I've always defended Downing and still think he is a decent player, but his recent form has not been good enough and at the moment I would easily pick Stirling, Pacheco and Suso ahead of him, and after last night's performance would probably give Assaidi a chance ahead of him as well. I think unless his form improves drastically before January BR will move him on and that would probably be best for both sides, Downing clearly struggling for confidence so a fresh start somewhere else is probably what he needs. I think with young players doing so well we can hopefully focus on problem CF position in transfer window, although I'd still like to see Morgan get a chance through the middle.
I think donwing is very very sloppy in his control and passing. both are hard to figure out why he's doing it and how he can improve. I can only think its concentration. Suso and assaidi will be on the bench this weekend
I agree: it's a playing style clash. I think if you stick him in, say, Stoke's team that he'd shine. We are simply not going to play in that manner; not under BR. He was brought in under Kenny and was brought in for his whipped crosses and Carroll was brought in to exploit that play. No Carroll, no Downing, for me. Shame, though ... I'll miss big Andy.
I noticed that last year- when we had Carroll on we rarely had any real wingers on and then vice versa. I don't claim to know more than the manager but that tactic left me perplexed, it doesn't make any sense. It's one reason why I've defended Downing up to a point, if he scoots down the line and there's no-one to cross to then he ends up isolated in the corner and inevitably loses the ball. So he checks and passes back and the move dies. It's bloody frustrating, but I don't think it's entirely his fault. I'm no big fan of him either- just saying things as I see them.
This. He's an over-priced Pennant. He's very one-dimensional, and to play for Liverpool, you need to have a few tools in your locker like Assaidi seems to have. There is a massive contrast between Assaidi and Downing, and you would swear it was Assaidi that cost £20 million based on performance. Assaidi wants to take the game by the scruff and just batters his way past players. Downing dawdles and saunters and looks disinterested, thats before he gives the ball away. How long Brendan Rodgers persists with a player that doesn't seem to want to seize the initiative is going to be interesting. Suso and Assaidi seem to have seized the initiative and have been taking games by the scruff. Maybe Downing should follow their example? Nuri Sahin hasn't done his chances any harm either. He could get his chance with Jonjo Shelvey being suspended.
