quote:
As far as Downing, he has shown some good signs and has looked to gain a little confidence lately. In my opinion the guy has taken the easy way out most of the season and just sent in a cross into a static box rather than take on his defender. He has gotten better but there still has been zero end product plus consider his age and wages and to me it makes sense to get some money back for him while you can. In two years he will be a 30 year old on massive wages who isn't playing regularly and can't be moved on.

I agree. But at the end of the day we still need a true winger if we have any hope of Carroll developing into what we bought him for. Downing might fetch 10M and then you have to go out and buy another winger with that money. Just doesn't seem like a good plan. You haven't watched every match like I have. Downing has been far and away the most unlucky player on our team this year. He has created ample scoring opportunities, with absolutely ZERO being finished! On top of that, he has 3 or 4 shots off of the woodwork. Charlie Adam, who is incalculably worse than Downing IMO, somehow has managed 6 assists and a couple goals! What is that shite!

I do agree that Downing shies away from taking on defenders, but he has gotten better. If he continues to put in his 1 or 2 quality balls a game, they will eventually find the back of the net.

At the very least, he is a good squad player capable of starting cups and 10-15 league games a year (if we were to keep him but buy a player who takes his spot).

I'm not completely sold on him, but am wary of getting rid of him. What I'm really scared of is selling Downing, buying another winger, and then having to wait months and months for that winger to fit into the squad. Obviously if we were to sign a winger who has an immediate impact on the squad, I would be 100% for it.

This post was edited on 4/29/12 at 1:14 am