There’s news tonight that Newcastle have been offered former Middlesbrough winger Stewart Downing for just £5M, and that’s after Downing signed on at Liverpool a short two years ago for £20M from Aston Villa.
Stewart Downing on offer at £5M
And that was yet another poor signing that Liverpool made, just six months after they paid out a massive £35M to take striker Andy Carroll from Newcastle, whom they finally sold to West Ham this summer for £17M.
And ever since Brendan Rodgers arrived at Liverpool two years ago, certain players seem to have had little future at the club and Carroll was one of them, and Downing has also been struggling under the former Reading and Swansea manager.
The 29 year-old is a little old for players Mike Ashley likes to bring to the club, but £5M seems a decent price for a player who has undoubted skills, and was hardly given much of a chance by Rodgers, who told him a few times over the last couple of years that he could leave the club.
West Ham were after Stewart last month and the player had this to say at that time:
“It’s not something I am going to consider.” “I think there have been a couple of rumors going around and maybe that’s because I was told last season I could leave.”
“If I’m not in the team and not playing that is a discussion we will have to have then but at the minute I have absolutely no reason to leave.” “But I have spoken to the manager and he’s told me that he’s happy for me to stay.”
Stewart was born in Middlesbrough, so he may want to return to the north-east and Newcastle, but it depends on whether owner Mike Ashley wants to spend £5M on a 29 year-old.
Newcastle could pay another £3M for a young up-and-coming player like Blackpool’s Tom Ince – who would be a much better financial deal for the club, since his value would very likely increase over time.
And it’s very likely that Downing is on high wages at Liverpool, and Tom Ince’s wages wouldn’t be anywhere near those of Downing, and as we keep hearing – Newcastle want hungry players on Tyneside, who have to prove themselves.
So because of the distinct possibility of being able to get Tom Ince on Tyneside this month, we wonder whether paying out £5M for Downing would be a good deal?
For the record Downing played 91 times for Liverpool with seven goals, and he has 34 full England caps.
What do you think?
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82 comments so far
kevymartins
Aug 5, 2013 at 11:15 PM
Comment #1Repost
For me Jonas has more to offer than Downing, I know a lot of liverpool fans and they will all tell you he is useless he is far far to slow and can bearly get to the line to put a ball in he also played LB once when jose was out and they claim it was one of the worst performances the have seen anyone play in a liverpool shirt. I would take our chances else where 5 million could bring in a decent winger and not a liverpool reject running up there wage bill.
Hoilett example
Harley
Aug 5, 2013 at 11:18 PM
Comment #2REPOST
ToonDarnSarf
I like reading your posts, you always talk sense.
I think anyone else we sign from now is for the bench. I can’t see us getting any better than we currently have as our first 11.
The bench looks great (especially if we get ince and gomis) but I don’t think we’ll be getting a right back.
Santon and mbiwa I feel are the cover there, with dummett and Haidara cover for left back. I’d love to see dummett really come through this season.
It’s amazing the lift a really top new signing can give. I think remy is a fantastic signing.
Pizzicato The Arizona Geordie
Aug 5, 2013 at 11:21 PM
Comment #3@Harley, Someone said that Dummett could even cover RB. I guess we are not short for that position.
aidytoon9
Aug 5, 2013 at 11:21 PM
Comment #4Wouldn’t touch him
Brutooon
Aug 5, 2013 at 11:22 PM
Comment #5Downing can cross – so YES
Jonas can’t cross – get rid of him
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Aug 5, 2013 at 11:22 PM
Comment #6Stewart Downing? Oh dear lord!!! And I thought the link to Bent was enough 🙁
aidytoon9
Aug 5, 2013 at 11:23 PM
Comment #7Ince or Sinclair would be miles better value IMO
Sir Braveheart
Aug 5, 2013 at 11:23 PM
Comment #8Would rather we didnt. At that age his pace is deteriorating so his use as a winger is limited. Decent crosser though.
89Norcal
Aug 5, 2013 at 11:23 PM
Comment #9Got to disagree with you kevy. At least Downing does SOME job as a midfielder and actually creates goals. Jonas didn’t create a single one that I know of last season. His workrate may be high but if you offer absolutely nothing going forward what is the point.
would PROBABLY consider Jonas at LB if only for 1 season – for fear he would block Haidara’s progress.
