What is going on with Downing? He is half the player he was before he joined us, looks constantly nervous and frankly not good enough. What's the score with Stewie?
Awful performance really. Just didn't contribute in way. Would love to see Assaidi and Sterling on the wings in future matches ...
I don't see him being with us after the Jan transfer window, I wasn't happy when we signed him and nothing has changed. As with any Liverpool player I hope he can turn it around but I just don't think he's good enough.
I remember when he first came and his first few games were brilliant. Wasn't afraid to attack and constantly beat his man. Just hasn't found that form since bar the Carling Cup Final. Think BR will look to offload him in January.
He's had long enough and more than enough games to prove himself. Time to get rid. I cant see us getting more than about 5 million for him though
Assaidi should look to cement a regular role on the left, sterling on the right --------------------Reina Johnson----------Skrtel----Agger----Downing/Jose ------------------Lucas/Sahin Sterling---------Allen/Henderson------Assaidi Gerrard---------------Borini/Yesil/Pacheco----------Suarez Looks good on paper. Maybe swap Gerrard & Borini until we get a centre forward in January
Even before he joined Liverpool, his inclusion in an England match would always elicit a massive groan from me. He's NEVER been very good, quite frankly, and he's being outshone by kids decades his junior.
I'm not sure he was even half good before he joined us. One good season in a **** Villa team...probably one of those players who would suit a different team...the Jamaican Bobsleigh team perhaps.
Yeah... I think he does well in practice, else why do managers always play him? He started off the season not too terribly- but he has become what he was last year again. Be surprised to see him in red in 2013.
He adds nothing to the squad, shown no promise other than the CC Cup final. Every now and again he'll beat a couple of players, I'll get off my seat, then he loses it or plays a crap ball. Would happily take 5 mil for him.
Yep £5m-£10m in January to the likes of Fulham, Sunderland, QPR and Villa. QPR might be a good bet to pay more too.
IMO, we don't play in a style that suits him. Despite what his record or individuals say, he CAN cross a ball but we don't play to whip balls in. Even last year when Carroll was up front, it was very rare that Downing was on too, quite often they were both involved in a single substitution! I'm certainly not a Downing fan either!!!!
I can't go in for the character assassination thing myself- to dismiss a player as **** is not really much of an assessment. Downing did a few decent things in the game last night which nobody seems inclined to try and remember. However..... I've never been a big fan of him, even before he joined us, and was surprised at the money we paid for him. He's ok, but frankly he'll be completely eclipsed by a couple of our youngsters if they continue to grow and fulfil the promise they've showed. I'd be happy for him to move on, I think it's probably best for him and us.
I always wanted to give the signings that were made under Kenny time to bed in, get to know the style of play, club etc... But of all of those that did come into the club in that period Downing was the first one i lost faith in. He looks like he plays for stats rather than the team. This, i mean, is that he looks scared to put a cross in case it dosnt hit one of his own team mates. Never took a man on, in case he made a mistake and just basically stopped when the full back closed him down, turned around and passed backwards... Maybe the lad has put himself under so much pressure with being at Liverpool that he has gone mentally, not that i thought he was one of the toughest before he came to Liverpool. But for sure i wish he would go now as ive given up on him... And to be honest with whats coming up behind him i wont be sad to see him leave...
