ON a short trip to a local Tesco store on Sunday morning, I happened to be in the same fruit and veg aisle as one Stewart Downing and it got me thinking about how he’s managed to slip under the radar for most of this summer.
After a largely unimpressive couple of seasons at the club, Downing has had his fair share of stick from fans and press alike and most of it has been justified after a hugely underwhelming return on the near £20 million we paid out for him over 2 years ago.
And that’s exactly how I felt when I saw Downing on Sunday – massively underwhelmed.
Footballers in Liverpool have always been left alone by fans; we appreciate that they’re just people too, despite how much we love and, often, worship them but there is always a feeling of excitement whenever you see one of the superstars that plays for your club.
I’ve seen numerous Liverpool players over the years around the city from Carragher, Skrtel, Suarez and Hamann, right down to the likes of Suso, and Sterling and they all elicited a strong feeling out of me (on the inside), one way or another.
With Downing though, I just noted how creased his grey flannel tracksuit was and moved on and that’s in some way similar to how I’ll feel once he’s gone.
Which is why I find it odd that he’s managed to pass relatively unscathed through the ‘summer’ so far. It’s very unlikely that we’d get anywhere near what we paid for him but he’d still bring in a good £9-£10 million from the likes of Stoke and Sunderland.
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With the emergence of the likes of Sterling, Coutinho, Suso, Borini and Ibe in the wide and attacking positions last season and the acquisition of Aspas and Alberto (not to mention prospect of Mkhitaryan amongst others) Downing will find his opportunities limited next season.
I’m aware that they’re not all the same sort of player and nor do they play in the same position, for the most part, but if Rodgers is bringing players on (and through the youth system), you can only assume that it’s because he has plans to fit them into his system.
Downing’s last season was his best in a few years but by Liverpool standards it still wasn’t enough and I’d be surprised if a player that is still so saleable wasn’t considered to be top of any ‘fund-raising’ list.
The club has already shown it means business during the pre-transfer window period but all transfers have been incoming, rather than out-going and should the signing of Armenian, Mkhitaryan be completed in the next few days that would take our overall incomings to close to £50 million.
While that might be considered small change to the likes of Chelsea and Manchester’s City and United, it is not for a club currently in Liverpool’s position, so some players will probably need to be sacrificed.
And while he’s had a fairly quiet summer so far, I can see Stewart Downing still being one of the first out the door once the deadwood starts getting dumped over-board.
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It is interesting that he’s escaped any attention so far. There was some light rumble about a return to Villa, but that died down again very quickly. He’s 29 in a couple of weeks so any money we’d get would be minimal due to his age and I suspect his wages are already high at Liverpool too. Could be a hard one to move on.
Plus, I’d love to know why you are so optimistic that the Mkhitaryan deal will be completed in the next few days?? If anything, it looks like it’ll go on for the summer or worse still, it won’t happen at all.
It’s interesting that Downing only seemed to improve his game after being told by Rodgers that he could leave. I suspect he knew that under Kenny he’d play every week regardless of form because of the silly money paid for him. As Higgs says he will be difficult to move on so he may be a fixture in the squad for a while yet. An unwise purchase to begin with – we shouldn’t have let Miereles go.
Downing was never and will never be good enough for LFC. He contributes very little every season. For a winger his goals and assists ratios are pathetic. Rodgers needs to wake up and get rid of downing
I somehow don’t think it’s as easy as just waking up and moving on certain player. Oh wait, it’s stevieG! Are you still playing that Fantasy Manager?
Ha ha ha . You can change your name k but your still a sad little troll
Who’s ‘K’? WTF!! Paranoid fool.
That’s irony at its best, considering you swallowed up the “180 page dossier” idea, and spend most of your time defending players by stats, you know, like a computer game.
Downing certainly hasn’t lived up to the price tag and for me he doesn’t contribute enough in the goals department but he chips in with a fair few assists and he works extremely hard for the team, something that cannot be over-looked. I appreciate for £20million pounds you expect more than someone who works hard but unless someone comes in with an offer of around 8-10 million then we may be stuck with him. I wrote a piece about perhaps using Downing as a left back, perhaps that could be one way for him to get game time?? A cracking piece though David
totally agree with You. Jose Enrique doesn’t seem reliable in the back as Downing impressed in my view as a left back. That’s a good solution. Old fashionable winger and a good squad player. Certain times I have the feeling that our football style, and in particular our strikers, doesn’t suit with his crosses. With an out and out striker in the side, think Downing could be most prolific. Unfortunately, We have only attacking players in our ranks.
