Stewart Downing - West Hahahaham player

[tsb]

I'm not sure why people are so obsessed with them, they are just glorified tents.

Given current stadium status, they are probably the most likely way that we can increase capacity at the moment.

[red g]

We have loads of tents now, just missing the icing on the Summer cake!

and to many tables without legs to go in them to

[Rowan]

Just find some music for this...


I read it as a poem. OK it's not Wordsworth or Larkin but it's better than most lyrics.

Stewart Downing San
Foot that's left is heaven sent
Stewart Downing San

[BG1973]

What a joke of a signing

thats a joke of a post to be honest.

He had a very good season as one of villas best players, he offers balance to our squad and puts in great crosses which is exactly what we need to exploit Carroll.

He's good enough for Kenny (who I assume you like, like the rest of us) but he aint good enough for you..

who were you expecting that we could realistically sign this summer??

[SK]

Kuyt is better than Carroll and Downing so I expect him to be in 90% of our starting line-ups next season.

He's a useful player, but getting on a bit in terms of age, and not to mention he's not a 20mil+ signing. There comes a certain pressure to play those big money buys.

But as has been said, he'll get enough game time, esspecially with the injury record of some of our players.

[banditos]

Very good signing. Really looking forward to this season. Add a top LB and we've got a very strong squad.

[Shaggy]

Looking forward to him proving me wrong. Don't think he's ****e - just relentlessly average. My Villa mate makes a pretty strong case for him, although he says the main reason Downing was better than Young last season was "Ged's insistence on playing Ash in a central role behind the striker".

Anyway, welcome Stew.

[dww]

Looking forward to him proving me wrong. Don't think he's ****e - just relentlessly average. My Villa mate makes a pretty strong case for him, although he says the main reason Downing was better than Young last season was "Ged's insistence on playing Ash in a central role behind the striker".

Anyway, welcome Stew.

Young for a start thinks central is his best position I believe. An interesting related article from Zonal Marking:

http://www.zonalmarking.net/2010/12/03/introducing-the-central-winger/

I think last season was a big one in both Young and Downing's development it will be interesting to see how both progress at bigger teams now.

[Shaggy]

He does yeah, but don't all wingers. They all wanna play more centrally and be more involved. Villa fans on Twitter and the one I know reckon he's far better out wide.

[Zapater]

Looking forward to him proving me wrong. Don't think he's ****e - just relentlessly average. My Villa mate makes a pretty strong case for him, although he says the main reason Downing was better than Young last season was "Ged's insistence on playing Ash in a central role behind the striker".

Anyway, welcome Stew.

Pretty much how I'm feeling. Expecting more solid than spectacular. Other than perhaps not being a cock, I don't see what he can add which someone like say, Riera couldn't.

[Kenneth]

Pretty much how I'm feeling. Expecting more solid than spectacular. Other than perhaps not being a cock, I don't see what he can add which someone like say, Riera couldn't.

I think he's far more consistent than Riera was. And unless you're suggesting we should have bought Riera back, the. I don't really get your point.

[Zapater]

Clearly he's more consistent - that's his main strength, was talking more about tangible playing qualities. Otherwise just saying I don't find him to be value for money or a player to be excited about. Although i didn't really want to use those exact words because I'll receive the generic answer which has been posted throughout this forum when Downings name has come into discussion.

And no, Riera can slide even further down the ladder of obscurity thank you very much, what a ****.

[Cormack74]

Glad to see some width brought to the left.

Don't know if he's the best fella to provide it but I'm hoping so.

[Tee]

What are the odds that he gets played on the right.

[Exiled_red]

................Reina
Johnson...Carra...Škrtel...Chissoko
................Lucas
.........Gerrard....Adam
Suarez.......................Downing
.................Carroll


On paper it looks like a fantastic team that doesn't it. and i think it will be a 433, i seem to recall Kenny prefering it last season, and it worked just fine.

Here's a question for you lot, do you think we're preparing for life after Stevie G? Do we try to include him on every possible occasion even when he's not 100% fit in the team, or are the other players we now have, good enough to compensate and possibly replace Gerrard?

I'd imagine Gerrard will play when fit, hopefully the depth in the squad will mean that we don't have to rush him back when he has been out. We showed last season that we can cope without him, strengthening the squad reinforces that, I obviously expect him to be a regular but hopefully the added depth of the squad will allow us to rest him when he needs it (which will hopefully reduce the number of injuries he picks up).