Stewart Downing - West Hahahaham player

[Craig_H]

You're missing the point though Lec, he WAS delivering decent quality into the box. So keeping him on could have meant that this would've continued, with the only difference being that Carroll would've been in the box (rather than nobody).

[Gibbo]

I just can't understand how professional footballers, not just Downing can put at least one cross in properly, always hitting the first man.

[Craig_H]

I just can't understand how professional footballers, not just Downing can put at least one cross in properly, always hitting the first man.

Because the people trying to block them, are also professional footballers

[Lecter]

You're missing the point though Lec, he WAS delivering decent quality into the box. So keeping him on could have meant that this would've continued, with the only difference being that Carroll would've been in the box (rather than nobody).

Early on in the season he surprised me with his form

Hes done little since then frankly barring the odd one

I didnt think he put anything in of note yesterday in fact I was struggling to remember if we'd picked him yesterday as he barely touched the ball

Downing hides for me, hes the type of player who when you are winning 5-0 will be ****ing brilliant but when the chips are down and you are asking him to take responsibility and affect the game will go missing and abdicate all responsibility

We created very little yesterday barring the Kuyt chance (which I think was from a Bellamy cross)

I've totally given up on Downing

[Gibbo]

Because the people trying to block them, are also professional footballers

*******.

The same professional footballers let people like Scott Sinclair and Matt Jarvis make perfectly good crosses though.

Left mid seems to be a cursed position with us, up there with the if you play for Liverpool you set piece delivery automatically becomes ****.

[danperkins]

when we signes this lad I never thought even for one second that he wouldnt deliver. people who are very savvy said that he.didnt have the right mentality to succeed at a club like liverpool but its something that just passed by.

unfortunately, the silent whispers look spot on. after 25 + games and only one goal and zero assists you have to say that downing has been an unmitigated disaster. to think we spent close to 55m on carroll and downing and theyve delivered virtually nothing says a few things.

firstly we need to evaluate signings more carefully. at a club like liverpool mentality is perhaps even more important that talent and someone like lucas is a case in point. he was booed constantly but the lad believed in himself and became one of our leaders.

I dont think stewart has that sort of leadership quality or mentality. carrolls case is different because for me he doesnt have the physical, tactical and technical tools to be a top grade footballer. hes currently playing a level above his capability and its showing.

secondly we need to take a closer look at the people making the signings. suarez, bellamy and enrique have been unqualified successes, adam and henderson have both been reasonable but downing and carroll have been shocking.

carroll was a panic buy and one thats going to be a heavy weight on the shoulders of damien and kenny.

agree with all of this

[sean_lfc]

I also think, and the same goes for Carroll & Suarez, that they need more competition for places. If we had another tricky winger (let's just say Hoilett), where Downing wouldn't be automatic choice (because there doesn't seem to be direct competition, Maxi isn't getting played, Kuyt is not a winger), then it probably would put more pressure/focus on them in training (but takes pressure off them in games), same for a striker, Suarez doesn't seem to have direct competition (granted, he's not playing atm) either and that - for me - seems to put more pressure on him also. I hope this gets rectified this January transfer window.

[Maxiedge]

Downing does not have the ability to handle the pressure of being LFC's only winger. He never did. Bad buy and I blame whoever scouted him not the player himself.

We need at least one winger in January. We're so **** when it comes to attacking at pace.

[Maxiedge]

unlike carroll downing for me does have the tools. hes quick, has a very good touch and links in well but with him the issues are not physical but mental.

top level players need belief and an arrogance which he doesnt have. it can happen to anyone just look at kaka at real madrid. they signex him for nearly 50m and he looks poor there, torres at chelsea is another example.

the other thing is whether fsg will open the wallet and buy in a top draw forward thatwe desperately need. sorry lads but carroll could play the rest of the season and I dont think he'll get more than a goal every five or six games.

top four is already a long shot but not having another striker just makes that possibility more remote.

I don't think Carroll's been managed well at all. Downing plays every game even if he's been **** previously, while it's not the same set of rules for Carroll. I also think if you're going to drop Carroll, then don't do it at home to Stoke. Give him the run of games that have been allocated to other players who have been been finding their feet.

[saj]

From what I've of that Swansea player Dyer, he would be a fantastic addition.

[Mattshark]

From what I've of that Swansea player Dyer, he would be a fantastic addition.

We need better.

[sean_lfc]

We need better.

I agree. If we are to be challenging on a European front, a Swansea player does not seem to me to be what we should be looking at.

[~LFCHistory~]

I agree. If we are to be challenging on a European front, a Swansea player does not seem to me to be what we should be looking at.

You should e-mail that to Kenny and DC. TBF though Holiett plays for Blackburn and he would improve us IMO.

[Mattshark]

You should e-mail that to Kenny and DC. TBF though Holiett plays for Blackburn and he would improve us IMO.

We need better.

[~LFCHistory~]

We need better.

Who did you have in mind ?