You seriously believe that Downing is a better left back than Enrique?, “an old fashioned winger”, don’t make me laugh, old fashioned wingers scored goals, set goals up, ran their hearts out, this is an insult to our former great wingers, like Heighway, Barnes(early years), Mcmanaman, Liddell. And we would have had a tall striker to get on the end of crosses, his name was Carroll, but politics at the club put paid to that., still can’t get over “Downing” being hailed as an “Old fashioned winger” both laughable and clueless.
Should keep him can’t attract players of his quality to are massive club anymore
Bitter blue or scummy manc, either way go back under that rock u crawled out from.
Childish comment. Grow up
How is it childish? Commenting on another clubs blogs and degrading them is childish, no doubt my first comment applies to you.
Deano . You sad little fool. Your embarrassing yourself
Eoin u little joke ur the fool!
Why is Rodgers continuing to stick with Downing ? He is fkin useless . Downing should be sold while he still has some value . Get a clue brenda
He’ll probably be kept as a decent squad player unless a bid comes in. He now knows Rogers system and is improved so probably be kept. Also everyone forgets we don’t see them 24/7 like the manager does. He maybe sees something in training we don’t. A la Barry and Milner at City or Carrick at Utd
That’s a really dumb comment .
1. Carrick Barry and Milner produce high quality performances nearly every week. You should try watching some football
2. Who cares what Downing does in training. It’s matches that matter .
Why are some of our players offorded the luxery of time and excuses, and others are not, and don’t say its down to potential and ability, Downing blows that out of the water, not to mention the way we handled Sahin, it really gets up my nose, seems unfair and biased to me.
I agree with James and put downing left back. with his pace and bursting pace he could get to the byline and deliver more crosses then Enrique. he could also track back which sometimes Enrique doesn’t and we leak goals when Enrique doesn’t stick to his man
More bad management by BR . Allen Borini and Downig should have been shipped out ASAP this summer . Downing is not suited to being a left back he is not strong enough or brave .
Agreed.
Were did ya get the close to 50 mil from we’ve not spent a penny yet
15m andy c
15m from chelsick “torres sale”
8m shelvy
2.4m “ince sale”
Shirt deal
Car partnership dael n so on.
YNWA
I think he’s still there because there has been no enquieries for him, i’m sure he would go if there was, let’s face it, who would want him, apart from KD?
Nice dig at a “Legend”…….When Rodgers has achieved the same as what “Dalglish” achieved as a player and manager, then I might take the last season fans of lfc, more serious, until then, most sound deluded, they would have us believe that Rodgers invented possession, passing football, when “Every real Liverpool fan” knows we were playing this style for decades. The guy talks too much, sucks up to the press, you know, the same press who hound our best players and spread lies about Hillsborough. At least Kenny knew how to treat the “media scum”, with utter contempt, like they deserve.
Rodgers needs to ship out all these 8 dead wood average Hard working players:
1: GK: B Jones 2: RB: Flanagan 3: CB:Coates 4: DM: Spearing
5: AM: Pacheco 6: RW / RWF: Assaidi 7: LW / LWF: Downing 8:FD: Borini
These 8 players would bring club in £20-£25M
Along with the sale of Shelvey (£5-£6M) and T Ince sale to Cardiff or Swansea could bring club £3-£4M
P Reina(30) Should be shipped out in swap deal with C Tello(21) and £2M to Barcelona.
And instead of bring in Mkhitaryan for £20-£25M
Two Spanish players should be brought in for combined total of £15-£22M
1: AM: I Munian(20) Of A Bilbao for £10-£15M to compete with Alberto and Coutinho
2: LW / LWF: D Capel(25) Of Sporting Clube De Portugal / Lisbon for £4-£7M to compete with Aspas and IBE
And C Tello(21) if Rodgers brought him to club in swap deal with Reina and £2M would compete with Sterling for the RW / RWF position at club.
Then Six/ 6 defensive positions should be filled this summer: To bring more class, quality, quality competition and depth to squad: For NOW AND FUTURE OF CLUB:
1: GK: A Mccarthy(23) Of Reading for £4-£7M to compete with Mignolet for No 1 for next 5- 8 years
2: CB: K Papadopolous(21) Of Schalke for £10-£15M to compete with Skrtel for next 3-5 years
3: CB: T Alderweireld(24) Of Ajax for £8-£12M to compete with Agger and Toure for next 2-5 years.
