12 Jun 2012

'He's a good signing!' - Rafa Benitez defends expensive LFC flop. Is he right?

Of all the players signed by Kenny Dalglish over the last 18 months, Stewart Downing is arguably the most disappointing waste of money. It seems hard to believe, but the experienced England international just went an entire league season without scoring/creating a goal, which is unheard of for a Liverpool attacking player. Former Reds manager Rafa Benitez tried to sign Downing during his tenure at Anfield, and he's convinced that the 27-year old winger will come good.

In his column for The Independent this week, Benitez - who has been out of work for eighteen months now after parting ways with Inter Milan - argued that Downing is an 'interesting player', and rejected the idea that his negative stats tell the whole story:

"I thought he [Downing] was a good signing when Liverpool bought him last summer, because you are talking about a player who has pace, ability and quality. I know about his stats for Liverpool last season, with no goals or assists, but stats are not the answer to everything. They're an aid to the manager but don't always tell the full story.

"I think it may be a question of confidence with Downing. He can put in good deliveries and with good players around him he will be better".


Benitez's stance on stats is a little ironic considering how much he used them to defend his position at Liverpool (!)

With respect to Benitez, when it comes to justifying a 20m outlay, stats may not tell you everything, but end product is surely the only thing that matters when it comes assessing the effectiveness of an attacking player?

Who cares if a player puts good crosses if he never assists or scores? You can only blame poor finishing for so long before real questions need to be asked. I think Rafa is spot on about the confidence issue though, and that is a problem that has also seemingly affected Jordan Henderson and Andy Carroll, to Liverpool's detriment.

Will Downing come good next season? Is anyone really interested in finding out? Liverpool don't have time to waste on underperforming players, and hopefully, he will be replaced in the summer.

Ultimately, if Downing has a confidence problem at the age of 27, what is the likelihood that is ever going to change?

Jaimie Kanwar


112 comments:

  1. Manager says something supportive about a current LFC player.
    Kanwar uses it as an excuse to beat Rafa.
    No surprise.

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  2. Jaimie, do you actually support Liverpool?

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  3. Whilst I don't think Downing had a good season, I see him a fair backup. I remember him having a bad first season at Villa, then a far better one the next season. I mean to be honest, I actually always rated Downing as a capable Premier League Footballer, well i suppose until recently. However Jaime, maybe things will change. I mean Liverpool is in turmoil, but a change of direction might be OK. I love the club with all my heart, and know that we need time. Personally I would be satisfied with 5th place next season. Some supporters might be unsatisfied with that, but I would think that a 5th place finish isn't too bad considering we've allowed Tottenham, Man City and Newcastle leapfrog us.

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  4. He has blown his chance - OXI was miles better for England

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  5. How exactly do I 'beat' Benitez? You seriously need to grow up and get some perspective. I've just disagree with Benitez - is that okay with you? I have not attacked him or cast aspersion; I even agree with him on one of his points.

    Adults in grown up conversations can agree and disagree with each other in a fair and civil manner, and that's something you clearly need to learn.

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  6. Finally some common sense from Rafa. If confidence of Downing, Carroll and Hendo is the matter, then You should try to do something to ease the daily pressure on players, but this kind of action don't seem to be in your agenda.

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  7. subsitute downing with the words 'pennant' 'nunez' and 'gonzalez' and it could be like the good old days under rafa.

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  8. Get over it.  They're paid tens of thousands of pounds A DAY to deal with the pressure.  If they can't hack it, sell them and bring in players who can deal with it.

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  9. With all the respect for your opinions, You can't match a player of Downing calibre, with Nunez.

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  10. daily pressure?
    do they play a 90 minute game a day now or is training too much of a high pressure situation for them?

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  11. Jamie, can you plssssssssssss be more receptive to criticisms because that's what your blog's about. You need to be a bit open minded when you are being criticized, cos that's what you do to others. Just my opinion

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  12. he's had as much of an impact as nunez had.downing has done nothing in an lfc shirt to show that he dererves a starting place.

