I am really hoping Downs still works out, for him, us, the team and the board. I have to agree he has been a waste of space so far, given a bit of confidence, he could go on a good run. What we need is to dominate a team and go 3-0 up at half time. Bring him on 2nd half without the pressure being on him. Slate him on here, fine, this is for opinions. I just hope we are not booing him on the pitch. That will not help.
Hes took a beast of abuse online (shut social down) etc Saints fans goading him won’t make him play better.
Those fans can go find another club to support. Utter cretins who shame us all. Same as what happened as with Smallbone & Stephens.
I get that it takes time to settle in to a new club, different country etc, but the least I expect from a big bloke like him is that he puts himself about, and lets the defenders know they are in a game. If he did, he`d get the fans with him. Ross nearly scored the other night by chasing a lost cause and pressing the keeper into a mistake. Downs could be doing the same instead of wandering about.
Feels like we took a punt based on his physical profile more than anything. Completely ****ed it up again on such a crucial position. Last time in the Championship, how effective we were as an attacking force largely came down to Che being available. So to have taken such a big punt on Downs and Stewart being fit, given the way Still wants to play, was once again incredibly naive/dumb. It’s really now on Still to alter how we play though so that we can be effective without a big man up top. We still in theory have some excellent attacking players for this level that we just don’t use well. We will have to because there’s no point in wasting any more playing time on Downs, as harsh as that is. We can’t afford to. He really would be better off out on loan at a lower league.
Our glorious overlords would never think to scour the lower leagues. Would rather be looking for a hidden gem from a more obscure league.
We bought Nathan whilst we were in a higher league, no? (Perhaps not, was it when we were in the Champ last time?)
In that he was (most likely) a RM pick and recommendation, rather than scouted, watched and recommended by SR initially. I'm just assuming there, mind
You are right, he was very much a RM pick. Wanted to sign him a year earlier, straight after he took the job and he assumed Bednarek would be off, but in the end Swansea asked for too much money, Bednarek ended up staying and Harwood-Bellis was made available for loan by Man City
