So will he be utilised more on the right than on the left this season for the Reds? In some ways I hope not as the point of overpaying for Downing in the first place was to fill a problem position. We needed a direct winger on the left who could give us width and Downing was identified to fulfil this purpose. If he is afforded the chance to play regularly on the left hand side, I am hopeful he will have a very good season for us indeed.
This doesn’t mean I believe he should stick rigidly to the left hand touchline though. I prefer the more dynamic approach which Dalglish employed on Saturday. Switching sides every 20 minutes should give us the best of both worlds as well as keeping the opposition defence on its toes. At times we will want Downing to provide some width on the left and strike up a formidable partnership with Jose Enrique, while at other times (when perhaps he is being heavily marked), a switch to the right could also benefit us, giving the Reds a more direct threat on goal, as we saw on Saturday.
So where should Stewart Downing play the most of his football this season? My answer would be on both wings, and hopefully he switches regularly during the same match too.
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Left as he still cuts in on his left when he plays on the right, it’s ok switching from wing to wing during the game, but his best position is left wing, leaving Kuyt and Suarez working the right wing n strike……YNWA
When Gerrard’s fit i’d play Downing on the right with Adam on the left of midfield
Adam doesn’t have the pace to go out to the left. He played there for Rangers and it never worked. He’s better served in the middle.
Personally I would opt for 433
Carroll
Downing Suarez
Stevie G
Adam Lucas
Enrique Agger Carra Johnson
Reina
Perfect..I thought the same, however I’m not sold on Lucas as an everyday player…A couple few above average games and a gem against Chelsea shouldn’t win a place in the starting 11 side!
As long as Lucas is out we’ll be ok. Lucas is garbage
Tedious 3PHD. the article was about Downing, not Lucas. Why go in for more Lucas knocking?
I couldn’t agree more, hate people who come on this site with their own agendas and have no interest in the articles, just the desire to make stupid statements about players they don’t like or things that aren’t even relevant.
Incidentally, I think Downing totally, 100% needs to be utilised on the left; there are plenty of options for the right-hand side and I think that a partnership between him and Enrique is very exciting for Reds fans.
if you havn’t got anything good to say don’t say anything at all.
that last comment was to 3PHD
how about this, why not BOTH. modern wingers switch flanks all the time throughout the game. as a result, opposing fullbacks have two different players with different tendencies, skills and strengths running at them throughout the game. they can’t adapt as well.
not everything has to be set in stone.
good point!!
Thank you…exactly what I have been saying. Whichever fullback you’re getting more change out of, that is the flank you should attack. The default option should be left, but if you are getting more joy of the LB then switching flanks is fine. Keeps the opposition guessing!
To me,this is quite an unnecessary question. Call Downing & ask him where he’s more comfortable. If left,then play him there. Why should you move a player around for no good reason like we are short of manpower on the right. YES! He hit the bar from the right wing but then,maybe it would have been a GOAL from the left.Also to me the issue of getting a defender is no issue to me, if u can just be patient enough to count the number of defenders we have u may want to agree wit me that we are good to go defensively esplly now that we have Enrique. What we need is a Striker. Carrol is stil struggling to make an impact and i doubt if he will ever get there(pls dont bite me!jst my opinion). In fact he’s spoilin our pass&move style wit the ‘all ball to Carol’s head’pattern of play. Suarez could be injured. Then we’ll be left wit N’gog. I’d prefer to see us buy a good striker than see us buy a defender.
Frozen…I’m convinced that Downing will be a menace to deal with. Have him floating throughout the game will keep the opposing defence tired! and that includes covering Suarez, Carroll, and others. Downing has had a fantastic first game as he littered the box with crosses in the 1st half and his mazy runs had the defence thinking…It would have been a perfect finish if that ball kept a foot under the bar!, but I’m sure we’ll see a lot more from Downing as he looks really motivated to WIN!
Sure! We will keep hoping for the best. YNWA.@Shaun