I completely forgot he was on the pitch. There was one cross which he jumped for and was beaten by the (smaller) defender. He reminds me of Carillo.
I was watching him at the game and he was making runs and looking for the ball but we were content to pass it around from side to side. Really nothing to judge him on last night.
He also ended the game on the deck being treated and was not moving all that well in the last couple of minutes so we may not see him at the weekend. He needs minutes with no pressure just to find some confidence back
He touched the ball once. That’s it. I was counting. The guy just ain’t hungry enough. If you’re genuinely trying to fight your way into the team, you chase everything. No excuses. Adarma will run back to his own area and put in a tackle, because he is desperate to do well.
I'm tempted top make a list of great players who never looked like they were trying, but I cba Not saying Downs is anywhere near that category, but looking busy and being seen to put the effort in is overrated imo.
You've answered your own point with one word there. 'Great' players earn the right to be lazy, because they will create the bit of magic to win the game. So they are invaluable to the team. But a lazy player who doesn't create anything, is just a waste of a shirt.
Yes, but if Downs confounds everyone and starts scoring goals (yeah, I know), it won't matter a **** how hard he seems to be trying. And if he doesn't score goals, it won't matter a **** how hard he seems to be trying then either.
I think that generally we can say that recruitment in the last window was very very good. This one just went a bit Sporsey.
I think it's safe to say that the lad hasn't settled at all and doesn't appear to be a great signing from the SR recruitment team. I can't see how he fits into the new Saints philosophy either of quick turn over ball and playing with pace as the poor lad looks cart-horse slow, we would have been better keeping Tall Paul ( 9 goals in 13 games ) and saved a few bob. Still think we need a striker in the transfer window as we should loan this lad out to a League One side where perhaps he'll find his mojo.
I know this seems a bit sentimental but I really would like to see him click at some point. He’s young and someone, somewhere saw something in him. If he does score one, then hopefully his confidence should improve. At present that’s shot and somehow he needs a route to find it. I hope he does.
yeah whilst he hasn’t started well I agree that he may be a victim of the manager change, similar to Onuachu when Jones left. I’ve got a work thing with some German colleagues tomorrow who are football mad so will try to remember to ask them about Downs to see what they thought of him whilst he was over there
Tonda Eckert must(?) see something about him, in training, otherwise he wouldn't be anywhere near the first team. Unless, or course, teams are selected on the basis of owner's whims. Clearly, showing potential in training doesn't guarantee success in matches, but a combination of commitment (not always obvious, I'll grant) and willingness to learn and improve should result in Downs becoming a useful addition to our squad. Alternatively, we could sell him at the earliest opportunity.