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  13. This is hilarious. People are allowed to give their view but I'm not? How does that work? Am I supposed to just agree with everyone? It's called debate: one person gives their view, another responds. It has nothing to do with being 'receptive'.



    Sent from Samsung Galaxy Note

    -------- Original message --------
    Subject: [liverpoolkop] Re: 'He's a good signing!' - Rafa Benitez defends expensive LFC flop. Is he right? | Liverpool-Kop.com

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  14. Crikey, the censorship of these comments is ridiculous, I only asked if you supported Liverpool and you have removed it.

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  15. Amen brother.

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  16. Never rated Downing, still don't.

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  17. Jaimie complains about the lack of debate. He writes the article expressing his views and removes anyone he is opposed to these views. Maybe he should move to Bahrain or Syria, he'd fit in well there

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  18. Downing is a result of buying a carroll. We needed a player with epl experience who could actually cross. Seeing as were not blessed with wingers. They also needed to have a good fitness history. Of the players available at that time(NOT FIFA!).He looked the most suitable to all the staff involved in the signing. He had been up until signing for us. The most reliable left footed winger in the league for three seasons. Seeing as their appears to have been an implosion of sorts last season. I wouldnt be at all surprised to see a change of atittude from certain players. When you create as much as we did last season. There is something fundamentally wrong with the management/ coaching when you.miss as many as we did. Im hoping Mr Rodgers brings a healthy change in confidence to some of our players. If he doesnt they know where the door is. You can't write players off after a season. Especially when the teams in transition. Its a bad atittude and just gives fuel to the 'want it yesterday' idiots. These clowns would have had Lucas sent home early. Yet are the same cretins slagging Rafa fot wanting rib of Alonso after his worst season in a red shirt. I enjoy a lot of the posts here. But seriously some of you need to fucking grow up and think before you type.

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  19. surely assists only count if they are converted!!  if beckham in his heyday bombarded a goal with his trademark crosses and no-one was there or good enough to convert them...would he still be a flop??  i think people need to get off downing's back...bring in some decent strikers and you'll see how his 'assist' stat will rise.  surely you can't blame him for that!!

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  20. At Villa I really rated Downing, I have been at Anfield and seen him score and create goals for them. On a few occasions he tormented our team. I'm not prepared to write him off, 27 years old or not..stats, stats, lies and more stats... they don't tell the full story. Assists only come when a chance you create is converted, but we struggled to score last year so of course there were limited assists. No one did well for Liverpool last year, Downing, Henderson and Carroll we not alone in underperforming, the whole team did. One swallow does not make a summer and one season does not make a failure. Like most other people I imagine Stewart will respond well to encouragement and praise.. so lets give him some.

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  21. another comment removed. Grow up Jaimie and grow a pair

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  22. I would understand your view if you had written the positives and negatives of Downing, but you have just slated him! He's the best crosser in the league not his fault if Carroll, Hendo, Bellamy, and dare I say gerrard, and Suarez can't get on the end of them! I remember watching atleast 5 games where downing would deliver great balls into the box...but know one was in there to put em in! Stop criticising and get behind him and the team!!!

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  23. If you want your comment to remain on here don't disagree with the article. Maybe the Leverson enquiry should review on line journalism as well.

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  24. absolutely!

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  25. Rafa looks at players like cogs of a machine. He does have a point re
    downing, however, as stated above, its the mental side of things thats
    the problem with , and that is a more complicated issue. mental
    frailties can be the downfall of many a good player.




    The problem with selling now is that his price would be fairly rock bottom.

    id be in favour of keeping him for another 6 months, while making him
    work to get in the team. that would mean purchasing a mid priced
    alternative(who can play both sides), and promoting sterling.

    This could have the desired affect, and if not, you really know he's never going to come good.



    i believe rafa would have all of kenny's muppits playing to a higher
    level, thats what good managers do. lets see if BR has the ability to
    improve players, hopefully he will and we'll start to see some return.

