Damion Downs

[saintant]

Just now, trousers said:

Yup... How many windows is it now that Sport Republic haven't properly replaced Danny Ings...?

Far too many. Yet again we are having to make do and mend in the striker department having wasted a good sized chunk of money on a young signing probably because SR feel he may make them a few quid in the future. Their decision making continues to fuck up the club.

[Mboto Gorge]

Seriously, how bad is this guy? Up against some pretty stiff competition lately, he’s well and truly nailed the “shittest centre forward under sport republic” award in record time. 
it’s not just his clumsiness, his lack of ability at finishing or holding the ball up, or winning the ball in the air. It’s the fact he also seems to be a complete wimp who isn’t up for a battle, to boot. SR have managed to find the most physically and mentally weak 6ft 4 striker on the planet - when you think who we could’ve brought in to be effective with the budget we have at this level and we sign this left field chump. I was in the Hull end today as missed out on getting tickets in our end, I was behind the dugouts and downs seemed eager to get off the pitch when he was subbed, looked happy to get off, which says all you need to know about him. I’d go as far as to say I never want to see him in a saints shirt again. Even worse than Mara

Edited Saturday at 17:51 by Mboto Gorge

[Pamplemousse]

For the amount of money we spent, this is up there as one of the worst signings we've ever made. Something is seriously wrong behind the scenes. Spors has to sort it out, that's his responsibility 

[ally_uk]

Shite would of rather signed Miovski 

[Mboto Gorge]

McBurnie is miles better than him, which again says it all. 

[Gloucester Saint]

Needs shipping off to the MLS as soon as their transfer window opens, although it will probably the level below that realistically. 

[Saint NL]

Imagine this guy might be playing in the world cup next summer.

The championship already looks several levels too high for him.

[Wade Garrett]

Could have signed Kone for £2.5m, Ings for nothing, but the clever-bollocks (probably that geek from Barclays Bank) thought spunking a load more money on Downs was the clever-bollocks thing to do.

I wish all the clever-bollocks wankers at the club would all fuck off.

[Turkish]

What is it with us and strikers? Where do we find them? He was absolutely clueless today, looks miles off it, no threat in the air, no movement, crap first touch, put wide a chance when he did finally get one on one with the keeper. He looks terrible 

[Wade Garrett]

1 minute ago, Turkish said:

What is it with us and strikers? Where do we find them? He was absolutely clueless today, looks miles off it, no threat in the air, no movement, crap first touch, put wide a chance when he did finally get one on one with the keeper. He looks terrible 

He did a fucking good job of not challenging for headers.  Absolute wank.

[Mboto Gorge]

Just now, Turkish said:

What is it with us and strikers? Where do we find them? He was absolutely clueless today, looks miles off it, no threat in the air, no movement, crap first touch, put wide a chance when he did finally get one on one with the keeper. He looks terrible 

He also had no strikers instinct either, was always on his heels when crosses came in, barely challenged the keeper on the few times we did get a half reasonable cross in towards the 6 yard box, worryingly it looked like he didn’t WANT to get on the end of anything either. Pathetic signing in a long list of pathetic signings by this joke of an ownership group. The Hull fans couldn’t believe how bad he was and couldn’t believe the amount we forked out for him either. Would be Laughable if it wasn’t our club, but none of us are fucking laughing at this shit show as we lie 19th in the championship

[AlexLaw76]

I get that “it takes time” for many when they come over to another country and to a different league.

there is taking time then there is this 

fucking hell.

I hoped that the ridiculous sitters missed were just unfortunate, but Christ alive 

 

Edited Saturday at 19:43 by AlexLaw76

[Turkish]

5 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

I get that “it takes time” for many when they come over to another country and to a different league.

there is taking time then there is this 

fucking hell.

I hoped that the ridiculous sitters missed were just unfortunate, but Christ alive 

He shows nothing to suggest he is even remotely close to being a championship level player. As @MB said he didn’t look like he wanted to get on the end of stuff. Didn’t attack the cross, no instinct, no movement.  He was just there not really do anything 

[AlexLaw76]

Bamford is a free agent, isn’t he?

get him in the building ffs

[Gloucester Saint]

41 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Bamford is a free agent, isn’t he?

get him in the building ffs

Was a good player but we’d be replacing Ross Stewart basically. 

