http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/footb...rpool-transfer-gossip-stewart-downing-1438537 can easily see MoN going in for him in Jan and I wouldn't be against it either BUT a top class central midfielder needs to be the priority, no point having these creative players if we have no1 ticking us over and dictating the play
If he comes here would that make the boro our feeder club? They've got a player called Leadbitter I like the look of. Hope we go in for him ;-)
Johnson down one wing and Downing (on loan) on the other would do for me. A pacy striker, a commanding central midfield player and a good run in 2nd half of the season will beckon. FTM
A premier league failure on one wing and another premier league failure on the other wing. What would be the point of that?
Guessing you mean an attacking midfielder 0- We have a top class central midfielder in Lee Cattermole - He ticks us over better than any other player (and I can guarantee Fellaini wouldn't have had that much space in front of our box if Catts had been playing) - We need a "box to box" midfielder - although if Cattermole plays the way he did against Villa then he is that box to box player - one of the best Centre Mid performances I have ever seen at the SOL
should we call you "Nomoregeordiesorsmoggiesorpeoplawhohavebeenassociatediwitheitherclub"!! Johnson had a good game last weekend and is only a "failure" in your eyes - we all know he's had a slow start and when asked about disappointment recently re England he accepted that he hasn't played well enough to warrant a call up! He was excellent for City when he played so how is he a failure?? Downing was also very very good at Villa so how do you class him as a failure?? People lose form (and also lose faith in management) and Downing was excellent when he played for us the first time - failing once is one thing - failing constantly is another - and neither of these players have failed constantly
Not sure you need him but a good player at PL level. Not good enough for the national team. You are desperate for a top class centre midfielder though. One who can pick a pass and control the pace of a game to compliment Cattermole doing the dirty work. It'll allow the likes of Sessengnon, Johnson to come alive. He needs his new Petrov to get you playing how he wants.
we already have one in sess but he gets played in the hole, would much rather see him next to catts in the middle
I was all for slapping a £10m bid in this summer. Great premier league player when properly manages, substandard at international level yes but Sunderland aren't likely to appear in the World Cup any time soon. I, however, wouldn't pay more than £5-6m for him now. He's been forced out of the picture at an average Liverpool side, they place no value on his services, his wages will be high. I really wouldn't pay an arm and a leg for him. Him and AJ switching wings would be a nightmare for a lot of fullbacks.
I agree, and on the overlap with Rose? That'd be very decent. I've always liked Downing since we had him on loan, and for the right price, he could be a smashing addition. Fletch - Connor Downing - Catts - Sess - Johnson Rose - JOS - Cuellar - Bardo Mig I like that, lots.
Definitely. Still poss need a CM, but less urgent. That team would be a real threat, Downing is way less 1D than McLean, & Sess would get a lot more space to run into playing deeper.
I better go and wipe myself off. Quality off the bench as well. Saha, Larsson, McClean and Colback aren't bad options.
