Downing a done thing: What Liverpool can expect from Stewart Downing

One of the most expensive transfers of the summer in England, Stewart Downing to Liverpool, is done. Christopher Powlay, Middlesbrough youth and reserve team follower, Football Manager researcher and a man who has followed Downing’s career closely from a young age, returns to Just Football to look at the big money man’s prospects at Anfield.

In 2010/11, Stewart Downing missed only one league game with Aston Villa, playing the full ninety minutes in all but three, and ironically, in what was his final appearance for Villa, he scored against the club who have now spent £20million to secure his services. So what will Liverpool be getting for this huge transfer outlay?

A word often used by people who only see him play against their own club is ‘average.’ One wonders if Aston Villa’s player of the season, with 7 goals and 7 assists for a midfielder in a side that struggled against relegation for much of the season can be considered average. Liverpool have got themselves a player who is in form and a player who isn’t just a get-out-wide, chalk on his feet winger. They are signing a player who has adapted his game to come inside, get more involved and at times dictate play.

Downing isn’t spectacular which doesn’t endear him to fans. For example, he isn’t like Adam Johnson (another left-footed former Middlesbrough winger) who can beat his man with dribbling skill, jinking inside and out quickly. He isn’t like Nani who has step overs and direct running at pace to commit a man. He can’t tackle, he doesn’t want to tackle; give him a 50/50 ball and he is pulling out, a 60/40 ball in his favour and it’s still not a certainty he will go in for it. So that’s what he isn’t. What is he then?

Stewart Downing is an intelligent footballer who brings others into the game around him, especially when able to make room to cross (last season 24% of Downing’s crosses found a team mate). With a front man built like Andy Carroll then understandably you can see why some papers think it will be a match made in heaven. But he doesn’t just play wide left. For Villa he was seen central and even played as a left footed right midfielder cutting inside to effect and scoring like for example against Blackburn last season (which seems to be en vogue at the moment).

His passing play should benefit Suarez as well as Carroll. Downing can create space for others to run into, can see more than the typical head down and run winger that England all too often have produced. Should Suarez find space, expect Downing to be able to find him.

Early in his Boro career Downing was known for drifting in and out of games too much, but people forget how young he was when he came through the ranks. Zenden was forced inside to become a more central midfielder to accommodate the left wing talent. He was learning the game at the highest level in England, and so of course he was going to drift with the tide now and then. But over time he went from drifting to dictating the flow. He was Middlesbrough’s assist man. Getting wide, going past his man with a burst of pace and getting the ball in. Since his time at unfashionable Boro his right foot seems to have come on leaps and bounds, and on at least 3 occasions last season he set up goals crossing with his right foot.

In essence the Downing to Liverpool move isn’t something out of the blue for people who have seen him play week in week out. Aside from his last season in a struggling Boro side he has always looked a sure thing. This move to Liverpool is something that he has earnt through consistent performances over 200+ league games. Season after season he has racked up the assists and chipped in with a reasonable amount of goals, especially when you take into account he played in a mid-table Boro side for long enough.

Yes Liverpool have paid a very high figure for the player, and I’m sure it’s true better players will move for less just because they were not born in England. But after last season it’s clear to see that Liverpool would have to pay more than the £12m Villa signed him for to take him out of the Midlands. Is he worth it? Well, only time will tell, but should he play a major role in helping the Reds back into the Champions League then I’m sure the price tag can be justified.

Christopher Powlay is a contributor to Just Football specialising in youth football, Middlesbrough youth and reserve follower and researcher for Football Manager. Follow him on Twitter @Boroyouths.

Aston Villa, English Premier League, Liverpool, Stewart Downing, Transfer News