STEWART Downing’s been the recipient of a fair bit of criticism this season, and last season for that matter.
While the flak he gets this season could perhaps be justified, given he firstly hasn’t played much and secondly when he has he hasn’t made much of a contribution.
But on an overall basis, to condemn the player as a bad signing is a bit harsh perhaps.
I’m sure supporting Downing is more likely to attract a number of responses along the lines of ‘armchair football expert’ and ‘Secret Manchester United supporter’ and so on.
But especially last season, he did provide Liverpool with width and pace down the flanks. It’s a different matter that his crosses almost always got turned away by the opposition defenders.
But to say that makes him ineffective is a bit like saying the milkman doesn’t deliver the milk because no one picks it up at the end of the day.
That’s been the main issue of Liverpool anyway, not creating chances but converting them. Chances keep getting created and were continued to be done so throughout last season. Downing was a major part of those chances getting created, especially when he’d double up with Jose Enrique or Glen Johnson, or even some other wingback depending which flank he was playing in.
Liverpool’s problem was in the lack of numbers attacking those balls in the final third of the pitch, and even if they were attacked, it usually ended in a tame header towards the keeper or a weak shot poked wide.
Let’s not blame the suppliers for that – it’s the finishing or rather the lack of it that’s been Liverpool’s undoing in more ways than one. Whenever chances have been grabbed with both hands, Liverpool have looked a dangerous side capable of picking up the points as well.
Now as many have been saying, one good match doesn’t prove Downing’s worth to the side. But the parameters based on which his performances are being assessed are slightly unfair.
The 4-0 result against Fulham suddenly qualifies Downing’s performance as brilliant, but there have been a lot of matches where he’s more or less done much of the same as he did against the Cottagers, but the result didn’t match the play.
His supposedly good performance against Fulham, based on which even Brendan Rodgers is saying he’d like to keep the man if displays like that become a regular thing, passes and crosses like that have been coming from him more or less every time he’s played.
The only difference this time out was, someone got on the end of some of these passes and did something with it – someone wearing the same shirt as Downing.
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Every time I’ve seen the winger play, I’ve seen him run at the opposition and whip in around at least a dozen crosses, yet it’s being widely acknowledged that he hasn’t performed. Sure, if he did go ahead and score in every one of those games, then life would cushy of course, but that kind of bonus can’t expected from a winger unless it seems to happen anyway.
Basically he’s been bearing the brunt for the forwards not being lethal enough in front of goal. Luis Suarez is the only one who’s shown a decent head in front of goal, and to be honest Fabio Borini’s been in and out of the side with injury.
Now with Daniel Sturridge more or less set to come in to Liverpool, perhaps the finishing will get sharper with every passing day.
It just seems a bit unfair to judge the performances of a midfielder like Downing, on how many of his passes get converted in to goals by his colleagues.
As far as I’ve seen of the England international, he’s been putting those passes through regularly anyway. Of course I say this knowing fully well this piece will be attacked by Downing’s detractors.
Answer this though – apart from Raheem Sterling this season, who’s lately taken on opposition wing backs and twisted them inside-out to create gaps for crosses in to the box. Jose Enrique and Glen Johnson don’t count as they firstly do that anyway, yes.
But it’s also true that modern football needs a double team on either flanks to properly displace the full-backs from their comfort zones. Both Enrique and Johnson need wingers to complement their attacking prowess, and Downing is one of the wingers who has been doing that.
So why exactly are we criticising the number 19 again? Because he hasn’t dazzled every time he’s taken to the pitch, or because Liverpool haven’t scored enough goals to win matches?
The first isn’t possible all the time, and the second is something the Liverpool forwards would be more to blame for than a winger.
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When your left back, right back and both centre half’s have more goals and assists than your most expensive winger then it must be seen as a fail on the wingers part.
Poor buy and poor return.
Snap
suso was making are passing game work shelvey was crap again we looked as if we were still in the game at half time we took suso off put sterling on that finished it off,rodgers will come up a new story that is going to make it better if he done on the pitch as much as pr we would win the league,action speaks loader than words so lets see the action its about time.
