Stewart Downing: the hype, the winger, the legend?
By Daniel • Nov 9th, 2008 • Category: Featured ArticlesStewart Downing is an enigma – targeted by England boo-boys, yet coveted by the big clubs.
He is recognised by Boro fans as one of our best players, and yet he is also the hottest topic of debate in the stands. Should he be dropped? Should he be sold? Is his heart still in it?
After coming through the ranks, Downing’s rise to stardom was rapid. When he was catapulted in to the England set-up, Teesside rejoiced. Not since Stuart Ripley’s call up had one of our own done us so proud, and Rippers wasn’t even playing for us at the time.
Downing became our prized asset. He was touted as the answer to England’s problem position for the next ten years. From a selfish Boro point of view, we thought he could help propel us in to Europe and help to win us trophies, if only we could keep hold of him. The growing interest in the player led to rumours of interest from the likes of Liverpool and Spurs.
But the big-money move hasn’t come. Recently, his England credentials have slipped. Now even his domestic form has suffered and everyone, Downing included, seem bewildered as to how this could have happened.
And yet, if you strip away the hype and look at Stewart Downing’s career to date, his form actually hasn’t nosedived as much as people might think.
Downing is, was, and most likely always will be, a good left-winger. Downing does, did and most likely will continue to do, what wingers are supposed to do – he supplies crosses in to the box.
A common misconception is that his form has dipped to the point where he no longer ‘goes past anyone.’ The fact is that he never did. That’s not Downing’s game. He gets the ball, creates half a yard of space and puts a cross in. That’s what he has always done, and he does it well.
Since breaking in to the team as a raw youngster who could cross with his left foot, he has developed other areas of his game: he can cut inside and shoot with his right foot, and he tracks back and defends.
Nevertheless, he remains more in the mould of Allan Johnston than Ryan Giggs. His contribution to the side doesn’t require great natural talent, but discipline, technique and persistence. There is nothing wrong with that. In fact, we should be proud of our academy for producing him – all of the things that make Downing a good player are taught skills rather than natural gifts.
Losing Downing in January, or any other time for that matter, would be a shame. Even if he isn’t a great player, he is a great asset to our squad and he would definitely be missed.
Perhaps he would also lose the chance to become a true Boro legend. If he were to stay with the club, he would doubtlessly remain a local hero. Helping us back in to Europe, or to another trophy, would cement his legend status.
If he were to leave, on the other hand, he would be remembered fondly as one of our own. A legend though? No, probably not.
A big move would be supposed to enhance his career, but that might not actually be the case. If a club like Spurs buy him on the hype, and then realise that he is just a winger, his career could fall well short of legend. A club like Spurs can always go and spend another £15m on a great left-winger.
Leaving the club he has been brought up at for the bright lights of a big club, Downing could find the same problems that Shaun Wright-Phillips had at Chelsea. That of course could work out very nicely for Boro.
We could buy him back, making a tidy profit in the process. He could see out his career being successful with his hometown club, playing in Europe, winning trophies and playing for his country. And that indeed would be the stuff of legends.
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Daniel is a lifelong Boro fan, just old enough to remember 86, and young enough to have watched the early Robson/Juninho years through awestruck teenage eyes.
His earliest footballing memory is watching a reserve game between Boro and Man City. He sang his heart out, on his own, for 90 minutes solid. He was four years old, and he's followed the Boro with the same passion ever since.
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When Downing is on form he is top class and provides us with an outstanding attacking threat. The problem is when his head drops he very rarely gets involved and we can’t afford to be carrying players. I just think a spell on the sidelines would be beneficial, give Johnson a run and take Stewy out of the firing line.
I agree that a move to someone like Spurs might not turn out as good as he thinks. I would love to think he would stay at Boro for the rest of his career but i don’t see it happening.
Nice well thought out article and i agree with all the points in it, to be honest.