Topic: The Downing Enigma

[rafathegaffa83]

I was so excited when he signed for us but yet again he was truly awful today. I'm beyond disappointed with him. We should just take the first bid that comes for him and cut our losses.

I thought he was alright today. He's been underwhelming this season, however I don't think we'll sell him in the summer.

Enigma really is the word.  Today he bust his gut running back to chase the guy in possession but slowed up the moment the ball came to him.

He made a couple of good runs in the second half, but his confidence seems through the floor.

I'd agree with this.

[aurelian]

"Enigma" is a very generous term. 

"The Poulsen Enigma."

[aurelian]

Commentators on my stream were a bit harsh on Downing today.  After that one run in the second half where he took it up the right flank and then opted to come in instead and had to end up passing it back, one said "It makes you scratch your head how an established international can't make a cross into the box on his weaker foot."

[anfieldanfield]

Been such a disappointing season for the lad.

Pretty sure he'll start next Saturday even though I think Maxi would be a better bet.

[Shannon]

Downing is a passenger at the minute. The stats:

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/team/first-team/statistics

0 goals 0 assists 10 offsides and 27 successful crosses in 33 games (2287 minutes)!!

For an International player who is supposed to be in the prime of his life these are pretty worrying stats.

[Shannon]

Commentators on my stream were a bit harsh on Downing today.  After that one run in the second half where he took it up the right flank and then opted to come in instead and had to end up passing it back, one said "It makes you scratch your head how an established international can't make a cross into the box on his weaker foot."

I was watching the same stream and I agreed with them, thats why he gets closed down so much because he runs the ball into trouble trying to get it onto his good foot.

[koptommy93]

He still stuck out today, such a disapointing signing for us

[stevenseagal]

For a player who has spent more or less his entire career playing premier league football, at the age he's at now he really should be delivering more than what we're getting. Single figures for assists and ZERO league goals - that is an abysmal return for an England international playing for a club as big as LFC.

And I would say that had we paid Ł5 million for him. He didn't set the Ł20 million price tag but we were well and truly shafted on that one. How many Downing MOTM performances can you think of? One. The Carling cup game. One in an entire season. Theres no excuse for him, he just hasn't got the fortitude to play for a club like us.

He's too expensive for us to ditch any time soon, but average-joes like Downing are the reason we're mid table.

[Shanks1965]

no offense mate but unless you or your grandpa have ever played at a professional level of football, you'd never even stand a chance considering the pace of the game.

i really hope he plays in the final and has a blinder and calms everyone down. i think people are focusing on the price tag way too much.

I think your user name says it all.

[aurelian]

I think your user name says it all.

[Evans]

Downing is a passenger at the minute. The stats:

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/team/first-team/statistics

0 goals 0 assists 10 offsides and 27 successful crosses in 33 games (2287 minutes)!!

For an International player who is supposed to be in the prime of his life these are pretty worrying stats.

Totally agree with this. But if you look at 'shot assists', he's actually not that bad compared to the others. Third, just behind Adam and Suarez, with 52 in 33 games.

[Zlenpasha]

Where did he play today?

[LondonRedMan]

A call from Mcmanaman before the final could help him. You never know, he could win us the cup next week just as Macca won us the League Cup in the 90s. His pace at Wembley will cause Chelsea problems

Don't write him off

[KoncheskysMum]

I think your user name says it all.

same to you.

[aurelian]

A call from Mcmanaman before the final could help him.

McManaman before the final could help us.   

[Ickle Girl]

He has been awful, and I think we should sell him asap.

[TheYashLFC]

Where did he play today?

Right wing. Tried cutting inside to get a few shots but failed. One good cross to Suarez with his right foot. For an England international at the prime of his career this is not good enough.

[paddypower]

It's shocking that when Johnson had the ball, Carragher had to scream his bollocks off a few times for "Stewie" to make himself available.

[aoaaron]

no one will buy him off us iMO for a good price.

if someone offers 10M or so, i'd take it given his wage, lack of progress etc and the fact andy doesn't seem to be working either.

today i thought he was good though apart from lack of end product. on the counterattack he has to act more decisively.

he also needs to make runs into the box.

[Easy]

He's a bits and pieces player. Great speed - but he never takes players on. Too often he stops, cuts in and loses the ball. Some stuff he does gives you hope that the majority of the other stuff he does will improve - but it never happens. He's have been served better by having strikers in the middle who converted some of his decent crosses earlier in the season - his confidence would have improved etc. etc.

But his stats look crap 'cos the strikers have been missing the cow's arses with their banjos. He can't help that. I have some sympathy for him - we all knew he was limited when he arrived - he's just been exposed for what he is, and by our underperforming strikeforce.

[Shannon]

no one will buy him off us iMO for a good price.

if someone offers 10M or so, i'd take it given his wage, lack of progress etc and the fact andy doesn't seem to be working either.

today i thought he was good though apart from lack of end product. on the counterattack he has to act more decisively.

he also needs to make runs into the box.

Andy is a far better asset to the team than Downing both defensively and offensively and he also affords us the opportunity to vary our style of play. Andy was 23 a couple of months ago, Stewart will be 28 in the summer. Also Andy's performance is directly linked to Downing under performing.

[anfieldanfield]

He has been awful, and I think we should sell him asap.

We wouldn't get more than 8-10m for him though, which would represent a massive loss in a year.

Maybe he'll be better next season.

