Damion Downs

[trousers]

Look.... cards on table... (and bear with me if I talk nonsense, as I've had a few lunchtime snifters).... I get the "you'll never know if we have the best strike force until the end of the season" logic.... of course, that goes without saying.... All I'm suggesting we do (with my "Keep It Simple Stupid") hat on, is that we (i.e. the club) aim to get the best possible players in that our budget can afford... rather than, say, exclusively aim for players "with potential".... in other words, I'd rather we target one striker valued in the "£15m to £20m" bracket than 3 strikers valued in the "£5m to £10m bracket"... Just a gut feel... a hunch that's not based on anything scientific or intellectual... just me as a simpleton... 

[S-Clarke]

3 minutes ago, trousers said:

Look.... cards on table... (and bear with me if I talk nonsense, as I've had a few lunchtime snifters).... I get the "you'll never know if we have the best strike force until the end of the season" logic.... of course, that goes without saying.... All I'm suggesting we do (with my "Keep It Simple Stupid") hat on, is that we (i.e. the club) aim to get the best possible players in that our budget can afford... rather than, say, exclusively aim for players "with potential".... in other words, I'd rather we target one striker valued in the "£15m to £20m" bracket than 3 strikers valued in the "£5m to £10m bracket"... Just a gut feel... a hunch that's not based on anything scientific or intellectual... just me as a simpleton... 

To counter that, I'd say that if Armstrong, BBD and Archer were Championship players last season and we were targeting them on the back of goal-scoring campaigns, that would fill that void you state. They'd certainly be valued at that as well.

Last season BBD looked like a carthorse, but he can and has scored goals at this level. Ditto Armstrong, and ditto Archer.

On paper we have 'Championship proven goal scorers' in the door already, so we somewhat have a risk free move available for an 'up and coming' sort. If we sell BBD/Armstrong/Archer then it's a different story however.

Edited 1 July, 2025 by S-Clarke

[AlexLaw76]

3 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

To counter that, I'd say that if Armstrong, BBD and Archer were Championship players last season and we were targeting them on the back of goal-scoring campaigns, that would fill that void you state. They'd certainly be valued at that as well.

Last season BBD looked like a carthorse, but he can and has scored goals at this level. Ditto Armstrong, and ditto Archer.

On paper we have 'Championship proven goal scorers' in the door already, so we somewhat have a risk free move available for an 'up and coming' sort. If we sell BBD/Armstrong/Archer then it's a different story however.

It isn’t risk free, unless he costs £0

 

[Patches O Houlihan]

1 hour ago, AlexLaw76 said:

It isn’t risk free, unless he costs £0

 

[pedant hat on] ...and his wages, and he might be a bad apple and poison the dressing room. Won't someone think of the children?![/pedant mode off]

[CSA96]

 

[ally_uk]

Happy with this 👍  

[spyinthesky]

I just wish we had a striker who was decent in the air which is very helpful in the Championship

Tall Paul should have met that criteria but he didnt have anywhere near the aerial power as the likes of Pelle and Ricky Lamber although being a few inches taller than either of them

[skintsaint]

2 hours ago, CSA96 said:

 

Taking a while to get this finished.

We should just do a hail mary to get this into the end zone.

[davefizzy14]

Very pleased about this 😊

[Dusic]

To me it just all feels a bit more organised this summer. One signing done (Quarshie), one seemingly close and by all accounts both are first choice targets which is massive.

Downs seems to have specific strengths which on paper suit the style that Still will adopt and also must be keen to make the move aa he could easily re-sign as a Bundesliga player with Koln.

Far prefer a move like this rather than looking around in August for a PL squad cast off.

Hopefully he avoids injury or scoring a worldy hattrick in the remaining Gold Cup games.

Edited 2 July, 2025 by Dusic

[trousers]

22 hours ago, S-Clarke said:

To counter that, I'd say that if Armstrong, BBD and Archer were Championship players last season and we were targeting them on the back of goal-scoring campaigns, that would fill that void you state. They'd certainly be valued at that as well.

Last season BBD looked like a carthorse, but he can and has scored goals at this level. Ditto Armstrong, and ditto Archer.

On paper we have 'Championship proven goal scorers' in the door already, so we somewhat have a risk free move available for an 'up and coming' sort. If we sell BBD/Armstrong/Archer then it's a different story however.

Yep, fair point 👍

As long as we end up with one of the best, if not the best, strike forces in the division (on paper) then I'll be happy with our transfer / retention policy.

Edited 2 July, 2025 by trousers

[Chez]

39 minutes ago, skintsaint said:

Taking a while to get this finished.

