PROS
Liverpool have been linked with the Stewart Downing since January. A lot of the complaints about us being linked with him have been down to one fact among many Reds fans: he isn’t Juan Mata. From my point of view though, the comparisons between the Spanish playmaker and the England winger are completely unfair, they are not similar styles of player at all. Mata on the one hand could only be loosely described as a winger as he prefers to play in the whole behind the strikers, while Downing has always been more comfortable down the flanks.
One of the probable reasons why Downing maybe a bigger priority for Dalglish and Comolli than Mata currently, maybe because they are looking for a more natural winger to compliment the characteristics of Andy Carroll. Of course Mata maybe a superior dribbler and has a better passing range, but I feel that Downing maybe favoured purely because he would give the team more width than Mata would.
For sure, Downing has played as a central midfield player both at Middlesbrough and Aston Villa, but you only have to look at the video footage by ElPistoleroJFT96 below to see that most of his assists last campaign came from crosses, many of which came from his weaker right foot too:
embedded by Embedded Video
YouTube Direkt
Even from a 3 minute clip, a person who hadn’t even seen the player before can see that Downing can keep genuine pace while running with the ball, can shoot and pass with either foot, and has a variety to his game which means he can provide through balls as well as being a decent crosser.
7 goals and 7 assists in a poor season for Villa, as well as the club’s player of the season award isn’t a bad case to put forward for buying the player.
CONS
The question becomes though, is he worth the £15million being suggested? With two years left on his contract, would we be just paying over the heads for an above average player?
Somebody like Mata is only valued a £3million more, and at 23, he is 3 years Downing’s junior with probably a greater amount of vision and skill on the ball. Going by the stats, Downing wasn’t fantastic at either dribbling and delivering decent crosses last season, and although he has had a very good season, is he the sort of player which will push the club up to the next level of being league contenders once again?
For many fans the answer is no, and every time I have put up a transfer rumour on this site linking the player with us, a few fans cry out at the apparent waste of money.
Still, I go back to the point I made at the top of the article. What sort of player is Kenny Dalglish looking for? He is looking for width, pace and guile to help out Andy Carroll and to give the side a different dimension, and if we do purchase Downing, it will be certain that he believes the 26 year old is the man to do that. Whether he is right, we will have to find out next season and how many assists he provides for the likes of Carroll.
Written by David Tully for Live4Liverpool.com. Follow us on twitter @live4Liverpool or like us on Facebook
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Although Mata is more skilled but I also believe that at the moment Downing will be valuable to the team. We got Suarez who can surely do most of what Mata is capable of but we need someone with real ability to deliver quality crosses for Carroll. This will add with to the team but more importantly allow Carroll to hit the next more than ever before. Therefore there is no question in my mind that Downing will make this team stronger but I hope we can get him for no more than £12m.
We need Downing on the left wing to deliver crosses. Charlie Adam in the left centre mid slot. Clichy at Left back to add pace and a Right winger with flair. For me it would be Lavezzi but we are not linked with him so cant see that one coming off.
I do rate Matta though and think both Matta & Downing are far better and more suitable than Ashley Young. At the end of the day he is a right footed left winger and how on earth can he be Ryan Giggs replacement? Might as well have signed Djibril Ciise 🙂
As a liverpool fan i think downing would be an excellent addition to the squad, strong left footed sensible player, tactically aware, puts in a shift and has excellent delivery. heze also proved his versatility for villa playin centre mid, left wing and on the right which is always a bonus! BUY HIM