v WBA - Post Match

[marcus50bucks]

I think it's a hell of a lot less weak than relying on the dubious judgement of self-appointed internet critics whose knowledge of football is unproven and probably virtually non-existent when compared to someone who has been involved at the highest level of professional football for about 40 years.

So come off it, you know about arguments from inference as well as anybody. If you have an alternative interpretation (I'm sure there are some) as to why Dalglish is picking him then I'd be interested to hear it. If it's simply the old chestnut of "I could be right and Kenny could be wrong because he's not perfect" then thanks but I reckon his chances of being right are significantly higher than yours (or mine or anyone else's on here).

Perhaps Kenny is tying to play him into form as oppose to picking him because he's playing particularly well. Look, I've never been a fan of Downing. I've watched him over the years for Boro and Villa to form my own opinion. Having said that I held my hands up 3 or 4 games into the season and said he was playing pretty well. Thing is since then he has showed the kind of form which made me not not want him in the first place. I've always felt he was inconsistent, one dimensional (drop the shoulder and run in straight lines), struggles to beat a man, link up play not particualrly good etc. I think it's fair to say that he's not really showing any good form and for me a player should be picked on merit. Every time Bellamy has had minutes on the pitch he's looked far more effective on the left than Downing but still his chances are limited. With zero assists and goals Downing is not really contributing in an attacking sense.

[Neil Young]

Perhaps Kenny is tying to play him into form as oppose to picking him because he's playing particularly well. Look, I've never been a fan of Downing. I've watched him over the years for Boro and Villa to form my own opinion. Having said that I held my hands up 3 or 4 games into the season and said he was playing pretty well. Thing is since then he has showed the kind of form which made me not not want him in the first place. I've always felt he was inconsistent, one dimensional (drop the shoulder and run in straight lines), struggles to beat a man, link up play not particualrly good etc. I think it's fair to say that he's not really showing any good form and for me a player should be picked on merit. Every time Bellamy has had minutes on the pitch he's looked far more effective on the left than Downing but still his chances are limited. With zero assists and goals Downing is not really contributing in an attacking sense.

I agree with a lot of that.

I think you might very well be right about trying to play him into form. Just the fact it's a possibility indicates how much more complex real management is than FM20whatever. There are so many other considerations too. It's just so easy to say drop him but who knows what the implications may be?

I wouldn't be surprised if he is 'rested' soon though, assuming things don't improve. Dalglish's handling of Carroll indicates he isn't totally blind to failings from his new signings.

[marcus50bucks]

I agree with a lot of that.

I think you might very well be right about trying to play him into form. Just the fact it's a possibility indicates how much more complex real management is than FM20whatever. There are so many other considerations too. It's just so easy to say drop him but who knows what the implications may be?

I wouldn't be surprised if he is 'rested' soon though, assuming things don't improve. Dalglish's handling of Carroll indicates he isn't totally blind to failings from his new signings.

Aye. I agree with you here especially the Carroll bit. I honestly didn't think Dalglish would drop Carroll but he definitely proved me wrong there.

[yamiedo]

I havent read this thread, but i had a look through the match thread - and my god, some serious whinging *******s around here.

"average at best without Suarez"

"fine margins between crap and ok"

WTF is wrong with people?? Carroll getting a slagging off too, despite actually playing very well, developing a nice partnership with Suarez and bagging a goal too.

Some people dont deserve seeing their side win games. ****ing hell...

Totally dominant today, didnt, at any point, feel like we were under any threat. Very comfortable win, took foot off the gas a little in the latter stages of the 2nd half but the game was won.

Carroll worked his arse off and linked up well with both Suarez and the wide men. Enrique was excellent, such a good player in all aspects, dont think he has a weakness. Suarez was his usual sublime self, deserved a goal. Lucas bossed the centre, Adam used his freedom and space well, Skrtel & Agger solid as a rock and Henderson had a good all round game.

Easily in the hunt for top 4, and only a point off Chelsea, so maybe top 3 is within reach too.

And yet people still ****ing moan.

Christ on a sodding unicycle....

Well Said

[Mattshark]

I think that the people responding with sweeping statements about the attitude in the thread are probably responding because the odd 'x is ****' post is more often 'x is ****, y is **** and z is ****' and x, y and z tend to be our three new players and those who are posting they are **** most probably are those who didn't want them to be signed.

