10 May 2013

Anfield Axe: £20m LFC star 'shocked' by Rodgers would 'like to stay'. Too late...?

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is planning a transfer shake-up this summer, and by his own admission, he wants to bring in 'four or five' new players to improve the Reds' squad. Some players will inevitably me sold to accommodate the new arrivals, but has Stewart Downing done enough this season to escape the Anfield axe?

When asked about his future in April, Downing indicated that he'd definitely be at the club next season. He told LFC.com:

"He [Rodgers] wants me to stay, he’s told me that. He said I've been brilliant and that’s why he wants me to play every week. So, for me, that’s all put to bed now.”

In an interview with Sky Sports yesterday, however, Downing's future seemed a little less clear-cut. He explained:

"Personally, I'd like to stay but that is the manager's decision. If we keep this team together then we can have a right good go next year, that will be the big test"

Earlier in the season, Rodgers threatened Downing with the Anfield scrapheap, and the 28-year old admits that he found that hard to take. He told The Telegraph in March:

"It was like a kick in the teeth; I was shocked. It hurt, it really did. I cannot afford not to be playing. Not at my age. He said: ‘If things don’t change you are free to leave.’ He was quite open about it and credit to him for that"

Downing has transformed his Liverpool career over the last few months, and on current form, he's (along with Jordan Henderson) is arguably the club's most improved player this season.

Having said that, has Downing done enough to stay at the club, or should Liverpool cash-in? Downing's good form this year probably means the club could get a decent fee for him, but it will be nowhere near the original £20m outlay.

I wouldn't mind Downing staying as a squad player, but the truth is he's not prolific enough to justify a starting place every week. This season, for example:

* 5 goal/6 assists in 43 apps.
* Only 2 goals in the last 22 games.
* 2 assists/no goals in last 7 games.

As an example, take Liverpool's last 5 Premier League games: four draws and one victory. That's 8 vital points dropped, and someone of Downing's experience has to be making a game-changing difference in at least one (if not two) of those four draws. If he had, then the Reds might have qualified for Europe, and overhauled Everton in the table.

Liverpool need someone who can score/create goals on a more regular basis. Perhaps bringing in some serious, experienced competition for Downing's position will push him on to the next level?

Should Rodgers sell Downing, or keep him for next season...?



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46 comments:

  1. Not good enough for LFC, no room for sentiment. Squad needs to be changed up a bit, more creativity and a whole new back four needed, weed out the spineless chokers, cowards, serial letdown merchants and 'talkers', we need 'do-ers'.

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  2. liverpool4life56510:51 pm, May 10, 2013

    We need depth in the squad so I think he will stay also he has experience which we need.

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  3. agree, as much credit as you give someone for turning it around as downing has, he still is not a game changer. he puts in a hard shift, but that doesn't mean he brings something to the team. Might be a little harsh to use some words like cowards, but we do need to start looking for quality as opposed to familiar faces or hard workers, etc. Rodgers needs to look for quality players who ALSO have a great work ethic...not either or.

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  4. Five goal winger? Not bad.. Coutinho on the other side will get double.. And then there's Suarez (back to claim his golden boot with a delayed start)). If we can only replace one up front, then it should be the hole. - Eriksson (or alike and Hendo benched as he provides an engine). Downing is an orthodox defender and is improving..(next years target, 8 and I'm happy - don't forget, Suarez does not take headers and that's our spearhead).. Enrique's position needs to be assessed.. That role is potent and needs to be more effective, as in Johnson (needs to rotate with Kelly now and make way). We need to be real peeps, can't get caried away with 4-5 signings in the team - disruptive (or in effective, assaidi, allen, esp with the money we have). Suarez hopefully stays, if not - there's our real problem and change to our dynamics. But I'm confident we"l spend his money well and buy a good striker, or 2 since Sturridge is quite not there.. Hmmm.. Defo deserves next season at the least, but needs to do more, I.e win drop balls, run and shoot. There is a sense of optimism across the EPL and a fresh wind blows.. 2/3 key signings is what we need, if we retain all players bar Shelvey(loan)/Allen/sell Carroll.
    Centre Def
    Attacking Mid
    Striker/Wing back/Winger (Can be argued which one but we need more goals)

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  5. You know what JK we really missed a trick on Victor Moses, the guy cost Chelski 6mill & has everything we lack. Pace, strength, power, dribbling ability & he's versatile. Some may say hindsight is wonderful, truth is he did it for Palace & was instrumental in Wigan staying up!
    Downing as a squad player is about right & I give him credit for applying himself. Junior Hoilett, Jesus Navas, Nicolas Gaitan are Selene names worth considering!

