This. If we add 3 players to the first 11 this summer, then we will finally have the quality and depth we need to develop further.
While I agree to a certain extent (even with Downing now I've calmed down) it really has to be one more year only as chances go. We have only just got rid of a lot of failed experiments that ended up collecting wages for turning up to a glorified gym. While some a young Downing is not, I say use him in all the European qualifiers & if his attitude is the same sell him in August/September.
To city in exchange for Adam Johnson. We would use Johnson, they would sit Downing just like they do Johnson anyway!
i have to agree that downing was a disgrace. the NEGATIVITY in his game was truely shocking. the OP is dead right evry single time the guy got the ball he was running towards his own goal, laying it right back to the perosn passing to him or just plain giving it away. it was truely truely a collapse and bottling from an england international. for me he should be dropped from a great height.... bellamy was not quite as bad but he was fairly bad as well and at 33 thats terrible when it could very well be your last chance. Henderson was poor as hell but the only excuse is age. then carroll comes on and blows it all out of the water by showing waht a 22 year old who wants to play a big game can do... pity he can't go do that every game eh? i say spearing and then enrique and THEN reina throw in the first goal... mistake building on mistake... it took then STILL unitl they socred again to get spearing off and yet downing stayed on!!!! I'd have hauled off downing after 30mins. the fact was our midfield is awful, but we'd no bloody options. it was terrible maxi and carroll should ahve been on for downing and bellamy at half time!
He is and always was a terrible footballer. He hides in games way too much and always seems to be annoyed when he gets taken off even though hes had a shocker. He was decent for Villa because there is no ambition or pressure at Villa, unless there is a major improvement in his paly next season he will not be with us for long, Sterling imo is already a better player than him.
I heard rumours that a new goalkeeping coach is coming in (possibly the first GK coach that Rafa brought in).
Decent call that, earlier in the season I would have said Fowler but I think Barnes would be a cracking coach at present! Has benn really fantastic and intelligent in the whole Suarez thing and I also think he would have much to offer Downing, Hendo and even Gerrard because nobody adapted their game better than Barnes to prolong his career which is just what I feel Gerrard needs to start to do right now! The added benefit is that Barnes and Kenny have worked together before and whilst admittedly not with great results this is an entirely different situation.