[Gloucester Saint]

58 minutes ago, Turkish said:

What is it with us and strikers? Where do we find them? He was absolutely clueless today, looks miles off it, no threat in the air, no movement, crap first touch, put wide a chance when he did finally get one on one with the keeper. He looks terrible 

It’s amazing how high shit can be stacked.

[Mboto Gorge]

1 minute ago, Gloucester Saint said:

Was a good player but we’d be replacing Ross Stewart basically. 

May aswell have Rod Stewart up front at this fucking rate

[Mboto Gorge]

48 minutes ago, Turkish said:

He shows nothing to suggest he is even remotely close to being a championship level player. As @MB said he didn’t look like he wanted to get on the end of stuff. Didn’t attack the cross, no instinct, no movement.  He was just there not really do anything 

Exactly. There is a reason why Hulls crosses caused havoc several times and resulted in goals being scored, whereas ours resulted in the keeper claiming everything or their defenders nodding everything away with complete ease, and that’s because they had players willing to get on the end of crosses and put themselves about and time runs into our box, whereas our “centre forward” was incapable of getting on the end of anything, and didn’t really look like he wanted to either. Totally unforgivable and shouldn’t be picked again for a long long time . Not only is he crap, but he clearly lacks the desire as well

Edited Saturday at 20:28 by Mboto Gorge

[S-Clarke]

He has a very languid style, which doesn't help fans perception of him.

But the chance he had, was such a shit finish. pub level stuff. He scuffed it.

He's had a very, very slow start but he doesn't make it easy for himself as he looks lazy. He's got a Mara vibe about him which I don't like.

[Willo of Whiteley]

He looks lazy as anything.

 

[Mboto Gorge]

28 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

He has a very languid style, which doesn't help fans perception of him.

But the chance he had, was such a shit finish. pub level stuff. He scuffed it.

He's had a very, very slow start but he doesn't make it easy for himself as he looks lazy. He's got a Mara vibe about him which I don't like.

You’ve almost got to laugh though, we spent a couple of years praying to see the end of Mara at this football club, and as soon as we do, the owners spend another large chunk of money on an even worse clone of him 

[Gloucester Saint]

27 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

He has a very languid style, which doesn't help fans perception of him.

But the chance he had, was such a shit finish. pub level stuff. He scuffed it.

He's had a very, very slow start but he doesn't make it easy for himself as he looks lazy. He's got a Mara vibe about him which I don't like.

He’s going to cop some serious shit (possibly the odd object - not that I ever condone that) from the stands if he plays again in the Boro game with that attitude. 

That’s three times he’s missed it/almost fallen over the ball in front of goal and three sitters missed.

Typical SR project signing - and whilst Mara was a lazy git too, technically he was miles ahead of this bloke. Paul Moody was tall, basic and not very good but at least he put himself about for Branfoot and did well at Oxford.

Where does the club find these players - Carrillo, Onachu, Downs? Austin was saying on the podcast that in the first training session Guido Carrillo was at, the players were astonished as what he cost, looked nowhere a PL player. 

 

[Osvaldorama]

Laughably bad

Every time I think our recruitment can’t get any worse.. they somehow manage it. 

Can’t hold it up. Can’t head it. Can’t pass it. Can’t finish. 

At this point I think our recruitment is done based purely off 2 minute YouTube videos 

[stknowle]

5 hours ago, Osvaldorama said:

Laughably bad

Every time I think our recruitment can’t get any worse.. they somehow manage it. 

Can’t hold it up. Can’t head it. Can’t pass it. Can’t finish. 

At this point I think our recruitment is done based purely off 2 minute YouTube videos 

Thing is he looked shit in his highlights reel. 

[disconnect]

I think he will take time, but initial signs not good, and clearly lacking in confidence. For a big guy, not wanting to challenge in the air is not good...

