The Stats: Downing and N'Zogbia

You're actually being serious!

Right, so now if somebody has an opinion different than your own, it is a laughable offence and deserves ridicule?

Why don't you put a little disclaimer at the end of your articles, saying, warning, do not disagree with me, as I am right. Then we would all know, not to comment on your articles?

Yeah, I had planned to type a long "essay," as it were, on why Downing would suit our style of play more than N'Zogbia. He does but...

But then I realised that these stats are largely subject to how the manager sets out the team. If Martinez said to N'Zogbia, I don't want you to cross a lot. I want you to dribble, dribble, dribble and dribble. That would completely alter N'Zogbia's statistics. Whose to say that he couldn't make 300 crosses a season? Or that he couldn't pass the ball more?

If we bought these players and they played exactly like they would for their current clubs(i.e Downing crossing a lot, N'Zogbia dribbling a lot) I'd have Downing, as he suits our style more. But if N'Zogbia or Downing play for our club. Their play styles wouldn't be that of their current clubs, their styles would be altered to suit our team. And seeing that I think that N'Zogbia is a far better footballer than Downing, I'd rather have N'Zogbia than Downing play for our club.

He's also cheaper!

comment by iCraft uGraft - Believable Tekkers (U1193)
posted 6 minutes ago
Yeah, I had planned to type a long "essay," as it were, on why Downing would suit our style of play more than N'Zogbia. He does but...

But then I realised that these stats are largely subject to how the manager sets out the team. If Martinez said to N'Zogbia, I don't want you to cross a lot. I want you to dribble, dribble, dribble and dribble. That would completely alter N'Zogbia's statistics. Whose to say that he couldn't make 300 crosses a season? Or that he couldn't pass the ball more?

If we bought these players and they played exactly like they would for their current clubs(i.e Downing crossing a lot, N'Zogbia dribbling a lot) I'd have Downing, as he suits our style more. But if N'Zogbia or Downing play for our club. Their play styles wouldn't be that of their current clubs, their styles would be altered to suit our team. And seeing that I think that N'Zogbia is a far better footballer than Downing, I'd rather have N'Zogbia than Downing play for our club.

He's also cheaper!


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comment by Dispenser of Plastic Flags uses recycling bins not buttons (U8595)
posted 26 minutes ago
"Going by those stats, certainly Downing looks the best buy."

You must be related to Downing because clearly it is nzogbia, '0.7 successfull dribbles' per game so in other words we can expect a left winger never to beat a player, what good is that? might as will but sortios kyagirikos on th
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If it is dribbles you want, then clearly it is N'Zogbia. Unfortunately people like you can't see how good a player is unless he is doing backflip overhead flaming handstands and has pace. However what we need is successful passes and crosses. Pace and trickery are a bonus and certainly something that we also need. Judging by those stats Downing is the best buy.

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I agree with....drum roll.....TheresOnlyOneReds here.

If you want someone who just dribbles with the ball but has a worse delivery into the box into 'danger areas' that lead to assists then go for N'Zogbia.

Don't get me wrong N'Zogbia is a good player, but with the likes of Carroll in the box Downing would easily be more suited to our style of play. He is also versatile and can play on either side. Downing creates far more crosses, and chances from his crosses, which is exactly what we are looking for in a wide man, otherwise we wouldn't have bought Carroll.
At Villa they may not have been converted as well (before Bent) but at Liverpool with Carroll, Suarez and Kuyt we have much better finishers.

We are not looking for a winger to score loads of goals (although that is a bonus), we are looking for one with a great delivery, and Downing wins that everytime. Also the pass completion stat is a bit mis-leading as it doesn't state what type of pass it was, whether it was Lucas style pass a few yards, or Adam style pass to the otherside of the pitch, but based on Downings total number of crosses in comparison to N'Zogbia it suggests that Downing is willing attempt more long range passes, which is much harder to pull off of course, yet his pass completion rate is still pretty similar.

You could question Downings pace to get round a player, but he is deceptively quick like Gerrard and Kaka, as he is taller, where as the likes of N'Zogbia or Lennon look incredibly quick as they are moving their legs much quicker to make up the same distance. Downing is no slouch, believe me.

Those who cannot see how Downing is more suited than N'Zogbia have still got a lot to learn about football.

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N'Zogbia all day.

Babel has gone thank God (U8656)

You make a good point in how players should adapt to what they are asked to do, but there is also a reason why a manager buys certain players over others, and Downing's style is more'naturally' suited to what we need, where as NZogbia would have to adjust more - he really is a more of a dribbling type player like Lennon or Walcott (although I do actually think he is better than those two at it). He may be able to adjust, but we'd be better off getting someone like Downing who is already one of the best players around at crossing.

Quite surprised that neither Arsenal nor Liverpool are more interested in N'Zogbia. You'd think Arsene would be more interested due to his nationality.

He is the better player; he scores more goals, has more skill, is younger, is more of a match winner, and would be cheaper. It's the logical option.

He is the better player; he scores more goals, has more skill, is younger, is more of a match winner, and would be cheaper. It's the logical option.
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N'Zogbia is younger, true, is more skillful on the ball, true, and would probably be cheaper, but that doesn't make him the logical option at all, or the better player.

His age and price make it a desirable option, yeah I'm not doubting that, and he is skillful and can take on players, but he still isn't as suited to what we need as Downing.
If N'Zogbia signed I wouldn't be disappointed but I know we'd still be looking for someone who has a decent delivery and it would ultimately lead to Carroll and co scoring less, and the 2 extra goals he scored in a season compared to Downing hardly weighs up to the potentially 10 or so more goals Carroll could get if Downing was delivering.
It's a team game and if you were to ask Carroll who he would want out of the two I bet you he'd say Downing all day long.

You want logic?

Speak to Spock !