Liverpool FC Forum

[aCe']

Downing at Left Back is an interesting idea, Rodgers said he played there throughout Boro's run to the UEFA Cup final a few years ago which i didn't know. Fans seem to love to hate and slate Downing and seem perpetually surprised that a player who has always been decent (but never a great deal better) throughout his career has not been excellent when playing for LFC. This time last year we are saying what a bright start he was making to his LFC career! Can he play left-back? Not sure myself, I'm not sure i've seen him make a sliding tackle before BUT he has got pace, he has a good touch, he's bright enough to play there I think and his slightly limited attacking skills (for a midfielder) actually become very good skills for a defender IF he can defend. I've got my doubts about Enrique in this system so perhaps giving Downign a run out at LB in the Europa League and the League Cup is a good idea.

Personally, I wouldnt even entertain the thought unless Enrique gets injured and Robinson fails to step up to the plate. Besides the fact that his defensive 'skills' are questionable at best, we are almost embarrassingly short on wide players without converting one of only 2 recognized wingers we have in the squad. Like you said, he's good but not great. At the moment, I'd take that over nothing especially if we continue to play with 3 upfront. Borini (a center forward being played out of position) hasn't done much better than Downing in the wide role and early indicators suggest to me that for the foreseeable future he wont. Sterling while being a bright prospect is only 17 and cant be expected to play the full 90 minutes never-mind 2 games in a week. Add the fact that we have 4 competitions and will probably play more games this season than any other club in the league and you start to realize that (unless new players come in) Downing will have a big role to play as a winger and we might as well start hoping and praying that he improves his game.

I don't know what Downing you watch but his attacking "skills" are inept at best - hence the reason Rodgers should entertain the idea of making him a fullback. I'll have no qualms in admitting Dalglish dropped two bombs regarding Downing. First signing him, and second paying that ridiculous amount for him, literally a no hoper of a winger. He isn't "good", at all, in fact he's shi.t. And i wouldn't take that over "nothing" and given time I'd put my mortgage on it that an out of position Borini will have more impact than a "supposed" customed winger like droopy Downing.

By all accounts, he has been poor ever since he joined. He certainly doesnt deserve a starting spot based on his displays. That said, our transfers have left us in a situation where Downing, Sterling, and Borini are the only options for the wide spots. Of the 3, one is a 17 year old , the other is a converted center forward, and the 3rd is a natural winger with plenty of premier league and international experience. As things stand, both Downing and Borini will start for us more often than not by default given the lack of options. Again, I dont see where the whole leftback talk comes from especially given the fact that Enrique (2 months of last season aside) has been a solid and reliable option for us. I still remember people talking about him deserving a call-up for the Spanish side and being one of the best leftbacks in the country.

[Kenny Kan]

Downing, Sterling, and Borini are the only options for the wide spots.   

And what about Assaidi, Gerrard and Suarez?

[aCe']

Downing, Sterling, and Borini are the only options for the wide spots.   

And what about Assaidi, Gerrard and Suarez?

Totally forgot about Assaidi which is saying something I guess. Gerrard and Suarez won't be moved from their positions though (unless we sign a world class attacking midfielder to take Gerrard's spot or a world class striker who scores to move Suarez out wide)  so they aren't atm as far as I'm concerned.

[Kenny Kan]

Downing, Sterling, and Borini are the only options for the wide spots.   

And what about Assaidi, Gerrard and Suarez?

Totally forgot about Assaidi which is saying something I guess. Gerrard and Suarez won't be moved from their positions though (unless we sign a world class attacking midfielder to take Gerrard's spot or a world class striker who scores to move Suarez out wide)  so they aren't atm as far as I'm concerned.

Oh well, I'm not in the mood to carry on simply because I'm mesmerized by that beauty in your avatar.

[Raoul]

Personally, I wouldnt even entertain the thought unless Enrique gets injured and Robinson fails to step up to the plate. Besides the fact that his defensive 'skills' are questionable at best, we are almost embarrassingly short on wide players without converting one of only 2 recognized wingers we have in the squad.

Hold on. Who says that by training Downing up as a LB we will no longer be able to play him as a winger? I doubt Rodgers is planning on replacing Enrique with him, I think he is looking for creative ways of improving our squad's depth. And if by some chance Downing proved to be a better LB than Enrique I doubt there would be too
many complaints on here about that!

[ethanr]

He won't replace Enrique, he'll essentially replace Johnson playing lb (so he can stay on the right), and Robinson.

I've never seen Downing as a super-defensive player, but when playing home against small clubs, I could see the benefit of having a more attacking fullback on.  However, I do expect other clubs to try and exploit that if he is played there.

