Interesting facts. But I was talking about Liverpool FC.

ya, actually could not believe that a team can hit woodwork that much, seriously....its baffling, might be Guinnes books of records if there's such category

Becks was & is still not a winger. He's a wide midfielder. Wingers hug touchline & race to byeline.

RVP really have a lot of luck for the past year. before last year, how many did he hit? Take the winning goal against us last yr in Anfield, 9 out of 10 time the volley will end up wide with those small angle.
That is why we called Downing 1 trick pony, he only knew how to cross.
Expect him to dribble & fly past defenders are just too much to ask

It's not his fault he was overquoted for 20m and for us to actually think its a reasonable price and I personally would take him for 10m. Yes he might not be a world beater and he isn't that awful, its just his pricetag he is failing to live up to which is not his fault. Fans are just frustrated by the fact that we wasted so much on him, so the hate is directed at the person who negotiated the deal which probably is Comolli.

I've never judged him based on stats alone, he just never impressed me. Yes not all wingers need to be able to beat their man but those are traditional wingers not as favoured in today's game. We need to have at least one of those flair wingers in my opinion. I also think that stats don't show everything, you can argue that he has created the most chances without a single assist but how many of those so called "chances" are good chances? It's subjective isn't it as to what is to be considered a "chance". How many of the 55 chances were clear cut goalscoring opportunities? Is putting in some random cross with virtually no one to aim for considered a chance?

You say don't let the 0 goal 0 assist fool us. I say don't let the 55 "chances" fool you.

You made a very good point there. Indeed, not all chances are clear-cut chances. Can't just look at stats alone. And yes, he doesn't impress me either. Too damn predictable. Didn't see much running to pull defenders away from his teammates too.

good crosses are not just about where they land, but is also about whether its possible for anyone to attack it, the timing etc. how many of downing's crosses are actually good enough to benefit the team? if he crossed the best cross into the box but no team mate could have reached it, then too bad. its a good cross bad timing, still its called a useless cross... its akin to like the fastest smash in the world but gone wide. still useless...

This post has been edited by Petre: Sep 5 2012, 03:04 PM

from what I rmb, his crosses last season is quite good. Most of the time into danger zone, but our strikers/midfielder all too shy to attack, all stay in comfy zone
No one cross to players head, they cross to a zone where its most danger to opposition. Surely its not his fault the players prefer not to attack his crosses?
His crosses is akin to smashes thats block by own double partner

the red part i know la

but who can he expect to attack the crosses? carroll? suarez? kuyt...? as i remember we dont exactly have a physical frontline...

one trick pony just one trick pony... how is he doing as a LB? i worry. takmaulah defend also kenot, but at least i see him work hard.

His crosses are quite good if you at it artistically. The ball crossing at that length, it is a beautiful view. The only problem is, he either crosses when there's no player in the box or he overshoot it pass the players. If 6'4 Andy Caroll cant meet his crosses, I think only Michael Jordan or Magic Johnson can.

And he's so easy to defend against. He's always gonna carry the ball straight forward, no trickery, just plainly lightweight pace and predictable direction. He's one of those that I would say have physical gift as a footballer but doesnt possess a footballing brain.

Bottom line is, he's crap.

PS - Thank God, he's not bad looking, or else I will do some "Yo, Mama is fat" jokes on him. Kinda piss with this guy.

well just be fair, Downing could be good for someone else but so far, he's crap for us... not made for each other. perhaps next life...

that is why I said shouldn't put all blame at him when no one dare attack crosses as well.
Chicarito not big, but he can attack crosses well.
We edi knew what we got when we went for him. Maddie & few old posters here edi highlighted his 1 trick pony-ness
Anyway, there's feww seasons before we can challenge for top 4 from what can be seen. Unless suddenly some oild baron come & pump endless moolah in.

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Added on September 5, 2012, 3:24 pmWell, if you notice since years ago we edi highlighted his 1 trick pony-ness...but even now his 1 trick is not up to mark...oh Lord

yeah, notice, we never really depend on crosses for goals

This post has been edited by vreis: Sep 5 2012, 03:24 PM

Next life? When he plays for us, I was thinking Liverpool is in trouble, when he plays for England I shake my head and says England is in trouble.

If he plays for us next life, even our next life is in trouble.

then why exacrly did we buy him for?


dude, i still wanna see us lifting league trophy, dun so fast talk about next life lah

bought him for exactly that 1 trick only, no more no less....

Haha maybe when England win WC we got chance lah. They need a miracle as much as we do.

Sry no offense, but england win WC just like Malaysia qualifying for WC

Exactly because I think its equally difficult for us to win the league.

club teams can buy success but not national teams. different thing ma. see how mancity suddenly win league?

In the past yes but with FFP its unlikely we will see anymore of those

For us to win the league, it requires many elements to come into place:

1) John Henry and Tom Werner suddenly decided to invest in getting Falcao, Neymar and Thomas Muller
2) Man Utd decided to sign sell Rooney and Vidic replace them with Emile Heskey and Titus Bramble
3) Chelsea plays Fernando Torres as left back, Juan Mata as right back, Eden Hazard as Goalkeeper and John Terry as striker
4) Man City went bankrupt and Kun, Zabaleta and Tevez return to Argentina preparing for lawsuits against them
5) Arsenal's main 8 players all got cruciate ligament including Podolski, Cazorla and Diaby
6) Tottenham not crushing us
7) And finally Howard Webb and Phil Dowd getting sacked as referee

So there you go. Now you think Angels flying out of our asses are more possible than the above right?

u on power root issit?