The resurrection of Stewart Downing

[Pesam]

I initially posted this in the Agger thread in response to a post by Oncy about Adam Johnson but thought it was thread-worthy........

We got royally ripped off over Stu, he's a £10m player who had a shit season but he'll improve under Rodgers. I've never been a huge fan of his but I have seen enough to know there's a good player in there and I think Rodgers intends using him more that most LFC fans would like.

I predict that Downing will have a good season and show that, rather than an out-and-out winger, he has the potential/vision to play tiki-taki and (prepare to laugh) he could become a Pedro-type of player for us.

I realise the anomaly here is that I'm saying he's only worth £10m but could be our Pedro but that's because he was only worth £10m based on his career up to that point BUT somewhere inside Downing is a very intelligent player trying to get out. If we surround him with similarly intelligent players (Allen, Gerrard, Borini, Suarez etc) and a manager who knows how to get the best from him then he could become worth the £20m we paid for him.

 

[Oncy]

Ive been saying that all summer buddy.
Hes a good player. We overpaid yes, but hes still a good footballer and i think he'll be fine this year.

 

[Fox]

I am waiting for at least the odd chance of a "told you so" on Stu, never doubted him he just doubts himself

Downing, Suarez, Borini = the future 3 ???

 

[Pesam]

Ive been saying that all summer buddy.
Hes a good player. We overpaid yes, but hes still a good footballer and i think he'll be fine this year.

I think a host of England managers along with his managers at Middlesbro, McLeish at Villa and King Kenny all recognised his talent but so far NONE of them have been able to get the best from him. I think it's because he's predominantly been played as an out-and-out winger and hopefully Rodgers will give him more of a free rein.

 

[keniget]

he has the potential/vision to play tiki-taki

Excellent. I'll just sit back and wait for the inevitable next summer:

A fee of at least £40million has been touted for the 29-year-old England international, and Iniesta believes any move will benefit Barcelona and Downing.

"He's a prodigy," Iniesta is quoted as saying by Sky Sports.

"I don't know how many years he's been playing but he isn't a discovery from yesterday.

"He's a good player and I've seen in a couple of publications that he could be joining our team.”

The Barcelona playmaker is unsure as to whether a move will materialise, but is confident Downing has the ability to shine at Camp Nou.

Iniesta continued: "I don't know if that would be the case but if he comes here we'll welcome him the best we can.

"If he comes here it's because he has the ability to play here, no doubt."

 

[Modo]

LOL

 

[Rosco]

I'll be surprised if Downing is as bad this season as last, but I'm still not hopeful he's going to be particularly good.

If he is going to be good though he does have to transition to the type of player Pesam thinks he can be. Although you have to wonder why no manager has asked him to play in that manner.

 

[Mystic]

I'll be surprised if Downing is as bad this season as last, but I'm still not hopeful he's going to be particularly good.

If he is going to be good though he does have to transition to the type of player Pesam thinks he can be. Although you have to wonder why no manager has asked him to play in that manner.

Has he ever played with a manager who employs those inside forward types though?

 

[Squiggles]

I found it interesting that he started on the right, which is where he played a lot of his most threatening football for Villa.

Dalglish never had the balls to do this properly.

 

[gkmacca]

It was good to see Rodgers advising him so often during the game. Every chance he got to give the player a word he used it: that can only help someone like Downing.

 

[Woland]

Resurrection is a good choice of word, he's been crucified on here enough.

 

[Modo]

I think Downing played more on the right last season, but it doesn't matter. He has a terrible right foot and his crosses are always floated to no one.

 

[dantes]

I missed his death? For fucks sake.

 

[Modo]

Resurrection is a good choice of word, he's been crucified on here enough.

*cough* Hendo *cough*

 

[Woland]

Hey, some people deserve crucifixion.

If I had it my way Melwood would look like the Appian Way after the slaves revolt.

 

[Modo]

Hey, some people deserve crucifixion.

If I had it my way Melwood would look like the Appian Way after the slaves revolt.

Hahaha

 

[Gary25]

Such are our very low expectations of Downing, a semi-decent performance will get blown out of proportion and he'll be hailed as the next John Barnes.

By the way, i thought he was pretty shit again. Had loads of space and time on the ball but very little with it.

I'd be surprised if he left this summer as we're still lacking proper width in the squad and he provides that at least, but hopefully he's nothing more than a squad player.

 

[Rosco]

If he does put in some semi decent performances we'll have to think of an appropriate nickname that recognises how limited his contribution is.

Something like Wonderman II

 

[Pesam]

Such are our very low expectations of Downing, a semi-decent performance will get blown out of proportion and he'll be hailed as the next John Barnes.

