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Downing can stay ... but as full-back

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rurikbird

rurikbird

Part of the Furniture
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From the Guardian:
Brendan Rodgers has warned Stewart Downing that the winger may have to convert to left-back to have any future at Liverpool, as the new manager continues to dismantle Kenny Dalglish's project.
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Rest of the article here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/aug/28/brendan-rodgers-stewart-downing-liverpool
====================

Here is what I wrote back on June 3rd:
Downing is a 4-4-2 winger, not an inside forward. Let's imagine that by some miracle Downing plays in Barcelona. Which position could he possibly play? Only the attacking full back, providing width and pinging crosses. It probably won't happen, but I will feel very proud if Rodgers proves my idea right.
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http://www.sixcrazyminutes.com/inde...signings-this-summer.19291/page-2#post-733493

I am indeed proud. I think I was the first to suggest it here and at the time it felt so out-of-left field and improbable. Managers don't often convert established players to another position. Really proud I was able to predict it.
 
Well, I've seen some crass self congratulation on here, but it takes something special to make a thread like this.

I think Rogers (along with most of us) would rather convert him to cash, rather than a left back, however like every other player he's considering selling, it does rather feel like realizing a loss. As mediocre as he is, he's capable of more than we've seen from him, perhaps this will give him the kick up the ass he needs, because the arm around the shoulder approach didn't do anything. Then, after he's back to being at least ok, we can then flog him.
 
Agreed.
In the attacking side, where he loves to knock the ball forward and use his pace (and he'd have way more space as a fullback), along with his very good left peg and crosses, he'd be great.
But I've so far not seen anything to suggest that he has the game intelligence to read the game in the defensive department, not to mention his average defending when covering for the fullback.

But if it works, great.
We'd have the best attacking pair of fullbacks in the league.
 
He's quite good in posession. I'd start him at left back on thursday just to see. Did alright last week.
 
So if we do make him into a left back, we will have a right and left back who are quite speedy and not quite defensive backs but attacking wing backs and two wing centres who are not quite forwards/attacking centres. Now that will confuse all and sundry, including ourselves? ;0 Great!
 
Farkmaster said:
Well, I've seen some crass self congratulation on here, but it takes something special to make a thread like this.
Click to expand...

Nevertheless, I would like to congratulate rukerbird on his successful prediction. It is definately a proud achievement, so well done mate.
 
He's played left back before, and his dad said when he joined that he can play there well and has done throughout his career when needed. And he played there against Hearts.
 
He'd make a pretty good attacking full-back. If he can defend, I'd be all for it. Something to salvage for the 20 million we spunked so uselessly.
 
Farkmaster said:
Well, I've seen some crass self congratulation on here, but it takes something special to make a thread like this.
Click to expand...

Ha! So I guess I can congratulate myself for that too 🙂 Seriously though, I did feel proud when I read this article. I'm just a fan, I've never had anything to do with professional football other than as a spectator. It's good to have a confirmation from time to time that my thoughts and ideas are not totally detached from reality.

Yeah, it remains to be seen if Downing can be counted upon as a defender. But he is a disciplined lad, I think he has a chance. His attacking qualities are perfect for a wing-back.
 
I actually think Downing is a pretty intelligent footballer, and I'm sure he could handle the positional demands- indeed, his inherently conservative, risk averse nature should serve him much better in this position.

Let's forget his fee, he could be good.
 
I think this is the most telling comment from Rodgers:
Sometimes it can release the pressure on players. His job at the top end of the pitch is to create and score goals.
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The way I see it, moving him to full-back is recognizing that he cannot handle the weight of responsibility of playing further forward. No one will expect a plethora of goals and assists if he's playing at left back. And yet we all know he's capable of contributing when he isn't crippled by his own feeble mind.

I can't believe I'm agreeing with DB here, but if he can defend, then far from being controversial, it seems perfectly logical. The question is whether he can defend, or at the very least whether he can learn to defend quickly enough.
 
Seeing as Rodgers wants his full backs to be high up the pitch, it could work out pretty well.
 
Hansern said:
Seeing as Rodgers wants his full backs to be high up the pitch, it could work out pretty well.
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If he's that high up he'd be in his 'proper' position anyway. It'd be like converting someone who works for Royal Mail and can't use a letter box into someone who works for DHL and can't use a letterbox.
 
gkmacca said:
If he's that high up he'd be in his 'proper' position anyway. It'd be like converting someone who works for Royal Mail and can't use a letter box into someone who works for DHL and can't use a letterbox.
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No. As a wing-back, his responsibility will be running with the ball, creating width and crossing. Which is what Downing is actually good at. He is not good at being a wing-forward, someone who is expected to be creative and provide a constant scoring threat.
 
gkmacca said:
If he's that high up he'd be in his 'proper' position anyway. It'd be like converting someone who works for Royal Mail and can't use a letter box into someone who works for DHL and can't use a letterbox.
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I would say it's more like saying to a postman who struggles with letterboxes, that he should cut back on the deliveries and lend a hand in the sorting office. You never know, with a reduced responsibility, he might just get the hang of those blasted letterboxes.
 
rurikbird said:
No. As a wing-back, his responsibility will be running with the ball, creating width and crossing. Which is what Downing is actually good at.
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But he's not good at it. He's a bit less bad than he is when playing further forward. That's hardly justification for playing him there ahead of anyone who already plays there.
 
gkmacca said:
But he's not good at it. He's a bit less bad than he is when playing further forward. That's hardly justification for playing him there ahead of anyone who already plays there.
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I think he is good at the things I've listed. We'll have to disagree here. He can do simple things very well.
 
Well I don't really disagree with you, but it's not going to genuinely strengthen the team, is it? It might make him less of a disappointment, but that's surely another matter. It's not a Ray Kennedy style conversion. Is Enrique supposed to sit it out indefinitely? He's not brilliant, but are people really saying he should be dropped for Downing?
 
gkmacca said:
You, evidently. Unless this mediocre left winger can be converted into a bona fide excellent left wing back/left back, it's not a great idea except in a 'we're stuck with him' sort of way.
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The thing is, he could turn out to be a good option as a left back. We wont get a decent fee for him now and we need cover for left back.
You see how this can be a good thing right?

He's good in posession and an intelligent versatile player. O'Neill played him as a central midfielder on several occasions aswell.

If it works out we might get a decent fee for him next season.
 
Are we sure that Rodgers wasn't allowed to finish his sentence and what he meant to say was that Downing could be left back at Melwood?
 
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