Downing or N'zogbia ?

Stewart Downing IMO.

Dean wrote:Who did set the league on fire last season? All's I know is, he played fantastically well and was easily the best Villa player (ahead of Young, who Man Utd bought ironically) which is why we're buying him. Proved himself at Middlesbrough, got a bigger move to Villa. Proved himself at Villa and has earned himself a big money move to Liverpool. Can he do it at Liverpool? Under Dalglish and a resurgent Liverpool, why not? He's always had the quality.

How how was Villa when Barcelona bought him?

What? You comparing Downing to David Villa? Villa had a 23 goal season and an outstanding world cup..

I dont understand the point you're making here Dean, Villa was one of the best strikers in the world when Barca bought him.

Sean wrote:I dont understand the point you're making here Dean, Villa was one of the best strikers in the world when Barca bought him.

I'd go as far as saying that he was the best

Hitchy wrote:

Sean wrote:I dont understand the point you're making here Dean, Villa was one of the best strikers in the world when Barca bought him.

I'd go as far as saying that he was the best

Quite possibly yea

I recon Drogba was the best that year personally.

Fuck me Dean, Villa was rated by many as the best striker in the world before he moved to Bacelona, his finishing and goal to game ratio was up there with the best in the world for sure. Downing has just come off a decent but not top class season with Villa, he rarely changes games for Villa that is usually down to Young, although you could argue Downing was more consistent. Are you really trying to compare these twk?

Downing comapared to Villa...

What the fuck Dean?

You're probably misinterpreting him.

I'm not. He's saying Downing earned a big money move like Villa did. Ignoring that Villa played at a much bigger club anyway, AND was always one of the best strikers around.

The point is, just because a player is around 26/27 and doesn't play for an 'elite' club. That doesn't mean they can't be top players and play in top teams. Because according to some people, if Downing was that 'good', he'd of joined a top club at an earlier age. How old was Villa when he joined Barcelona 28? And he only joined Valencia at 24.

Fucking hell, get off his back, he didn't say Downing was as good as Villa

No Dean it's completely different, Villa had no shortage of suitors when he was at Valencia, no other top club was interested in Downing

Sean wrote:No Dean it's completely different, Villa had no shortage of suitors when he was at Valencia, no other top club was interested in Downing

This.

Villa's quality was(is) undeniable. Downing's is far from it.

Sean wrote:No Dean it's completely different, Villa had no shortage of suitors when he was at Valencia, no other top club was interested in Downing

It was rumoured that Arsenal were.

Jay wrote:

Sean wrote:No Dean it's completely different, Villa had no shortage of suitors when he was at Valencia, no other top club was interested in Downing

It was rumoured that Arsenal were.

Do you honestly believe Arsenal would buy Downing?

Jay wrote:

Sean wrote:No Dean it's completely different, Villa had no shortage of suitors when he was at Valencia, no other top club was interested in Downing

It was rumoured that Arsenal were.

Even if we were which I doubt, we are a class below the type of clubs that have chased Villa; Man Utd, Madrid, Barcelona, Chelsea.

Steadman wrote:

Jay wrote:

Sean wrote:No Dean it's completely different, Villa had no shortage of suitors when he was at Valencia, no other top club was interested in Downing

It was rumoured that Arsenal were.

Even if we were which I doubt, we are a class below the type of clubs that have chased Villa; Man Utd, Madrid, Barcelona, Chelsea.

I think we put a bid in for Villa and could have signed him.

Sean wrote:No Dean it's completely different, Villa had no shortage of suitors when he was at Valencia, no other top club was interested in Downing

You're mis-informed then Sean. When Downing broke onto the scene at Middlesbrough, he was highly highly rated. And there were a number of clubs sniffing round him. I know for fact we wanted him when he was at 'Boro, Rafa put a bid in. Man Utd were also linked at the time too. Anyhow, move never materialised and he ended up at Villa. And also you say, noone wanted Downing? Ok then, let's just forget Arsenal enquired about Downing, right after we'd had a £15m bid turned down.

I'm not comparing Downing to Villa, quality wise, I'm not an idiot. I'm comparing the situations. Which are similar, it weren't the best comparison to use, but I'm in the middle of things at the moment, so I couldn't really be assed divulging into an in-depth discussion about it.

Basically, moral of the story is: Just because he hasn't had any top club experience and played at a top club by his mid 20's, that doesn't mean, he hasn't got the quality or can't excel in a better team. Like people seem to be indicating.

arsenalap11 wrote:

Steadman wrote:

Jay wrote:

Sean wrote:No Dean it's completely different, Villa had no shortage of suitors when he was at Valencia, no other top club was interested in Downing

It was rumoured that Arsenal were.

Even if we were which I doubt, we are a class below the type of clubs that have chased Villa; Man Utd, Madrid, Barcelona, Chelsea.

I think we put a bid in for Villa and could have signed him.

That wasn't my point.

Steadman wrote:

arsenalap11 wrote:

Steadman wrote:

Jay wrote:

Sean wrote:No Dean it's completely different, Villa had no shortage of suitors when he was at Valencia, no other top club was interested in Downing

It was rumoured that Arsenal were.

Even if we were which I doubt, we are a class below the type of clubs that have chased Villa; Man Utd, Madrid, Barcelona, Chelsea.

I think we put a bid in for Villa and could have signed him.

That wasn't my point.

Fair enough, just saying it wasn't impossible for us not to sign Villa.

Dean I don't think people are criticising the Downing signing because of his age or who he plays for. People are complaining because of the price and his ability.

But I have heard you use that before Jamie. (Anyway, am off, gorra' eat and then I've got football).

N'Zogbia any day..

Kuled wrote:inb4liverpoolfc4ever
N'zogbia

Dean wrote:But I have heard you use that before Jamie. (Anyway, am off, gorra' eat and then I've got football).

I've used the age argument before but not in the same context.

I've said we won't get many years out of him and he's hardly someone with potential. I've never said "no one wants him so he isn't good".

Dean wrote:

Sean wrote:No Dean it's completely different, Villa had no shortage of suitors when he was at Valencia, no other top club was interested in Downing

You're mis-informed then Sean. When Downing broke onto the scene at Middlesbrough, he was highly highly rated. And there were a number of clubs sniffing round him. I know for fact we wanted him when he was at 'Boro, Rafa put a bid in. Man Utd were also linked at the time too. Anyhow, move never materialised and he ended up at Villa. And also you say, noone wanted Downing? Ok then, let's just forget Arsenal enquired about Downing, right after we'd had a £15m bid turned down.

I'm not comparing Downing to Villa, quality wise, I'm not an idiot. I'm comparing the situations. Which are similar, it weren't the best comparison to use, but I'm in the middle of things at the moment, so I couldn't really be assed divulging into an in-depth discussion about it.

Basically, moral of the story is: Just because he hasn't had any top club experience and played at a top club by his mid 20's, that doesn't mean, he hasn't got the quality or can't excel in a better team. Like people seem to be indicating.

Because he had development and age available then, now he's limited to what the ability he has now and it's not great.

Where's the proper proof Arsenal wanted downing? Arsenal prefer players with flair on the wing who play on the ground

Filippo Inzaghi wrote:Who is better?

Day after day.

Something I don't understand is; Arsenal were linked with Downing, don't sign him, people come out and say "We never wanted him anyway".

Liverpool were linked with Mata, looks like we won't get him, Arsenal fans flood into our thread with comments saying "Mata rejected you" when there is no proof that we wanted him in the first place.

Hasn't your owner openly stated that Liverpool were/are interested in Mata?