Stewart Downing - West Hahahaham player

[Shaggy]

The first 2 or 3 pages of this thread are pretty funny/depressing

[wiw]

Fantastic signing imo, just what we need. Don't really give a **** what we paid for him. Made up

[RichC]

ha ha ha

[Vermilion]

Such confidence.

Shattered!

Made sense to me at the time too, AC...Stewart Downing. A no brainer, you'd think!

[Exiled_red]

Downing isn't happy, can't say how I know I just do, he doesn't feel kenny is giving him a good run in the team and feels like an outsider and thinks its hard to make an impact as everyone worships kenny and gerrard and other players aren't given fair chance to prove themselves.

I think that's the problem of coming to a big club. He's been at clubs were he has been first choice more or less all his career with little competition for places. If he wants to be successful here he has to accept that there will be times when he isn't in the team and work hard in training and when he does get chances to ensure that he isn't left out of the team again.

Also the idea that he isn't getting a fair chance to prove himself is IMO nonsense. Of 25 PL games he has started 20 of them, come on as sub in 4 and been an unused sub once. Ok he's sat out alot of the Carling Cup games, but that is to be expected with a squad our size. In terms of PL games he started 20 of our first 22, it's only in the last 3 that he's been left on the bench.

Other players have been given chances based on their form Skrtel/Agger have displaced Carragher, Henderson has edged ahead of Adam, Bellamy gets his chances when fit. The problem with Downing is that he hasn't been putting in the performances, based on his form and the players challenging for that place in the team (i.e. Bellamy) I think Downing has been lucky to play as much as he has.

[S-RED]

Downing is the modern day 'Tin Man' that is all....................

[Lee]

Well said Exiled Red.

To say that other players don't get a chance is laughable; Skrtel and Agger are a prime example of if you do well then you stay in the team.

[Muddled]

I think that's the problem of coming to a big club. He's been at clubs were he has been first choice more or less all his career with little competition for places. If he wants to be successful here he has to accept that there will be times when he isn't in the team and work hard in training and when he does get chances to ensure that he isn't left out of the team again.

Also the idea that he isn't getting a fair chance to prove himself is IMO nonsense. Of 25 PL games he has started 20 of them, come on as sub in 4 and been an unused sub once. Ok he's sat out alot of the Carling Cup games, but that is to be expected with a squad our size. In terms of PL games he started 20 of our first 22, it's only in the last 3 that he's been left on the bench.

Other players have been given chances based on their form Skrtel/Agger have displaced Carragher, Henderson has edged ahead of Adam, Bellamy gets his chances when fit. The problem with Downing is that he hasn't been putting in the performances, based on his form and the players challenging for that place in the team (i.e. Bellamy) I think Downing has been lucky to play as much as he has.

Spot on.

Downing has been given every opportunity to 'play himself into form' and has had the pat on the back in the press from Kenny too.

I think he was unfortunate when we had a bit of whizz to our play earlier in the season and with a little bit more clinical finishing, his assist column going on recent performances it makes it look like he has regressed.

Low in confidence or just too much pressure?

[Norbs]

Downing had a great season by the standards of a struggling club, he wasn't one of the leagues best players.

effective at a mid table club. Below average for a club with aspirations.

Buying a playing who's looked good for his previous team is a tried and tested method surely. If you're looking good in a struggling team it stands to reason that you might blossom with more quality around you.

That said, I'm not disputing that he's been ineffective but I still think that Enrique behind him has not helped the situation and it's now playing on his mind too much. Bearing in mind his value will have plummetted (especially now that Spurs are no longer buying duds from the top top) I think he should be given another season, with less pitch time as he's decent back up.

[Buzzo]

underwhelming
present participle of un·der·whelm
Verb: Fail to impress or make a positive impact on (someone); disappoint:

[danperkins]

The first 2 or 3 pages of this thread are pretty funny/depressing

hilarious alright. I like this one the best.

What a joke of a signing

Couldn't have been more right

[ronanm]

he's an absolute digrace

[Lecter]

We haven't approached anything in a moneyball fashion in the slightest. However, I agree it doesn't work in football as it could in baseball as there are other variables that are not in effect in baseball..

Oh yes we have

If you read the book Moneyball virtually everything we have done in the transfer market has been heavily influenced by that

[Mattshark]

Oh yes we have

If you read the book Moneyball virtually everything we have done in the transfer market has been heavily influenced by that

I would personally strongly disagree.

[Lecter]

Downing isn't happy, can't say how I know I just do, he doesn't feel kenny is giving him a good run in the team and feels like an outsider and thinks its hard to make an impact as everyone worships kenny and gerrard and other players aren't given fair chance to prove themselves.

This smacks of someone who is struggling or out of their depth and looking for someone other than himself to blame

I'd have no problem with believing this IF Downing was actually making an impact on the pitch, hell I'd even believe it if his skills were failing but the general effort was there

Downing looks scared ALL the time, scared of taking responsibility for effecting the game. Thats one thing you cant accuse people like Adam or Bellamy of, even if they are having an off day they show for the ball and are quite willing to try things even if they have failed so far in the game

Downing to me is a ****ing chicken