Downing Completes Liverpool Transfer

[GJH]

Downing wasnt shit last season (player of the year) leading scorer until Bent signed.

Kenny Dalglish has looked at the stats and signed 2 of the best midfielders/crosses of the ball from last season so they can feed into Carroll , and they're English.

They are planning for when this European rule comes in about overseas players.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Spurs bid rejected

That was in the January window. The report I've just read (but can't bloody find now) from when we signed him mention that the price was down to £12m, probably based on the probability of Boro being relegated.

As for what we paid.. Downing joins Villa

[OzVilla]

Well he treated up appallingly but unfortunatley that's the way in 'modern' football - perhaps we should add that to the list of Murdoch crimes.

One decent season in three before pissing off to underchieve at 'The Mighty Reds YNWA' for 20 million quid, looks like fecking great business for the Villa imo.

Providing it's re-invested well I don't see the problem.  Although inevitable in the current football climate, I was disappointed to see us lose Milner, Barry and Young.  I just don't really feel that with Stuart Downing.  That probably says it all.

[Lizz]

Liverpool fans are fantastic. Mr Downing, I salute you, in the sense of having so much money you believe your own hype.

At the risk of sounding bitter and twisted, the demise of Rupert Murdoch's empire gives me hope [admittedly not miuch] that some of the over paid prima donnas will one day receive their just desserts. Thought in reality I doubt that'll happen.

[hawkeye]

Downing was not shit last season, he put in some very decent performances. He allways seemed to have the attitude that he was doing us a favour by turning up. The bloke has talent but he does not have the drive and attitude to be a great player just a good one on his day.

[not3bad]

Downing has skill but what he lacks is character, as he has made abundently clear with how he has conducted himself recently.

What are the odds that he will 'come down with a virus' or 'be rested' when Liverpool next visit Villa Park?

[PaulWinch again]

Like I've said previously provided we sign the right players we have a great deal for him and I wish him no injury. However I still think he's a spineless excuse for a person, who has no sense of loyalty.

[Dave]

I recall something about a £14/15 million bid going in from Tottingham in 08/09, but it being rejected as Downing was obviously central to Boro's attempts to stay up.  That obviously worked. The suggestion was 'arry would then follow it up in the summer. But he never did.

There seems to be confusion over the exact amount we paid, as I've seen it listed as £10 and £11 million previously.

O'Neill believes the 24-year-old will prove to be a bargain. He told the Sunday Mirror: "£10m is a bargain. It's great value and he's a superb acquisition. He's got pace, although he admits he could add a few more goals to his game. I'm delighted to have him

No need for any confusion, from the mouth of the man who signed him.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I recall something about a £14/15 million bid going in from Tottingham in 08/09, but it being rejected as Downing was obviously central to Boro's attempts to stay up.  That obviously worked. The suggestion was 'arry would then follow it up in the summer. But he never did.

There seems to be confusion over the exact amount we paid, as I've seen it listed as £10 and £11 million previously.

O'Neill believes the 24-year-old will prove to be a bargain. He told the Sunday Mirror: "£10m is a bargain. It's great value and he's a superb acquisition. He's got pace, although he admits he could add a few more goals to his game. I'm delighted to have him

No need for any confusion, from the mouth of the man who signed him.

Almost Dave, the article in full:

Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill has hailed the signing of Stewart Downing as a "bargain" and expects the winger to be a great addition to his squad.

Downing became Villa's first signing of the summer when he joined from Middlesbrough last week and O'Neill is delighted to have landed the England international.

Villa paid Boro an initial £10million, with a further £2million due dependent on appearances, but O'Neill believes the 24-year-old will prove his worth when he is fully fit.

Downing is currently recovering from surgery on a broken foot and is not expected to feature until October.

"£10m is a bargain," he told the Sunday Mirror. "It's great value and he's a superb acquisition."

"He's got pace, although he admits he could add a few more goals to his game. I'm delighted to have him.

"He's had a nasty injury and won't be available for a considerable time, but he'll be sensational when he is."

