A lot of talk today has been about whether Liverpool have been overspending during this transfer window. With Stewart Downing expected to join the Reds for between £18.5-20m, some may question whether cheaper options could have been found elsewhere.
If we look at a comparable deal with Ashley Young to Manchester United for £16million, it would be fair to say that the Reds haven’t really been made to pay excessively over Downing’s worth in the current transfer market. Considering that Young had only one year left on his contract, compared to Downing’s two, it kind of suggests that an extra £2.5m to £4m isn’t all that much, even if you take into account the fact Downing is a year older.
Although it must be said it took time for Downing to recover from a serious injury which he sustained before he moved to Villa from Middlesbrough for £12million 2 years ago, the fact that he was Villa’s Player of the Season last term shows the player is in the peak of his form currently. Many Villa fans feel that losing Downing is far worse than the departure of Young to United.
If we look at some statistics from last season, it shows that Downing numbers do stack up against Young’s. Both scored seven league goals last season with a shot on target accuracy of 42% for Downing and 48% for Young. In regards to assists, Downing created 7 goals to Young’s 10. Although it must be said that Downing’s cross completion rate is poor, at 24% to Young’s 31%, which may concern Andy Carroll, but it must be noted that Downing actually created seven more goal scoring chances during the season with Downing creating 85 to Young’s 78. He also utilises his dribbling skills and pace very well with his tendency to dribble at 43% to Young’s 21%.
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keep dream … losing young is harder to take coz he is alot better than Downing .. down player of the yr SO WAT!!!!!! VILLA WERE POOR last yr and he was the best of a bad. where was he the yr before????
AND WINGERS OUT THERE LMFAO
ZOG £10MIL doh!!!
I would not be lmfao losing top 2 best players after a fantastic season like you stated…
Not to mention Birmingham’s relegated manager!
I’m sure your season will improve rapidly… Doh!!!
link to page 2 doesn’t work !
can he play left back – we havnt had a half decent one for 12 years or more
we have a better winger his name is raheem stirling. i mean every word of it.
Stan…You da’ man!!!…I’m quite dissapointed at Kenny’s decision to bring in Downing!…I know that Raheem is only 16 and about 3-4 years away from first team action, and I’m 1000000% positive Sterling is good as his name! I attend almost all reserve and youth games and if Downing comes in between the growth of Raheem, Silva, Suso, then I’m p!$$ed!! and too be honest…12m for N’Zogbia or Turan or I’d spend 20m in a heartbeat for Adam Johnson!!!…Downing’s signing is a real downer! Hopefully we’re done “wasting” money and looking like we’ve been taken to the bank every deal!!!…ie..Carroll+Downing+Henderson=OVERPAID!!..The best deals we go is Suarez for a cheap 22m and Adam for another cheap 7.5m!!! hopefully we develop the youth like ManU, by loaning them out! and sell the remaining players we don’t need to recoup our overspending!..Unbelievable!! we talk about spending on an Anfield situation and we throw away money like this!
and am sure u think Downing is as bad as his name
Yep!…If he’s not a 10 goal, 10 assist guy every season, they we can chuck him in the Riera category!!! SIMPLE AS THAT!!
I’m sorry, but Raheem Sterling? What planet are you living on? He hasn’t even played a game yet! Have any of you actually seen him play? Sure, he’s got talent but to day he should be our first choice left winger next season is ridiculous, and the fact is that none of us know how good he could be, he might be another Walcott (although I hope not) for all we know, all hype and not much substance. Yes, we have paid a bit much for Downing, but as a left winger he is better than Young, so I’m glad we’ve got Downing rather than Young.
* to say
Swilliams…READ before you comment:
I SAID “I know that Raheem is only 16 and about 3-4 years away from first team action, and I’m 1000000% positive Sterling is good as his name!”…
and may be you should attend some of the youth games and reserves instead of commenting without going!!! I go with over 10 of my mates and support the youth almost every home game!!!
I think Downing is a decent signing for you, but sorry Ashley Young is head and shoulders above him. Downing is sort of player that looks great on highlights, but is annonymous for large parts of games (and seasons to be honest !!!), and extremely lightweight. The question i ask about him is, if he is as good as he clearly thinks he is, how come he barely makes it into the national squad of a country who havent had a decent left footed player for a decade ?
