Very angry Downing

[r00fie1]

He’s never loved the boro anyway. He’s a Spurs fan. He wanted to come back as it’s home. He comes accross very bitter here.

How old were you when he made that superb cross into the box for Maccarone to head the winner against Steaua Bucharest on our way to our first and only European Final? Do you remember the three assists for 3 of the four goals in that game?
Without Stewy we were dead and buried.
Let me remind you:

Anthony Vickers also wrote:

"........And it told on 65 minutes as livewire Stewart Downing wriggled down the left and put in a sublime cross for Viduka to break free and head home.


"Two more, we only want two more," the increasingly confident chorus rang out.


With Steaua now reeling, Downing again wove free to get down the left and drill in a stinging low ball towards the far post that hapless keeper Carlos could only parry and defender Chris Riggott came sliding in to stab home and level up the scores.


"One more, we only want more" rang out what by now was an assertive demand.


Boro were now pounding the Steaua box. McClaren had cast aside his normal caution and thrown Yakubu on for Taylor and Boro were playing with a cavalier 2-4-4 formation.


Normally that would be risky but Steaua were pinned down and any isolated attempted breakout were swiftly halted by George Boateng and Fabio Rochemback. It was all Boro but time was running out.


With a nervous crowd urging Boro on with a white noise wall of screams, pleas and yelping, the team of legends delivered in the final minute as Downing once again got free and put an inviting cross to the far post for Maccarone to connect with an epoch-defining diving header.

 

[McBrid]

The quote below doesn't make for good reading. I don't like how he said 'played against them'.

From what I can remember there was a small section of support in the South stand who booed that day and that was it. Generally fans were always supportive and gave him a great rececption on his return, which many ex-players don't receive. He should be grateful rather than using it as an excuse to have a dig.

“I’ve been back once, played against them with Blackburn. I got an amazing reception, got clapped before the game and came off with 10 minutes to go and got a standing ovation. I was thinking, why didn’t they do that when I was there? I was getting booed the last season!”

Yep. He’s no boro fan mate. I’ve heard him say in an interview he was always a Spurs fan growing up. I think he just wanted to be at boro as it’s his where his family live. I don’t like the cut of his jib from that interview. I bet the clubs story is different to his and the truth will be somewhere in the middle. I will remember him as a class act from the academy and a great player in his first spell but they always say never go back and look how it’s ended. All this over spilled milk.

 

[McBrid]

How old were you when he made that superb cross into the box for Maccarone to head the winner against Steaua Bucharest on our way to our first and only European Final? Do you remember the three assists for 3 of the four goals in that game?
Without Stewy we were dead and buried.
Let me remind you:

Anthony Vickers also wrote:

"........And it told on 65 minutes as livewire Stewart Downing wriggled down the left and put in a sublime cross for Viduka to break free and head home.


"Two more, we only want two more," the increasingly confident chorus rang out.


With Steaua now reeling, Downing again wove free to get down the left and drill in a stinging low ball towards the far post that hapless keeper Carlos could only parry and defender Chris Riggott came sliding in to stab home and level up the scores.


"One more, we only want more" rang out what by now was an assertive demand.


Boro were now pounding the Steaua box. McClaren had cast aside his normal caution and thrown Yakubu on for Taylor and Boro were playing with a cavalier 2-4-4 formation.


Normally that would be risky but Steaua were pinned down and any isolated attempted breakout were swiftly halted by George Boateng and Fabio Rochemback. It was all Boro but time was running out.


With a nervous crowd urging Boro on with a white noise wall of screams, pleas and yelping, the team of legends delivered in the final minute as Downing once again got free and put an inviting cross to the far post for Maccarone to connect with an epoch-defining diving header.

I was there mate. What on earth has that got to do with this interview he’s given! Also what has my age got to do with it? I’m 25 mate not 11

 

[r00fie1]

Impossible to prove if he did or didnt, but you would be naive to think he would move here for a love of the club, as I doubt many players would. Doubt he had many long term offers on the table in England

Im not interested in what I think. I want to establish facts. Its hard to make a judgement without them.

 

[r00fie1]

I was there mate. What on earth has that got to do with this interview he’s given! Also what has my age got to do with it? I’m 25 mate not 11

I`l tell you what its got to do with:
Silly unnecessary comments like the one below from you:

"He’s never loved the boro anyway. He’s a Spurs fan. He wanted to come back as it’s home. He comes accross very bitter here."

Because they show a total disregard for a fine player, who has done as much if not more than any other player, to take the club to its first European Final in history. At 22 he was playing against the big boys in world football.