[aoaaron]

Andy is a far better asset to the team than Downing both defensively and offensively and he also affords us the opportunity to vary our style of play. Andy was 23 a couple of months ago, Stewart will be 28 in the summer. Also Andy's performance is directly linked to Downing under performing.

I'm a big supporter for Andy, don't get me wrong.

by my post, I meant Downing was bought to get Andy working and he hasn't presented enough chances to Carroll to facilitate him (downing) being here.

I think Carroll can prosper without an out-and-out traditional winger like Downing.

Although actually after todays performance by Suarez, I can't help but feel the system Kenny wants will require mobile and versatile forwards ATM.

[MrGrumpy]

I think we'd be better off playing 4-3-3 and unlike other players we use in wide positions I cant see Downing fitting in to that system.

[wickedbark]

I've finally stopped worrying about this guy. Just cant do it anymore.
I cant figure him out.

Ill just leave it at that.

[Shannon]

Well if Kenny has any sense he'll play Maxi for the final, for his history of playing Chelsea in London 

[TheYashLFC]

I think we'd be better off playing 4-3-3 and unlike other players we use in wide positions I cant see Downing fitting in to that system.

I can't see Downing or Carroll fitting into our system of play. Which is sad really as they both meant to be pivotal parts of our team this year.

[Jimmy Two Times]

Was enormously frustrating today. The number of times he could have passed the ball behind the defence to Suarez/Gerrard/Bellamy/Shelvey but just chose to run parallel to the box in the hope of doing I don't know what was really annoying.

I honestly don't know what to make of him even after a whole season. A part of me says he's got the skill to succeed here, still but another part of me says he's mentally just weak. Doesn't seem to want to take any attacking risk at all.

His last league goal was a year ago - against us! I don't expect him to be a 10-15goals winger because he's never been that. But I'd expect that number of assists over a season. I'd be tempted to give him another season for sure.

[Waka]

He must have got a bit of a slap at half time because he did try to get involved more but he so predictable on the right full backs must snigger every time he tries to cut inside.

Have to give him some credit, it looks like he is trying..

[lorenzo23]

He must have got a bit of a slap at half time because he did try to get involved more but he so predictable on the right full backs must snigger every time he tries to cut inside.

Have to give him some credit, it looks like he is trying..

I agree with that, Kenny must of said something not that it made huge difference but he did try lot more in second half. Just feel if its taken a full season and still your confidence is rock bottom at what point does the manager say he had enough?

If it was just confidence i would understand but some games Downing like first half today does fck all no passion no effort jack shit.

[Gnurglan]

He had a couple of shots today, but was generally not that involved. Thought he improved in the 2nd half. The thing for me is that he has qualities, but we get basically the same things we get from a player like Henderson. We get the safe and the OK stuff. That's alright, and it's even very good, if you play CM. But if you are supposed to be a game changer and an attacking midfielder, then it's not OK. You'd never expect him to win the ball like Suarez did for his goals, or how Gerrard won it for the first goal. You don't see him chase the ball down the flank when it's been played in behind the fullback. Like we see from Bellamy. Etc.

I think he did alright today, in the 2nd half, but it's so annoying that we don't get more. It's like we get enough to tick a few boxes. Shot - check. Cross - check. Run - check. The real summary = nothing happened. But we have all the signs to show that he was involved and did everything we could ask.

[toomanysteves]

Was enormously frustrating today. The number of times he could have passed the ball behind the defence to Suarez/Gerrard/Bellamy/Shelvey but just chose to run parallel to the box in the hope of doing I don't know what was really annoying.

He seems unable to see the first time ball which could put us in. He took too much out of the ball today when we were in good positions, yet, unlike other wingers when he takes too much out of the ball it isnt because he is taking on too many people merely that he is running himself into a barren area. I think he needs to put the ball in much earlier, but, if he decides to go on a run instead he has to have the self belief to take players on.

[Rafas the man]

I can't really pinpoint what it is about him, he has all the attributes to be a good important player as far as I can see, he just...isn't.

[higuaintolfc]

I'm a big supporter for Andy, don't get me wrong.

by my post, I meant Downing was bought to get Andy working and he hasn't presented enough chances to Carroll to facilitate him (downing) being here.

I think Carroll can prosper without an out-and-out traditional winger like Downing.

Although actually after todays performance by Suarez, I can't help but feel the system Kenny wants will require mobile and versatile forwards ATM.

Actually I think he has, Andy has missed many easy chances from Downing's crosses, even in the FA Cup Semi, not sure if you can remember what it was. Downing has been way below par tho this season, needs to up his game next season.

[Suarez 7]

He is no better than Dirk or Maxi unfortunately. I could easily see Sterling providing more than him.

Won't be suprised if we cash in, get 10M and invest it in someone else.

[higuaintolfc]

He is no better than Dirk or Maxi unfortunately. I could easily see Sterling providing more than him.

Won't be suprised if we cash in, get 10M and invest it in someone else.

You can't really say that until it's happened and it depends on if we have a goalscorer by then.

[Camarero25]

You can't really say that until it's happened and it depends on if we have a goalscorer by then.

I wouldn't be hard for Sterling to provide more than him though.

[Suarez 7]

You can't really say that until it's happened and it depends on if we have a goalscorer by then.

Downing has zero goals and zero assists. He cant provide any less.

[kcbworth]

Terrible first half in a good team performance. Ok but far from good in the 2nd half. We could have scored 7 today

[higuaintolfc]

I wouldn't be hard for Sterling to provide more than him though.

In what way? Putting balls into the box? If Carroll magically becomes a goalscorer overnight then it would help any winger we have.