Downing is shattastic!!!! Has maclaren swapped his brain for some sweets or something? the pair of them are a fucking joke and should be banned from football for life!!!!
ashley cole not same player since moving to Chelsea either! He was all over place last night legs akimbo... touch of an elephant....
Re: Downing totally agree mate cant wait for joe cole to get fit and back on the left, get macs out and put a manager in that can show the team how to attack and give them some confidence
Agreed, its probably down to all the cash he has got stuffed in his socks and shorts the money grabbing cunt.
Downing is one of the best left footed crossers ive seen in this country. He won us critical games against Steaua, Basle, Chelsea, Bolton etc He's far too inconsistent and puts his head down at times, but even when he's playing shite he can still cross a good ball and win a game. There is too much pressure on him at Boro as he's often our only real creative player on the pitch, and that pressure is unfairly multiplied with England... I'm not sure he's able to cope with it all yet, especially as the whole national team look poor. But for his potential ability he deserves a place in the national squad, but needs to play second fiddle for a while until he is ready, so Joe Cole needs to get back. Once he matures I think he will be a good left sided option.
his service on wed was nothing short of shit! i agree he can be an excellent player, but i really don't think he's good enough to play for england.
The whole team bar Gerrard were utter shite. Downing is young and inexperienced at the top level, to expect him to play well in a team that isn't performing is a bit much. He is not the kind of player who can do it by himself all the time. He's had a couple of good games and a couple of bad games for England, i'm sure once England start performing as a team Downing will be an assett. As I said before, he's probably not ready to be first choice just yet. But he is the only left footed option we have.
I'm not a fan of Downing at all, but given that we have no decent left footers in the country then he has to start. No one should be playing out of position in the England team, as we seem to find it impossible to adapt to.
I would rather have Joe Cole playing on the left than Downing. Agreed he is the best left footed person for the job but I reckon Cole is in a different league to him and offers a lot more by cutting inside. He isnt fit at the minute though is he? How longs he out for?
Yeah i agree Cole should be back in when he's fully fit coz he's shown he can do a job there, but when he's out I can't see many other options to Downing.
Cole is definately the best left sided option when he's fit, I reckon Downing needs to wait behind him for a while. SWP and Lennon are other options but are far more effective on the right, square pegs for round holes and that... I also dont think Barry offers much attacking threat on the left but isn't a bad back up.
I'd give Bentley or Milner a a chance, they've both been geat this season and would love a crack at the first team. As for the earlier comments about Ashley Cole he's shit. He wasnt all that when he was at Arsenal, he was a defensive liability only good going forward. I'd play Wayne Bridge 99 times out of 100 over Cole. He can actually defend and is just as good if not better going forward. I hope he moves in the summer and gets first team football week in week out as he should be Englands 1st choice left back.
I'd like to see both Bentley and Pennant given a shot with England... but on the right where they are most comfortable. Same goes for Milner, i'd give him a chance, he can play on the left but again he's right footed so its square pegs for round holes... imo wingers are usually more effective when played on their correct flank, especially when making the step up to international level. It's a pity that we have several options on the right but are limited on the left.
Being on loan to Sunderland a few years back got the best out of him imo, he'd be a wicked signing for us this summer