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  26. Confidence has nothing to do with age! And by the way. I think most Liverpool fans are willing to find out if he will come good next season. We all know that you don't!

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  27. Shush! just get used to it or you'll be blocked from posting next.  Jaimie doesn't like criticism.

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  28. I dont care how good or bad he is, now that he is a LFC player...he HAS to play like a warrior. Not everyone is lucky to pull that jersey week in and week out and play in front of best crowd in the world. We have to support our players completely, boost their confidence...it is the club we love...spend hours everyday thinking about it. We cant let our players down....lets support them and have FAITH. We will come back strong, I believe in Livepool coz I know no matter what...we will never walk alone.

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  29. NICK POWELL GONE TO MAN U - SO MUCH FOR SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH CREWE AND POWELL LFC SUPPORTER - WE ARE PATHETIC IN TRANSFER MARKET - SACK ALL THE CURRENT SCOUTS - ALL OF THEM NOW

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  30. Not a great season from Downing clearly. However, stats are largely irrelevant in terms of assists. I saw him put 2 perfect balls onto Carrolls head in the Norwich game alone. Carroll decided to head them both wide, clearly not Downings fault.

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  31. Matt of the glen7:38 pm, June 12, 2012

    Finally some sense! judging players after one season, not good. Gideon i agree 100% with your post and i'm sure many others will. exactly what i was thinking. He may have not given any assists but he put a good load of crosses in that our forwards should have done better, after all an assist needs two players not one so that's where Rafa means that stats help the manager not run the club by them. Come on JK give me an article i can agree with you on!
    Cheers 

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  32. Matt of the Glen7:40 pm, June 12, 2012

    Don't worry most fans that watch the game know this and understand what you are saying. I think the others may be fairweather's and will support City next season! :-p

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  33. Matt of the Glen7:45 pm, June 12, 2012

    What are you on about!? special relationship with Crewe?! Maybe several years ago before we poached another one of their youngsters that they believed we poached and made an illegal approach. So no we don't! Get your facts right cos it's like your spouting crud.

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  34. Crosses only become assists if the other player finishes it...nothing downing could do about that...he provided but no one supported. Give him a chance same with hendo and Carroll, who are both still very young. Its depressing hearing Liverpool "fans"" speaking so poorly about them. Liverpool had bad luck, lots of posts, lots and lots of chances. Just didn't fall there way...impatient people are to tone wasn't built over night neither will Liverpool, they looked fast better last year then a year before that!

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  35. play like a warrior?
    i'd rather he played like someone who earns  upwards of 50 grand a week.

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  36. Please be supportive for once. Our players needs our backing, no matter how much you hate....he will be a LFC player next season so lets just support and move on.

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  37. Every winger puts in crosses that are missed by the strikers; they don't go an entire season without an assist though. At some point, the excuses need to stop, and people just need to accept that he's not good enough.

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  38. never said i 'hate' any player,don't be so childish.
    i am merely expressing my opinion not coming out with tripe cliches like 'we will never walk alone'.
    why should i 'move on'? obviously i support downing when i watch lfc and go to anfield but i am allowed criticise him,i'm not buying into a blind faith policy of him being great just because he turns up and pulls on the shirt.if your happy with downings contribution  so far for lfc then we have a different measure of what it takes to play for liverpool.

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  39. I don't think he is anywhere near my expectations and am tired of saying that again and again knowing he will be in a same team, starting every game next season. Only thing we are left with now is hope...I wish he comes good as he is already 27 and yes am acting childish as being a realistic LFC fan now is not a good feeling so I will ride on the lines of hope, unrealistic expectations and get behind the team for finishing top 4 rather than accepting reality and waiting for a team to finish 6-7 or even 8 next season which is a harsh reality. Delusion keeps me happy at least.

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  40. What does his age have to do with confidence? Confidence is something that can be lost or gained at any age.

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  41. NICK POWELL SIGNS FOR MAN U  - We are useless

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  42. stats, stats, bloody stats.  thats all people go on about, however, this is how we will be finding and signing our new recruits!

