Downing off to Red Scouse?

[junxs]

He gets into good posistions and joins in play well, but its what he does with the ball when he gets into those positions thats disappointing. Too many times he shoots with his weaker foot when theres better options available. He dallies on the ball too long when theres an opportunity for a quick through ball.  Also he really struggles when playing on the right, I dont know why we keep putting him out there.

When we signed him I wasnt excited at all but I thought if nothing else at least he's got a good cross on him, we've not seen enough decent crosses let alone good ones.

If we get a bid which means we'd get our money back then I'll be more than happy to let him go and get a proper winger in. The sad thing is though we'd probably play Gabby out wide for the rest of the season.

[Mazrim]

He wont be going in January if at all, anyway. And neither will Young.

[TimTheVillain]

He wont be going in January if at all, anyway. And neither will Young.

Randy won't sell either unless they hand transfer requests in, he is as desperate as we are to stay in the Prem., it's him who stands to lose a fortune if we did drop down to the Championship don't forget.

I also don't think either will be off for the time being.

Now let's move on then.

[PaulTheVillan]

I can't see Downing going. We need all the quality players we can get at the moment, to turn our season around.

Downing just needs to be played on the left wing. Simple.

[darren woolley]

I wouldn't sell him we need to keep him especially if we get Bent he will provide the service for him he has been one of our better players this season so no i wouldn't sell him.

[UsualSuspect]

i personally wouldnt be bothered if downing left...

i think he could be replaced quite easily, and i dont like the way that he shirks out of challenges... dont get me wrong, i think he has improved this season, however, if we sold him for 15 plus million, then we could replace him quite easily...

i would be more upset if albrighton left...

My thoughts entirely

Downing yesterday was back to his old poncy self. Bottling challenges and fannying about instead of getting the ball into the box quickly. Can't play on the right as he continually cuts in so has to play wide left or nowhere.

If we had a bid of 10 million I'd fuck him off

Well said mate......

Taking a loss of £2 miilion on what we paid for him is well said?  Shit said more like.

Its called cutting one's losses

[Risso]

Without Downing's goals this season we'd be as good as relegated by now.  The problem he and Ashley Young have had is that there's been no striker to feed off their service.  There is now.

[peter w]

Still annoys me that he doesn't try and hit the by-line and whip crosses in. He plays as a winger when he's on form, when he's not he stops a run, cuts inside and looks for a 5 yard sideways pass.

[magic monks]

It's fair to say that we are currently (potentially) overloaded with midfielders of varying types.

I think that Houllier sees that greater strength in the centre of midfield and a lack of a proper cutting edge up front, were the obstacles that needed to be overcome. But until this was resolved, having Downing available as a reliable player who can move either right or left was the ideal patch-up option, to cover up not having NRC and Petrov for extended periods.

Going forward now (assuming we sign Adam) we have central mid cover in abundance, and with Gabby now taking up an additional wide attacking role, Downing is behind Young and Albrighton in the pecking-order.

Spending 20m on Bent is massive, but something has to giive elsewhere, and if we sign Adam I would not be shocked at all to see Downing move on for a fair price. I think Downing is great, but I can see the logic in a Downing transfer. Bent would not suffer from it IMO, with the quality we have elsewhere.   

[Concrete John]

I don't think Downing will go anywhere as long as we have a doubt over Young staying.

[SteveD]

I hope he stays but I don't think Young will be around after the summer, so no sense at all in getting rid of Downing now. I still think Allbrighton is in development and Downing is quality, if inconsistent. But then everyone has been "inconsistent", put politely, this season.

[sfx412]

It's fair to say that we are currently (potentially) overloaded with midfielders of varying types.

Really ?

Or are you counting Salifou and Osborne in that suggestion. We may have several, well 3, wide players who can play top of midfield, but we are short of everything else, that's why when Petrov, and Coker get injured we drop to bottom, well nearly.
I don't see Ireland as being available, Bannan, and co look short of something, Milners gone, Sidwell was useless now gone, who else is there.

[Tokyo Sexwhale]

It's fair to say that we are currently (potentially) overloaded with midfielders of varying types.

Really ?

Or are you counting Salifou and Osborne in that suggestion. We may have several, well 3, wide players who can play top of midfield, but we are short of everything else, that's why when Petrov, and Coker get injured we drop to bottom, well nearly.
I don't see Ireland as being available, Bannan, and co look short of something, Milners gone, Sidwell was useless now gone, who else is there.

Delph and Hogg.

[Concrete John]

Current midfielder, excluding Salifou and Osborne:-

1. Young
2. Downing
3. Albrighton
4. Petrov
5. NRC
6. Makou
7. Delph
8. Bannan
9. Ireland
10. Hogg
11. Herd

OK, there are some young uns in that, but none have exactly looked poor so far.  Add Adam and Gardner, who's likely to step up next season, and eve with NRC and/or Petrov going we're well stocked. 

[jonzy85]

There was a stat on F365 the other week which stated that the player who created the most goal scoring opportunities this season in the PL was Malouda, 2nd............Downing.

Put Bent in there and wait til we see his assists racking up.

We shouldnt be selling any players to Liverpool...I think we will be in direct competition with them over the next couple of years for places in the table...whereabouts in the table im not sure yet!!