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  6. I want to say that we need depth but I think if he's sold this year it's the only time we'll get a decent fee for an average player. He doesn't really add anything to the team and I'd much prefer to watch Sterling and Suso (Or maybe some other young players) who could probably do just as well!

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  7. I think its fair to say Downing has surpassed everyones expectations of him which isnt saying a lot as hes only got 5 goals. Yes hes running at defenders for once and if Rodgers has done anything this season hes clearly had a go at players which has rejuvinated them but none more so than Downing it would appear. But for me - he still doesnt do enough. In the first half of matches it seems like its all through the right side and Downing gets plenty of touches but I cant be the only one whos noticed hes predominantly anonymous in the second half. Which is sad because if he could keep the tempo up for an entire game I may feel differently. Maybe theres some stats that prove me wrong - I dont know.

    Personally if he can be offloaded and we could replace him with someone like Tello. I'd say do it; because at the very least we'd have someone who can interlink with Suarez/Sturridge/Coutinho (a mouth watering prospect) and hes got years to grow - which Downing hasnt. In fact I'd say we've seen the best of him this season. Maybe we could sell him to Newcastle whom based on their last few performances I'd say need some width to their attack.

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  8. Make him a squad player, if someone wants him for 10m+(unlikely i think) sell but otherwise i think hes worked him way back to atleast be a bench player.

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  9. i would have loved Navas at LFC, but i think he's the one who gets extremely homesick and cant play. lol
    Gaitan and Hoilett are decent options to consider, i'd like Tello from barca

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  10. Yet again The message here is that FSG Like hicks and Gillett are telling rodgers to sell players to buy players 100% correct so in the past 6 year how have we changed. As i have put on post before we will sell Coates Skrtel downing Carroll Reina should sell Allen and borini and assadi But we wont so that doesnt prove Rodgers got it massively wrong thats our budget .Sponsors Dollars (Warrior ) is going straight to the yank . we will get the standard 20 mil and sell players.every liverpool fan Wants at least two world class players . We will look to Rodgers Ex players or players from relegated club (reading) .Benteke lukaku stefan De Vrij douglas Diame Witsel Isco Courtois Isco . We can get if you sell every player on our list but some stupid reason we sign one on last day of transfer window. Im not a Rodgers fan But it look like FSG are not backing there manager ??? if you dont back him sack him you either give him money. or you bring Rafa or pinch jose

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  11. ben arfa and scott sinclair would be good wing options and we should definitely sell downing. i say sinclair because he showed he is talented at swansea and we do still need to keep a british core to the team and he would certainly make a cheaper and better squad player than downing. i really hope we have a productive summer and no huge wastes of money like so many times before.

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  12. If we're aiming for the top then downing has to go,there's no room for players still need time to perform or improving and johnson's passing is crap.

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  13. I suppose the only way to look at Downing is to say well would any of the current top 4 use him in their side the answer is a big no so why should Liverpool.

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  14. Next season foward players will become more dangerous if LFC can complete signing 2 new wingers......Christian Eriksen and Tello.Add 1 more strikers....Jackson Martinez,Leandro Damiao,Edison Cavani or Gonzalo Higuin.Why not try to break the bank with signing Mario Gotze??? I hope dealing with Ooredo will be great success to helping get more cash injection. LFC need to bring world class mentality players,not just well done or yo yo performance.Downing,Carroll,Borini,Skrtel,Spearing,and Pacheco must be sell out from LFC team next season.Please do not repeat again silly mistake with making wrong investment flops players like Tom Ince and Scott Sinclair.Not good value for money.It is will like wasting money project again.We need to get sign fresh players with new idea.Philippe Coutinho is good example.....new arrival who making LFC look diffrent with fresh idea. Briliant,genius and tricky players (better get leandro Damiao).