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  43. Never rated the guy and never will....hence why 18 year old Ox gets the knod ahead of downing in the euros and again shows more promise last night. Just like what sterling has done at lfc in a matter of mins, shown more promise AGAIN then sterling, enough said really. What makes me laugh is after all this time people still defending the utter flop. SHOCKING!!!! Even Enrique has been more of a winger when taking on defenders and showing up the great downing.

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  44. People could see that Beckham's crosses were dangerous without needing the stats to back that opinion up.

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  45. If fans haven't given up on Liverpool after the last few years, what makes you think they'll give up and switch allegiances next year? Unless you're expecting Downing and the team to be even worse?? :-/

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  46. Carroll looked like the best crosser of the ball to me last season tbh. Gerrard, Adam and Henderson all looked far better crossers of the ball than Downing also.

    I'll get back to talking up Downing's ability when the transfer window is closed and there is no chance that we're getting rid of him.

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  47. Carroll looked like the best crosser of the ball to me last season tbh. Adam, Bellamy, Gerrard and Henderson all looked far better crossers of the ball than Downing also.

    You can probably remember 5 games where Downing delivered a single great ball into the box, all season long. That is not the sign of a quality winger.

    I'll get back to talking up Downing's ability when the transfer window is closed and there is no chance that we're getting rid of him.

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  48. Just as you are entitled to your opinion, so am I. You appear to moderate the comments to hell and I am not the only one to complain; although few stay on long enough to be viewed. Just because someone disagrees with you does not mean that their view is not valid. I have read quite a number of your articles and I felt the need to comment on this one as I was tired of your constant criticism of a team you intimate to support, hence i questioned, quite fairly I believe, if you do actually support LFC. You rarely praise the team. Just as you suggest I go elsewhere, if you don't like LFC then may I suggest Everton or Manchester United both of which have fan sites that have used your articles recently to further criticise the team I support. Getting back to the article, give the guy a break like you are asking me and others to do for you. He probably gets sick and tired of the criticism too you know only he can't moderate it.

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  49. So.. Charlie Adam got around 8 pl assists this year, by your reckoning that makes him a decent player - yet for me, he is by far the lowest quality of all the signings made last summer

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  50. good point jamie but aint you sniping at rafas comment? .....

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  51. How am I sniping? I disagreed with his view in a fair and civil manner; since when is disagreeing with an opinion sniping? If I'd cast aspersions against him then that would be sniping.





    Sent from Samsung Galaxy Note

    -------- Original message --------
    Subject: [liverpoolkop] Re: 'He's a good signing!' - Rafa Benitez defends expensive LFC flop. Is he right? | Liverpool-Kop.com

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  52. don't know why you are so upset,if we signed him he wouldn't be straight into our first team squad.it's a bit like lst summer when everyone wanted connor wickham,they'd all forgortten about him by the end of september.

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  53. i agree.sterling showed more in his cameos at the end of the season than downing did all season.against chelsea he got onto the end of the ball and mnade runs into the box,something that downing and most of our midfielders failed to do.

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  54. i think adams main problem was that he was too heavy.it was blatantly obvious that he couldn't keep up to the pace of games which resulted in him constantly making rash challenges.

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  55. I certainly don't believe I have sniped at you Jaimie, I asked one question which; on the weight of the articles i have read, I feel was legitimate and the rest was my opinion and (as rafa would say) FACT. I certainly have not been rude and nor do I have any intention of being.

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  56. How many times? Just stick to discussing football. You asked if I was a Liverpool fan, which is sniping. Obviously, I'm an LFC fan; the question is facetious. Just because I'm more critical than you doesn't make me less of a fan. In fact, the critical approach is more aligned with LFC than you appreciate. If you read anything about the Shankly/Paisley/Fagan era, the cornerstone of LFC's success was continuous improvement, and never settling for the status quo. Player accounts from that era detail how the likes of Ronnie Moran et al were always critical, even when the team was constantly winning. The same goes for Rafa Benitez - read any of the biogs of players he managed and they all say the same: he was never satisified, and was constantly critical and looking for ways to improve.

