| "In his own words" Damion Downs is not a centre forward 11:24 - Sep 21 with 804 views | Ifonly |
I've said here before that Downs doesn't look like a natural centre forward. He's not good with a centre back bullying him, he's not physical enough. He needs the kind of space you only get as a second striker or playing wide.
Also, he's no good in the air, he's not going to win any headers unless he's unmarked. I remembered someone saying that Downs said himself that he was no good at headers so I just googled it and saw this article, which explains a lot. Maybe this has been posted here before but I don't think so:
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6550848/2025/08/14/damion-downs-usmnt-southampt
The article describes Downs "in his own words" and says:
"He grew up in Germany playing mostly as a winger or an auxiliary striker (sometimes known as a second striker or shadow striker), and has only developed into a leading No 9 in recent years."
Whether he's developed into a 9 is highly questionable. I'd say not. I say he'd still be better as a second striker, playing the way he learned as he grew up. Interesting that Poch doesn't see him as a 9 either:
"From his understanding, that’s how Pochettino currently sees him, too. In the Gold Cup, his head coach rarely played Downs as an out-and-out striker, preferring to use his qualities to help with the team’s build-up behind more traditional No 9s Agyemang and Brian White."
Yep, that all makes sense. The problem Saints have is that some idiot (Spors?) has bought him to play as a centre forward, while selling Tall Paul, who was the only centre forward we had. Arma and Archer are second strikers too, not centre forwards and the manager doesn't seem to rate Stewart. So we don't have a centre forward. Plenty of second strikers, no centre forward.
I really do wonder about Spors and our recruitment team. As shown by this article, Downs says "in his own words" that he is not a centre forward, so why did those idiots recruit him to play as one? I suppose that once again it's all about SR buying one for the future they hope will come good in a few years time and they can sell on. Will Still must take the blame too, for not being able to see that Downs is not up to it and demanding a centre forward for this season.
Meanwhile we're buying wingers to put crosses in to a non-existent centre forward. How's that going to work?
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| "In his own words" Damion Downs is not a centre forward on 12:04 - Sep 21 with 709 views | kingolaf |
He doesn’t look like anything to me. Absolute garbage yesterday, for a big bloke he’s an absolute wimp. Wasn’t interested in challenging their CBs in the air.
Another colossal waste of money. Dragan is an idiot. | | | |
| "In his own words" Damion Downs is not a centre forward on 12:37 - Sep 21 with 637 views | PatfromPoole |
My big red flag yesterday was when the ball was going out of play for a corner to us and he needlessly fouled their guy on the goal-line. Free-kick to Hull.
Totally brainless, the sort of thing you would expect from a 6 year-old. |  |
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| "In his own words" Damion Downs is not a centre forward on 12:41 - Sep 21 with 626 views | Ron11 |
| "In his own words" Damion Downs is not a centre forward on 12:37 - Sep 21 by PatfromPoole |
My big red flag yesterday was when the ball was going out of play for a corner to us and he needlessly fouled their guy on the goal-line. Free-kick to Hull.
Totally brainless, the sort of thing you would expect from a 6 year-old. |
Still must be brainless too, playing him up front.
We need someone like Chris Wilder - a nasty piece of work, but knows what he's doing. | | | |
| "In his own words" Damion Downs is not a centre forward on 12:44 - Sep 21 with 620 views | PatfromPoole |
Downs also doesn't look to me like he can head the ball.
A number of times yesterday half-decent crosses were played in from the wing and given Downs' height, you thought they would be ideal for him.
But he kept on completely mistiming his leaps into the air.
He just doesn't look suited to English football to me, I fear. | |
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| "In his own words" Damion Downs is not a centre forward on 14:59 - Sep 21 with 443 views | Ifonly |
| "In his own words" Damion Downs is not a centre forward on 12:04 - Sep 21 by kingolaf |
He doesn’t look like anything to me. Absolute garbage yesterday, for a big bloke he’s an absolute wimp. Wasn’t interested in challenging their CBs in the air.
Another colossal waste of money. Dragan is an idiot. |
I agree he looks like a wimp. He's not up for a physical battle which is the complete opposite of good championship centre forwards like McBurnie.
In the article I posted it suggested he played school "football" i.e. American football, as a quarterback. The quarterback and the kicker are the only two positions in American football where they try to avoid physical contact. His other sport was basketball which is a non-contact sport. It's probably just the way he's always been.
I don't think you can really take a player like that and coach him to be aggressive like McBurnie. He will always be passive. He's happy running on to the ball in space behind the defence. He's not happy if he has to challenge for it or hold it up with his back to goal. | | | |
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