We should just do a hail mary to get this into the end zone.

There is a 'fourth down and inches' joke there somewhere, but I can't find it.

[Turkish]

15 minutes ago, Dusic said:

To me it just all feels a bit more organised this summer. One signing done (Quarshie), one seemingly close and by all accounts both are first choice targets which is massive.

Downs seems to have specific strengths which on paper suit the style that Still will adopt and also must be keen to make the move aa he could easily re-sign as a Bundesliga player with Koln.

Far prefer a move like this rather than looking around in August for a PL squad cast off.

Hopefully he avoids injury or scoring a worldy hattrick in the remaining Gold Cup games.

It does feel like we have a strategy and particular profile of player rather than just collecting players like we've done pretty much since SR arrived. 

[S-Clarke]

5 hours ago, Turkish said:

It does feel like we have a strategy and particular profile of player rather than just collecting players like we've done pretty much since SR arrived. 

I think it's the right strategy for clubs like ourselves, enough of the focus on tippy tappy players, more of a focus on genuine power, strength and pace.

That's what will get us success longer term, it shouldn't be about focusing on having a higher average possession percentage. I'll always stand by that!

I'm much more comfortable with this profile of player as they've already got a bigger chance of being able to succeed at PL level due to their physical profiles.

[Turkish]

49 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

I think it's the right strategy for clubs like ourselves, enough of the focus on tippy tappy players, more of a focus on genuine power, strength and pace.

That's what will get us success longer term, it shouldn't be about focusing on having a higher average possession percentage. I'll always stand by that!

I'm much more comfortable with this profile of player as they've already got a bigger chance of being able to succeed at PL level due to their physical profiles.

I agree, as they old saying goes you can’t have champagne tastes when you have beer money 

you can’t expect average players to play like prime Barcelona

[AlexLaw76]

1 hour ago, Turkish said:

 

you can’t expect average players to play like prime Barcelona

What you talking about 

 

[Saint Fan CaM]

I think we will know very quickly if Downs is the striker we’ve been hankering for. He’ll be mobile in and around the box, he’ll choose to shoot rather than pass or take one too many touches and he’ll work well with his fellow frontmen. If he’s missing any one of those attributes we’ll know we’ve just signed another Mara or at best, just signed more of the same - aka AA, BBD, Archer, Stewart.

[Saint Neil]

On the bench for USA v Guatemala Concacaf Gold Cup - Semi-final kicking off now.

[CSA96]

USA won 2-1, meaning he'll stay with them until after the final, which is set for Monday, July 7

[sockeye]

1 hour ago, CSA96 said:

USA won 2-1, meaning he'll stay with them until after the final, which is set for Monday, July 7

Hopefully he’ll get a run out for the Eastleigh game. Maybe at 80 minutes when we’re 6-0 up? 😁

[Nolan]

official stats show fantastic 100% passing accuracy rate yesterday. admittedly he only had 1 touch but who's counting.

 

 

[Matthew Le God]

3 hours ago, sockeye said:

Hopefully he’ll get a run out for the Eastleigh game. Maybe at 80 minutes when we’re 6-0 up? 😁

The Eastleigh game might be too soon. Most players after summer international tournaments or friendlies have a holiday break afterwards as they missed the one non international players have just had. Very occasionally some don't or keep it short, particularly those that have joined a new club.

[Wade Garrett]

58 minutes ago, Nolan said:

official stats show fantastic 100% passing accuracy rate yesterday. admittedly he only had 1 touch but who's counting.

 

 

The spreadsheet wankers will be ejaculating at that.

[sotonjoe]

Give me a g .... U .... I ..... D ..... O

[goodymatt]

Not really ideal that USA are going all the way to the end of this tournament, will limit Downs pre season a bit.

[Patches O Houlihan]

7 minutes ago, goodymatt said:

Not really ideal that USA are going all the way to the end of this tournament, will limit Downs pre season a bit.

But on the plus side if they win the tournament his confidence will be high, and adding a winner to a group who lost 30 league games last season has got to be a benefit

[goodymatt]

18 minutes ago, Patches O Houlihan said:

But on the plus side if they win the tournament his confidence will be high, and adding a winner to a group who lost 30 league games last season has got to be a benefit

I like that side of the coin!

[Turkish]

Just one issue with this is that playing for US now means he'll probably get a month off and not start preseason training until the season starts, which means he wont be fully fit probably until early October. 

[Weston Super Saint]

54 minutes ago, Turkish said:

Just one issue with this is that playing for US now means he'll probably get a month off and not start preseason training until the season starts, which means he wont be fully fit probably until early October. 