    Criticism = winning mentality, and always pushing for the highest standards.

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  57. I agree. But Poulsen was a even better signing than downing, wasn't he? I will always thank lfc for making my life so funny and comic, the way i laugh about lfc is priceless no one makes me laugh more than lfc at the moment, I guess thats why I love this club for 12 years now!

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  58.  I disagree with everything, entirely

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  59. I accept people have different opinions, clearly people have very different opinions of what it is to SUPPORT LFC as well. Feel free to ban me if you wish, your site, your view, your prerogative. I don't feel I have moaned about you or the sire particularly, just questioned the merits or otherwise of your "critical realism". Maybe you should be happy that your article has stirred my support for my club sufficiently enough to comment about OUR football team when ordinarily I would be a voiceless reader.

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  60. I wont question your knowledge, you are indeed in esteemed company then with your critical views of Liverpool players. Stewart Downing, think yourself fortunate, it is for your own good and will only make you stronger. I look forward to Stewart returning from the Euros with and Andy Carroll hair cut and Samson like strength.

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  61. You say confidence is an issue that has affected our new signings from playing to their potential. Is it any wonder when you write articles like this and make comments such as this??

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  62. Wow, Stewart Downing is a real subject for us LFC fans. I say give him a break personally becuase he does have the ability. Like Rafa said, maybe its a confidence thing. The expectation of playing for Liverpool is enormous. I hope he gets a good season under his belt with Brendan Rodgers at the helm but we're still gonna need 4 or 5 players for the squad. Centre midfield is a real problem as Spearing and Shelvey are neither pass masters or destroyers (Alonso and Mascherano). Funny, our team is actually strong in the areas where under Rafa we were weakest, left full back, left wing, right wing, and weaker where we were strongest under Rafa, central midfield. Last season is done, move on Jamie, let's look forward to the transfer window and hope that the new manager makes some positive signings. No point in looking back, the owners have drawn a line under it, so should us supporters. At least we won something last season, so as bad as it was it wasn't a total disaster.

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  63. It's quite ironic that Jaimie quotes Rafas name alongside Shanks, Paisley, Fagan and Moran as consistent critics of players to garner better performances and standards and yet refuserivers to grant any leeway for Benitez, indeed proudly proclaiming to be his supporters tormentor in chief.

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  64. Seriously, you must be living in some kind of fantasy land. Downing et al have a confidence problem because of an article on a website? Yes, let's just relieve them of all responsibility for their performances.
    They choose to be footballers, and they get paid like kings to live a dream that millions would happily do for free. If Downing et al can't handle fans being critical of their performances then they can quit snd let someone else with some mental strength take over.



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    -------- Original message --------
    Subject: [liverpoolkop] Re: 'He's a good signing!' - Rafa Benitez defends expensive LFC flop. Is he right? | Liverpool-Kop.com

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  65. I don't proclaim to be the tormentor in chief of Rafa's supporters, just a subset of his fans, i.e. the fanatical, deluded pro-Benitez Cult, a minority of fanatics who believe that Benitez is the messiah.
    Normal Rafa fans are fine.



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    -------- Original message --------
    Subject: [liverpoolkop] Re: 'He's a good signing!' - Rafa Benitez defends expensive LFC flop. Is he right? | Liverpool-Kop.com

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  66. You said confidence is an issue. That can only be rectified with support, in any job or industry. Football is no different. If you acknowledge that confidence is an issue then you should try and get behind them. Encourage them to perform to the best of their abilities. What they earn is irrelevant.

    Regarding me living in a fantasy land - I'd appreciate it if you read the rules about posting on here. Don't make it personal. Attack the argument but there's no need to make any personal references. It's just my opinion. If you don't like it you can go and post against someone else's comment.

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  67. I believe you defended Downing's signing arguing him being better signing than Mata, because he "has what the team needs" or something like that.


    Fact is he is not worth 20 mil. but I would like at least to see him playing as 10 mil. player that he always was.