4: CB: T Llori(20) Of Sporting Clube De Porugal/ Lisbon for £3-£5M to learn his trade and to become a top class centre back in the next 3 to 5 years.
5: LB: A Cissokho(25) Of Lyon for £3-£6M to compete with Enrique for next 3-4 years.
6: DM: E Capoue(24) Of Toulouse for £7-£10M to compete with LUCAS for next 3-5 years.
Can’t argue with most of your statements as I also think that would be beneficial but I am not so positive on your Borini argument. I would give him another chance after seeing his performances for Italy U21.
M Menance:
Borini is simply not good enough. Coutinho and Sturridge were at Club for half a season, whereas Assaidi and Borini were at club a whole season and offered the club very little.
The 8 dead wood average hard working players: I have mentioned if the club sold them , they would not be missed. Shelvey was better and offered all more class and quality than Borini and Assaidi have ever wore in the jersey.
Ask yourself Borini was brought to club for £10.5-£11.5m? club would struggle to get £7-£9M for him now? Any player who is not good enough, their value will decrease. If they are good enough their value will increase, Club brought Coutinho for £8.5M and in 8 mths, Coutinho is now worth £20-£25M . Sturridge was brought for £12M and is now worth £20M if a club wanted to bid for him.
The 8 dead wood average players offer the club very little and offer very little class quality competition to the players the are up against:
Jones offer P Reina no real quality competition
Flanagan is diabolical to say the least and offers Johnson, Kelly and Wisdom no real quality competition
Coates is a soft giant who offers no real class or quality competition to Agger or Skrtel
Spearing is a descent championship player but offer Lucas no real class or quality competition for his place
Pacheco is a good attacking midfielder but he is not premiership class or quality and will not make the grade at club, he does not offer Coutinho or Suso any real competition for the AM position at club
Assaidi is a average winger but he is not consistant enough and if he was good enough , he would have played more games than Young Sterling but he simply was not good enough
Downing was never ever a £20M player and 95% of Liverpool fans were astounded with K Dalglish’s decision to spend £20M on Downing, he is simply not good enough and club would be lucky to get £7-£9M back from Sale of Downing
Borini Offered Suarez very little competion for his place over course of first 6 mths and only when Sturridge came to club, Suarez had some real competition for his place. Borini is not good enough and 90% of the games he played for club,he looked like a headless chicken and anyone who says otherwise didn’t watch our clubs games last season
How can you judge Assaidi, the guy never got a game, and when he did play, he looked direct and dangerous, unlike Downing. Selective criticism, once again.
Denis D,u too much,i really cut cap 4 ur changer of player,i give 90 per cent of ur gud 4metion,i belive if wat u jst list out is bee bry in, liverpool wil be 1 of the epl containder next cson,bt did u tink BR do nt ve any tot abt dis ur idear,i belive he may bt they ting that smtime he can wit some player deal re nt the sme wit amda,HM deal it luk vry cmplicater,i hate hearing abt him,cn we chat persnally,07039485718,YNWA
Paulo, Rodgers like Dalglish has wasted money on players: The £17M he wasted on Assaidi, Borini and Loan signing of Sahin.
That money should have been spent better and wiser, but out of the 5 signings he has made since his reign: Three of them have been Justified. Allen, Coutinho and Sturridge are all class and quality,Allen just needs to stop playing safe all the time and take more chances further forward.
Him and Henderson are both good class players but are too safe, just like Lucas the difference is we expect or defensive midfielder to be safe, we expect them to get stuck in and tackle and to be safe here and there but we also expect creativity and goals from our centre midfielders too.
Munian a year and half ago was mentioned as highly as Isco now is at the moment just like Coutinho he has gone off the radar and club could bring him to club for £10-£14M considering the lack of funds in spain.
And Munian is a similar player to Coutinho but has more pace and speed than him.
Our clubs has lacked out and out class creativity and quality wingers and width for over decade: The last time Liverpool had to good class quality wingers performing consistantly well over the full course of the season was in McManaman and MCateer Era.
And i think Capel and Tello would do very well for club, Capel we should have brought to club 4 seasons ago with Jesus Navas like i was saying but now, Navas is at Manchester City if he stays injury free and adapts to league. No Full back in the world will cope with Navas 1 vs one.
And Capel just like Tello are both blessed with pace and speed, but Navas was the fastest player in spain for last 5 seasons and even though he had some serious injuries over the last two seasons. He may become the fastest player in England, he is that quick.
