Downing goes to Liverpool

[Marc Overmars]

Not fussed that we haven't pursued him but I don't think Downing is a bad player really, he gets a lot of stick because somewhere down the line it became fashionable to make him the butt of all jokes.There's nothing outstanding about him but I don't think you need to have one defining quality to be effective. I think he can do a job for Liverpool who have craved some genuine width for years.

20m is crazy shit but shouldn't be a surprise given this market.

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

Yeah, that was why I was amazed that Rieira got such short shrift, whilst he was in the team they got themselves into a position of challenging for the title, not due to him actually being any good but he stayed wide and stretched the play so Gerrard and Tores could do their thang in the middle. If Downing can help them similarly, he may well be worth it imo.

I agree with you for the exact reasons you give. He wasn't a great player by any means but he allowed others to do their thing.

He was a regular in his first season and started whenever he was fit in 09/10. Unfortunately he wasn't fit often enough (hamstrings) and then got himself suspended and transfer listed by March