Are you joking

Stewart Downing is one of the best wingers in world football










































/\ Did I really just type that

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spurtle

As you say, as Spurs fans this can only be a good thing. But i think its more down to his fitness issues of late than ability. Let Downing have his day out with the England squad, then when Lennon has got himself to his peak & has been terrorising LB's from now until May, then he'll regain his squad place (maybe even his starting place).

French squad - "England have picked ze Downing again.....




















.. now dance with me you french freaks "

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Chicken I don't think it's about his fitness. He's been overlooked since the WC. This is one time of several where he's been fit and better than the options that were included. First it was a rubbish Milner and Walcott getting ahead of him, now it's a rubbish Downing and Walcott getting ahead of him.

Oh well good for us. I just feel sorry for the lad though, and think England would do better with him in it.

I think its a shame he hasn't made it, but in truth I am glad, too many players pick up silly injuries in friendlies that serve no real purpose.

I actually think Lennon has improved a great deal, I even have wondered how much Beckham may have helped him. I say this because after Beckham was training with us I seemed to have noticed Lennon's final ball had improved.

Shame for the player, but at least he won't pick up a stupid injury.

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RRP I agree, though I know part of you is saying that cause you hate England

Lennon has improved year on year just a shame that when he is reaching his peak he always picks up an injury

Spurtle how very dare you !

I agree though, Lennon has not been given much of a chance with England, seems to be blamed for the World Cup disaster when in truth everyone was shocking

Morning All

How is everyone?

Lennon has improved each year RRP, but his final ball has only just started. He's an odd one though, he seems to have been around for so long and is only 24.

Whilst we have players like Caulker who I'd love to get England caps for experience, players like Lennon I think are better suited to playing for us and not being hated upon by the country because we think our national team is better than sliced bread.

I suppose it's not just Lennon to feel sorry for. Jarvis, Albrighton, Ox too. What English winger has been worse than Walcott and Downing this season? Noone.

31

Lennon's final ball improved way before Beckham joined us for 3 weeks. Its actually a myth nowadays that Lennon cant cross.

I'm not one for stats, but last season he had the highest accuracy rate for any winger in the Prem.

Crossing isn't even really his game. His game is more about beating his man, cutting inside into a dangerous position & laying it back, which i call "assisting" more than "crossing" although technically its the same thing.

Also, after Lennon fist came back the last time he was injured, he didnt look the same player, even for us. He started improving though, and had got back to his best before this set-back.

Let him miss the friendly & lets start feeling sorry for him if he doesn't make the final cut in June.

Forlone

31 - This whole "final ball" thing with Lennon was started off by that fool Andy Gray, he used to say it all the time when commentating on SkySports and its stuck with Lennon ever since, when in fact he is a great crosser of the ball, proved last season and this season actually

He does seem to have been around for ages though, did he comes to us at 17?

Good. Unfortunately walker and parker are involved and will no doubt get injured

Crossing isn't even really his game. His game is more about beating his man, cutting inside into a dangerous position & laying it back, which i call "assisting" more than "crossing" although technically its the same thing.

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Chicken, you are probably right about when his crossing got better, it was just something I noticed at the time, and it has kinda stuck in my head. You are also right in saying his game is more about beating a player and then laying it back. Yet, it is good to see him improve and add more tricks to his game. (Like Bale has done this year)

I see world class Ox didn't get in

RRP,

Yes, he was 17 when he came & only got his chance because of Routledge's injury early on in the season.

£1.0m is an absolute steal.

Thank God for Routledge's injury (sorry Wayne ).

Also no Defoe, but Frazier Campbell. Hmmmm

RRP - I don't know if I got it from Andy Gray but I would doubt it, because I don't hacve Sky Sports. It might even be a reflection of how I saw him when he first came to the club and it has just stuck (getting old, and stuck in my ways). perhaps I am just starting to see the improvement, he was great when he first burst onto the scene but he did lack something.

It reminded me a lot of Stephen Carr, who couldnt put the ball in for anything, then one season he learnt and then left us the next

RRP,

Yes, he was 17 when he came & only got his chance because of Routledge's injury early on in the season.

£1.0m is an absolute steal.

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We seem to get lucky like that...BAE getting injured, Bale steps in to grab his chance

No one likes an injury, but you know......

He seems to have been with us for ever though, maybe he just ages well

31 - I think Andy Gray just added to the whole "final ball" thing, if you ask the average person in the street about Lennon, the first thing they will say is "he needs to work on his final ball", and thats not because they even watch him play, but what people always say about him, will probably stick to Lennon for the rest of his career even though its incorrect

Carr