But in Capel and Tello, Club would have two Spanish wingers blessed with class, creativity, pace, quality and speed and against the top teams we would have an out ball, with the likes of Capel and Tello against the likes of United, Man City, Arsenal, Chelsea,Tottenham and Everton: The likes Of Raphael, Evra, Zabaleta, Clichy, Sagna, Gibbs, Azpilicueta and Cole, Walker and Assou-Ekotto, Coleman and Baines bombing forward at will against us at will not be happening very much if we had D Capel and C Tello out wide on either wing.
Capel and Tello have the pace, speed and trickery to cause any Full back problems and last season we only beat one of the teams in the top 6 teams. That is not good enough
Capel is available for £4-£7M as Sporting Clube De prtugal / Lisbon are broke and need money in , so club should go all out and get him. He is twice as fast as Downing and is a much better footballer than Downing and one vs one against Full back he is awesome and very exciting.
Tello struggled to get in Barcelona team last year and now Neymar has been brought to club, his chances of playing in first team have decreased even more.
P Reina (30) has been so inconsistant over last 3 seasons and needs new challenge, we are building side for now and future. Barcelona want Reina, we need Tello. A swap deal with £2M cash also is a very good deal. At 21. Tello has 5-8 good years of football in him and he will not lose his pace or speed anytime soon
Don’t need to add 3 CB’s to Skrtel, Agger, Kelly and Toure. 1 more is fine to add to these 4 proven talents.
We do need three Centre Backs in: Toure is 34, he will bit part player for next season and half. Skrtel and Agger need some real competition for their places and in K Papadopoulos(21), T Alderweireld(24) and T Llori(20) , those are three good young centre backs for club for next 5-9 seasons.
Johnson has two years left of good football in him, Kelly and Wisdom will be competing for the right back position for the in 3 years time.
We are trying to compete with Manchester united again: They have two good Gks, we have one: They have De Gea and Lindegaard, We just have Reina.
United have 5 good class quality defenders:
Evans,Ferdinand, Jones, Smalling and Vidic.
We now have three good class centre backs:
Agger, Skrtel and Toure.
The only positions we have stronger than United is: At Right Full Back, Centre Midifield and Defensive Midfield:
Right Full back: Johnson, Kelly and Wisdom. They have Raphael and Jones plays there as cover
And at centre midfield: Allen, Gerrard and Henderson are better than Anderson, Carrick and Cleverly that united have in their centre midfield.
And at Defensive midfield: Lucas is a better player than Fletcher now and was before
United have better GK Depth, Centre back Depth, Left Back Depth, Wingers Depth and Forward depth than our club.
Whereas United have : Buttner and Evra, we just have Enrique who is class and quality at left back.
Whereas We have Assaidi, Downing, IBE and Sterling whereas United have had Nani, Valencia and Young.
They have 4 good forwards competing with one another: Hernandez, Rooney, Van Persie and Wellbeck
We have two good forwards: Sturridge and Suarez, Borini is just dead wood average
The 11 players i have said club need to bring to club are for now and future of club:
If the 8 dead wood players are shipped out and sold out and the 2 world class players are also sold and shipped out, then the 11 players mentioned are brought to club, we would compete with the two manchester clubs for the league year in and year out as we would have the class, quality, quality competition and depth needed to go the whole distance.
And with the dead wood players shipped out and players i mentioned shipped in, this would be the class, quality competition for places at club:
Competing with one another: For next 3-8 years
Goalkeepers: Mccarthy(23) and Mignolet(25)
(Offer:Aggressive, Agile, Brave, Commanding, Organisational, Reads game well)
Right Full Back: Johnson(28) , Kelly (23) and Wisdom (20)
( Offer Class, Mobility, Pace, Quality,Speed,Strength and Steel)
Centre Back: Agger(28), Alderweireld(24), Llori(20), Papadopolous(21), Skrtel(28)And Toure(32), so out of the 6 centre backs : Two of them are 28 and one is 32? Agger, Skrtel and Toure are the now and next two to 3 seasons but Alderweireld, Llori and Papadopolous could and would be for the next 5-8 years/seasons of Future of club.
( Offer Class, Hard to break down, Mobility, Pace, Quality, Speed,Strength, Steel)
Left back: Cissokho(25) and Enrique (27) these two would compete with one another for the next three seasons.
