Stewart Downing returning to the championship

[Hugo Rune]

Middlesbro seem to be saying f...k FFP lets gamble on promotion and go for it.

Didn't they do that last season? Luckily their 'build from the back' philosophy backfired on them. Hopefully they'll be some punishments coming their way as they seemed to out bid us for a few players including Clayton.

 

[Guinness Boy]

Cracking signing. Real coup. Financially bonkers.

 

[Davemania]

If played as a CAM, which he re-invented himself as last season (to great effect), he will simply run the show.

The comment that the championship is "his level", off the back of a very good season in the prem is excellent. You have to love NSC at times.

He's always been massively overrated. Extremely lucky to have the career he's had with a fairly limited range of skills.

 

[BensGrandad]

I am surprised Sunderland didnt seem him as a replacement for Adam Johnson should it be needed.

 

[mejonaNO12 aka riskit]

He's always been massively overrated. Extremely lucky to have the career he's had with a fairly limited range of skills.

Which "luck" is that then? big gusts of wind blowing his crosses onto peoples heads or REALLY overhit passes that end up in the goal as a complete FLUKE?

 

[Marshy]

Which "luck" is that then? big gusts of wind blowing his crosses onto peoples heads or REALLY overhit passes that end up in the goal as a complete FLUKE?

Exactly, the man has probably 40 england caps.... clearly shit and still only 30....

 

[Foolg]

Cracking signing that. He was playing very well for West Ham last year.


Oh, and someone posted an interesting article explaining Middlesbroughs finances. Link below, but it explains how they made circa £5m just from their cup run, as well as taking all the ticket sales from the Play-off final.

http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/how-financial-fair-play-work-9583627

 

[Southwest Seagull]

Anyone who thinks he's overrated is a fool. He was very good last season behind the striker, and my mate who's a West Ham fan thinks this is signing of the season.

 

[Black Rod]

His form was so good for West Ham at the start of last season that he was recalled to the England squad.

That is a quality signing for anyone at our level. No doubt the people who are describing him as overrated are the sorts who think that anybody who signs for a Championship club other than Brighton isn't any good and anybody who does sign for us is a fantastic signing

 

[Hampster Gull]

Never go back

 

[Stat Brother]

It's hard not to think there's more to this than meets the eye, whether that's on or off field 'issues'.
You'd think there would be enough decent Premier League teams happy to match whatever his contract is with Boro.

 

[Finchley Seagull]

That's an amazing signing for Middlesbrough. Impressive if they can fund moves like this and still comply with FFP (especially as they're not on parachute payments and don't get the biggest crowds in the Championship). I actually think he's a very under rated player and was superb for West Ham at times last season. He is still comfortably good enough for the Premier League (and may well go back there with Middlesbrough next season).

 

[garethjamesuk]

Doesnt say he has signed yet, says he can go and talk to Middlesboro, but would be a very good signing, i dont get what the big attraction of Middlesboro is, as they have tiny crowds but keep attracting very good good players past and present, just very odd to me how they can spend this money and run as a profit business.
We cant spend this money and we get nearly triple the fans they get.

 

[Finchley Seagull]

Doesnt say he has signed yet, says he can go and talk to Middlesboro, but would be a very good signing, i dont get what the big attraction of Middlesboro is, as they have tiny crowds but keep attracting very good good players past and present, just very odd to me how they can spend this money and run as a profit business.
We cant spend this money and we get nearly triple the fans they get.

It's simple. He's from Middlesbrough and started his career there. Probably still has family there too.

 

[Stat Brother]

It's simple. He's from Middlesbrough and started his career there. Probably still has family there too.

Which pops a hole in my conspiracy theory.

Nevertheless he's got the rest of his life to spend with them.

I'm not sure I'd be ready to trade Anfield, Old Trafford, et al + the media attention, for Rotherham and Swindon away.

 

[Biscuit Barrel]

I think UKIP is the party for you Ernest. Showing your true colours

 

[Justice]

This is the quality of player that would justify our match by match ticket prizes not Leon Best.

 

[Finchley Seagull]

Which pops a hole in my conspiracy theory.

Nevertheless he's got the rest of his life to spend with them.

I'm not sure I'd be ready to trade Anfield, Old Trafford, et al + the media attention, for Rotherham and Swindon away.

I imagine with signing him and others they're linked with, there's a very good chance of Middlesbrough going up. If that happens, he only has one season of that and then back to Anfield and Old Trafford. However, it does mean he's very unlikely to go to the Euros, when a good season in the Premier League could have got him there.

 

[Stat Brother]

I imagine with signing him and others they're linked with, there's a very good chance of Middlesbrough going up. If that happens, he only has one season of that and then back to Anfield and Old Trafford. However, it does mean he's very unlikely to go to the Euros, when a good season in the Premier League could have got him there.

It's a brave or stupid man that thinks he can buy the Championship.

 

[Gullflyinghigh]

Fair play to them, he'd be a good signing for most PL teams let alone Championship.

Some similarities to Nick Barmby who I recall rocking up at Hull long before he'd actually have to drop down a level.