I do wonder how some people who wanted a certain German CB to be signed would be reacting to his so far abysmal start to his career in England. I'm sure their posts would not have been 'x is ****', I'm sure they would of been 'x needs more time' (which IMO he does) but because they didn't want who we have signed they comment accordingly.

We have played 10 games in the league so far, 10 and results wise we are 8 to 10 points better off compared to the same fixtures last season. Yes I would like us to be doing even better but I believe our start bodes well for the rest of the season especially as we tend to get better as the season goes on.

Actually I thought Downing started off well, but he hasn't imo performed since the Bolton game. However, a lot those saying Downing was a good buy was on the grounds that he wouldn't need to settle. As I said though, my issue is also that he is not playing any different than he did at Villa or Boro.

Mertesacker hasn't started well, I agree, I do think him and Vermaelen will be a good partnership though.

[DeeTheDog]

As comfortable a win as you could hope for in an away game. First clean sheet against 11 men too, do Skrtel and Agger deserve to start the next game?

[RichC]

As comfortable a win as you could hope for in an away game. First clean sheet against 11 men too, do Skrtel and Agger deserve to start the next game?

Yes - clean sheet and seemed pretty comfortable for most of the game, why change a winning team!

[Mattshark]

As comfortable a win as you could hope for in an away game. First clean sheet against 11 men too, do Skrtel and Agger deserve to start the next game?

I thought they were excellent, Skrtel has really impressed me over the last few games.

[danperkins]

C'mon Craig, I think we've all seen enough football to realise managers play players to either, a/ find some form, or b/ they stubbornly want to prove they didn't make a mistake in the transfer market.

I'm not suggesting it's the latter, just it's not beyond the realms of possibility that Kenny is playing them to build their confidence and not put any media attention on them by 'dropping' them.

exactly

[yamiedo]

I don't think Kenny Dalglish would be bothered about whether the media think he made a mistake in the transfer market. He was the one who said no person was bigger than the club and I'm sure if he thought playing Henderson and Downing were damaging our chances then he'd take them off. I think Henderson, Adam and Downing are getting in on merit. It also because this is the future team we are building and we need the new guys to play as much together as possible.

[Craig_H]

exactly

Yeah, cos that's 'exactly' what you were saying.

[SimonNo7]

Actually I thought Downing started off well, but he hasn't imo performed since the Bolton game. However, a lot those saying Downing was a good buy was on the grounds that he wouldn't need to settle. As I said though, my issue is also that he is not playing any different than he did at Villa or Boro.

Mertesacker hasn't started well, I agree, I do think him and Vermaelen will be a good partnership though.

I think we are all a little blinkered here, me included, by suggesting that just because a player plays in the EPL he will hit the ground running but the reality is any signing needs a bit of time to settle. Time to settle into a new team, new formations, new style of play, new expectations etc.

However he should settle quicker than a player from a different league, especially one from a different country.

With regards to Mertesacker he most certainly hasn't started well but he is going to need quite a bit of time to settle and if he was playing for us I certainly wouldn't be calling him after 10 games just like I won't call our new boys after 10 games.

Like I've said, and keep saying, like for like results we are 8-10 points better off than last season so we must be doing something right, even with players who may not be performing as we fans would hope. Time as they say will tell whether at the end of the season I am still claiming the same thing.

For what it's worth I agree with you about Downing, started off well but seems to have tailed off a bit. Does he need dropping, not just yet for me, does he need less time on the pitch (ie getting an hour), maybe but yesterday also showed what he is capable when near the end of the game he rattled the post, as he has done a couple/few/number of times before.

[Craig_H]

I think we are all a little blinkered here, me included, by suggesting that just because a player plays in the EPL he will hit the ground running but the reality is any signing needs a bit of time to settle. Time to settle into a new team, new formations, new style of play, new expectations etc.

I'm staggered at how many usually intelligent posters are missing this.

[Mattshark]

I think we are all a little blinkered here, me included, by suggesting that just because a player plays in the EPL he will hit the ground running but the reality is any signing needs a bit of time to settle. Time to settle into a new team, new formations, new style of play, new expectations etc.

I tried to point that out, but was told I was wrong.

[Craig_H]

I tried to point that out, but was told I was wrong.

So if you pointed that out, why not give Downing a bit of time?