But I think we should shoot for Ince or Menez regardless if the price is right
shango87
Aug 5, 2013 at 11:24 PM
Comment #10dont touch him…couldn’t cross the road never mind the ball, jonas aint much better but would have him over downing everyday. mcgeady from spartak example for me…
geordie157
Aug 5, 2013 at 11:24 PM
Comment #11Downing can cross, but that’s about it. Sinclair for the same price and less wages is a much better option or spend a bit more and get Wijnaldum.
jimmysmith
Aug 5, 2013 at 11:25 PM
Comment #12I suppose you’d prefer Ince, but really he’s a player that is all potential and little achievement and experience whereas Downing is really in his prime with a point to prove. Wages you’d imagine to be an issue though with Downing, but I would have said the same about Remy.
Harley
Aug 5, 2013 at 11:25 PM
Comment #13Pizzicato I’d love one of the academy guys to really make it.
I say this at the start of every season but I’m actually optimistic. I feel the club really are trying their best to get some quality players in and hopefully well have them for man city.
jimmysmith
Aug 5, 2013 at 11:28 PM
Comment #14I can understand the criticism of Bent, but Downing is a thorough pro who fought his way back into the first team picture at Liverpool, who are frankly a wonderful and elite football club, so I think he is at least to be respected.
aidytoon9
Aug 5, 2013 at 11:29 PM
Comment #15Hope remy plays tomorrow night with cisse, would like us to put in a decent performance.
JP...from The Rock
Aug 5, 2013 at 11:31 PM
Comment #16First of all I am ecstatic that we’ve signed Remy FINALLY!! 😀 His pace, trickery and finishing will be a huge boost to the team and our overall play, Happy Days! 🙂
Now on Downing, he was never worth 20M but at 5M he is a good buy. No more than 5 though. He has a good delivery in him on his good days and is a threat to the opposition when up for it. If given a run in the team he could do very well.
HWTL!
Robby Bobson
Aug 5, 2013 at 11:31 PM
Comment #17Remy interview on nufctv…some deep insightful thoughts and philosophical debates, such as:
Interviewer “can you imagine the stadium with 52k people in it”
Remy “no, because it was empty”
ArtyH
Aug 5, 2013 at 11:31 PM
Comment #18As I have said before Ince is the winger to go for.
ArtyH
Aug 5, 2013 at 11:32 PM
Comment #19Just thought, how about a loan deal, or a swap for Shola?
popscott
Aug 5, 2013 at 11:33 PM
Comment #20Got a theory, make everyone think we want Bent and get Remy/ Gomis, now tell everyone we are after Downing get Ince/Sinc? Just a thought?
JP...from The Rock
Aug 5, 2013 at 11:33 PM
Comment #21Let’s put it this way, I’d rather have Downing than Obertan and Gutierrez. Gutierrez works very hard but he’s no winger, more like LB/ CDM.
Robby Bobson
Aug 5, 2013 at 11:39 PM
Comment #22Jonas is fine as a wide midfielder in a 442, with the marauding full backs we have as well hes good to have.
But as a out and out winger, in a 433, he just doesnt have it in him anymore. We only hadGouffran and HBA who can play that role thats why getting Remy ahead of Gomis/Bent was so good
(i love marveuax, but hes not a winger either, hes so good on the ball he should play in the middle)
pawl250
Aug 5, 2013 at 11:40 PM
Comment #23I personally think we will see 2 more signings before the window is over. Gomis being one of them!
I think we will see Obertan, Gosling and Shola leave.
It leaves us a little short on the homegrown players unless we keep the likes of Bigi, Dummett, Sammy and Vuckic for back up instead of loaning them out for experience.
BandB
Aug 5, 2013 at 11:42 PM
Comment #24Yo-Yo,
Registra?…that’s not another Scottish word is it?
Sorry I missed you, but I’ve bunked off school now for a few tics.
I’ve enjoyed today. The blog was in much better spirits.
I think that, given the chance to adapt, Anita could be a legend.
I still don’t really know what a registrar does, and was imagining Cabaye or Tiote there, depending on whether the role was destroyer or playmaker.