[pimpin4rizeal]

Seems a bit harsh to be ripping him apart already it was only his first league start ..  there’s bigger culprits then him like bazunu and thb to point the finger at. 
seems holding the ball up isnt really his game so far but I like the runs off the shoulder and when gets the right type of ball he’s got the acceleration to be through on goal If that shot went in all the hate probably wouldn’t exist. Anyway too much hate is only gonna destroy his confidence 

[Osvaldorama]

3 minutes ago, pimpin4rizeal said:

Seems a bit harsh to be ripping him apart already it was only his first league start ..  there’s bigger culprits then him like bazunu and thb to point the finger at. 
seems holding the ball up isnt really his game so far but I like the runs off the shoulder and when gets the right type of ball he’s got the acceleration to be through on goal If that shot went in all the hate probably wouldn’t exist. Anyway too much hate is only gonna destroy his confidence 

 

i dont think its harsh at all. He’s clearly nowhere near ready for a team that’s supposed to be challenging for promotion. 
 

Striker has been a huge issue for us for a long time so I admit that he may be taking the brunt of that… but Christ he’s been poor. 

[sockeye]

Needs to be fined £1000 for each unattempted header

[Mboto Gorge]

2 hours ago, pimpin4rizeal said:

Seems a bit harsh to be ripping him apart already it was only his first league start ..  there’s bigger culprits then him like bazunu and thb to point the finger at. 
seems holding the ball up isnt really his game so far but I like the runs off the shoulder and when gets the right type of ball he’s got the acceleration to be through on goal If that shot went in all the hate probably wouldn’t exist. Anyway too much hate is only gonna destroy his confidence 

There’s absolutely nothing harsh about criticising a guy who’s been brought in clearly as our main striker signing this season, (i mean he must be , because he’s the only striker they signed), especially when he isn’t prepared to get himself on the end of balls into the box. As a big centre forward that’s usually your main job, and not only doesn’t he do it, he appears to be afraid to and lacking the commitment or bravery to do so. So yeah, it’s not harsh at all. He’s fucking shite, and he also doesn’t want to go in where it hurts. Combine the two and you’ve got a complete waste of a place in the squad. Useless, and id be absolutely amazed if he improves enough to be a starter in this team. 
 

Let’s not forget that spors identified that we needed height and strength in the squad. So either Downs isn’t doing what he was signed to do and we’ve seen him do for his previous clubs  when scouting him, or we’ve yet again completely fucked up and managed to sign a player who’s the exact opposite of what we needed, other than the fact he’s tall. Shambles all round but are we surprised?

Edited Sunday at 17:06 by Mboto Gorge

[miserableoldgit]

My wife, who is not known for her football knowledge, was watching a Saints game on TV recently asked who Downs was as he didn't seem to be trying very hard.....

[miserableoldgit]

Interesting quotes from Koln fans, from a post in July:- 

Koln Fans on Damion Downs. Most seem to be angry with the club for selling him - a missed opportunity

"He needs time and experience. The quality is there especially with the ball at his feet. Not really a Target Man. The potential is there and he has been improving and developing through out the season. Would give him some time and maybe someone with experience by his side."

---

"He is a good striker, but he needs to work on his first touch. But he improved in shooting and dribbling. His finishing is very good. I think you will have fun with him."

---

"He probably needs another 1 to 2 years to realise his full potential. Dangerous in the box and a very good shot. First touch and positioning in space could be improved, he also needs to learn to use his body better. Probably best as a 9 or single striker.

[Mboto Gorge]

13 minutes ago, miserableoldgit said:

Interesting quotes from Koln fans, from a post in July:- 

Koln Fans on Damion Downs. Most seem to be angry with the club for selling him - a missed opportunity

"He needs time and experience. The quality is there especially with the ball at his feet. Not really a Target Man. The potential is there and he has been improving and developing through out the season. Would give him some time and maybe someone with experience by his side."

---

"He is a good striker, but he needs to work on his first touch. But he improved in shooting and dribbling. His finishing is very good. I think you will have fun with him."

---

"He probably needs another 1 to 2 years to realise his full potential. Dangerous in the box and a very good shot. First touch and positioning in space could be improved, he also needs to learn to use his body better. Probably best as a 9 or single striker.

