Downing sell or keep?

[The Great Jacko]

So do we keep Stewie in the summer or sell him?

 

I have to say for the first time since he's been here that I'd keep him if he carry's on playing like he has been. Plus I'm not sure we'd improve on him for the money ie a Tom Ince although we'd save a bit in wages.

 

Having said that if we are going to sell him in the next few years then it should be this summer due to age/contract/form.

[Guest Slim(fast)Shady]

I voted 'the big transfer fee' but unlikely that's going to happen so may as well give him another season

[Jonjo Baldy]

If its over 8mil then sell, anything less no, as his a useful squad player, and a good player when his got confidence.

[Newport]

Sell him if the fee is over £10 million, but it won't happen so I could just as well voted to keep him when I think of it. At the moment he looks more confident than ever.

[Dracco]

I did n ot vote because there is no:

 

Keep him, but he is not good enough for top 4, so just only like back up.

 

He could be useful, but when we want aim for places at the top, then he can not be starter for us.

[Guest LFD]

We also need to consider the wages he is on. I suspect that is around 70k a week. If he is a squad player next season, that is too high for a squad player.

 

We have shown there is great value around getting Sturridge and Coutino in January, two players who look like they can get goals and assists, something Downing has struggled with only getting 3 league goals and 3 league assists in 56 games.

 

I think we should use the opportunity that he is playing well to sell him and help recoup as much money as we can, even if it means we have to pay off some of his wages, it will be some saving for the club.

 

Ayre / FSG are really FFP focussed and I can't see them wanting squad players on big wages.

[Harry Squatter]

Sell him. He sleepwalked through the entire season last year. He's only worth 8m anyway which is what we should have paid in the first place.

[Kevin D]

The forum is now so reactionary that it's genuinely beyond parody.

 

I now need a new Schtick, because I'm out of a job.

[kalasoma]

If he's on massive wages then sell. If we can get nearly 70% of what we paid for him, sell. I don't think he's on big wages and we won't get 50% of our transfer fee back on him, so keep. He still has legs, can still put a good cross in and can cover the left back position when needed.

[Sangria]

If I had been asked sixth months ago, my answer would have been a big sell but changed my mind, unless a ridiculous offer came in we should keep.

 

I mean one like we made. Some thought it harsh of Brendan but it seems to have spurred him on, getting goals and looking better and I would keep. Fair play.

[cmuller]

Credit to Downing that you can now at least make some sort of argument in favour of keeping him.

[Gym Beglin]

Keep him and make him vice captain.

[Lycan]

Simple. Keep him until we find a better option to replace him with.

 

That goes for any player as well.

[Dr Nowt]

Keep him, send him round Joe Cole's to take back our king's ransom at gunpoint, then tell him he needs to carry some weight for the family.

[MLB]

If he's on big wages we may well try to sell him. On current form though I would keep him unless we get an offer of £10+ million.

[ZonkoVille77]

I'm glad we have another thread like this.

I was running out of threads to masterbate to.

[Code]

You have to wonder where we could have been if every player in the squad started with a clean slate under our new manager.

 

Ah well.

[SCOUSE TAPAS]

We wont get anywhere near we stupidly paid for him.

He isnt on mega wage so might as well keep him as Suarez s bitch.

[Captain]

He will never be sold for a big transfer fee for the simple reason he isn't worth one.

 

So just sell him.

[Code]

Downing has started 31 games this season and he has got 5 goals and 5 assists, thats either a goal or an assists every 3 games.

 

Goals:

1.Suarez - 29 goals

2. Gerrard - 9 goals

3. Downing - 5 goals

3. Shelvey - 5 goals

3. Sturridge - 5 goals

6. Henderson - 3 goals

6. Sahin - 3 goals

 

Assists:

1. Gerrard - 12 assists

2. Suarez- 6 assists

3. Downing - 5 assists

3. Henderson - 5 assists

5. Enrique - 4 assists

5. Johnson - 4 assists

[Pidge]

Wouldn't sell unless a real offer came in, like £10m+. I felt that this week was a huge fixture for us and he played a blinder, not only did he turn up for a big game for once, but he backed his teammates up and got stuck in.

 

He's part of the squad now, a functioning part, which we shouldn't throw away while we have other positions to fill that are much higher priorities. Next year I hope Assaidi is in a position to get more involved, Sterling to back up with a more balanced run and maybe an Ibe debut at some point. If we can get Ince for cheap then great, but I'd rather he was an addition than a replacement.

 

Let's focus on sorting the defence.

[aRdja]

Depends. If we can get a real quality player in e.g., Muller or Draxler then I'd be happy for him to leave. If say we're looking to replace him with Tom Ince, I'd ask, "what's the point?"

[Bobby Hundreds]

If his fee could fund a better player then obviously sell him. Fuck it I'd sell him anyway. He's doing a decent job recently no doubt but it still hasn't been enough for me to say he's boss.

[manwiththestick]

Yesterday's performance was the type he was putting in whenever I saw him playing for Villa, it was based upon these that I favoured him over Ashley Young when the debate was knocking about on here.

 

Carries on like that and I'm happy to have him in the squad, two months ago I would have gladly seen him given away.

[spider-neil]

Keep him. On current form he is well worth his place in team let alone squad.

That said, if the owners are intent on reducing the wage bill they could sell Downing, but Ince and Ince would be on far less wages.