By the way, i thought he was pretty shit again. Had loads of space and time on the ball but very little with it.

I'd be surprised if he left this summer as we're still lacking proper width in the squad and he provides that at least, but hopefully he's nothing more than a squad player.

I didn't see the game last night and wouldn't judge him on one game anyway. This is a feeling I've had since Rodgers took over, that there's a chance Downing could blossom in a pass-and-move system. There's little in his previous 10 year career to suggest he will come good but every now and again it's possible to glimpse a "proper footballer" who gets his head up and reads the game very well.

I not 100% sure about the fact he'll come good but I am 100% sure that Rodgers is going to give him every chance.

 

[gkmacca]

I think Downing played more on the right last season, but it doesn't matter. He has a terrible right foot and his crosses are always floated to no one.

That's surely a bit harsh, Modo. He's got a relatively decent right foot, for a left footer.

 

[Modo]

That's surely a bit harsh, Modo. He's got a relatively decent right foot, for a left footer.

Yes, that was harsh.
But to me he looks uncomfortable playing on the right. I also don't trust his crossing accuracy when he uses his right foot.
He seems to always float his crosses like Pennant does but without the same precision.
You're not gonna hear this often from me, but Downing is a decent player. Decent.
But ideally we should be having a Suarez clone playing on the right, cause he is currently setting the benchmark.

 

[Fox]

Has he ever played with a manager who employs those inside forward types though?

I said before, Capello did this with Downing, Young and Rooney for a few England games and it worked really well. Downing could be a front 3 type of guy

 

[Gerry_A_Trick]

Yes, that was harsh.
But to me he looks uncomfortable playing on the right. I also don't trust his crossing accuracy when he uses his right foot.
He seems to always float his crosses like Pennant does but without the same more precision.
You're not gonna hear this often from me, but Downing is a decent player. Decent.
But ideally we should be having a Suarez clone playing on the right, cause he is currently setting the benchmark.

Yes, ideally we'd have a better player than him. Obviously.

But, I don't think we should be worried too much about his crossing ability now, we won't be aiming to put in too many crosses from either wing, so whether he floats them or not won't matter. It won't be happening too often(I hope anyway). What he can do, is cut in a lot, take a pass and give it. If he can do that well and consistently, we'll be ok.

 

[StevieM]

Given that he scored no league goals and created none, it'd take some doing for him to perform worse.

I'm still waiting for the useless fuck to score so as I can change my avatar - at least I stuck to that plan. Those of you who dumped their Stewie avatars - shame on you - you know who you are.

Besides it'll take more than encouraging performances that I haven't seen against teams in the Europa League that I've never heard of to convince me that he has more footballing ability than Dusty Bin.

 

[Ryan]

He can look reasonable against wank, slow opposition that five him a bit of space.

His best games last season came against such teams. The Carling Cup final was a decent example.

He's about as much use as a red tampon against decent sides though who just look at him and laugh. Remember the game at Old Trafford when he fucking soiled himself and proactively avoided receiving the ball? That's the real Stewart Downing.

Remember people, this year we don't want to finish 8th. That's right, we want to do better. Hard to remember I know.

 

[Modo]

Yes, ideally we'd have a better player than him. Obviously.

But, I don't think we should be worried too much about his crossing ability now, we won't be aiming to put in too many crosses from either wing, so whether he floats them or not won't matter. It won't be happening too often(I hope anyway). What he can do, is cut in a lot, take a pass and give it. If he can do that well and consistently, we'll be ok.

fucking hope so.

 

[gkmacca]

Yes, that was harsh.
But to me he looks uncomfortable playing on the right. I also don't trust his crossing accuracy when he uses his right foot.
He seems to always float his crosses like Pennant does but without the same precision.
You're not gonna hear this often from me, but Downing is a decent player. Decent.
But ideally we should be having a Suarez clone playing on the right, cause he is currently setting the benchmark.

I agree with that. It feels too much like going back to Kewell's time playing Downing on the right - even the things he can do well are just too predictable and defenders work it out far too easily.

 

[FoxForceFive]

I can see downing being used on the inside right against some teams, cos thats his best position, but unless Rodgers can instill some balls into him he can't do that against everyone.

 

[Glen C]

SELL SELL SEEELLLLLLLLLLL. The guy is a very average footballer who isn't going to get any better. he has no tricks up his sleeve and is easy to work out. He is the weak link in our starting 11. Get rid of him and replace him with someone of quality and all of a sudden our first 11 would look very strong if we keep agger.

 

[Markeh]

Surely Martin O'Neill would chew his right arm off for a Downing type winger. He's not that bad but he's not the long term occupant of the position he played last night either.