PROS
Liverpool have been linked with the Stewart Downing since January. A lot of the complaints about us being linked with him have been down to one fact among many Reds fans: he isn’t Juan Mata. From my point of view though, the comparisons between the Spanish playmaker and the England winger are completely unfair, they are not similar styles of player at all. Mata on the one hand could only be loosely described as a winger as he prefers to play in the whole behind the strikers, while Downing has always been more comfortable down the flanks.
One of the probable reasons why Downing maybe a bigger priority for Dalglish and Comolli than Mata currently, maybe because they are looking for a more natural winger to compliment the characteristics of Andy Carroll. Of course Mata maybe a superior dribbler and has a better passing range, but I feel that Downing maybe favoured purely because he would give the team more width than Mata would.
For sure, Downing has played as a central midfield player both at Middlesbrough and Aston Villa, but you only have to look at the video footage by ElPistoleroJFT96 below to see that most of his assists last campaign came from crosses, many of which came from his weaker right foot too:
[youtube s38jnV1FyKo]
Even from a 3 minute clip, a person who hadn’t even seen the player before can see that Downing can keep genuine pace while running with the ball, can shoot and pass with either foot, and has a variety to his game which means he can provide through balls as well as being a decent crosser.
7 goals and 7 assists in a poor season for Villa, as well as the club’s player of the season award isn’t a bad case to put forward for buying the player.
CONS
The question becomes though, is he worth the £15million being suggested? With two years left on his contract, would we be just paying over the heads for an above average player?
Somebody like Mata is only valued a £3million more, and at 23, he is 3 years Downing’s junior with probably a greater amount of vision and skill on the ball. Going by the stats, Downing wasn’t fantastic at either dribbling and delivering decent crosses last season, and although he has had a very good season, is he the sort of player which will push the club up to the next level of being league contenders once again?
For many fans the answer is no, and every time I have put up a transfer rumour on this site linking the player with us, a few fans cry out at the apparent waste of money.
Still, I go back to the point I made at the top of the article. What sort of player is Kenny Dalglish looking for? He is looking for width, pace and guile to help out Andy Carroll and to give the side a different dimension, and if we do purchase Downing, it will be certain that he believes the 26 year old is the man to do that. Whether he is right, we will have to find out next season and how many assists he provides for the likes of Carroll.
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Get them both
4-4-2
four defenders
mata-gerd-lucs-down
suarez-caroll
An average winger like Downing will not help Liverpool push on to get back in the top four and win the title in the coming seasons. If Liverpool are serious about challenging at the top then they need to stop being so obsessed with average at best British players. Downing is overrated and overpriced and offers far too little for his 15m fee.
Average = best left winger in the league, not for just the last season but 2-3 others too? Stop playing your damn video games and watch some footy. Downing is a very good winger.
As a “fan” of Downing I would like to thank whichever Liverpool fan put the photo together.
I have spoken to several people close to RL and he is as angry about this as Stewart is embarressed by it.
Neither is now in any rush to business with Liverpool, unless it’s for big money. Talk is of 25m.
If Liverpool pay up then Villa will happily reinvest the money but the price is really being set as to deter his sale.
As I said thanks for stirring the hornets nest!
It was actually Downing and Carroll in the photo but the scarf could have been faked. I still think it was real though and of couse Downing would say that he was fake to his club. Who wouldn’t?
try to get under 25 years old players like wickham, downing, n’zogbia, adam, roux, zapata,lovren. more players can make a good challenges to the team and amongst the players
mata n downing plzz… both can play at right n left winger… kuyt play as striker…
Downing is a top-class winger and we need genuine width, he must be our top-priority!!. Someone for the right would be good too but Henderson is a good crosser too, he was 5th in chances created in the PL last season.
Downing is so well balanced running at pace on the ball, he barely slows down. He really is a cracking player, we must get him!!!!
I totally agree mate. Some people on here are blind.
good post mate. I also feel a 4-3-3 is the best formation with mata and suarez either side of big Andy. And if our midfield 3 consists of Adam, he has a tendency to go to the left and whip in crosses.
Reina
Back 4
Gerrard Lucas Adam
Suarez Carroll Mata
This midfield 3 will allow us to keep the ball and stack to out pass and move philosophy. Adam can go left, Mata can go left and a new attacking full back will also provide width
Although, if Kenny wants to play a strict 4-4-2 (which i reall doubt) Downing would be more useful than Mata
so how did that downing guy turn out??
hmm, those saying we were buying a totally ordinary player for what ended up being 20m were SPOT ON.