Stewart Downing is no £15 million player
After watching yet another team try to hold back Manchester United at Old Trafford by deploying depressing tactics, I kept my eyes firmly on Stewart Downing.
Of course I knew that there would be a big chance that I wouldn't have seen the best of Downing, especially with his team-mates playing so negatively. Nevertheless, I watched him closely so as to see what you get for your money; all £15 million of it.
Tottenham Hotspur have been rumoured to have been interested in Stewart Downing since 2005. We even wrote an article relating Spurs' interest in the player way back then (you can read it here).
Since Tottenham's interest began in 2005, Downing has gone onto sign 2 new contracts, whilst Spurs have gone through 3 managers. In this prolonged period of time, the media has speculated that we have tabled an £8 million, £10 million, and £12 million bids for Middlesbrough's young left winger.
According to most reports circulating at this moment in time, Spurs will have to bid around £15 million for him. This begs the question; where do these figures come from?
I have personally watched the kid play on numerous occasions and I can categorically tell you that he's no £15 million player. If Aston Villa rate their left wing sensation, Ashley Young, at around £20 million, then surely Downing is worth no more than £5-6 million.
Downing possesses no pace, acceleration and little flair. He is also a confidence player, the type that will hide away within himself if things aren't going particularly well.
On the other hand, he does possess great vision, and can cross quite admirably,. Unfortunately, that's about all he has in his toolbox. Why they call him a left winger is anybody's guess? He is in fact, a left sided midfielder.
When you know a £15 million player in on display, you expect him to excite and do things that not many other players within the same team can accomplish. All in all, Stewart Downing touched the ball 18 times in 94 minutes. Of those 18 times, he misplaced 6 of the 10 passes he played and managed 1 cross.
If that's what £15 million get's you for you money nowadays, I dread to think how much we'll have to spend to get in quality players.
Of course I knew that there would be a big chance that I wouldn't have seen the best of Downing, especially with his team-mates playing so negatively. Nevertheless, I watched him closely so as to see what you get for your money; all £15 million of it.
Tottenham Hotspur have been rumoured to have been interested in Stewart Downing since 2005. We even wrote an article relating Spurs' interest in the player way back then (you can read it here).
Since Tottenham's interest began in 2005, Downing has gone onto sign 2 new contracts, whilst Spurs have gone through 3 managers. In this prolonged period of time, the media has speculated that we have tabled an £8 million, £10 million, and £12 million bids for Middlesbrough's young left winger.
According to most reports circulating at this moment in time, Spurs will have to bid around £15 million for him. This begs the question; where do these figures come from?
I have personally watched the kid play on numerous occasions and I can categorically tell you that he's no £15 million player. If Aston Villa rate their left wing sensation, Ashley Young, at around £20 million, then surely Downing is worth no more than £5-6 million.
Downing possesses no pace, acceleration and little flair. He is also a confidence player, the type that will hide away within himself if things aren't going particularly well.
On the other hand, he does possess great vision, and can cross quite admirably,. Unfortunately, that's about all he has in his toolbox. Why they call him a left winger is anybody's guess? He is in fact, a left sided midfielder.
When you know a £15 million player in on display, you expect him to excite and do things that not many other players within the same team can accomplish. All in all, Stewart Downing touched the ball 18 times in 94 minutes. Of those 18 times, he misplaced 6 of the 10 passes he played and managed 1 cross.
If that's what £15 million get's you for you money nowadays, I dread to think how much we'll have to spend to get in quality players.
7 comments
The problem is no prober scouting networks in place always pay ridicoulous money for not very good average english players.
Just look at Wigan and Steve Bruce wjo have found Valencia and Zaki for a fraction of the price.
Wigan will have to pay in excess of 12 million to get him, and that's if he wants to join them permanently.