[taylorsworkrate]

Does anyone know if the smoggies get any of the £20 million? 

[JJ-AV]

I remember seeing MON on SSN stating we paid £12m for Downing. Interviewed after a pre-season friendly.

[dl9]

Best of luck to him, I wouldn't take him to war with me, my daughter has more bottle.

Sorry when Barry, Milner & Young went, only apathy here, looking forward to seeing what we do with the dough.

Milner back would be good. Or a Messi, Iniesta and Xavi triple swoop with female Swedish porn stars hired to serve naked at the bar of the Holte Suite....

These mindbending drugs are good, any body want some...?

" Nurse........"

[Dave]

I recall something about a £14/15 million bid going in from Tottingham in 08/09, but it being rejected as Downing was obviously central to Boro's attempts to stay up.  That obviously worked. The suggestion was 'arry would then follow it up in the summer. But he never did.

There seems to be confusion over the exact amount we paid, as I've seen it listed as £10 and £11 million previously.

O'Neill believes the 24-year-old will prove to be a bargain. He told the Sunday Mirror: "£10m is a bargain. It's great value and he's a superb acquisition. He's got pace, although he admits he could add a few more goals to his game. I'm delighted to have him

No need for any confusion, from the mouth of the man who signed him.

Almost Dave, the article in full:

Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill has hailed the signing of Stewart Downing as a "bargain" and expects the winger to be a great addition to his squad.

Downing became Villa's first signing of the summer when he joined from Middlesbrough last week and O'Neill is delighted to have landed the England international.

Villa paid Boro an initial £10million, with a further £2million due dependent on appearances, but O'Neill believes the 24-year-old will prove his worth when he is fully fit.

Downing is currently recovering from surgery on a broken foot and is not expected to feature until October.

"£10m is a bargain," he told the Sunday Mirror. "It's great value and he's a superb acquisition."

"He's got pace, although he admits he could add a few more goals to his game. I'm delighted to have him.

"He's had a nasty injury and won't be available for a considerable time, but he'll be sensational when he is."

Obviously it's all just conjecture, but do you think that in a season and a half he will have played enough games to trigger that clause?

I don't.

[TimTheVillain]

I remember seeing MON on SSN stating we paid £12m for Downing. Interviewed after a pre-season friendly.

I remember MON being interview d after that Everton game, saying Young was 'world class' !

He could talk some bollox our Martin !

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I recall something about a £14/15 million bid going in from Tottingham in 08/09, but it being rejected as Downing was obviously central to Boro's attempts to stay up.  That obviously worked. The suggestion was 'arry would then follow it up in the summer. But he never did.

There seems to be confusion over the exact amount we paid, as I've seen it listed as £10 and £11 million previously.

O'Neill believes the 24-year-old will prove to be a bargain. He told the Sunday Mirror: "£10m is a bargain. It's great value and he's a superb acquisition. He's got pace, although he admits he could add a few more goals to his game. I'm delighted to have him

No need for any confusion, from the mouth of the man who signed him.

Almost Dave, the article in full:

Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill has hailed the signing of Stewart Downing as a "bargain" and expects the winger to be a great addition to his squad.

Downing became Villa's first signing of the summer when he joined from Middlesbrough last week and O'Neill is delighted to have landed the England international.

Villa paid Boro an initial £10million, with a further £2million due dependent on appearances, but O'Neill believes the 24-year-old will prove his worth when he is fully fit.

Downing is currently recovering from surgery on a broken foot and is not expected to feature until October.

"£10m is a bargain," he told the Sunday Mirror. "It's great value and he's a superb acquisition."

"He's got pace, although he admits he could add a few more goals to his game. I'm delighted to have him.

"He's had a nasty injury and won't be available for a considerable time, but he'll be sensational when he is."

Obviously it's all just conjecture, but do you think that in a season and a half he will have played enough games to trigger that clause?

I don't.

My guess is 50 games, so yes. Boro needed the money.