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  15. SELL HIM OUT NEXT SEASON.......HE IS NOT CREATIVE PLAYER

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  16. Improved a lot from last season, but still not good enough for 1st team next season if liverpool wanna challenge for top 4. Alderweireld claim he wil not join manc, and say that liverpool have the potential to be a top side. Joining lfc?

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  17. We just have to admit, SD is definitely a good squad player but he's never going to be a game-changing player. How good is he and how much difference is he making to the team as a first team regular this season, I think we can judge from his attacking stats and LFC's final position in the table at the end of season. LFC was ultra stupid to have paid 20 mil pounds for him. If we are going to sell him now, it will be somewhat great to get half that sum back. Apart from our own academy graduates, I can't see how we can get decent British footballers from other teams for decent prices. Now nationality aside, If we continue to pay 15 mil pounds upwards for those half or 1 season wonders, we will see ourselves drifting further and further away from the top teams in EPL.

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  18. Downing is a decent squad player and you can rely on him to put in a shift. He's probably an average seven but he doesn't win enough of those tight matches. He's probably more skilful than kuyt ever was but Dirk scored so many game changing goals.
    Downing would make the squad of most top for teams/teams around us, and that's how we should think of him. I genuinely think few people would have a problem with him or want to sell him if we had only paid 10 million for him.
    At the time though he had out scored and out assisted young in a decent villa team, was one of England's first choice wingers and one of the only genuinely left footed crossers in the prem.
    20 million was too much, no doubt about that, but I remember the relief of getting or business done early, without the Rick parry nit picking and squabbling that lost us so many targets over the years. And I remember thinking, ok, a bit much but we've got our two top targets early, we've got them without getting into a bidding war, and for once we were decisive. It was really refreshing to see. and it seems fsg have continued in that manner. Borini and Allen may not be everyones cup of tea but they were brought in without too much fuss, coutinho and sturridge were the same. Hopefully we can continue to be decisive in the market, get out first choice targets and hopefully improve the quality of players we pick up. You need to get the balance right between being assertive enough to get who you want without just paying any price. No one wants to waste money but equally none of us want to return to losing figo over half a million!

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  19. I think Rodgers meant buy 4 or 5 players on top of what we have. Sure, Carra will retire, Carrol and Spearing will be sold and fringe players like Lucas. But I fully expect the core of the current squad to stay and, sadly, that includes Downing. As you said though, as a squad player.

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  20. Turning it around? 5 goals and six assists is still only an average impact of once every nearly four games. Sure he has improved from doing absolutely nothing but he has turned nothing around. He went from rubbish to distinctly below average.

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  21. lets sell him and buy someone with potential lol

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  22. Like you said in the article I would not mind Downing staying as a squad player. Although he's not up to scratch, he still has more goals and assists than valencia ( I know he's been injured!, he had a blast last season!, the mail man took his shooting boots blah blah blah). My point is, If Rodgers can get a 40-50% increase on Downing's performance and i don't see why not, then he's worth keeping around at least as a back up to whichever fancy winger we buy. We aint gonna get much for him anyways

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  23. Mr. Point Of View7:58 am, May 11, 2013

    well deja vu again about our mr. no. 19 story

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  24. I would sell if someone pays 10mn

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  25. You've made some great points, however the Junior Hoilett one...Think the other clubs dodged a bullet as he's not really done anything since he left Blackburn

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  26. Have to say he's really improved, although still not good enough really. Quite surprising considering his experience, doesn't drive into the box or shoot accurately nearly enough. I'm sure there are far better options out there.

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  27. Squad player at best if we are able to bring in the right players over the summer. Ideally sell him as never rated him from the 1st day he arrived. However summer purchases will determine whether we have moved on or will stay a drift with mediocre players like drowning....yes i have checked the spelling.

