Stewart Downing - West Hahahaham player

[Roboklopp]

Surely not more than Suarez?

[Shaggy]

7/10 for me, which is pretty much how I've always viewed him. Hopefully that will change.

[Craig_H]

Are you sticking by that though? I think he is tailor made for our team, intelligent, busy and direct, can do a bit of everything as well.

Am i sticking by that? What, in your court of law?

I dont think he is good enough. If i think, during the course of time, that he has improved on this, i'll say so. Same as Kuyt and Lucas who, IMO, werent good enough in the earlier stages of their LFC careers, but have improved considerably.

[Daniel 7]

Surely not more than Suarez?

D'oh, yes of course. I was meaning the summer transfer window to be honest.

But he's the second I'm most enthused by behind Suarez by a million miles, but ahead of the rest by a million miles

[The_weatherman]

Am i sticking by that? What, in your court of law?

I dont think he is good enough. If i think, during the course of time, that he has improved on this, i'll say so. Same as Kuyt and Lucas who, IMO, werent good enough in the earlier stages of their LFC careers, but have improved considerably.

Well, yes, and mind your manners in my court.

Fair enough, but I for one think he is good enough for Liverpool for sure, if/when we buy better players I think he'd be a invaluable squad player.

[peekay]

I wasn't too thrilled by his signing especially for the amount involved but based on pre-season matches, I think I will have to eat humble pie.

He does not have that much trickery but looks to be a clever intelligent player with decent pace and great crossing. In terms of work rate over the last few years we have been spoilt by the shifts Kuyt, Mascher and Momo used to put in. Even though Downing is no Kuyt, he works hard on the pitch also.

He appears to be one of those players who will be rated 7 or 8/10 in every match he plays. Such players are invaluable to a successful PL campaign.

Also he appears genuinely thrilled to play for us and wants to make a mark at our club. Hard not to like such a player.

[BrooklynRed]

I wasn't too thrilled by his signing especially for the amount involved but based on pre-season matches, I think I will have to eat humble pie.

He does not have that much trickery but looks to be a clever intelligent player with decent pace and great crossing. In terms of work rate over the last few years we have been spoilt by the shifts Kuyt, Mascher and Momo used to put in. Even though Downing is no Kuyt, he works hard on the pitch also.

He appears to be one of those players who will be rated 7 or 8/10 in every match he plays. Such players are invaluable to a successful PL campaign.

Also he appears genuinely thrilled to play for us and wants to make a mark at our club. Hard not to like such a player.

agree 100%. Winning me over for sure. He seems to have an attitude as well, fighting for the ball, scowl on his face, as well as great runs, lots of danger coming in from both wings, exactly what we've been missing out wide. Would like to see him and Carroll develop what Kuyt and Suarez developed in terms of understanding.

When Stevie and Suarez are back, I think Kuyt, Downing and Suarez will be outstanding with Gerrard behind and Carroll coming in as a change up. My front six at this point:

--------Suarez-------
Downing---Gerrard----Kuyt
---------Adam---Lucas-----

Aquilani on for Gerrard
Henderson on for Kuyt/ Gerrard
Maxi on for Downing
Raul on for Adam
Spearing on for Lucas
Carroll on for Suarez, sometimes in a 4-4-2 with Suarez or Kuyt partnering up top, Adam to the bench, Gerrard deeper.

Just me though. Downing is impressing me for sure.

[RedSince1964]

No, I don't think he was amazing either. But he played well for sure, his link up with Aurelio was good and he showed promise. He is a ganuine winger showed he was willing to go 'down the line', and also at times he was prepared to cut in. All in all I'd say a promising start for Downing - keep it up.

Exactly, that's what we've been missing since the days of Mcmanaman etc, i'm absolutly possitive he'll flurish for us with better players around him, i was delighted with his performances yesterday as he put nearly every cross in the box for Carrol's head

The future is looking bright

[Kenneth]

7/10 for me, which is pretty much how I've always viewed him. Hopefully that will change.

[JohnDoe]

Downing is like a breath of fresh air for me. He does a lot of things extremely well and is very efficient. He's going to be worth a lot of goals for us and we'll feel it when we're trying to break teams down. I can see why Kenny wanted him.

[Shaggy]

I never once said he was ****e, I said he was average.

[Neil Young]

Average compared to what? Or maybe that should be who.

Anyway you get the idea.

[The Birdman]

I never once said he was ****e, I said he was average.

He's much better than average mate trust me.
Him and Henderson are like Houghton in as much as you only realise how effective they are when you watch them week in week out.
Substance and end product over style

[Shaggy]

Aye I hope I'm wrong. What I do know is Downing would've been on approximately 0% of wishlists in the summer, no matter how loudly certain people trump him up. And I've always said he was average, rather than saying he was ****e then all of a sudden proclaiming him great.

I've warmed to the idea of Downing much more than Henderson, too. He can fulfil the Riera role, a player I always though did a good job.

[Craig_H]

Aye I hope I'm wrong. What I do know is Downing would've been on approximately 0% of wishlists in the summer, no matter how loudly certain people trump him up. And I've always said he was average, rather than saying he was ****e then all of a sudden proclaiming him great.