Laursen praises Downing

[Martyn Smith]

http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~2244531,00.html

Hope he's right in his prediction...

[darren woolley]

Nice to see Downing getting praised by Laursen i just hope he get's better and better he is having a real good season so far.

[PaulTheVillan]

I think half of it is because he's actually playing on the left wing.

I've noticed that Downing & Albrighton get further forward than before when attacking, they've both scored goals on the break attacking the back post. I like it.

[Dante Lavelli]

I think half of it is because he's actually playing on the left wing.

I've noticed that Downing & Albrighton get further forward than before when attacking, they've both scored goals on the break attacking the back post. I like it.

I'd imagine that is because we are playing one upfront which necessitates that the wingers push forward, theoretically protected by the extra body in CM.

It's no surprise that he and Albrighton are scoring more goals.  What is surprising is that Young hasn't bagged a few more, in fact he's not missed that many either.

[supertom]

Stewies been excellent. He works hard and he always looks like he's got an idea in his head of what to do with the ball. He doesn't fanny about like perhaps Ashley is guilty of. To be honest I didn't expect him to kick on this much after he disappeared in the 2nd half of last season. But with the pre-season behind him, he's been superb and consistent.

He's not the greatest player in the world, but for me is becoming akin to perhaps Andy Townsend. Obviously different styles and positions, but in as much as he's delivering almost every week now, and he's a player who's unspectacular but has a touch of quality. You know what you'll get and he'll make goals, and chip in with a few.  Whereas you could say Ash Young is somewhere between Yorke and Atkinson for example.

I think Downing and Albrighton are forging a great understanding too. They kind of remind me of Giggs and Kanchelskis a little. They're always on the attack, they feed each other well, and are both just very direct wingers.

[PaulTheVillan]

I'd go as far as saying Downing is probably in the best form of his career.

[supertom]

I'd go as far as saying Downing is probably in the best form of his career.

It's up there with his 10 goal season at Boro. Perhaps he's not carrying the team quite as much as he had to carry Boro, though in all honesty, not far off given the form of many of our senior players.

I do think he's gone up a level for us though too. It's not just his wing play that's good, but when he cuts in field he's got good vision and an eye for a pass. I actually think he'd be far better in the 2nd striker role than Ash has been. And Downing's always making intelligent runs too. His goals this season have been superb. He's totally ghosted the far post on several occasions to net goals.

[Phil from the upper holte]

I don't think he's the kind of player that puts bums on seats though but he is in good form

[peter w]

When in Islamabad I saw quite a few games live, and Boro were on once or twice, and Downing was playing at a level that he's closer to now than at any time but still not there. Good to see his pace back up and that he's trying to take his man on more. Add his free-kicks, when he can get near them, and long range shooting and his has improved no end.

Throughout our lean period he has been the one player has come out of it with lots of credit, even at Anfield. (Albrighton also, to be fair)

[not3bad]

From the mutterings I hear around me during home matches Downing is still very much the scapegoat for many people.  They ignore the good things he does and complain vociferously about any mistake he makes.