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  68. monkeysandpirates11:29 pm, June 12, 2012

    You say you remember games where Downing put in great crosses but nobody was in there to put them in..

    Then why the hell was he crossing into empty spaces?

    Surely to be a great cross he has to actually aim it at someone, not just lump it into the box without checking first that there are Liverpool players in there to receive it.

    Having said that, I do hope he'll come good. Everyone knows the statistic of no goals/assists, I'd like to see his statistics of chances created, compared to other wingers in the league. That'd be how to judge him, not on a stat that relies on another player to convert as well.

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  69. If this comment is aimed at me then you've clearly just made that up.  I did not defend Downing's signing, and I've never suggested that he was a better signing that Mata.

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  70. Haha, funny. Yes, suggesting someone lives in an LFC fantasy land is a really personal, heinous insult. You have my unreserved apologies.

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  71. The sad thing is, the only one sniping here is you.  You write these little 'blogs' for the sole purpose of taking shots at Rafa, because you know you're little snipes will show up on google alerts.  I only know of this blog because of that, congratulations on finding your niche.  If you're so tired of defending your anti-Rafa position, stop posting about him incessantly.  Just admit, you enjoy the attention.  Even now, he's not even in the running for the job any more, just a fella living on Mersey and you're STILL grasping at blog view straws with this dreck.  Give it a rest mate, please.  He's not in the picture any more, you won.  Congratulations.

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  72. Stewart Downing is a very good player..FACT.


    Was he slightly overpriced? Yes.

    Was he the 2nd most productive player for us last season in terms of chances created(Only 5 players in the whole league created more)? Yes

    If he (and the whole team for that matter) had a better finisher on the end of his crosses would his stats look a lot better? Yes.

    Here's a little fact for some of you that love (to twist) stats. Liverpool hit the woodwork 33 times in 38 league games last season (A record) and Stewart Downing was himself responsible for 5, and his crosses/passes were responsible for 7 more. If he had 5 goals and 7 assists would people still be moaning??

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  73. Umm Issac are you a fanatical Rafa fan or just a normal Rafa Fan? Can you let me know what the different is please? I always thought that fan was short for fanatic...but I could be wrong.

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  74. Ditto. Brilliant delivery.

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  75. 'best crosser in the league'?....yikes

    If no one is in the box, what is the point of crossing it in the first place

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  76. Fantasy Land... that is the place Jaimie got his 100% cert info that AVB would be our next manager (presumably after Rogers) It is also where he pays up on the £500 bet he made that was meant to go to the Hillsborough families... but that was deleted much like this post will be.

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  77. Fact? More like 'subjective'.

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  78. I have to reply here to your question below, so sorry if this seems out of sequence when being read.  Im a Rafa fan, I admire the good the man did, which I think was a lot, I am of the opinion that he had a plan and was working with that plan to get us a title, however he did become sidetracked in his last 18 months with issues that he should never have gotten involved in.  But I also have written extensively about my frustrations with the man, his stubborness, playing players out of position, timings of substitutions amongst other things.  I do defend him from blind criticism, for example the whole Xabi affair, when it was obvious that Alonso was crap for the two years leading to that summer when Rafa pursued Barry, only to be told by the Americans that they were buying him Keane and there was no more money for Rafas main target.  Xabi threw a strop in my view, and many forget how dire he was for the 24 months before that wonderful season in 08/09.  Rafa had his faults, but he also set foundations that hopefully Rodgers will benefit from.  If that makes me a fanatic then so be it, but I can see both sides of the man and admit his faults, most who criticise refuse to see the positives in any way.

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  79. Sounds a bit false to me... like the AVB is 100% our next manager info

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  80. Jaimie would still be moaning.

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  81. I reckon we will all find out this coming season who the real culprit is.
    With BR in charge,i am looking at a complete change of attitude from
    these so called flops.Between them, Dalglish & to lesser extent Commoli
    paid far too much for all the players they bought.Then they were all very
    poorly managed

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  82. Hicks and Gillett, they set us back 10 years, from title contenders to also rans. Rafa almost got us the title, then those two clowns got their way. Still trying to ruin the club now. 

