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Suppose you have a physicist and a sociologist standing at the side of a field, observing a set of events unfolding on the field. The physicist does [describes] it using the terminology of mass and velocity and frequency of radiation and the rest. And the sociologist does it by describing it as a rugby match.
May the Lord bless this post.Comment
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Downing: I was so close to joining Tottenham
The old maxim about good things coming to those who wait seems sadly redundant in the instant-riches world of modern football, but for Stewart Downing, it still carries some meaning.
Had things worked out differently for the 27-year-old he might have been wearing Tottenham white rather than Liverpool red when the teams meet at White Hart Lane today.
He is not alone in that. Harry Redknapp is today reacquainted with not just one that got away but a full trio, given the presence alongside Downing in Liverpool's squad of Charlie Adam, subject of a failed deadline-day bid in January, and Craig Bellamy, a longstanding target of the Tottenham manager.
Football is full of what-might-have-beens yet in Downing's case, any frustration the England winger once felt at missing out on a move to Tottenham has given way to satisfaction. ''When you look at the bigger picture it's worked out quite well for me,'' said the former Middlesbrough player, reviewing the trail of events that led him to Anfield in July.
Downing first learned of Tottenham's interest in summer 2008, before Redknapp's arrival in north London, but remained at the Riverside, he explained, after receiving assurances of fresh investment in the Boro squad. By January 2009, with Redknapp now installed at Spurs and the Teessiders fighting a losing relegation battle, Tottenham came calling again.
''I got frustrated because we were struggling and I thought I'd missed an opportunity. I didn't really put a transfer request in but went in to express my feelings to [the Boro chairman] Steve Gibson, that if another opportunity came to move to a big club, I'd like to do it.
''Spurs came back in the January window but I didn't force it,'' added Downing, who made more than 200 appearances for Boro. Gibson did not want to sell and so the winger agreed to stay until the summer. By then, Downing had a foot fracture and, as Tottenham waited, Aston Villa stepped in with a £12m bid.
''Steve Gibson rang me and said he'd give me permission to go. I just felt it was the right time. Because I was injured, I think Spurs were maybe thinking they'd wait until the August but I couldn't take that risk. The big thing for me was Martin O'Neill pushed it really hard,'' revealed Downing, who did not make his Villa debut until three months into the campaign.
Downing was swayed by O'Neill – "a top man" – and said: "I'm glad I spoke to O'Neill and I'm happy I went to Villa because it's a great football club and he was really good to me." Two years on, Downing is working under another inspirational figure in Dalglish. "He has a bit of an aura about him. I think he's bigger than all the players here put together."
If eyebrows were raised in some quarters by the estimated £20m fee for a player who has never been an England regular, Downing's "media profile" is no concern to Dalglish, who was only interested in his ability to beat a man and the quality of his left-foot crosses. Downing arrived at Anfield having won Villa's Player of the Year prize for 2010-11 – after seven League goals and nine assists – and his encouraging start with Liverpool had a knock-on effect when he set up Ashley Young's England winner against Wales this month.
"He is a very genuine boy, a decent boy, he has got a bit of ability and pace – we needed somebody who could play wide but also play very well," said Dalglish.
The Scot's search for width should surprise no one who recalls John Barnes' exploits for his great 1988 Liverpool team or the significant roles played by Stuart Ripley, another Boro boy, and Jason Wilcox in supplying Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton in Dalglish's 1995 title-winning Blackburn side.
His other new wide man, Bellamy, has a rather different profile than Downing but Dalglish – who could finally have Steven Gerrard available again today – is delighted with the appetite of the Welsh attacker, who made his second Liverpool debut as a substitute at Stoke last weekend.
''You hear other people's opinion about certain players but you form your own,'' said the manager who had ''looked at'' Bellamy throughout a career featuring stops at all his own former clubs – Newcastle, Celtic, Blackburn and Liverpool. ''I don't think people realise how much he wants success.''
Redknapp will be hoping the ones that got away do not come back to haunt him.Member #1 of the Luis Suarez fan clubComment
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Just thinking if they had of bought Downing back then, Bale would probably never have got stuck on the wing during that injury crisis & would have been sold for a pittance as a failed left back.Comment
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Bump!
Just curious to see how people think Downing is doing?
Originally when we signed him i was skeptical, knew he had ability and a lovely left foot but that he drifts in and out of games and is inconsistent. Anyways, after a very promising pre season and opening game i felt bit more confident.
For me at the moment he really needs to be doing more, for some reason over last 5 games or so,he hasn't been taking players on and getting balls into the box, which is precisely why we bought him. He's getting a good run in the side but IMO he has to be more productive:
7 league games in and 0 goals & 0 assists. That's not good reading for a 20 million quid winger, early days of course but sooner rather than later would be nice.
When the likes of Bellamy who (dodgy knees apparently) is only playing a bit part role, looks far more dangerous and productive on the left. Also Downing seems a bit sheepish to me sometimes, lacking aggression and drive.Comment
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The last paragraph is a pretty good summary of his time so far. He was putting in a few crosses at first without anyone being on the end of them, now his input has been on the wane. Fingers crossed he'll enjoy his week off and will be refreshed for Utd.Originally posted by danperkins View Post
I've not analysed it too much tbh but does his attacking flair suffer slightly due to Enriques attacking ability? Has he been covering as Enrique goes forward? Just a thoughtComment
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I think he's done ok, last few games he hasn't seemed to be as good as he was at first.
I don't think he is suited to switching sides as often as we seem to like doing it. I think he'd be ok if he were only to go over to the right for ~15mins a game, but he seems to be switched every 15 to 20 mins, so he spends about half his time on each side.
Hopefully now Carroll has got his first goal, his confidence will be up and he (Carroll) will make the type of runs that allow Downing to find him with crosses.The only gracious way to accept an insult is to ignore it; if you can't ignore it, top it; if you can't top it, laugh at it; if you can't laugh at it, it's probably deserved.Comment
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Very worried about him TBH. I always feared he was a bit of a lightweight mentally and could be bullied out of it in games, and so far aside from the odd glimpse I am not sure what he has really offered us. Bellamy looked so much more direct and threatening when he came on I would start him v the scum."Its not about the long ball or the short ball, its about the right ball." Bob PaisleyComment
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Originally posted by Norbert Dentressangle View Post
In bold is an interesting point, Enrique does seem to get beyond Downing and over lap. I suppose regardless of that Downing is fully fit and getting a regular starting spot and has to be doing more to merit that regular slot IMO.Comment
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I also think Maxi is a better option too and has been ridiculously under used this season.Originally posted by Tee View PostComment
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Originally posted by Mattshark View Post Maxi is a very good squad option for us, seems strange he is getting constantly overlooked.
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Maxi is a good player and I am surprised we haven't seen more of him this season, not necessarily for Downing but he could also play in place of Henderson...Originally posted by Mattshark View PostThe only gracious way to accept an insult is to ignore it; if you can't ignore it, top it; if you can't top it, laugh at it; if you can't laugh at it, it's probably deserved.Comment
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Maxi is a much better option "at the moment" than likes of Henderson & Downing, maybe the fact we spent so much money on both mentioned, maybe Kenny feels can't leave that out? Although i don't think Maxi should be a starter, he is a good option off the bench and gives us another dimension. Something strange behind that, Kenny clearly doesn't fancy him ( no pun intended)Comment
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As Shaggy would put it, his last few performances have been bang average. I'd start Bellamy instead of him against United.Comment
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