It seems every game Maxi has started he has played very well, scores in most and the team plays better but he can't seem to get a run in the team. Just don't get it really - surely dropping Downing will make him more determined to improve?
Current value of Kenny's buys: Carroll £19.5m Suarez £19m Henderson £9.5m Adam £9m Downing £8.5m
Well, there's that, and also getting some service from out wide so he can attack balls and give the defences a hard time. Otherwise we're not using his strength in the air and at hold up the ball. I suppose that Downing is the most disappointing, especially having been the Villa Fans' player of the season last season...
Probably the number 1 reason why Downing is it for me. He was bought for not just providing us width but to put the ball in good positions for Carroll and that 35 million out of him if you will. For 20 million he has not done and 0 assists show that. Now, Kenny keeps inverting him and he is now cutting in loads and not providing width but if you are going to cut in, you need to have a pop here and there and 0 goals- 0 assists for a 20 million player that is prem proven and 27 is staggering. Should be an interesting january.
^ This... His crossing has been awful but don't forget he's hit the woodwork 3 times (?). I know that's no excuse as he's suppose to be scoring and not hitting the woodwork but you have to be pretty unlucky to hit the woodwork that amount of times, but I agree his crossing is awful and I don't know how he hasn't got a goal or even an assist If I'm honest. It has to be downing for me, like most people have pointed out Carroll's young and still has time to improve, let's just hope he does and does it fairly quickly
Downing not only misses or hits the woodwork, but when he hits the target it is always a very week shot.
As others have said, I do think Carroll has the potential to be a good player for us, just needs a bit of confidence and better service. The most frustrating thing about watching us play at the moment is Downing, I'm sure somewhere he has the ability to be very good but he just doesn't seem confident enough to try and take on the man or do something unpredictable.