Clinath was wondering earlier what made Pirlo so special. I think its his damn-your-eyes sense of being able to cope and dictate. Does he work in an old-fashioned triangle? Or isn’t it a triangle?
pawl250
Aug 5, 2013 at 11:43 PM
Comment #25Our best team is by far
——————— Krul
Debuchy – Mbiwa – Coloccini – Santon
——- Cabaye – Tiote – Sissoko
Ben Arfa ——– Cisse ———- Remy
Its creative, quick, hardworking. This is a top 10 team easy, just have to ensure you use it properly and not expect Arfa and Remy to defend all the time!
BandB
Aug 5, 2013 at 11:44 PM
Comment #26Yo-yo
I meant diamond. I must be the only female in the world who’d mistake a diamond and a triangle. ;{
jeff the 2nd
Aug 5, 2013 at 11:45 PM
Comment #27Hello, guys!
kevymartins
Aug 5, 2013 at 11:46 PM
Comment #28@BandB Like Arsenal, Juve pass in triangles, It’s a beautiful thing to watch.
Robby Bobson
Aug 5, 2013 at 11:47 PM
Comment #29pawl250…Pardew likes his wingers doubling up and making a 451 when we dont have the ball.
What we really need is our defensive mifielders (tiote and sissoko) to be very disiplined and sit more and let the more attacking players and fulback to do their business….this is how France play, this is how man city played under Mancini.
luke.r
Aug 5, 2013 at 11:47 PM
Comment #30Downing is god awful.
We should be ambitious and go for a good young winger who can challenge the first 11.
jimmysmith
Aug 5, 2013 at 11:49 PM
Comment #31That’s a top 6 side on paper, on grass, well that remains to be seen, but getting excited again to put it mildly, Wahey, c’mon lads!
Robby Bobson
Aug 5, 2013 at 11:50 PM
Comment #32On Downing….meh. Rather have him than not have another option.
Dont really rate Sinclair, I think he often lacks a gutting edge and Ince is unproven and needs to become more clinical.
Gouffran is better than the lot! Ince has potential to be better mind.
joeinthecheapseats
Aug 5, 2013 at 11:51 PM
Comment #33Downing should be a no as he had to leave Mboro in a hurry after upsetting some unsavoury characters
Nufc would be to close to his home town
Mister Tuff
Aug 5, 2013 at 11:51 PM
Comment #34Downing – no thanks -he always promised a lot -but never achieved any great consistent form -anywhere and certainly did not live up to his 20 million billing.
Spirits have certainly risen today -good signing in Remy and foul ranting abusers and multiple posters unearthed and given the boot.
Spirits should increase when Gomis eventually signs.
dembademba
Aug 5, 2013 at 11:51 PM
Comment #35Yes, for 5 mil. Still got plenty to offer. Prob rather have him than Gutierrez and gouffran in most games tbh
BandB
Aug 5, 2013 at 11:52 PM
Comment #36Kevy,
I know. I’d put up with a few scuzzy results just to watch a bit of beautiful football from us.
Mind you, I’d settle for a few well-worked few tap-ins and the odd easy-peasy header too.
Off to ma pit…Happy day….
SharpEnough23
Aug 5, 2013 at 11:53 PM
Comment #37Marveaux should be first choice LM,
sell Jonas and get in a good younger left footed winger
if downing ain’t good enough for Liverpool why would he be for us?!?
Beattie25
Aug 5, 2013 at 11:53 PM
Comment #38I truly thought this deal wouldn’t happen.
Now that it has my elation is met with a dose of sadness.
We now have the potential for a starting 11 that would rival any team in the PL.
Sadly our manager is not in the same league as the quality on the pitch.
Sazzer
Aug 5, 2013 at 11:54 PM
Comment #39Stats have Downing beating Jonas in nearly every category.
And Downing have been so bad that Liverpool are prepare to sell him for 5 m £ when they paid 20 m £.
kevymartins
Aug 5, 2013 at 11:56 PM
Comment #40Also I think people overestimate the power of crossing. We need a very fast/strong winger, physical fitness comes first crossing/shooting/ are just add on attributes. Look at bale his speed and power comes before his crossing.