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what has happened to him? i'm well aware of the 'he's been played out of position by allardyce' claim. however, is he not a natural wide player anyway? should he not if pushed out wide still contribute a performance? i've noticed that he has been played in his 'favoured' point of the diamond role again in several matches yet does not perform anywhere near what he did earlier in the season. why? is it simply a case that actually this is his normal performance and actually the early season form was simply a flash in the pan? he's just not the same player, his passing is abysmal now and his threat to goal is non existent. with this in mind, if we want to continue with the diamond, surely we need to look at who plays the key point role? for me its not downing as he can't do it game in game out, do we need to recruit someone for this role? if so who? or do we have someone within the squad who could do better then downing?
It's a tough one to answer. I
It's a tough one to answer. I admit to being one of those who was severely under impressed when we signed him, I'd always thought he was a bit weak (physically and mentally), and not a guy you would want beside you in the trenches. So had to eat my words when he had that patch of fantastic form. If it is other teams stifling Downing, than shouldn't that create opportunities elsewhere? Perhaps he is one of these players who has to play a particular role/position, and simply isn't much use if you don't. At the moment he isn't worth his place in the side.
definitely off the boil
He looked ordinary against Leicester. Not linking up or passing well enough.
£5m signing
and offered more than a number of signings for around or more the same figure so although he has suffered a dip in form let's all remember, he was played out of position in a number of games and players around him have had shockers so think of times he has had the ball in attacking positions and the difference between him and some of the others.
I just think he's got "weak
I just think he's got "weak eyes!" LOL
He reminds me of the batsman Graeme Thorpe: he was good against spinners and medium pacers, but when he came up against The Windies quick bowlers you could see the terror peeping out from behind his grill! :-)))
That reminds me, where's Chippy? Cus he likes cricket not cus he's got weak eyes!! lol