Damion Downs

[chivvy]

Makes BBD look like mbappe. I'm gutted his signing is working out.. 

[Wade Garrett]

Why did Still bring him on?  They must see how poor he is in training.  Valenciennes beckons, or Sholing.

At least Souness quickly realised how bad Dia was and hooked him off.

Those responsible for his signing should really be relieved of their positions, he’s that bad.

[BotleySaint]

Another training cone. Thanks SR! 

[Patches O Houlihan]

9 hours ago, Ekelund said:

The problem is now you can see the rest of the team reacting to every shit touch. It’s like watching a make a wish at the moment. There was one, on the 88th ish when still, downs (the average one) and manning just stood there, arms out wide and basically calling him out. It’s obvious now.

I watched the last 15 minutes of the game back specifically watching Downs. 

Everything he does is 30-70% energy max. Nothing he does is fully committed and aggressive. I did make one vaguely useful run into space but it required a worldy ball to him and you can completely see why his teammates wouldn't trust him.

The incident with Still and Manning showing frustration immediately followed Downs being powder puff but was actually because the ref incorrectly gave a throw in for Liverpool in injury time (standard)

But focusing on the intentions of our other players rather than watching the game everyone else was doing well in that last 15 minutes. We'll do alright this season if we can cut back on the crazy unforced errors.

[hypochondriac]

1 hour ago, Wade Garrett said:

Why did Still bring him on?  They must see how poor he is in training.  Valenciennes beckons, or Sholing.

At least Souness quickly realised how bad Dia was and hooked him off.

Those responsible for his signing should really be relieved of their positions, he’s that bad.

Because they're a bit desperate and need him to start working so that their decision not to get a striker doesn't look so mental.

[egg]

4 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

Because they're a bit desperate and need him to start working so that their decision not to get a striker doesn't look so mental.

They got a "striker" but sadly it was Downs. If he was million quid from forest green or similar it wouldn't be so bad, but we paid proper money for him. I agree though that we're playing him to justify the decision to buy him. 

I genuinely can't remember seeing a player with such a bad touch. That he's a lazy sod adds insult to injury. 

 

[egg]

1 hour ago, chivvy said:

Makes BBD look like mbappe. I'm gutted his signing is working out.. 

BBD through the middle would have been a better option by a mile. Ditto Paul. Feels crazy to be writing that. 

[Zorba]

[Stripey McStripe Shirt]

All being a bit harsh here. If Shea Charles wasn't where he was for his goal, Downs would have been a shoe in for a shot off target.

[disconnect]

He looks completely devoid of confidence, unlike his pre-season cameo where he took the run and smashed in a lovely finish. Not the best start, but still think he'll turn out to be semi useful, just needs to put himself about a bit more!

[Toussaint]

11 hours ago, S-Clarke said:

He's 'raw', but as we all said, we didn't need a gamble striker when our options weren't convincing as it was.

The two ends of the pitch remain our problem places, most of our goals will need to be from wide and AMC imo. It'll interesting to see how his stats look come the new year.

I remember watching James Beattie playing in a pre season friendly at Bournemouth, I didn’t know who he was. He was very “raw.”, but you could see straight away he had something about him. I’ll say it again, I cannot see a single redeeming feature in Downs.

At his age I’d have been more effective, I was nowhere near a top footballer.

[explorer saint]

We can't afford to give him game time now 

[Andy Hill]

Needs to find a different career - clearly not a footballer. It would be interesting to know what our scouting team saw in him ?!

[saintant]

10 hours ago, ally_uk said:

I haven't really been paying much attention to him. Come on lads he can't he that bad surely ?

Preseason when he banged in that goal I thought hold tight, he looks a decent finisher.... 

So what's going on? Struggling to adjust? Or is just naturally shite and the preseason goal was a fluke....

Also why isn't that Japanese lad playing? He cooked preseason! 

I thought similar after the pre-season strike which was a clever run and an instinctive finish but clearly that was the exception rather than the norm. He just runs around with no apparent idea of where he should be or what he should do, has a first touch that is clumsy at best and no physical presence. Ok, he needs time but my instinct is that we've been conned and sold a dud.

[SWLondon Saint]

I think it's still too early to judge. The scouting team won't have brought in a 'lazy' player, there's too much info out there these days - and he's been a Poch player with the US team, and there is no way Poch would even have him in his squad if he was lazy.

