Posted by John Weatherall in The Team,Transfer Talk (Last summer)
I have studied a lot of comments from Liverpool fans on forums, websites, Twitter and Facebook since the end of the season, and the overwhelming conclusion is that most want Juan Mata to sign for our beloved reds. I have to ask the question: WHY?
At 23 years old and with 129 appearances and 33 goals (goals to game ratio 0.25) for Valencia under his belt, Mata has already proven to the world his ability to compete at the highest level. After back-to-back summers in which Mata picked up the 2010 World Cup and the European Under-21 Championship titles, the forward is viewed as one of the hottest prospects in world football.
Beginning his youth career with Oviedo, he moved to Real Madrid’s academy at the age of 15 and spent three years there and was promoted to the Castilla team in 2006-07, relegation followed and he was allowed to leave for Los Che. Oozing with pace and a direct style that sends a shiver down the spines of defenders, Los Che got themselves a bargain and it was not long before he was making his mark on La Liga.
His attacking role on the flank helped Valencia to the Copa del Rey trophy in 2007-08. Mata is technically gifted, his close control and vision are excellent and he has the ability to beat his man and set up chances within the blink of an eye. He is however Lightweight and lacks power, he can be shrugged off the ball too which is why i have doubts on his ability to perform in the premier league.
Stewart Downing is 26, has 244 appearances (all in the premiership) 26 goals (goals to game ratio 0.10). Although his goals ratio is 50% less to that of Mata, we must ask the question of which league Downing is playing. The premiership is the greatest league in the world, faster, stronger and more exciting than any of its rivals. Downing is a proven premiership player who has proven year in year out that he can perform at the highest level.
A versatile player who is happy on either wing, Downing’s crossing is excellent and he uses his pace and skill well down the flanks. He is Quick, incisive, accurate, a tricky winger to play against. While he may not have the Razamatz of Mata and in my opinion the over rated status because he is foreign, I for one was delighted to reading twitter on the evening of the 12/07/11 to see that LFC had agreed a fee for Downing, £20 million ? only £3 million more than Utd paid for Young, Downing had a longer contract and was voted AVFC player of the year, inflated yes but then all English players are, we would not get Mata for less than £15 million and I will gladly accept the £5million difference for the premiership experience and the fact that Downing is English.
I will leave you with one final thought:
Since August 2004 only 4 players have created more goal scoring opportunity than Downing: Gerrard, Lampard, Fabregas and Giggs.
Source: http://www.ourkop.com/2011/07/14/why-stewart-downing-is-a-better-signing-than-juan-mata/
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I love this part:
LOL
