Stewart Downing - West Hahahaham player

[JohnDoe]

I think Downing can be a good left back. He'll be expected to do less offensively that way.

[Shaggy]

Rodgers was misquoted. He actually was talking about downing being left back at melwood on match days.

[Neil Young]

Adam came to us amongst other things being classed as a dead ball specialist. The first two that spring mind id "My Arse"

Corners, I might be wrong but, have we ever scored from one

Freekicks, hopeless

Penalties, the likes of Neil Young would have performed better

In short......A waste of, time, effort and money

I don't know why you brought me into it but actually I was always pretty good at taking penalties.

[The Birdman]

With Enrique, Johnson, Kelly and now Downing to cover left back then I hope Jack Robinson goes out for a season's loan somewhere.

[Rich]

We're going all Barcelona

We should keep wee Jay and convert him into a tenacious centreback.

[Neil Young]

[Fosterbloke]

We should keep wee Jay and convert him into a tenacious centreback.

We should convert him into a mascot.

[Nick77]

Sahin can play left back as well...

[dww]

Although that would be harsh on Robinson.

Aye. Would be good to see Robinson loaned out though. I think regular football is what would benefit him most. There are a few sides who play the right sort of football to make it not a waste. That said Rodgers does seem to think he has special skills with young players.

I don't think the 'bottle' argument is relevant to Downing as a fullback in our new system. The bigger issue for me is his concentration. He's often drifted a bit from games in midfield. Perhaps simpler instructions as a leftback would suit him?

[Roboklopp]

I don't know why you brought me into it but actually I was always pretty good at taking penalties.

[Muddled]

Aye. Would be good to see Robinson loaned out though. I think regular football is what would benefit him most. There are a few sides who play the right sort of football to make it not a waste. That said Rodgers does seem to think he has special skills with young players.

I don't think the 'bottle' argument is relevant to Downing as a fullback in our new system. The bigger issue for me is his concentration. He's often drifted a bit from games in midfield. Perhaps simpler instructions as a leftback would suit him?

It's to do with him defending first. Whilst our full-backs are obviously key to our attack, they are there first and foremost to defend and Downing would lack the tenacity and bite to stop the opposition getting behind him.

I don't think Downing lacks concentration, nor is he averse to taking on instructions, he just disappears from games; a left midfielder can hide because he can get away with falling back on the left back - there is no such option if he is in that position.

[baitman]

err, has someone hit the panic button in this thread...

some of the lads have it right, Breandan is telling stu that he has no future here as a winger. he might also be telling enrique to up his game, or that his days are also numbered.

the suggestion that we would ever play downing [in a serious game] as a left back is just

[Roboklopp]

err, has someone hit the panic button in this thread...

some of the lads have it right, Breandan is telling stu that he has no future here as a winger. he might also be telling enrique to up his game, or that his days are also numbered.

the suggestion that we would ever play downing [in a serious game] as a left back is just

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c3...ins/taz009.jpg

Careful mate, Neil will be getting a chubby.

[dww]

It's to do with him defending first. Whilst our full-backs are obviously key to our attack, they are there first and foremost to defend and Downing would lack the tenacity and bite to stop the opposition getting behind him.

I don't think Downing lacks concentration, nor is he averse to taking on instructions, he just disappears from games; a left midfielder can hide because he can get away with falling back on the left back - there is no such option if he is in that position.

I think what you are describing as tenacity I would call concentration. I think the bite thing is not really the point. We will be moving to a more interception/positioning based approach to defence. The one on one aspects of defending should be minimised and the importance is how good your movement is within the team organisation.

I think the point I'm making is that the inability to hide would be a good thing for him. Take away the choice of coasting and he may work better. Midfield is all about making the right choices, which I think he's not always good at.

[Daniel 7]

So is Downing going to be our reverse Gareth Bale then or what?