He deserves respect for what hes contributed to our club and its history.

 

[McBrid]

I`l tell you what its got to do with:
Silly unnecessary comments like the one below from you:

"He’s never loved the boro anyway. He’s a Spurs fan. He wanted to come back as it’s home. He comes accross very bitter here."

Because they show a total disregard for a fine player, who has done as much if not more than any other player, to take the club to its first European Final in history. At 22 he was playing against the big boys in world football.

He deserves respect for what hes contributed to our club and its history.

He has got respect. For his quality and performances from his first spell and being the most talented player to come through the academy. Doesn’t mean I don’t think he’s being a bit bitter here though and he was underwhelming in his second spell. I am glad he never got an extension but it’s a bit naughty from the club if what Downing says is true but I would suspect the truth is in the middle.

You didn’t need to bring my age up. Downing was my favourite player growing up during them uefa cup runs.

 

[festa5]

Im sure he wasnt ever brought on after 20 minutes in that season

He had enough money out of the club over the years, we were the only ones daft enough to give him that contract at his age, sure the clubs side to this is very different.

looks like he was brought on in the first half twice. Both times it was for a centre back so a tactical change, not to get around his contract.

can't believe so many are swallowing his tale whole. I'm sure it's "true" from his perspective, but he's clearly bitter and believes what he wants to believe. Such as Pulis bringing him on ridiculously early every other game to get around his contract. He wasn't even a guaranteed starter after agreeing the waiver either.

the club could have handled it better, but as some have said, two sides to every story. Didn't he also previously say he left because he didn't want to make things harder for Woodgate given they're in-laws? (or did I imagine it?)

 

[McBrid]

looks like he was brought on in the first half twice. Both times it was for a centre back so a tactical change, not to get around his contract.

can't believe so many are swallowing his tale whole. I'm sure it's "true" from his perspective, but he's clearly bitter and believes what he wants to believe. Such as Pulis bringing him on ridiculously early every other game to get around his contract. He wasn't even a guaranteed starter after agreeing the waiver either.

the club could have handled it better, but as some have said, two sides to every story. Didn't he also previously say he left because he didn't want to make things harder for Woodgate given they're in-laws? (or did I imagine it?)

Yes he did mate on a BBC tees interview. I can’t believe everyone has taken this as gospel either. He’s never been shy of an opinion or 2 has Stewy.

 

[r00fie1]

Surprised he isn’t commenting about when he demanded a move when everything was turning south in southgates last prem season, rocking the boat.

Utter waste of time for his second stint, one game changing performance against wolves in his first season and a few goals and assists per season was nothing to write home about. Gaston showed the kind of impact we were expecting Downing to make in that season, England international the season before for West Ham remember. Wanted two more seasons strolling around the pitch as a thank you following his £45k+ per week for 4 years, have a word!

Thank god Gibson did pull the plug, we don’t owe people a living and we were certainly not getting value for money out of him.

By the time he left Stewart had spent 8 years at the club.
Take a look back and ask yourself - should he have stayed because Southgate couldnt manage to keep the club up.
Stewart did the right thing.
Good for him.

 

[r00fie1]

He has got respect. For his quality and performances from his first spell and being the most talented player to come through the academy. Doesn’t mean I don’t think he’s being a bit bitter here though and he was underwhelming in his second spell. I am glad he never got an extension but it’s a bit naughty from the club if what Downing says is true but I would suspect the truth is in the middle.

You didn’t need to bring my age up. Downing was my favourite player growing up during them uefa cup runs.

Thats alright, but Stewart gets a hard time from some - who forget where he started.
Its arguable that Neil Warnock would have got far more out of Stewart than Pulis and Karanka put together.

 

[McBrid]

Thats alright, but Stewart gets a hard time from some - who forget where he started.
Its arguable that Neil Warnock would have got far more out of Stewart than Pulis and Karanka put together.

Warnock probably would of. As he’s a great manager. I do think Downing played within himself though in his second spell and sort of just played through the motions but he still provided the odd moment of quality it’s just a shame he never really took games by the scruff of the neck on more occasions as he had the quality too. I wish him well for what he’s done for the club over the years but I don’t believe everything in that interview and that’s all I’ve got to say on the matter really. UTB

 

[r00fie1]

Warnock probably would of. As he’s a great manager. I do think Downing played within himself though in his second spell and sort of just played through the motions but he still provided the odd moment of quality it’s just a shame he never really took games by the scruff of the neck on more occasions as he had the quality too. I wish him well for what he’s done for the club over the years but I don’t believe everything in that interview and that’s all I’ve got to say on the matter really. UTB

Thats fair enough.
He was my favourite player of that era - because he could pick a ball up and fly down the wing with that powerful left foot and deliver balls into the box which scared the schitt out the opposition.