Sounds like something we'd try in Europa and cup games.

[devaney]

At least he couldn't be criticised for getting no goals or assists if he was a left back! Frankly I don't think he is capable of playing at the level we are aspiring to in any position and he should be shipped out as quickly as possible and that will hopefully be today or tomorrow! Downing has only ever had reasonable games against weak opposition and that is because he is comfortable at that level. His stats are poor simply because he doesn't do the good stuff often enough which is basically what I've said since he arrived! He also has the fundamental problem that he thinks he is a fantastic footballer and somebody needs to tell him he isn't! Perhaps BR's idea of putting him in defence may just spell out a few home truths !

[Thommo's perm]

At least he couldn't be criticised for getting no goals or assists if he was a left back! Frankly I don't think he is capable of playing at the level we are aspiring to in any position and he should be shipped out as quickly as possible and that will hopefully be today or tomorrow! Downing has only ever had reasonable games against weak opposition and that is because he is comfortable at that level. His stats are poor simply because he doesn't do the good stuff often enough which is basically what I've said since he arrived! He also has the fundamental problem that he thinks he is a fantastic footballer and somebody needs to tell him he isn't! Perhaps BR's idea of putting him in defence may just spell out a few home truths !

This is disease the many footballers suffer from: "Im picked for my club and my country, so I must be good"
Downing, Pennant, Barry, there are plenty of them about

[Reg]

Something to think about =>

In farming out Charlie Adam and Andy Carroll, reportedly trying to do the same with Jordan Henderson and moving Stewart Downing to left-back, Rodgers showed what he thought of Kenny Dalglish's £78m shopping spree. If a 3-0 defeat in the opening league game at West Bromwich suggested the road back to former glories will continue to be a long one, there were more promising signs against City and Hearts, the latter success bringing with it an extended Europa League run.

This B-Rod fella doesnt't hang around does he?   

[the return of HAS]

Downing didn’t even make the bench on Sunday. Injured, fall out with the boss, or have other players simply pushed ahead of him in the pecking order?

[Kenny Kan]

Stewart Downinglast night launched a ­passionate defence of his commitment to Liverpool.

After Kop boss Brendan Rodgers questioned the England winger’s courage, Downing (left) has ­defiantly hit back and admits he was disappointed that Rodgers went public with a stinging personal attack.

And he insists he will not be forced out of the club he joined from Aston Villa for £20million just 15 months ago. “Bravery is a lot of things – it’s not just about tackling,” said Downing.

“That’s not my game. My bravery is about taking the ball when you are losing a game and trying to create things. That’s what I try to do. You will have to ask the manager exactly what he meant.

“I was surprised that he came out with what he did. I have spoken to him on numerous occasions when I wasn’t in the team and that was private.

“So, of course, I’m upset. But I’m not going to go running around tackling people because that’s not my game. I’ve got three years left on my contract and I’m going nowhere.

“I have worked hard to get here and I am not going to leave in a rush. I will fight for my place and I want to stay at Anfield.”

Meanwhile, Jamie Carragher has been told he has a job for life at Anfield.

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I can almost guarantee the critisism aimed by Rodgers at Downing had nothing to do with tackling. I think Downing has got this wrong. He's right about one thing courage does cover a lot of things in football. Downing DOESN'T have the courage mentally, never mind ability to play for Liverpool. He says he 'tries' to create, he couldn't create the colour purple from red and blue. The bloke knows he hasn't got the ability to take players on, so doubts himself and passes it backwards, he is an over paid @rse and needs shipping out.

[damjan193]

Downing obviously didn't understand what Rodgers meant. But Downing's right, Brendan should have said this privately, not like this, in the media.

[tubby]

Kenny probably tried the 'quiet softly softly' approach and that obviously didn't work. We spent a lot of money on Downing and at his age we will be lucky to get half that amount if he were sold so I think Rogers has done the right thing here. He needs to up his game or be sold onto another club.

[Boxscarf]

Downing's Liverpool career is on its hind legs, he'll be sold in the summer. As for Rodgers's comments, I agree with Downing he should have kept this in house.

[the return of HAS]

Rumour has it that a few players, especially Downing, are not happy that they are getting far less time of this year. Part of it is down to the fact that we have midweek games but part of it is that Rodgers wants the players doing ball work pretty much every day and also attending more team meetings and tactics sessions in the afternoons. Players were getting regular time off last year under Kenny. Often getting 3 or 4 days off after a game if weren’t playing midweek. Downing is said to be a keen golfer and is supposedly upset he hasn’t had much time to work on his handicap!