Stewart Downing - West Hahahaham player

[Neil Young]

Its a reasonable point when you are discussing the qualities of Downing (or lack thereof )

No, reason has nothing to do with it. It's lazy and vacuous, an attempt to define away the problem with your own argument.

You: Robinson is better than Downing.

Me: I don't think he is, not least because if he were then there's a good chance Rodgers (who is not notably averse to picking young players) would prefer him.

You: Ah well, he is so that's where you're wrong.

Me: Ok, I'm convinced.

[Lecter]

No, reason has nothing to do with it. It's lazy and vacuous, an attempt to define away the problem with your own argument.

You: Robinson is better than Downing.

Me: I don't think he is, not least because if he were then there's a good chance Rodgers (who is not notably averse to picking young players) would prefer him.

You: Ah well, he is so that's where you're wrong.

Me: Ok, I'm convinced.

Ok you've got me convinced Neil

Rodgers is right, hes a tactical genius who picks the right tactics and right team for all circumstances

Just look how successful we've been in the league this season, an unmitigated success

[Neil Young]

Well we watched Downing last year and its hard to make a case that in any way hes good enough for us nevermind at leftback

Whereas Robinson seemed a decent enough prospect

Fast forward to now, we have a manager who is willing to let Downing go (because he clearly doesnt rate him) yet prefers to play him at leftback ahead of Enrique and Robinson

Why is he letting him go in January if he prefers him at leftback over Enrique & Robinson?

I agree that's a conundrum. But what's your explanation except Rodgers doesn't know what he's doing?

[Neil Young]

Ok you've got me convinced Neil

Rodgers is right, hes a tactical genius who picks the right tactics and right team for all circumstances

Just look how successful we've been in the league this season, an unmitigated success

I've never said that. In fact I've explicitly stated the opposite.

[Lecter]

I agree that's a conundrum. But what's your explanation except Rodgers doesn't know what he's doing?

I'm mystified Neil

I stated this on the other page

[Neil Young]

I'm mystified Neil

I stated this on the other page

Exactly. You don't understand what Rodgers is thinking in picking Downing ahead of Robinson.

All I'm saying is we can't go on from there to deduce that Rodgers doesn't understand what he's thinking either.

So either we say he's crap or mad or we assume he's a rational man and we try to come up with the best explanation available.

[Lecter]

Exactly. You don't understand what Rodgers is thinking in picking Downing ahead of Robinson.

All I'm saying is we can't go on from there to deduce that Rodgers doesn't understand what he's thinking either.

The thing is though Neil it would strengthen Rodgers case if he said "I'm keeping Downing and hes my first choice leftback"

But he doesnt have any intention of keeping him, yet he still prefers him over Enrique & Robinson

Which begs the question what is he going to do in the event he finds some mug to take Downing off our hands

I find it rather strange myself and I must admit I struggle to understand the thinking behind it but as long as Brendans comfortable with it, thats all that matters...apparently

[~LFCHistory~]

Lec is clearly on a high because we lost on Saturday.

How sad.

[Lecter]

You can **** right off with that **** for a start

I dont mind you having a pop at me over things but dont ever question my support for the club

You are bang out of order on that score

[~LFCHistory~]

You can **** right off with that **** for a start

I dont mind you having a pop at me over things but dont ever question my support for the club

You are bang out of order on that score

Have I touched a nerve ?

Yeah I'm sure you post on this forum with good intentions, it's not like you have an agenda against FSG and our manager or anything like that.
Last season you put your love of Dalglish before the good of this club and this season you're putting your hatred of FSG and BR ahead of supporting the club.

[Reece]

Can you cut it out please.

[Neil Young]

The thing is though Neil it would strengthen Rodgers case if he said "I'm keeping Downing and hes my first choice leftback"

But he doesnt have any intention of keeping him, yet he still prefers him over Enrique & Robinson

Which begs the question what is he going to do in the event he finds some mug to take Downing off our hands

I find it rather strange myself and I must admit I struggle to understand the thinking behind it but as long as Brendans comfortable with it, thats all that matters...apparently

Certainly it doesn't matter to anyone but you that you're not comfortable with it and don't understand it.

I don't claim to know either. I just think you have to put all the available data together and come up with the best rational solution that fits it.

And if the best solution leaves anyone feeling uncomfortable then they just have to live with it until more data comes in. That's not about having faith in Rodgers, just recognising there's a limit to what any one of us can know from this distance.

It's partly why I said the other day that I think we need to wait to see who he buys and sells in the next two windows as that will give us a lot more information on which we can base our view of how his mind works when evaluating players.

I expect almost all of us have reservations, but for now it's about keeping an open mind and to that we all have to be willing to question our own assumptions, rather than look to confirm them.

[GEOFFAR2002]

You can **** right off with that **** for a start

I dont mind you having a pop at me over things but dont ever question my support for the club

You are bang out of order on that score

I don't think anyone on here can question anyone's support from the club. We are all mystified. The downing situation at left back is mind boggling, yet he seems to be playing well at present. Perhaps its a relief that he has been told to find another club, perhaps he is playing for another club to take notice of him. For me Robinson has to play there, he has always done well. In fact, John Flanagan had a few good games there too in the past and although not a left back is a defender first and foremost, but both those guys who showed promise are not really getting a look in.

Perhaps Brendan feels he has chucked enough Kids in already? Maybe he doesn't want to give away all his bargaining chips with the owners over new purchases.

We can sit here and speculate all day long, but one thing I think we can all agree on, our current league position is not good enough. One thing that usually suits teams playing well is having players playing in their correct positions. Next criteria is player form, after that worry about your formation.

With Enrique out it should have been Robinson at LB, Downing at left mid, sterling and Allen are knackered, so put Jonjo in centre mid, Stevie at right mid as he clearly is lost in the centre and Sahin when he is fit with lucas. And you know what, Jones instead of Pepe. Rodgers does that, we can then judge his system.

Too many unknowns at the moment to play people in their wrong positions.

[red g]

I think its clear Rodgers just wants to show potential suitors In Downing that he can be useless in more than One position.

[baitman]

I think its clear Rodgers just wants to show potential suitors In Downing that he can be useless in more than One position.