That means he's lacking in confidence or struggling to adjust. He needs some games in the reserves to figure out he should be bullying defenders with his pace and build. If they're on the ball, they should be wondering when he's going to tackle them, if we're on the ball they should be scared he's running in behind. Get that stuff right and then play on instinct and he should at least be able to be Shane Long-lite who never let his trampoline touch stop him being effective.

[Turkish]

9 hours ago, Osvaldorama said:

Ali Dia 

 

Literally the worst player I have seen since him. 
 

Only saints could sign a player this shit. 
 I didn’t think we could see a player worse than guido Carrillo but fuck me, we’ve actually done it. 
 

Weak, dumb, can’t control it, can’t pass it, can’t shoot. Fuck sake 

i remember a certain Sadio Mane being described as the worst player since Ali Dia so 

1/ You are factually incorrect

2/ he might be the same*

*he wont

[saintant]

11 hours ago, Sheaf Saint said:

Seven

Million

Pounds

Let that sink in! I think Joe Aribo would do a far better job at centre forward than this guy.

[saintant]

11 hours ago, RedArmy said:

Would love to see him in training. He must be doing something right or surely he wouldn’t have started at the weekend? 

He's playing against Stephens and THB so they probably make him look like Alexander Isaac.

[SWLondon Saint]

1 minute ago, saintant said:

He's playing against Stephens and THB so they probably make him look like Alexander Isaac.

I was thinking the same thing, he can probably bully them all day long! 😂

[Patches O Houlihan]

15 minutes ago, Andy Hill said:

Needs to find a different career - clearly not a footballer.

That's what it is! He looks like a lacrosse player.

When you're carrying a long stick with a big pocket then you don't have to move too much to collect the ball or dominate a space. 

[AlexLaw76]

There are so many strikers we could have got from the Championship alone for the cost (or less) than it took to bring this one in

It is unbelievable how bad he is

[saintant]

10 minutes ago, SWLondon Saint said:

I think it's still too early to judge. The scouting team won't have brought in a 'lazy' player, there's too much info out there these days - and he's been a Poch player with the US team, and there is no way Poch would even have him in his squad if he was lazy.

That means he's lacking in confidence or struggling to adjust. He needs some games in the reserves to figure out he should be bullying defenders with his pace and build. If they're on the ball, they should be wondering when he's going to tackle them, if we're on the ball they should be scared he's running in behind. Get that stuff right and then play on instinct and he should at least be able to be Shane Long-lite who never let his trampoline touch stop him being effective.

If he gets to be anywhere near the standard of Shane Long he'll become a very good footballer. Still don't get the derision by many because Longy did a good job for us and played all his games in the Premier League - can anyone imagine Downs playing in the PL!

[SWLondon Saint]

Just now, saintant said:

If he gets to be anywhere near the standard of Shane Long he'll become a very good footballer. Still don't get the derision by many because Longy did a good job for us and played all his games in the Premier League - can anyone imagine Downs playing in the PL!

Well exactly, Schlong had a horrendous first touch but he was an absolute terror at closing down and winning stuff in the air and on the ground he had no right to be winning. Scored some great goals too though my heart was always in my mouth when he had 'easy side foot in' type goals.

For an athlete like Downs, that's really the minimum he should be aiming for. What league he can do it in, I have no idea and we can only hope the new scouting team got it right...

[swannymere]

All the ex pros and coaches on here is astonishing, give the lad a break.

[AlexLaw76]

2 minutes ago, swannymere said:

All the ex pros and coaches on here is astonishing, give the lad a break.

break at what?

[imadirtyurchin]

Thing is. I can forgive him not being ready, for having a loose touch. Even his positioning. These things can be coached. 
 

but being lazy and visibly not putting in any actual effort. That’s the minimum. Especially if you’re no good. He’s athletic and quick allegedly - we’ve not seen that. 
 

I remember when Kevin Davies burst on the scene and how he put himself about. Running 40 yards at a sprint to tackle the defenders. Beattie also tried hard in his first years before his ability got better and he was able to channel his energy more effectively. This guy doesn’t even press. Or break into a jog. Only a trot. 

[CheshireSaint]

When he shows desire, determination and a general willingness to join in, he will deserve a break. As many have noted, his confidence may be rock bottom but you can be bereft of confidence and still put in a shift. Most will welcome the effort at least. Unless you are Matt Le Tiss incarnate, you don't get to bob around at your own pace.