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  28. TBH there's 2 types of wingers we shld look for, firstly the small, nimble, clever wingers you find in Spain/Portuguese leagues-so I'm hoping our scouts are combing those areas like crazy! The 2nd type is the rare one, this is the taller more robust, slightly less technical but compensates with sheer athleticism. Valencia for the mancs fits this mould. I did think Tom Ince but TBH not sure where to look. Having a striker like Sturridge who could play two roles is helpful, he's delivery for Saurez's goal vs Chelski was perfect!

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  29. He's just not good enough. In the chelsea game we had two great crosses for goals coming from two strikers. We already have a few players better than him suso and sterling for a start butt rather than spend more id like to see johnson further up. Kelly and wisdom are better defenders.

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  30. I don't get that fsg aren't backing the manager. 20 mil wellspent in january. Yes they want to sell players but only players that are not good enough. When they first came in they pumped millions into the squad unfortunatly most of it was wasted. That's not fsg fault. That's down to kenny. Now rogers has to get rid of the crap in order to rebuild how he likes. Its gona be tough but we have to hope it works out well. But I think ian ayre is much better with money than commolli was. Also the club has had more off field growth under fsg

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  31. All very well that he has improved, but still not good enough. We need quality players not a headless chicken running around hiding his lack of quality behind effort. Effort is great but if you havn't got it by 28 you never will.

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  32. If you want Downing's form to improve play him at LB and push Enrique to LW
    Coutinho can play in the centre and and lets bring in Suso and Sterling for the last games of the season for the other flank

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  33. Growth ok facts 2010 7th
    2011 6th
    2012 8th
    2013 7th
    Great building you have great facts. mick And the big fact is also we sold torres Alonso arbeloa mascherano . sell players
    to buy carroll jovanovic Adam henderson downing Konciesky borini assadi sahin Allen Suarez and couthino last two best signings . so this not sell before buy two facts the table worst and sell before buy not FSG $$$$. so who are we selling this year to buy

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  34. NonEventHorizon1:13 pm, May 11, 2013

    Quite a tricky question really... If we are in a position of sell to buy then I think BR will want to move him on. I tend to agree with a lot of people here that he should be a squad player and we can't really afford to lose experienced depth. If we buy a back up striker like Jordan Rhodes then we might see SD being able to provide a few more game changing moments, his delivery from crosses is still pretty good but he doesn't really play to that strength with SAS.

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  35. On a scale of 1-10, 10 being a HUGE positive effect on the current Liverpool team, what will he provide?

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  36. Sorry Tony, I think Mick makes a good point. The 20m in January was well spent. Well done for being positive(sarcasm).

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  37. Hand on heart, SPOT ON.

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  38. Or someone with better quality for what the money we can get for him????

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  39. Your right, I mean from being at 4's & 5's to 6's & 7's. I was speaking of his character, because it seems that a lot of lfc fans are getting quite sentimental as opposed to just basing things off of performance on the field. If he is worth anything and has suitors I hope we sell him.

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  40. This I'm afraid is another sad saga brought on by KD, everything mentioned abt SD-not a game changer, lack of goals etc etc is nothing new. In other words no hindsight needed. SD is playing to his full potential & we can't blame him! I remember so many people including myself tearing our collective hair out at his purchase ESP for £20mill. he's 28, had 7-8 seasons in the epl where only 1.5 seasons are worth mentioning. Despite his improvement this season there is still inconsistency & a lack of conviction!
    KD WHAT WERE YOU THINKING? 5mill yes but not 20mill

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  41. but will we get someone better the coin would be up in the air

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  42. 7th 6th 8th 7th Thats positive your write .

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  43. This is as good as it gets for Downing, and it simply isn't good enough. Even ignoring the £20m transfer fee, there's also the fact that he's one of the highest paid players in the squad, and one of the senior members of the team, but he is incapable of setting the example for his teammates.


    We should take whatever we can get for him in the summer, and look for a more gifted alternative. Which shouldn't be too hard.

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  44. For someone purchased with such a big fee, he has not justified his selection, and also, he's 28, if this is his best form now, then surely he has to go. Wait another season and we cant get much value for him anymore as he approaches 30.....

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  45. erikson to play in hole behind striker or keisuke honda left footed playmaker a right sided version of coutinho

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  46. sterling has thigh injury downins poor at lb and prone to mistakes he just filled in because of injury and enriques form

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