I'd say it's as valid to say they're uninspiring signings as it is to say you can be optimistic about them. We all hope they are brilliant but at this moment I find it hard to be particullarly optimistic about lads I've never heard of with average experience and average records. As for Downing I'd have no problem keeping him until Jan if no decent offers come in. I think every squad needs a certain continuity and ripping up the team through the summer is rarely a recipe for success unless you have hundreds of millions to throw at new players.
I think that keeping Downing would be doing more to damage the squad morale and continuity. Sure he's been here for a few seasons, but never been any good, never really tried, and still got spots. Look at players like Dani Pacheco. One of the most pleasant young players to ever play for the club (gave his shirt to a kid in a wheelchair at a game, always fought hard in reserves, youth, internationally), and yet he got one run about in the LC with the rest of the rejects. He proved that he deserved a spot so many times - at one point he was basically a Xavi/Iniesta in the youth squad, where he assisted and scored in a very long run of matches. Guess who still got the privilege of starting those few months? None other than our own Downing. Say what you want that Pacheco wasn't good enough, I contend that neither was Downing. Many of our players have the advantage of being young and able to improve, but they never will unless they are exposed to full-strength first team football. He is taking up a spot that should go to someone that is willing to fight for it. Maybe not Pacheco. Maybe Borini should get that spot? Maybe Suso could have gotten that spot. Sterling could have gotten one or two appearances throughout the second half of the season. They couldn't have been worse. Coutinho would do well there (he has done well there) giving Henderson more chances in midfield. It just seems that since he's English, and he's expensive, everyone is trying so hard to give him the chance to succeed. He hasn't. His attitude has turned me off ever supporting him (I support all of our players, if they have the proper attitude). I know that next season, he'll probably start the first few games at least. He's guaranteed a spot on the team-sheet and this hurts team morale more than keeping him helps it.
