We want players who are proud to wear Liverpool's shirt, so if Stewart Downing is one let him come. I understand another bid is on the way for him. Sky Sports sources understand Stewart Downing would prefer to join Liverpool, despite interest from Arsenal, and the deal could be finalised on Monday http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/media-watch/downing-prefers-liverpool http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...6/Kenny-Dalglish-vows-spending-Liverpool.html
all speculation seeing the fcous is china this week. comolli simply plays the cards to close to the chest to know wehn a bid is going in. aslo downing hasn't been "quoted" only sources saying it. near as good as a quote perhaps but still. I'll wait before getting hyped up.
I have the same mind set as you, in that in terms of individual ability and quality, Downing is no where near the sort of player we should be signing. However, he does add something that we lack which is genuine width and someone who can cross and supply to Carroll. He may not be a marquee signing but he fills a gap and is someone who can slot straight into the first team. Not only that, he wants to join Liverpool and it's important we have players committed to the cause. Another example is Albert Riera - hardly a world beater but he provided us with creativity and width, which coincided with our best season in a long time (2008) (Disclaimer: Albert Riera was not the sole reason we finished 2nd that season!) Same with Charlie Adam - not the best player we could have got but we needed a deep lying playmaker and now we have one. We are buying players that need, not luxury ones.
Downing might not have the world watching him but he has a lot to give. He gives 100% every game, isn't afraid to get stuck in and just wants to play football. He will get his head down and give it his all for LFC mark my words, you need players that aren't going to go missing because the game is getting a bit scrappy.
I think this is a fine example of the "joining the club for champions league football" myth being busted. Liverpool are a side on the up with as much if not more ambition then anyone at the moment
Exactly. I read something somewhere that Kenny is attempting to build a side with the same mental strength as his Blackburn side had in 1995.Well that wouldn't be far off.
I appreciate his sentiment, however for £20 million there is an awful lot better around. Has he handed in a transfer request at Villa,just out of interest
£20 million for Stewart Downing is daylight robbery whatever way anyone try's to sugarcoat it. I thought we were getting robbed at £15 million, there are far better palyer's out there than him for £20mil.
Kenny obviously is. John Barnes thought he'd be less of a risk than the obviously talented but unproven Mata and Gary Gillespie backed that up yesterday. I'm still not sure they know better than fans, though.
I think Downing is one of those players who is spectacularly un-spectacular. He goes about his job quietly but effectively. Like Kuyt he puts a shift in - but faster and with more crosses! I like DC's negotiating tactics - whatever the final price. If we put in an increased bid then that comes from one of his minions back in Liverpool. If Villa want to discuss it then Villa have to contact DC - good psychology (mountain and Mohamad and all that)
He wouldn't be my first choice especially at the prices being quoted at the minute , I'd much rather they went for Bastos as we've been linked with over the past few weeks. If Downing does however sign for us I'll still give him a chance and hopefully I'll be proved wrong about how good he is
Latest reports suggest that Liverpool are lining up an £18.5 million bid.Downing himself could force the move by handing in a transfer request.
Sorry, like who? They would have had to have signed for somebody else if you know the transfer fee surely? It is not LFC who decide what is enough for the player to come, it is the club we are buying them from.
Agree with above posters. I think he is a sold signing who will do well for us but £20M?! I would say he is worth around £15M in today's market. If he comes, i'll give him my support.
Like who? IMO Mata, Nzogbia, Cazorla, Shaqiri (swiss u21) are all far better than Downing. And that's just off the top of my head. Everyone has their own view's but imo Stewart Downing is just another overrated Engish player that would go for about £8mil if he was'nt English. Bastos is apparently available for about £12mil and again imo he's much better than Downing. I hope im wrong by the way if we do sign him.
here is another view point. in a 4-4-2 where does downing play? where does adam play? In a 4-3-3 where does downing play? I can see a 4-3-3 today with; reina johnson carra skertl LB gerrard lucas adam kuyt carroll suarez that makes sense to me. do we think downing is good enough to displace either kuyt or suarez. If so how do we see this wokring when kenny turns to the bench and says to EITHER downing or kuyt to get ready to go on... is this the 20mil game changer we want? I don't really see the strategy but then i don't see where henderson, aquilani and meireles fit in either. once a bid really goes in and he's headed for a mediacal i'll think baout it.
Mata isn't going anywhere, and even if Valencia were to listen to offers they would be looking for FAR more than £20m given the hype he seems to be getting in this country. How is Downing overated? I haven't heard anyone say a good word towards the lad, even though no one can deny what a good season he had last season? Had a much better season than Young but because Young is small and really fast he's the golden boy? If downing can be effective for Villa who had a poor poor season then I don't see why he can't be decent enough for Liverpool who have been lacking width for 2 decades and have just bought the best guy in the air the PL has to offer.
Liverpool need Downing to make Adam and Carroll signings work Read more: http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/opi...erson-column-article764470.html#ixzz1RuGy0ZcT There is a touch of putting the cart before the horse in Liverpool's transfer business so far this summer. While the Reds desperately need one, if not two, quality wingers, they seem fixated on adding yet more central midfielders to an already-overstaffed department. Charlie Adam's signing underlines this point. The Scot will only flourish at Anfield if he has decent outlets on the flanks Read more: http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/opi...erson-column-article764470.html#ixzz1RuHwaO3F http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/opinion/columnists/david-anderson/Transfer-news-analysis-Liverpool-need-Stewart-Downing-to-make-Charlie-Adam-and-Andy-Carroll-signings-work-David-Anderson-column-article764470.html