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  83. I don't think it's at all unreasonable to suggest that it's not entirely Downing's fault that he hasn't gotten assists. As he said himself, he's gotten the ball into good areas, made good crosses. I think we could all go back over the season and pick out a handful of chances that Liverpool players simply failed to put away despite inch-perfect crosses from Downing. When the biggest problem in the team is actually converting chances then assists are going to be low. Downing is a provider. Sure, he should have scored more goals, but there is no question that our strikers have been wasteful in front of goal, it's the single most talked about problem with our play last year. So obviously it's going to effect Downing's ability to get assist stats, and when it's Andy Carroll who would be the primary beneficiary of his crosses, in theory at least, then the story is even worse. Put simply: if Carroll doesn't score, Downing doesn't get assists. 

    What I really don't understand is why we have to associate his price tag with every conversation. Why does it matter what we paid? It's done, the money is gone, we can't get it back. And yet it seems as if we can consider Downing a bigger "flop" because he cost 20 million. If he'd cost 10 million we'd be much more accepting and I would guess we'd even be more positive about his contribution. But put the price tag next to him and it accentuates his failings. I'm not sure that's entirely logical. He's either a good player or he isn't. One season of stats or one sale price doesn't actually change that. 

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  84. Colin:

    We have been 'also rans' for over two decades. As someone said on here, 'one swallow does not make a summer'.

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  85. I agree. Everyone is entitled to their opinion for which we will agree to disagree but no one should insult or degrade others. 

    Coming back to Downing, I tend to agree he is a good signing. Playing under a different manager with a different system of play sometimes require time to bed in. He will come good hopefully this coming season.

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  86. SSS-Showsomesupport3:32 am, June 13, 2012

    just like you cant match 20 million to peanuts!

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  87. Delivery into the box without a target in not a delivery. It is a wayward pass. A winger's job is to put the ball on to a team mate.
    Whats the point of sending balls into the box if there is no one to receive it? Common football sense.

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  88. Rafa is long gone and never coming back. So get on with it. Why harp about him. We are talking about the future of our beloved LFC. Let's move on and see BR work his magic. If any?

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  89. Which just goes to show RAFA does not have a clue

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  90. Let's face it. Downing was given enough time by KD the whole season and failed miserably.  The manager should be ruthless and put a player on the bench if he does not perform. Simple. look at AF, Maurinho, HR. they are all not sentimental towards players. Performance equals to first eleven choice. 
    This will spur a player to double his efforts in training to regain his place. If he is unhappy, let him move along. good riddance. The manager must be firm and choose the best. 

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  91. you guys can say all u want Downing is star quallity. Yes there was no goals or as stats say no goals. How can there be assists if the goal scores dont score. Look at his work rate his ability to hassle defenders and draw them out. Rafa is right he is class. The strikers need to perform and score then his assists will look better

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  92. Rafa said, "I thought he was a good signing when Liverpool bought him last summer" not "He's a good signing"

    Last summer Downing seemed like a decent, yet overpriced by 8 million, signing. Now it appears that it was a slight waste of money.

    He will probably do ok under Rodgers as he is technically sound and works very hard. Maybe he will play on right side of a front 3, although there are signings to come

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  93. Good post. Also want to point out that these players are playing at some of the highest levels of professional football. While they may be making a lot of money, it doesn't exempt them from having issues of confidence. At such levels, every little thing is a factor in the performance of a player.

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  94. Who are you to determine what and what isn't 'critical realism' ? This guy is asking you a question many feel the need to ask, you don't critically analyse LFC. You just produce slander. I have not read a single thing you have wrote that has suggested a well thought, insightful but critical authoer. Nobody would mind your articles if they had any meaning, the things you write just damage the growing LFC community on the web. You can give it the big talk, saying how everybody who doesn't like it can go elsewhere but lets face facts the majority of the people who read and comment only do so out of utter fury, disgust, shame for how completely out of touch and negative your views on a club you claim to SUPPORT. Your site lives off of the enticing nature of your articles. This post will be banned, as will I most likely, but I don't care about that. You'll read this and take it in, thats all I care about. I will defend LFC to the death and I feel your site is an insult to us, the real fans. What is really sad about this is how you claim to be one of us. This, just like your writing, is competely wrong. 

