villa’s record Premier League goalscorer suggested Coutinho is likely the best player in training but cannot back up on the pitch.
Coutinho and Buendia started together for the first time this season during the 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest on Monday (10 October).
The 30-year-old was dragged off after an hour while Buendia completed the full 90 minutes for the first time in the Premier League this season.
“Watching the game, Villa had possession with no penetration,” Agbonlahor told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“Having possession means nothing if you’re not creating chances, you’d rather have no possession, it’s not a possession game.
“Nottingham Forest did make it difficult by getting back in numbers but it keeps happening now will Villa, it’s a reoccurring theme that we’re talking about, not creating chances.
“Maybe you drop Coutinho and Buendia. On Monday, Buendia didn’t do anything, he looked really weak. He doesn’t create, he doesn’t score and his free-kicks are poor.
“Coutinho, Jamie Carragher called it perfectly, he looks like a five-a-side player. He’s probably the best in training but when it comes to a game the pitch is too big for him.
“He looks disinterested. He looks like a player thinking ‘What am I doing in Birmingham?’ He’s done it all in his career and doesn’t look interested. He’s a million miles away from a recall to Brazil for the World Cup.
“It’s just painful to watch at the moment.”
In other news, Aston Villa have a “Callum Wilson in their ranks” as an “amazing” claim is issued.