Stewart Downing - West Hahahaham player

[dww]

Aye I've described him as too passive....Dan said 'timid' earlier which is also a good description. Have some ****ing guts, run at people, take shots on first time instead of pissing around and allowing himself to be closed down...that sorta stuff. Seems to lack belief in himself generally but I think he's lost a bit of confidence in the last few weeks.

I think this is a good part of the issue. In a way I think until we get a solid base to the team we won't see the best of him - he has always done best when his team are doing well or there is no pressure on him. I tend to feel that like Riera he would be a more than useful cog in a machine but you need a solid engine room to allow him to play.

Another factor though has been asking him to join an already congested middle area from the right. We don't have anyone who really links well with him in that role. In a way I think he would benefit from playing with Maxi - rather than them being natural replacements for one another.

[Mostar]

Aye I've described him as too passive....Dan said 'timid' earlier which is also a good description. Have some ****ing guts, run at people, take shots on first time instead of pissing around and allowing himself to be closed down...that sorta stuff. Seems to lack belief in himself generally but I think he's lost a bit of confidence in the last few weeks.

Pretty much the same point I made earlier as he doesn't have much to show for (no goals, no assists) but I think the fact that we rotate so many players game in and game out doesn't help him either.

[BringbackBiscan]

Most of the squad looks short on confidence tbh. Would explain the snatching at shots, when a bit of a calm head and slotting it into the corner is all that's needed.

Bit of a worry that tbh. It's not exactly something that can be put right, that we're doing wrong.

[danperkins]

Aye I've described him as too passive....Dan said 'timid' earlier which is also a good description. Have some ****ing guts, run at people, take shots on first time instead of pissing around and allowing himself to be closed down...that sorta stuff. Seems to lack belief in himself generally but I think he's lost a bit of confidence in the last few weeks.

[saj]

That is what I thought, but now I am not so sure he is as pacey as I had originally perceived.

His problems are all in the head IMO - just does not have the mental toughness to make it at the highest level IMO.

In that interview with one of our doctors, he said that Downing is the quickest player in the squad (I guess Bellamy may be now as he signed after that interview was done).

If you watch off the ball, Downing is ridiculously quick. But with the ball at his feet, he is slow. Very slow. Even Riera was quicker with the ball at his feet

[Tee]

In that interview with one of our doctors, he said that Downing is the quickest player in the squad (I guess Bellamy may be now as he signed after that interview was done).

If you watch off the ball, Downing is ridiculously quick. But with the ball at his feet, he is slow. Very slow. Even Riera was quicker with the ball at his feet

Therein lies a serious problem.

I think Shaggy's post summed it up for me. Downing just needs to grown a pair and believe in himself, back himself to beat the man and be more aggressive on the ball. And most importantly express himself on the pitch. I don't know what else Kenny can do to give him more confidence - he has started every game for us IIRC.

[Kenneth]

Shaggy's post was the bomb.

[saj]

Therein lies a serious problem.

I think Shaggy's post summed it up for me. Downing just needs to grown a pair and believe in himself, back himself to beat the man and be more aggressive on the ball. And most importantly express himself on the pitch. I don't know what else Kenny can do to give him more confidence - he has started every game for us IIRC.

Downing needs to get a DeLorean, fit it with a Flux Capacitor, go back in time, convince himself to not sign for us, job done.

[cream]

Poor again today, needs to pull his finger out.

[BringbackBiscan]

First poor game today in a red top. It wasn't that he was particularly bad at anything, he just didn't get involved enough.

All players have off days.

[Norbs]

Think his general demeanour makes his game seem worse than it is. He's not valiant or maniacal like Suarez but he does create and his movement's intelligent. He needs time but he also needs to be a little more ruthless. At the moment, everything pivots around Suarez which is a bit embarrassing to watching like 10 year olds alway giving it to the big kid

[Kenneth]

He hits the first defender far too often. When he gets the crosses in they're pretty good, but it's not clicking for him yet.

[baitman]

[QUOTE=Norbert Dentressangle;2122529]...At the moment, everything pivots around Suarez which is a bit embarrassing to watching like 10 year olds alway giving it to the big kid[/QUOTE]
its always been a problem with our team recently. now its suarez, used to be torres, before that gerrard. professional footballers, but too thick to realise there are better options around them, and its better to vary the play options

[Norbs]

Perhaps he needs to give and go while his confidence is low. Pretty sure that Enrique is open to that on most occasions. I've noticed him losing possession when he's taken on his man too

[Fredo]

I think he lacks a wee bit of pace to go past players. Apart from that, he keeps the ball relatively well and links up play. He doesn't have that explosiveness, he's steady much like Riera, tactically quite sound.