Ah so despite needing someone ready for the here and now, we’ve yet again reverted to type and signed someone who “might come good in a year or two”. Brilliant, couldn’t make it up. Especially the fact that he’s “not really a target man” which is surely what we were needing , someone strong to hold the ball up since Adams left, to be a focal point . 

[Football Special]

17 minutes ago, Mboto Gorge said:

Ah so despite needing someone ready for the here and now, we’ve yet again reverted to type and signed someone who “might come good in a year or two”. Brilliant, couldn’t make it up. Especially the fact that he’s “not really a target man” which is surely what we were needing , someone strong to hold the ball up since Adams left, to be a focal point . 

Agree, look at total spend, some of which on players I doubt will even play that much, funds should have been used to identify a goal scorer who could come into the side and replace Tall Paul / Ross Stewart , or at least a loan fee for one, Downs was not what we needed right now. 

Edited Monday at 14:50 by Football Special

[Mboto Gorge]

11 minutes ago, Football Special said:

Agree, look at total spend, some of which on players I doubt will even play that much, funds should have been used to identify a goal scorer who could come into the side and replace Tall Paul / Ross Stewart , or at least a loan fee for one, Downs was not what we needed right now. 

Yep, they literally can’t drag themselves away from the temptation and habit of filling the squad with several “might come good and make us a tidy profit” young players from abroad, rather than actually spend the correct amount of money to improve the sodding first team right here and now with proven performers. They finally attempted to do that with Fellows and Azaz, and probably Jander and Scienza, but the actual spine of the team is noticeably lacking as usual. It isn’t difficult to find an effective striker for championship level for a club with our pull for this level, but we’ve sure as hell made it difficult .  

[JohnnyShearer2.0]

I do feel a little sorry for him. It's not helped that the team just aren't functioning at the moment and he seems to be snatching at chances.

[saintant]

Maybe someone needs to show him where the gym is at Staplewood so he can get on the weights to help give him the strength needed to play centre forward.

[Mboto Gorge]

8 minutes ago, JohnnyShearer2.0 said:

I do feel a little sorry for him. It's not helped that the team just aren't functioning at the moment and he seems to be snatching at chances.

My sympathy only goes so far for someone who doesn’t want to compete and put himself about 

[saintant]

Just now, Mboto Gorge said:

My sympathy only goes so far for someone who doesn’t want to compete and put himself about 

Agree, those are bare minimum requirements.

[JohnnyShearer2.0]

1 minute ago, Mboto Gorge said:

My sympathy only goes so far for someone who doesn’t want to compete and put himself about 

Fair point. Maybe it is the coaching?

[Chez]

In the games I've watched I have seen plenty of movement and runs, but that knack of going where the cross will be isn't there, not at the moment anyway. Whether that will click into place I'm not sure. At the moment he seems to be the opposite of a magnet. To his defence, some of the crossing is woeful and he is not picked out. However there have been some crosses into decent areas and he's been no where to be found.

I don't see a big powerful athlete that we had hoped for. He moves well, but where is the power and physical presence. I have yet to see him win a header. I haven't really seen any hold up play yet. When a long ball goes forward it never seems to be anywhere near him and we don't really ping it to him to play off. Not sure that's entirely his fault.

The one-on-one chance he got was the type you expect a decent striker to finish. There isn't really any excuses. He has enough time to set himself, but not much time to overthink it. It wasn't all that close. A really poor finish. He hasnt exactly had a lot of shooting chances, so it would be folly to write him off based on that one.

 

[saintant]

4 minutes ago, Chez said:

In the games I've watched I have seen plenty of movement and runs, but that knack of going where the cross will be isn't there, not at the moment anyway. Whether that will click into place I'm not sure. At the moment he seems to be the opposite of a magnet. To his defence, some of the crossing is woeful and he is not picked out. However there have been some crosses into decent areas and he's been no where to be found.

I don't see a big powerful athlete that we had hoped for. He moves well, but where is the power and physical presence. I have yet to see him win a header. I haven't really seen any hold up play yet. When a long ball goes forward it never seems to be anywhere near him and we don't really ping it to him to play off. Not sure that's entirely his fault.