Andy, Downing made it to the English team, and has made more appearances than Young in case u didnt know. Downing has even played at world cup level…. hmmm
And what would that mean!???? Has England done anything in the last 20 years in international football???.hmmmmmmmmmmNOPE! so to be honest! both Young and Downing are over-rated…OPEN YOUR EYES AND WATCH N’Zogbia and see how much of a “beast” he is when running against defenders!..Young..hmmmmNOPE…Downing…hmmmm DEFINATELY NOT!!! Adam Johnson…hmmmm..HE’S IN YOUR FACE!!!
Big deal if he was Villas best player last season look where they finished. We also had a poor season and Lucas ended up our best player does that mean hes worth 20 mill aswell?
@stan howard i agree with you mate Raheem Sterling is the future, Downing is a quick fix for a couple of seasons, but i see Raheem breaking through nxt season aswell, thank you Rafa for the work you’ve done bringing in such great youngsters in our reserves the future looks bright, good luck LFC……YNWA
Liverpool have just wasted 20m on an average at best Stewart Downing who is soon to be 27. Kenny Dalglish will not win the Premier League with mediocre British players like Downing. FSG have adopted a transfer policy of buying young talent yet the club have just paid way over the odds for an overrated British guy who is well into his 20s.
Who cares how much we are paying for players, they are new talented players for us and it’s not like were gonna run out of money. If we get into champions league next season you will see all the top top players in the world wanting to play for us and it will be simple to seal deals. If we were this season would young have signed for us.? Lol
hey doe!! Young is another over-rated player!!!!…WHY..OOOO..WHY…does he not contact ManCity and get Adam Johnson for that 20 million!..I’d even pay 25m for him!
Cause City don’t sell to top 4 rivals dumbass!!! I’m a big admirer of AJ but signing him was always going to be a long shot unless we were willing to offer in excess of 25 million at least. Look what they’ve done to Adebayor and Bellamy!! They’ve chucked them out of the Prem when they could be easily playing for a top 6 side. City have about 50 senior squad players half of whom they’re willing to let waste their careers on the bench. They have the resources to do so. They don’t mind buying the best players of their top 4 rivals but when it comes to them letting their players leave, it’s a different story altogether.
Where you from PEDDRRROOO?? May be you should open your eyes!…They’d sure sell to us if we throw money out there for a player!..and if you can read and understand DUMBASS! ManCity have Contracts to dump and fast or they will be penalized!!! If we offered 25million they’d sell and im sure they’d ask us to take their crap in Bridge, Barry and may be even Lescott, because all of a sudden we throwing away money for over rated players!!! Suarez and Adam worth the money, but Carroll at 35m??? Henderson at 16??? Downing at 18-20???…We should have just upped a bid for Mata or try to revive Queresma’s career, or even Jeffren, N’Zogbia, Turan, Brunt, Albrighton…whoever!!!
Tell me one player they’ve sold to a top 6 team in the last 3 years??? No hypothetical bids….proper facts….tell me..Stephen Ireland doesn’t count btw…he was part of the Milner deal…If they get away with their Etihad sponsorship deal, they’ll get a massive massive revenue boost. Even the likes of Barry, Bridge and Lescott will be sold for cut price deals to mid-table or lower-table clubs or sent abroad. As I’ve said before, look at the cases of Bellamy and Adebayor. Spurs were willing to buy them in the past but City didn’t entertain their offers.
Quaresma…hmmm….there is a reason why he is now playing in Turkey and he is no better than Joe Cole….Jeffren may still come to us….There is a reason why only the likes of Sunderland, Birmingham and Newcastle are after N’Zogbia….Turan has gone off our radar unfortunately…Brunt will be a massive gamble at any price….Albrighton is still very raw and would cost the same amount Downing would..he is Villa’s best prospect.
Carroll’s purchase was circumstantial and will probably be a one off. Regarding Henderson, even I really couldn’t understand why he was bought. Downing is one of the best left sided players in the league who will give us tremendous balance and considering the fact that he is in his peak years and is English, we will unfortunately have to pay a premium.
I SUGGEST YOU OPEN YOUR EYES AND WAKE UP FROM THE UTOPIAN FOOTBALL WORLD YOU’RE LIVING IN!!!
You can only buy the best AVAILABLE player that fits your criteria. If Sterling does break into the squad then so much the better, but the kids will benefit from having to compete for a place with seasoned pro’s.
How are we paying 20 mill for downing when villa are getting nzogbia for 10 million!? Stattos explain that to me!