( Offer Class, Mobility, Pace, Quality,Speed,Strength and Steel)
Defensive Midfield: Capoue(23) and LUCAS(26) these two could and would compete with one another for the next 2 to 5 years if Capoue is brought to club this summer( Offer Class, Mobility, Pace, Strength and Steel in Centre of Park)
Attacking Midfield: Alberto(20) , Coutinho(20) and Munian(20) These three class quality mobile magicians could compete with one another for the next 5- 10 years if Munian is also brought to club this summer and then all three players adapt well to league and consistantly play well over the course of season
( Offer Class, Creativity, Goals, Mobility and Quality in Centre of park)
Right Wing / Wing Forward: Sterling(18) and Tello(21), If Tello is brought to club this summer, these two could compete with one another for the next 5-10 years.
( Offer Class, Creativity, Goals, Mobility, Pace, Quality, Speed and Width)
Left Wing / Wing Forward: Aspas(25), Capel (25) and IBE(17), If Capel is brought into club this summer, The three could compete with one another for next 2-4 years. ( Offer Class, Creativity, Goals, Mobility, Pace, Quality, Speed and Width)
Forwards/ Strikers: If Suarez is sold: Benteke(21), Muriel(23) and Sturridge(23), If Benteke and Muriel are brought to club this summer if and when Suarez is shipped out and sold, then in Benteke, Muriel and Sturridge club would have 3 young class quality strikers who all offer club something different in attack competing with one another for the next 5- 7 years minimum
( Offer Class, Creativity, Goals, Mobility, Pace, Quality and Speed)
We need to invest in world class talent. None of those mentioned forward of defence fit the bill. We’ve invested in alot of youth with major upside. Borini, Sterling, Coutinho, Suso, Alberto, Allen , Henderson etc – all kids that have shown that they can play good football at the top level (perhaps except Alberto). But all kids who are several years of performing at their peak.
At the moment we need to add world class from the midfield to the goal. The additions to date are fine but i can’t see Aspas, Alberto or Toure shaking the best 11 too hard despite adding much needed depth.
Eriksen or Mkhytarian are top level performers that walk into our best side and improve us immediately. We have brought the speculatives in abundance over ther last couple of years. Now is the time for some blue chip.
Ozred: Coutinho is a better player than Erikson and i also think Munian is a better player than Erikson.
Erikson and Mkhitrayan are both in limelight now as they were playing for teams both in Champions league.
That is why Shaktar want between £25-£30M for Mkhitrayan and Ajax want between £12-£16M for Eriksen.
So for both players Rodgers would have to spend £37m to £46M
Whereas i think Rodgers should bring in I Munian(20) Of A Bilbao for £10-£15M
Bring in D Capel Of Sporting Clube De Portugal / Lisbon for £4-£7M
And Ship P Reina(30) To Barcelona in swap deal with C Tello(21) And £2M cash.
Then invest £4-£7M in A Mccarthy(23) Of Reading to come in and compete with Mignolet for next 5- 8 seasons at Club.
So instead of spending: £37-£46M on Two players: Eriksen(21) AM and Mkhitrayan(24) AM
Rodgers should be spend: £29M on Four players whilst swapping one player in process:
Out: GK: P Reina (30) to Barcelona in swap deal and £2M
Ins: GK: A Mccarthy(23) Of Reading for £4-£7M
AM: I Munian(20) Of A Bilbao for £10-£15M
RW / RWF: C Tello(21) Of Barcelona in swap deal with P Reina and £2M cash
LW/ LWF: D Capel Of Sporting Clube De Portugal/Lisbon for £4-£7M
Two good class quality players for £37-£46M or 4 good class players for £18-£29M
Our club needs more class and quality and depth at club and we need to spend wisely, spend £25M on one player when we are not in champions league is not a good idea. But spending £29M on 4 class quality players who do not play in champions league but have the class and quality to make that step when our club gets back in Champions league is the way forward
Yes. I got your point. You’ve made it 6 times. I just don’t agree with it.
Firstly how is borini supposed to offer competition when he’s injured for most of the season?
Secondly, we have added depth over the last 12 months. We have hendo, Kelly, borini, toure, mignolet, sterling, suso, Allen, Alberto all probabely sitting just outside our best 11 but good enough to have an impact and a vast majority with big upside.
What we don’t need is more of the same current day standard players. I’d rather invest money in 1 x world class player than 3 players that be fighting just to be in our best 11.
We don’t need a squad the size of uniteds. 1, we don’t have the money they do and 2, we will play about 12 – 15 games less than them this year.
As for erikson. He comes from the same comp as Suarez so it ain’t all bad. Most would regard him as a far superior and more proven talent than those you’ve mentioned.
Ozred, Borini is pants and pony its that simple. There is not one game he has actually looked like a Liverpool type player, he never offered Suarez any real competition for his place for first 6 months.
