Football News: Is Downing Really The Difference Maker For Boro

Image from: footballmills.com

There is a lot of talk about how Middlesbrough are trying to complete a deal with West Ham United for the return of Stewart Downing to the North East club. Is this simply nostalgia, the desire of a return of a player from a successful era, or is Downing really capable of being the difference between a team that returns to the Premier League or stays stuck in the Championship?

I find it difficult to believe that there is not a little bit of nostalgia surrounding this deal, on both sides, as I doubt Downing would have any interest in any other Championship team. On Boro's side, even ruling out any nostalgia clouding the assessment of his abilities, I am sure that the management are hoping that it will bring in bigger crowds having him in the team.

That nostalgia might actually be a good thing for the club, bigger crowds increased ticket sales leads to more money in the coffers for better signings in the future. So even if he does not have the expected impact on the pitch, his off pitch impact makes this deal an excellent one for Middlesbrough.

For Stewart Downing it is also a good deal, as Slaven Bilic would prefer to sell him and that means he is likely to spend a season watching from the sidelines if he does stay at the Hammers. This is a chance to make himself a legend for Boro, by making an impact on the pitch and leading them back to the promised land of the Prem.

The only real question is whether he is good enough to drag Boro back up, which is a question that would lead to different answers from just about everyone you speak to. Downing is a player that is not universally loved, oddly people differ in their opinions over his attributes too.

Some people think he is lazy, a poor crosser of the ball, lacks trickery and pace, while others think completely the opposite. So which is the real Stewart Downing?

Looking back at his career it is clear that one of the things that is liked by his coaches is his workrate, they trust him to perform a number of different roles and put in a shift at the very least. His crossing also seems to be very good, even at Liverpool, where he added just 4 assists from wide areas in his first season, he created the most chances in the Prem.

Sometimes it is not the wingers fault if he is not getting assists, sometimes it is the lack of anyone to get on the end of the crosses and provide the finishing touch. Though pace and trickery are less clear.

He is not lightning quick, by any means, but he is not slow either. As an out and out winger he lacks the pace and trickery to beat full backs on a consistent basis to create space for good crosses, which is why he was so successful when played in the centre behind two strikers.

Downing has a very good, accurate left foot, capable of playing threaded passes or whipping in a cross, but lacks the pace and trickery to really make the most of that asset from the wing. If Boro play him in the centre, with runners giving him options for the pass, he will be one of the best players in the Championship.

Stick him out on the wing and he might just disappoint badly, despite his willingness to work for the team. It would be a shame for both the fans and the club if he was not given every chance possible to succeed.

Written by Tris Burke July 03 2015 08:39:51