Stewart Downing - West Hahahaham player

[Lee]

Aye, I temporarily reconsidered my position based on his first few games but then he reverted to type (that type being infuriatingly garbage). Fact is that if he was right footed then even Blackburn wouldn't play him. In fact even Blackpool wouldn't play him. He'd be clogging about in the lower echelons of the Championship somewhere with the likes of Paul Anderson and those other impress young, turn ****e types. At this time he appears to lack game intelligence, skill, guille, ability to shoot and pace. More importantly he looks scared ****less every time the ball comes anywhere near him. Making the left flank look utterly impotent.

At the moment in time Downing in our team is the only thing stopping me from going postal in every thread about Charlie ****ing Adam. A poor choice. Bought for the right reasons but a poor, poor choice. Now we just need to sit there and hope 'Arry comes and bids for him.

Exactly my thoughts.

Downing's going to have **** all resale value too.

[Zapater]

Horrible player, horrible signing. I can't think of worse value for money in in any transfer made in that window across Europe.

[Arn]

Horrible player, horrible signing. I can't think of worse value for money in in any transfer made in that window across Europe.

I remember almost all of us laughing at rumours linking him with a move to Spurs and how **** he is. That we all hoped he would sign for them.

Then we end up signing him for £20m................

[BigChief]

Downing is a good enough player (along with Henderson, Carroll and Adam). The only problem is its their first season together in a 'bigger' team and a new manager. Doesn't matter how much they cost/earn, every new employee must be given a bedding in period at a new job.

[Craig_H]

Downing is a good enough player (along with Henderson, Carroll and Adam). The only problem is its their first season together in a 'bigger' team and a new manager. Doesn't matter how much they cost/earn, every new employee must be given a bedding in period at a new job.

Surely the point of buying british PL players is to minimise this period, if not remove it altogether?

[cream]

Surely the point of buying british PL players is to minimise this period, if not remove it altogether?

Exactly. All three are good squad players, I seriously thought that's what they were being bought for.

[BigChief]

Surely the point of buying british PL players is to minimise this period, if not remove it altogether?

What would you consider 'minimise'?

To me I would consider that to be a whole season for foreign imports and up to xmas and just beyond for English?

[Exiled_red]

Surely the point of buying british PL players is to minimise this period, if not remove it altogether?

Minimise the period yes, but not remove it completely. Buying players who have played in the Premiership don't have to adapt to the physical nature of the league, like players from other leagues do. but they still need time to settle in, learn the system and develop an understanding with their team mates. This isn't something that happens immediately it will still take a significant amount of time. And I think people aren't as forgiving when it comes to analyzing the performances of players who are signed with Premiership experience.

[Craig_H]

What would you consider 'minimise'?

To me I would consider that to be a whole season for foreign imports and up to xmas and just beyond for English?

Maybe that's fair, but i'd be inclined to think an extra caveat could be added when you fork out £20m for a player who, as well as paying the premium for them being english and not needing as much adjustment to be done, you're also paying out such a big sum because they're meant to be a very good player.

[Shaggy]

Also our new players have to get to grips with playing for a top club, it's a big difference doing the business for Blackpool, Villa, Boro etc. Some players are cut out for it and many aren't. Seems to me we've had an inordinate amount of players over the years who can't hack it.

[Craig_H]

Minimise the period yes, but not remove it completely. Buying players who have played in the Premiership don't have to adapt to the physical nature of the league, like players from other leagues do. but they still need time to settle in, learn the system and develop an understanding with their team mates. This isn't something that happens immediately it will still take a significant amount of time. And I think people aren't as forgiving when it comes to analyzing the performances of players who are signed with Premiership experience.

I fully accept that there are some things which will need to be adjusted to for a lot of players you sign, even from the PL.

It's not that rare however that some players hit the ground running early on and it's very disappointing that, out of Henderson, Downing, Adam and Carroll, basically not a single one of them has done that.

[Rich]

I don't like Downing and didn't want him but... it isn't his fault that Carroll smashed his shot against the bar on Saturday.

That should have been buried, he'd then have had an assist, we'd have won and we could have all been saying that it was Downing's assist which won us the game.

Fine margins and all that.

[Slinky Skills]

****ing hell, it's like a beavis & butthead reunion here.

Craig, you shouldn't speak about yourself and Shaggy like that.

[Craig_H]

I don't like Downing and didn't want him but... it isn't his fault that Carroll smashed his shot against the bar on Saturday.

That should have been buried, he'd then have had an assist, we'd have won and we could have all been saying that it was Downing's assist which won us the game.

Fine margins and all that.

That one assist wouldnt really be the difference between thinking Downing's proving to be a cracking signing, and thinking we've wasted £20m

[Rich]

That one assist wouldnt really be the difference between thinking Downing's proving to be a cracking signing, and thinking we've wasted £20m

I'm not suggesting for one minute that it would justify his transfer fee.

However, he put the ball in the right spot for the striker to score a piss-easy goal - that's his job.

Who knows it could be a snowball effect of instilling some self belief...