Exactly my thoughts.
And
One thing I’ll like to add, getting rid of Rafa and then ignoring for the second time a major mistake.
yes i agree , we are regreting it big time
Apart from 3-4 players i think the whole team is a mediocre,so no one should expect wonders from this team & second its in transition phaze so u’ve to be patient.Don’t jump the guns & ask for BR’s head.If u’ve to win titles then give the manager 100 million & 2-3 yrs.If u can’t do this things plz shut up & let them (LFC)do the job.
Well Saïd jimmy
No . There should be no scapegoats . We hired a crappy manager with no clue and we are paying the price
Downing this season has been ok , its bullsh!t brendans fault the mess we are in
I really get pissed at dudes that never think anybody can make mistakes. Any decision that goes wrong provides a platform to get better. Rodgers is still a young manager and so far he has achieved more than I even expected cos really, I never expected us to be in the top half by Christmas. As for Downing, well, I agree it’s been a little harsh on him, he always takes the blame for Carroll’s ineffectiveness infront of goal, Suarez plays like he really doesn’t need help and always selfish, somehow it works for him anyways, so Downing should be given a lifeline but what I do know is that he needs to improve his work rate, whipping in crosses every time may seem a little bit predictable an boring, he should try something new like taking on defenders, creating space and taking the shot like he did against Fulham and Gomel. His work rate has improved no doubt since he’s been underused this season, same applies to Henderson. Lets just support these lads and stop criticizing. YNWA!
Defending is shocking. Aston villa then again stoke? Seriously I don’t care we pass the ball coz that ball hardly goes in the net anyway apart from our own !!!!
Downing has been a disappointment , no doubt . But the disaster of a season can only be blamed on Rodgers poor signings and lack of any sensible tactics .
U might want to add a pretty ordinary squad to that. It wouldn’t suit your argument though
Im not excusing Downing – But he has offered a LOT more this season than that complete waste of space Joe Allen – Allen for 15m has given nothing , absolutely nothing to the team
So blame Rodgers and his pet if anyone
I’m sure a Rafa’s team would never have lost to stoke and Aston villa in that manner. After three years we still relying on players Rafa bought ie Sterling, Suso, Shelvey, Lucas, Johnson, Agger etc and maybe Ince too.
Rafa would have made better use of Andy Carroll and Adam. Gerrard was brilliant under Rafa and that’s no coincidence. Tactically BR has been very poor, some times non existent hence the loss to Aston Villa. We are so open to counter attack it’s unbelievable.
bad management – the last player to pick against stoke was suso,he wants time he will not get it there, the first was coates who dalglish picked against stoke with success.two headers tells its own story, the wrong buys and it’s goodby Brendon. I hope he succeeds but it looks grim.
You are correct pal . But isnt it amazing that a guy who doesnt change anything when things go wrong , who doesnt see the need for a plan B- gets to manage a huge club like ours ??????
Out of his depth is putting it mildly !
When it comes to tactics. Rafa is the best in the business. We had a world class manager, now we have wannabes.
It breaks my heart to see Rafa at Chelsea. Will BR experiment work at our club or not only time will tell. A big gamble I say.
Rafa would come back . Rogers is a joke thats not funny anymore . Get rid quickly
I would be quite happy to sit back and be patient IF Rodgers was building and doing his job , BUT HE IS NOT , he is taking us backwards . lets STOP him before the damage is irreversible
Right now owners FSG and CEO are rookies in the EPL. That,i can live with!! But for them to hire a rookie manager who goes on to make rookie signings,while letting experienced players like Aquilani,Kuyt,Bellamy & Rodriguez leave,that i REALLY can’t live with!! Downing is not worth the cash Daglish used,but at least Kenny would bring in Maxi or Bellamy from the bench to clean up the mess when his bad signings had messed up!!! Now we have no experience in the whole LFC organisation.. Stevie is better off joining Eto’o in Russia or Drogba in Asia cos he definately aint worth half the 120k we push to his account every week… Hopefully Rafa can prove himself to FSG over the 7month spell at the Chavs….