Earlier than Stewart then?

[Patches O Houlihan]

3 hours ago, Turkish said:

Just one issue with this is that playing for US now means he'll probably get a month off and not start preseason training until the season starts, which means he wont be fully fit probably until early October. 

But if he is playing in a cup competition for the US in July will he be cup tied?!

[Turkish]

Just now, Patches O Houlihan said:

But if he is playing in a cup competition for the US in July will he be cup tied?!

good point, wont be able to use the League cup to get fit either 

[sockeye]

Ah, I forgot that all these preseason (or postseason?) competitions kicked off basicially straight away... Well, hope he doesn't relax too much!

[Turkish]

2 minutes ago, sockeye said:

Ah, I forgot that all these preseason (or postseason?) competitions kicked off basicially straight away... Well, hope he doesn't relax too much!

The Gold Cup FFS, what's a footballer doing competing in a horse racing competition? Getting himself cup tied for it too, Shambles of a club. 

[tdmickey3]

31 minutes ago, Turkish said:

The Gold Cup FFS, what's a footballer doing competing in a horse racing competition? Getting himself cup tied for it too, Shambles of a club. 

Well ! We`ve had a few that should have been in the donkey derby at least this is a step up

[Toadhall Saint]

3 hours ago, Weston Super Saint said:

Earlier than Stewart then?

He didn’t say what year tho.

[Weston Super Saint]

1 hour ago, Turkish said:

The Gold Cup FFS, what's a footballer doing competing in a horse racing competition? Getting himself cup tied for it too, Shambles of a club. 

It's a good test for our super fast new players.  Gold Cup this summer, Commonwealth games 4x100m relay next summer with a view to the Olympics in 2028.  All makes sense when you look through the right lens  

[CSA96]

His direct rival for the USA #9 is moving to the Championship...

 

[SNSUN]

41 minutes ago, CSA96 said:

His direct rival for the USA #9 is moving to the Championship...

 

I thought that was the former Skate player when I read it and now realise he's in his mid-40s. 

[Fabrice29]

8 hours ago, CSA96 said:

His direct rival for the USA #9 is moving to the Championship...

 

I think they have slightly better rivals for the 9# than each other tbh. Presumably these two, Sargent and Wright  are all fighting out in the Championship for the third striker spot behind Balogun and Pepi at the World Cup.

[Paul Chuckle]

22m ago

07:58

Saints agree deal to sign FC Koln striker Downs

Latest from Sky Sports News' Mark McAdam:

 

Southampton are understood to have agreed a deal with 2. Bundesliga side FC Koln for striker Damion Downs.

 

The 20-year-old USA international scored 10 goals in the German second division last season.

[goodymatt]

 

[Saint Scott]

2 minutes ago, goodymatt said:

 

Hopefully this turns out to be a shrewd signing for the price.

Out of interest, who was the last American player we had? Kasey Keller?

[goodymatt]

2 minutes ago, Saint Scott said:

Hopefully this turns out to be a shrewd signing for the price.

Out of interest, who was the last American player we had? Kasey Keller?

Yep, think he is the most recent.

[hypochondriac]

3 minutes ago, goodymatt said:

Yep, think he is the most recent.

We had Cody Cropper but he never played for the first team. 

[Miltonaggro]

7 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

We had Cody Cropper but he never played for the first team. 

Yes, about as useful as Roy Cropper. 

[goodymatt]

If this is correct (2.7k followers posting FC Koln news), the initial fee is pretty low, £5m upfront and £1.8m add ons.

[UpweySaint]

5 minutes ago, goodymatt said:

If this is correct (2.7k followers posting FC Koln news), the initial fee is pretty low, £5m upfront and £1.8m add ons.

No guarantees but we’ve seen other teams get more value from European leagues for a while. That price for an international striker with goals in a comparable league with his physical ability profile has the potential to be a good deal at relative low risk. You could say similar about Quarshie.

[Badger]

1 minute ago, UpweySaint said:

No guarantees but we’ve seen other teams get more value from European leagues for a while. That price for an international striker with goals in a comparable league with his physical ability profile has the potential to be a good deal at relative low risk. You could say similar about Quarshie.

Just hope we don't end up saying similar to Mara. 

[austsaint]

1 minute ago, Badger said:
 

[austsaint]

2 minutes ago, Badger said:

Just hope we don't end up saying similar to Mara. 

One difference appears to be the confidence Pochettino has in the lad.   I’ll back his judgement in.   Still think we need a better strike force than Downs, Stewart, Archer and Arma though.