 

[McBrid]

Thats fair enough.
He was my favourite player of that era - because he could pick a ball up and fly down the wing with that powerful left foot and deliver balls into the box which scared the schitt out the opposition.

Yeah we all know this mate. Like I said, my comment was in regards to what he has said in his interview. Not in regards to his ability during his first spell.

 

[indeedido]

I will always hold Downing in very high regard. He was excellent in his first spell and a little under-rated in his second whilst not pulling up any trees.

It was clear that the Club were rowing away from him - and at the price I can understand why at the time.
Gibson is not a nice bloke, but there is no news in that. It's true that there are always two sides to a story, but I'm pretty sure the truth will be reasonably close to Downing's version.
I'm really grateful Gibson is keeping us afloat in these torrid times, but I will always give Downing a welcome when he returns to The Riverside.

 

[coluka]

I am not one bit surprised or shocked at any of these revelations. I am surprised that some fans are. It is an everyday occurrence in the world of football. Downing did not come back out of love. He came back to enhance his bank account and play football at Boro because it suited him not just Gibson to do so.

That said, as we all know, it was not Downings fault that Gibson gave him such a lucrative and risky contract given his age and the clubs finances gambled on, not to mention the Downing stated comment that Karanka did not want him anyway. Look at how the club treated Mendi. Huge contract till it became too huge. Boro are no different though to any other club. As you know, I was a huge critic of lots of the clubs decisions on transfers and some managers. I do not blame Gibson for the action he took. I think he was right to put the club before a multi million pound footballer. Had he not done so, we would likely be in Division 1. He bought a little leeway. Lets not forget why he appointed Woodgate. Downings Brother-In-Laŵ was not upset enough to turn the job down on family principles.

Downing was given a stupid contract and Gibson was to blame for agreeing it. Downings performances never merited an extension. The bit that I don’t like, but do believe, is the jiggery pokery over the waiver, but there may be more to it as others have said. It will happen again. Would people feel the same if the player was from London, Manchester, Munich? I think Gibson might get a pat on the back in truth. It is just the murky world of football, no surprises. The fact that Gibson is a rich Tory is irrelevant, Downing probably is too, they are the party of the wealthy, its about business, not politics. Lets just be grateful the club exists in the Championship not Div 1 and can still bring in the odd decent player. Lets also be grateful he got things right of late ie Neil as Manager.

Dealings like this and others are part of the reason why I think Gibson should relinquish day to day running and employ a footballing CEO to run the club in this murky industry.

 

[McBrid]

I personally don’t think this makes Gibson a bad bloke. It’s a sign of a man being ruthless for the sake of the club. He didn’t wanna give Downing a new deal as he realised he sort of messed up by signing him, himself in the first place. I like the fact he wasn’t sentimental and gave him a new deal to cosy up to his brother in law Woodgate for the following season. We would still be stuck with him now.

Coluka, fantastic post.

 

[r00fie1]

People forget when they talk about money: the same man who has kept the ship afloat has also been prepared to hand millions to incompetant Managers to chuck at complete rubbish.

 

[Laughing]

It's a shabby way to do business with anyone Coluka. I expect open honesty in my dealings with people in both business and my personal life.

It may be he has given a biased account, but people saying the truth lies somewhere in the middle.... The middle of what. Why would you assume he is lying.

People berrating Downing I just don't get, one of the best players to ever pull on a boro shirt.

 

[Ted_DN38416]

Don’t remember him ever coming on after 20 minutes? He was never quite the same after jarring his knee away with England. Fantastic player in his prime and probably what hes saying is more than half true. Pulis’ mame crops up alot in that though. Whatever contracts we waived or agreed, its interesting he didn’t acknowledge his own faults during his return and just seems to be everyone else’s fault

 

[McBrid]

Don’t remember him ever coming on after 20 minutes? He was never quite the same after jarring his knee away with England. Fantastic player in his prime and probably what hes saying is more than half true. Pulis’ mame crops up alot in that though. Whatever contracts we waived or agreed, its interesting he didn’t acknowledge his own faults during his return and just seems to be everyone else’s fault

Yep. Never once crossed his mind that maybe the club didn’t wanna offer him new deal because he didn’t deserve it. He hadn’t produced enough to earn it.