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  95. 'star quality'
    can you explain what that is?
    i don't think downing has been a good signing,his first season was very poor.for an experienced international footballer of his age he was dreadful.

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  96. Get that chip off your shoulder and stop talking money all the time, call smell the resentment from hear. And stats too, biggest myth in football. We're not talking american football which is totally different to football. Performances weren't all that bad considering we made it to two cup finals. End product is what we were lacking, not chances. When finishing is a problem there is always a thin line in game from a job well done and another poor display....Downing & Co should do a better job next year, but to hail last year as a total stinker is just wrong...Rafa is right Stats aren't conclusive. Stats ruined liverpool under Rafa where creativity suffered under a regime of cutting out errors to the detriment of all else. Players were happy to shirk  responsibility to attain nearer the 100% passing count for matches and keep hold of their place, passing back, passing 5 yards, passing like robots...leaving much of the invention to players with balls like Gerard, and leaving the rest players to develop their games no way at all. 

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  97. Downing is total crap no ifs and buts about it, overrated at all clubs he has been at and not worthy of the England shirt. Get shut first chance as he is an awful player.

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  98. I agree that Downing did not have a good year. But does one year make him a bad player. Possible in another article you could look at why all the new players in midfield and attack had such a year,I would include Suarez
    in this as his strike rate was pitifull.

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  99. Goals and assists were the only stats that differed drastically from his Villa stats that he was signed on. He is working just as hard, doing everything the same way. In that sense, I would say Rafa is right, but Downing needs to be told how to think and how to adapt his ability. He's got the goods, just not the intelligence to use it. Rodgers should be able to fix this. Same with Henderson and Carroll - in terms of being told how to play. I don't think Kenny was very Nazi about his methods, but with these clueless players, the manager has to be.

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  100. No worries. We should attempt signing Jordan Rhodes instead.

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  101. Not good enough but plays for his National Team!!!
    Every England manager has picked him for past 5 seasons!!!
    Put all your stats out all you want, means jack shit for me!!! What would be the logic in selling him, take a massive hit when there is a good chance he m ay come good!!Oh and boy will I let you know about it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  102. End of Liverpool9:45 am, June 14, 2012

    The Problem with Downing is his approach, once he loses the ball he gives up on it unlike suarez. THATS the problem. Lucas always had the mentality unlike Downing.

    My moto:Downing Needs to be sold.

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  103. you obviously did not watch how liverpool played under rafa, robot football? thats rubbish....they were most most creative in the last 10 years

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  104. i know you will delete this post but you are so pig-headed Jaime!

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  105. didn't downing score the goal to put you in the carling cup final? wasn't he man of the match in the carling cup final you won?

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  106. Calm yourselves...maybe I shouldve made myself more clear...you can't deny that he has one hell of a cross on him...he didn't do it enough last season, this is why I say 5 games...a criticism on its own. It did make me laugh when I read back what I wrote, in terms of the fact that why would u cross when know ones in the box..It was more to go with crossing into space where another attacking player should be, but they werent. apologies for sending out wrong message. But regardless whether he stays or goes we as supporters should get behind him nonetheless. He's not the best winger in the league (I never said he was) but he does have a damn good left foot.

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  107. fans saying don't worry your a good player really.Don't help 1 bit(but booing does make it worse).The only way to help your confidence is to do it on the pitch then the better you play the more you remember how good it feels.
      Also some players just don't fit at some clubs.It's happened threw out the years.Not saying that about downing but time will tell.

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  108. well said! A good cross will only need a little touch to score Beckham would make the goal from his cross he would make the strikers look better than they were

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