The nonlinear elastohydrodynamic problem of blade coating, which involves the deformation of a thin blade and a compressible web, is analyzed by the finite element method. In particular, a full two-dimensional solution of the substrate deformation is presented for those cases in which the roller that support the web is covered with a rubber layer. The effects of both, physical properties and operating conditions, are analyzed. The results suggest that the use of a compliant support is advantageous in the application of thin liquid layers and that the deformability of the web has negligible effect on the coating thickness when flexible blades are used. The stress distribution in the rubber sleeve evidences the two-dimensional quality of the deformation indicating that the commonly employed one-dimensional model might produce inaccurate results; this conjecture is confirmed when coating weight predictions obtained with the two substrate models are compared.