Just read a post that he is one of our most accurate passesrs of the ball. Now I like most have not been happy with his performances last season. Consider this though and feel free to tell me if you feel I'm wrong. He is a very good passer of the ball. He has good pace. He is happy to take a player on down the line and can beat the man this way (he does need more confidence in this area) He is happy to cut inside and look for a shot or pass. He can play either wing. He has good skill on the ball. So considering the above he would be a winger that is highly rated. His main weakness is that he cannot cross the ball correctly or accurately, he's Jermaine Pennant all over again. So if someone taught him lets say the Liverpool coaches to cross the ball correctly and with accuracy he would be a very good player. Sounds simple and is simple it's just a technique. Oh! and he couldn't hit a barn door with a shot but one step at a time.
I agree mate, we need to give him more support really get behind him. Everyone needs a little time to find their feet in the team. As Carra said in an interview the other day, the finger should be pointed at the senior players more. Not the new guys that have come in! http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/liverpool-defender-jamie-carragher-insists-840066
His passing stats are really impressive, but he has three stats that really harm his rep - £20 mil price tag, 0 league goals, no league assits. His crossing isn't brilliant but theres been plenty of times where he's put the ball into dangerous positions but nobody is on the end of it. He ain't all bad, but I agree with OP, needs more work. I'd be less critical of him if he was 22, but he's getting on now is the lad. As an international winger he should be able to do this stuff by now.
He needs more confidence to run at players. He seemed to have it when he first joined but then he completely lost it and looks scared.
Consider, however, that probably more than 60% of his passes are those infuriating little one twos with Enrique that get neither of them anywhere. He probably plays 20-30 of those per match.
I saw an interview with Brad Friedal who basically said that he was the same after a switch to Villa but was an extremely good football player and WILL come good. I believe him....although I do hope that he doesn't take another year settling into a new system!
Last season was obviously very disappointing from Downing.He does have good pace (not super quick) but imo he rely's to much on just dropping the shoulder and then going left or right,usually keeping it on his natural left side.This maybe makes him easier to read from a defenders point of view. What he seems to lack is the confidence or skill to beat the man directly i.e. look for the nutmeg (Suarez stlye) or similar. His stats for Villa in the previous season were impressive,so we know there is a better footballer in there than we have seen so far.I expect an improved performance from him next season,one or two things to work on.
- Great sideways passer of the ball. - Decent pace, for our team, but not 'good pace' when compared to Bale, Lennon, Walcott, Nani, Gervinho, Young, Valencia etc. - Rarely has the confidence to run straight at defenders but can be very effective when he does. Needs a goal or run of form to gain this confidence. - True. Very unlucky not to score 5 or 6 goals this season, at least. - True. Versatile. - Decent touch and control, but not remarkable for close control or trickery, again when compared to Nani, Valencia, Young etc. I would say his crosses are one of his only stand out trademarks, he can produce a fantastic cross, which we've seen this season (although as a rule no-one scores from them).
I hate his crossing. When he crossess the ball it is just aimed somewhere in the box and generally is too high. At PL level a top winger should be putting the ball on a players head and not just putting it in the box. Funny how we have opposite opinions on him.
Technique wise he is a good crosser - he players really good quality, first time crosses that are powerful and direct. He's provided numerous quality deliveries this season that no-one has capitalised on - when Carroll has hit form, Downing hasn't played as much, or was subbed off by the time Carroll came on etc etc. But yes, he can also be wasteful. He lacks the ingenuity or the genuine ability or pace of someone like Nani. A player like that would transform us, like him or not.
I remember in the very early weeks of the season where he got the ball and really went at 2-3 defenders before smashing it off the bar. Showed real intent, purpose and bags of confidence. Not sure exactly what happened after that, twas just a blur of mediocrity.
He crosses better than Enrique but not as well as Henderson. And look at the crap Henderson's had to take from media muppets and fans who think all 21-yr olds are the finished article. Gareth Southgate, who's managed him, said he's a total confidence player and the grief he's taken can't have been much of a boost. I've been a fan of his since Boro's Eufa Cup run when he was their best player and when Capello took over England he was asked which player had surprised him most. He named Downing. Then again I have this old-fashioned idea that left wingers should be able to use their left feet and crosses from the byline produce more goals than cutting inside for a shot. How many shots did Robben take last week after cutting inside? Chelsea had one corner and scored from it.
He was pretty poor for most of the season to be brutally honest. However when he joined Villa it certainly took him a while to get into his stride, perhaps as well as a confidence player he really needs time to work out an understanding with his team-mates. Him and Enrique just could not seem to work each other out at all, hopefully he will find his rhythm again, as others said he actually started the season well and went downhill. John Barnes could teach him a thing or too!
Stewart Downing had no goals. Stewart Downing had no assists. Stewart Downing has no talent. Stewart Downing is made for LAL. Stewart Downing is a waste of space. Stewart Downing should be nowhere near the PL , never mind the England team!!!
