Stewart Downing - West Hahahaham player

[Lecter]

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.

Perhaps I should have stooped as low last season and accused you of revelling in our defeats when you were constantly on here slagging off Dalglish

I dont have any hatred for FSG nor for Brendan, if you bothered to read my posts you will see I have stated I dont want either to leave the club. I have actively countered some of those that have labelled him "a fraud"

Hes not Roy Hodgson and I dont see the need to clamour for his sacking but he needs to change tact imo

The difference between myself and you is that you believe we are seeing progress on the pitch

I dont, and getting beat by Villa a side who have only won 2 of the last 17 games away from home isnt progress imo and neither is conceeding 3 goals at home in a league match for the first time in donkeys years to that same Villa side

Someone stated on one of the other threads that Rodgers faces an enormous challenge as big as when Houllier got the job permanently and I do agree with that but Houllier had a really good transfer window in that first one in charge. Brendan by your own admission hasnt and its imperative that his next window is a success

[Lecter]

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.

I dont get the logic that a manager would play certain players ahead of others to strengthen his bargaining chips with the owners

Thats like me doing only half my job and hoping my boss gets me an assistant

[~LFCHistory~]

Perhaps I should have stooped as low last season and accused you of revelling in our defeats when you were constantly on here slagging off Dalglish

I dont have any hatred for FSG nor for Brendan, if you bothered to read my posts you will see I have stated I dont want either to leave the club. I have actively countered some of those that have labelled him "a fraud"

Hes not Roy Hodgson and I dont see the need to clamour for his sacking but he needs to change tact imo

The difference between myself and you is that you believe we are seeing progress on the pitch

I dont, and getting beat by Villa a side who have only won 2 of the last 17 games away from home isnt progress imo and neither is conceeding 3 goals in a league match for the first time in donkeys years to that same Villa side

Someone stated on one of the other threads that Rodgers faces an enormous challenge as big as when Houllier got the job permanently and I do agree with that but Houllier had a really good transfer window in that first one in charge. Brendan by your own admission hasnt and its imperative that his next window is a success

OK. You support Brendan and have no agenda. I believe you.

[Lecter]

OK. You support Brendan and have no agenda. I believe you.

You yourself have slagged off his signings in another thread

Perhaps you have an agenda also

[~LFCHistory~]

You yourself have slagged off his signings in another thread

Perhaps you have an agenda also

Yes I questioned his signings but I've also given him credit when he makes good decisions and gets positive results. You on the other hand have spent the last 6 months almost exclusively slagging him off no matter what he does, even after we beat West Ham without Suarez you still criticised us.

[GEOFFAR2002]

I dont get the logic that a manager would play certain players ahead of others to strengthen his bargaining chips with the owners

Thats like me doing only half my job and hoping my boss gets me an assistant

Its office politics. It happens whether we like it or not. Perhaps if Brendan plays a few more kids, they do well and he looks to press for some new guys in January, FSG with their (IMHO) distinct lack of knowledge and wish to do things a cheaply as possible, will not fork out and tell him to keep working with the squad he has. Ultimately Brendan probably deep down believes he can't do well over the duration of the season using 5-6 new lads, they will tire, just like Sterling is now. And more importantly given the pathetic end to our last Transfer window, he doesn't want to repeat the mistakes.

Anyway, its a theory, I'm really trying to find a reason for playing downing at left back a few weeks after telling him he could move on. Its possibly me trying to convince myself Brendan has a plan when really deep down I don't think he does.

[Neil Young]

I definitely think Rodgers not having a plan can't be ruled out.

[Tee]

The only reason Downing is playing is because his value would be next to nothing if he isn't. Plus ther emay not even be any takers if he is not even playing.

It seems clear that BR has already decided he can go, so rather than let him rot on the bench he is playing him so he can maximise any potential transfer fee. The fact he has played him at LB says everything about how much he rates him or sees his future at the club. I think the kids like Robinson have to be patient, once this kind of deadwood is out of the club their progression will be clearer.

[Neil Young]

As far as I can see it's not "the kids" who have to be more patient.

[yamiedo]

As far as I can see it's not "the kids" who have to be more patient.

[Leyton388]

He's **** and roll on January 1st.

[Mostar]

The only reason Downing is playing is because his value would be next to nothing if he isn't. Plus ther emay not even be any takers if he is not even playing.

It seems clear that BR has already decided he can go, so rather than let him rot on the bench he is playing him so he can maximise any potential transfer fee. The fact he has played him at LB says everything about how much he rates him or sees his future at the club. I think the kids like Robinson have to be patient, once this kind of deadwood is out of the club their progression will be clearer.

That would make sense to some degree if BR is playing him as a LW but not as a LB.

No club will ever buy him to be a LB so it is doubtful if playing him out of position to showcase his "skills' for upcoming transfer window is preserving or adding any resale value.

[danperkins]

Stuart Downing is not good enough to play as LFC left sided midfielder, playing him at LB....well it's just ridiculous. Not that Robinson is a world beater but he was looking promising. Maybe Rogers didn't want the Robinson/Sterling combo a it's young and inexperienced?

Downing and Cole have featured a fair bit recently, maybe Rogers just using it as a shop window to finally,god willing offload the two off them? That begs the question though, is it worth playing two mediocre players and risk bad results just to boost their transfer fees?

Who knows! Fact being, neither player should be anywhere near the first team. Hopefully after January we may see a slightly new look LFC.... new players, Lucas match fit & not being so reliant on Suarez.

To be honest i think Cole & Downing are the least of our worries. The fact that Gerrard and Allen who will 100% be at LFC after January are playing so bad.... well this is the biggest concern for me, as they are automatic starters. Allen offers nothing in either direction & his best asset passing, well we haven't seen that apart from first 4 or 5 games. Lightweight,dwells on the ball, terrible positional sense defensively & sure doesn't offers anything going forward. As for Stevie, his performances over last few years have been sun standard. Can't play tika tala & playing in a position too deep in which he looks stagnate and uncomfortable. Either play him right up behind Suarez or drop him IMO.

With any luck Downing & Cole will be distant memories come January, more bodies, more quality, more competition. Gerrard & Reina for me have been lacking players challenging their position for far too long now. Too comfortable and too complacent.. need a good kick up the arse.

[Paddy]

The first page of this thread is cringeworthy.

[Reece]

Ouch, how wrong a large majority of us were