The one-on-one chance he got was the type you expect a decent striker to finish. There isn't really any excuses. He has enough time to set himself, but not much time to overthink it. It wasn't all that close. A really poor finish. He hasnt exactly had a lot of shooting chances, so it would be folly to write him off based on that one.

 

He's no Diego Costa that's for sure 🙂

[Andy Hill]

Risky signing that has yet to show anything better than what we had.

[pimpin4rizeal]

On 21/09/2025 at 18:02, Mboto Gorge said:

There’s absolutely nothing harsh about criticising a guy who’s been brought in clearly as our main striker signing this season, (i mean he must be , because he’s the only striker they signed), especially when he isn’t prepared to get himself on the end of balls into the box. As a big centre forward that’s usually your main job, and not only doesn’t he do it, he appears to be afraid to and lacking the commitment or bravery to do so. So yeah, it’s not harsh at all. He’s fucking shite, and he also doesn’t want to go in where it hurts. Combine the two and you’ve got a complete waste of a place in the squad. Useless, and id be absolutely amazed if he improves enough to be a starter in this team. 
 

Let’s not forget that spors identified that we needed height and strength in the squad. So either Downs isn’t doing what he was signed to do and we’ve seen him do for his previous clubs  when scouting him, or we’ve yet again completely fucked up and managed to sign a player who’s the exact opposite of what we needed, other than the fact he’s tall. Shambles all round but are we surprised?

Not so sure he was signed to be first choice, seems more in the same bracket as quarshie. As a signing with potential. 
 

spors plan of recruiting pace and power doesn’t really seem to have materialised, midfield is one of the places you would want that just yet we sign lightweights there .. and the only signs of it are downs and quarshie who both seem raw 🤨

[Mboto Gorge]

36 minutes ago, pimpin4rizeal said:

Not so sure he was signed to be first choice, seems more in the same bracket as quarshie. As a signing with potential. 
 

spors plan of recruiting pace and power doesn’t really seem to have materialised, midfield is one of the places you would want that just yet we sign lightweights there .. and the only signs of it are downs and quarshie who both seem raw 🤨

I was sort of playing devils advocate there, the club thought Stewart would be our main target man striker based on a goal against Arsenal in the final game last season, so they’ve just half arsed it with another “project” striker who is a complete gamble. We obviously needed someone to be our key striker signing, but again we’ve just invested in another “for the future”.  Ridiculously naive yet again to be relying on an injury prone and very rusty striker who’s not had a proper run of games since he’s been at the club, and a very raw seemingly lazy American youngster who doesn’t seem to understand or want to get to grips with the physical demands of the English game at championship level. 

Edited Tuesday at 09:57 by Mboto Gorge

[Baz Fl]

We spent 8M euros on Downs while Hull go McBurnie on a free transfer. One of them bullied their markers, scored and got an assist while the other looked terrified and disinterested. We desperately needed the finished product and not a project/maybe.

Downs will join the growing list of piss poor center forwards that seems to have no end

[Mboto Gorge]

19 minutes ago, Baz Fl said:

We spent 8M euros on Downs while Hull go McBurnie on a free transfer. One of them bullied their markers, scored and got an assist while the other looked terrified and disinterested. We desperately needed the finished product and not a project/maybe.

Downs will join the growing list of piss poor center forwards that seems to have no end

Yep, it’s already fairly obvious that, like Mara, he’s nowhere close to being suited to demands of English football . This will be yet another player who we will counting down the clock until we can get rid of him over the next couple of years as his contract winds down . It was evident with Mara fairly early that he wasn’t up to it, and this guys even worse. 

Edited Tuesday at 14:27 by Mboto Gorge

[Toussaint]

I just watched his YouTube highlights reel. Jees, he's never going to get 3 yards of space and defenders mincing around him in the championship while he takes 30 seconds to tee up his wobbly shots..

[Patrick Bateman]

Get him in the U21s, shouldn't be near the first team ... 

[trousers]

...

Edited Tuesday at 20:37 by trousers
Wrong thread!

[Toussaint]

He is so absolutely useless , I can’t find one redeeming feature