And forget his injuries, in the games he played he made good runs at times but just looked like a headless chicken.
And mate you don’t know jack about football, Munian is a better footballer than Eriksen, Tello is a class quality player and so is Capel.
And the players i mentioned are in the calibre and class of Coutinho and Sturridge. Munian is much better than J Allen and J Henderson, there is no comparison. Capel and Tello are both twice as good as any of the wingers we have at club.
Suso will be loaned out this season as he is too lightweight for the first team.
Our club can no longer justify spending £25m plus on player when we haven’t been in Champions league for 5 years now and are not even in Europe this season.
Exactly, I don’t understand why this is so hard to grasp for some people, Season after season we keep buying “Squad players”, When we did splash out top money for Suarez, we got ourselves an instant match winner, like Man Utd did when they signed RVP, we should be concentrating on a “world class striker and a world class central midfielder, our central defence is not as bad as some make out, once we have these 2 players then we can look to pad out the squad, instead we keep going round in circles and skirting on “real top class players”, as our current standing proves.
The fact that you leave Allen’s name off the list just proves to me that you are one of those fans who are too scared or blind to question the manager, we seem to have many all of a sudden, despite our worse season for decades, go figure. I like how the transfer “policies” keep changing, obviously to suit what ever player we wish to buy or sell.
Allen is a good player just Like Henderson, the problem with him and the likes of all the current young English/ Irish/ Welsh and Scottish centre midfielders is they are all descent passers of the ball but they all play to safe, more backwards and side ways passes rather than gambling more.
The likes of Allen, Henderson, Shelvey, Allen, Adams, Whelan, Cleverly, Rodwell, Ramsey, Morrison are all good midfielders but they all play very safe where if they were to bring more creativity, flair and take some more risks going forward they would all be better players.
Capel, Munian and Tello are all class, quality players with right confidence and right team, fully fit and injury free for few seasons they will be world class.
These players are all in the calibre of Coutinho, Just all of them have more pace and speed than Coutinho and are all Spanish players
its fair to officially say over the last decade the premiership best flair/ attacking players are either from a South American country: Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Uruguay or from one of these 4 countries Belgium,France, Holland or Spain.
But the last three seasons the best attacking talent in league has come from Spain: Cazorla, Mata, Michu and Silva.
Those 4 players are in the top 10 attacking / creative players in league:
And what country is ranked No 1 in the world?
If Capel, Munian and Tello were English, Irish, Scottish or Welsh they would be in the National team its just spain have too many world class players at their disposal and some class quality players don’t get a look in unless they play for Barcelona or Real Madrid or Join a top team in the premiership.
Munian out of the three is the best, But in Capel and Tello you have two very quick pacey wingers with good control, touch, movement, skill who are exciting one vs one with full back who hold width create loads of chances and score goals from out wide.
Munian, Capel and Tello are better than Allen, Henderson, Borini, Assaidi, Sterling and IBE . They are in class and quality of Coutinho
Yes to tello. I can have munian and capel
for those who think downing should be our left back nd jfk u ve all got some sense of humour. I cldnt help laughing while reading those nd am quite sure u were doing same while writing it.
Yes its possible he may be sold before end of window,like a few more thats still around,as regards left back ,i agree he should be ………………………………..left back at villa!
Sell downing . He is flipping rubbish. Sterling or Ince would do way better
I personally think we should keep him.
He is fast and tracks back well, in some games you need a player like that otherwise you will get countered by the better teams.
I think a lot of his qualities go unoticed
downing is as poor a signing as we’ve had. move on. will be lucky to get $5m for him.
good ridance.
This guy should have been out of the door before “Dalglish” was, Awful, overrated, very very average player, then again, I knew this before we signed him, Brendan seem to be bending over backwards to accommodate him all last season.
Borrowed time? Should have been a championship player with Middlesborough and fighting relegation with Villa. Downing has been terrible for us. Just goes to show how poorly KD bought. Downing, Carrol and the unhealthy obsession with the new Alonso–Adam . A fool taken for a ride!
Downing should be sold. He is a drain on wages . Offers nothing our youngsters can’t offer. Simples.
And credit to br for identifying and trying to fix Kennys mess. Adam and Carroll moved on immediately and expect downing to follow this window if anyone will have him.
Squad is shaping up very nicely. A couple more world class talents away from being a genuine threat.
Pretty stupid comment really as we haven’t signed any top players yet
Coutinho, Sturridge… Pretty stupid comment really