I stopped reading there.

That monstrosity would argue the sky is red if it would sell papers.

Jeez, that was easy. I thought I'd have an empty net. That's tea sorted.

How?! how did he have a better season?! I'll say it again they both scored 7 goals but Young had 10 assists and Downing had 7 - where does that tell you that he had a better season? the stats say it different. I can't believe if anyone had a choice of the two they'd pick Downing over Young. If Young wouldn't have been in the last year of his contract there's not a chance he'd have gone for under £20 million, he'd be looking £25m plus, easily.

Regarding assists - if Downing crosses the ball, a player heads it down to another player then the assist would go to the player heading the ball, not the player doing most of the work with the cross - Is this correct?

If so then this could point to the fact why Young has more assists, as he uses his pace to beat players, then lay the ball off for a player to shoot rather than crossing the ball from a deeper position.

Correct. It's also only an assist if the ball ends up in the back of the next. The more useful stat (if there's such a thing) is chances created, you're not then reliant on somebody else to chalk your tally up.

Exactly, making Young a more useful player. Just my point!

How?

We'll see this year, last year he had Bent smashing them over the goal line, this year he'll have Rooney smashing them over the bar.

I iamgine most Liverpool fans would rather have had Young. We haven't got him and we've moved onto arguably the next best option. Of the sensiblle, available options I'm happy with what we have got.

What's the problem with that?

He's a quicker, better skilled and more direct player meaning he'll always create more chances and I would wager score more than Downing in most seasons.



He's not the next best option, Charles N'Zogbia would have been, he'd have cost less than half of what Downing would and, imo, would've done a better job too.

Liverpool clearly wanted a player with good delivery which is why they went for Young, signed Adam and then signed Downing. They've signed players that fill needs. good business IMO.

N'Zogbia is more of a playmaker than a winger is he not? We've already got Suarez and Gerrard for that role. We're all allowed opinions and if N'Zogbia was signed to play solely as a winger I'd still rather have Downing. N'Zogbia's attitude is reportedly not the best and I'd say that his play on the field can sometimes mirror that. He's brilliant when he's on form but I wouldn't say that is consistently.

EDIT - NZogbia made 122 crosses last season to Downings 324.

It is as long as Carroll delivers. Huge pressure on the lad, although Dirk can take some of the pressure off his shoulders.

He didn't start off too bad though did he, some good performances and goals since he signed. whether he can do it consistent over the season though.



He's versatile, I think he spent a bit of time on the wing last season. He can play down the middle but also right or left wing too. Plenty of pace, scores goals - an all round good player. You're right his attitude has been questioned at times but he seems consistent enough over a season. I think he'd have been a good buy, especially being able to play a few positions.



It's about quality not quantity

Thing is though, goals and assists don't tell the whole story. How many tackles has Downing won? How many moves has he been part of that has created a goal? How many times has he tracked back? etc. Downing was player of the year there so I don't know how you can begrude him of being better than Young last year.

I've said it many times: he's not world class and he's not worth 20 million pounds, but he'll do a good job for us in what we need him to do. He'll give us pace & versatility. He'll also give us great delivery somehing we've been lacking for years.

So would you rather have Young than say a Beckham when he was in his mid 20's?

I'm not saying Young was better, I'm not saying Downing was better but the stats goals and assists tell us they were pretty similar. In terms of the other things you put out there tackles, tracking back etc we don't know because we don't have the figures. I don't think either player was a lot better than the other tbh. Out of pure ability Young would get the nod, he's a better player although he doesn't show it all the time, he comes across as very moody too but on form he's brilliant. I think we'll see much more of him for United than Villa.

Ashley Young is a better footballer than Stewart Downing, the LFC fans with a brain on here even admit it. No point comparing the two.

Mark, I agree he is. Just saying that Downing had a better season last year, hence him winning player of the year.

What makes you so convinced he had a better season then?

I've just said, because he won player of the year over Young, voted for by the fans that watch them both every week. That's a good enough judgement for me anyway.

For example: Gerrard is a better player than Lucas, but Lucas had a better season than him last year.

I take the point but fans view can often be distorted though, it was probably obvious to them Young was going to leave. They could've easily taken a dislike to him for that, who knows. As I said I haven't picked one over the other who had the better season, personally I don't know. I don't think one was that much better than the other. I still think Downing is very average and Villa must be delighted with the fee they've received.

oh the irony.

get a grip. Tool.

Don't get above your station fella.