Downing, like Henderson, is a canny player but not a top 4 one, Champions League one, or title challenging player either. Carroll is just the most average one trick pony in the EPL imo and he cost £35m ffs. King Ken has spent the serious end of £75m on Carroll, Downing and Jordan but you are as far from challenging for thre title today as you were 10 years ago. Even the top 4 is slipping away imo, as Arsenal & Spurs are far better and will challenge for that 4th spot. Chelsea have the money to buy. That said, I'd have Jordan back in a flash and I'd take Downing too (we are a long way from even challenging 5th spot yet) as they would make us a better team (Jordan would be on the bench mind these days) for a fraction of the price you paid Villa and us. Seriously though, do any of you actually question what KK is buying down there, or is he just too revered to question (thats my impression btw) and everyone is scared if they do, he will walk away again. TBH, if MoN spent £75m in the next 2 transfer windows, I'd fully expect to see us challenging for the top 5 places thats all. You started much higher up the food chain than us anyway, so for that money, top 4 is a must isnt it? Even a title challenge should be expected for that kind of investment?
Yeah in fairness though when Kenny came in we were just above the relegation zone, plus Henderson and Mandy are still young so personally I'll give them a bit longer before I judge them fully. Downings been a big disappointment but lets not forget he's also signed Suarez, Enrique and Adam and despite the fact that we have had a **** of a month we're still comfortably in touch with top 4 places
No people do query the buys, and exactly if its Cosmollie (spelling) or Kenny. But at the same time putting too much stick on guys in their early 20s is also a tad premature. We are all giving them a bit of time to settle before we make a final opinion - believe it or not our club is not stupid and lets face it we are armchair fans will little actual inside knowledge. Obviously it is highly unlikely they will live up to the price, but thats not to say they won't contribute. The exception is Downing, who I always thought for 20 mill was a horrendous buy. But, I believe some of this is down to who we can attract. Before you can attract the maga guns you have to be in Europe. So we've bought the best of the rest in hope to get us back there and then buy better.
I rate Suarez and Enrique very highly, but like Hendo, Stue and Carroll I dont rate Adam as a top player! It would be interesting to see what players Hodgson would have bought in with that kind of investment. The one big signing Hodgson did make was a very good one in Meireles. The rest had to be picked from the bargain basement! It would be even more interesting to see how Kenny would cope at a club like WBA, where he wouldnt be able to splash the cash around!
Hodgson spent a record fee on Kevin Davies to replace Alan Shearer for **** sakes. The guy is absolutely clueless and his tactics were ****e.
Im not sayin Hodgsons a great manager, im just saying perhaps with the money Kenny has had he might have done a decent job? Kevin Davies was an embarrassing replacement, but the likes of Fergie and Wenger have bought expensive flops aswell in the past! Veron and Arshavin spring to mind!
While I agree with peole about Carroll and Downing being poor signing's so far I can't understand why Henderson is being slated. IMo he has been good for us this season and while I agree that we overpaid for him, he has a lot of potential and I think he could be a very good palyer in a year or two, similar to how Lucas was a couple of year's ago.
Yeah true but to a certain extent you could say that about a lot of top managers...Fergies never been short of a bob or two to spend and Maureen won't go to a club unless they give him a huge budget either I know what you say about Adam but for the cash he's done pretty well so far and at least he's contributed with some great passing and a few goals unlike some. Kenny got Bellamy on a free and Enrique and Adam dirt cheap (relatively speaking) so think his basement buys have performed better than the big money ones in all fairness. Adam is never going to be a world beater but he is a team player and if you think we also have Gerrrard, Lucas when he's back, Adam, Spearing (who ran rings around Cabaye and Tiote the other night), Maxi and Hendo we aren't short of good players in midfield areas...it's our "wingers" and strikers we have an issue with at the moment.
Fact of the day. Tim Krul has more assists to his name than Stewart Downing. Krul currently has one assist to his name.
I don't think he would mate. He has a positive reputation in the media but I watched every Liverpool game he took charge of and more often than not we were shockingly defensive, played long ball football and got outplayed by nearly every team we played. He only has a decent reputation because IMO he has loads of mates in the media, a bit like Steve Bruce for you. Loads said he didn't have a striker so it wasn't hit fault that you weren't scoring but the fact is it was Bruce who couldn't satisfy Gyan and Bent because he played awful football and tried to shoehorn everyone into a rigid 4-4-2 formation. Roy Hodgson has his level as a manager, its a mid table, no matter which club he takes charge of he'll rarely finish above 7th.
While Tim Howard has more goals to his name than Stewart Downing in the Premier League. Tim Howard currently has one goal to his name.
