| How nice would it be if we could reintegrate Downes 10:27 - Aug 4 with 4647 views | iamipswich |
Seems as though interest has cooled on Flynn Downes in recent weeks. Given our lack of midfield options other than LE & RH, he would be absolutely perfect as a third CM in the squad. Maybe if he gets 90 minutes under his belt tonight for the 23's, we could see him on the bench against Morecambe? Or is that wishful thinking and his ITFC career is dead and buried?
I know there's a long way to go in the transfer window and maybe he's too far out the door for any sort of renaissance with us but would be a great scenario. |  |
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| How nice would it be if we could reintegrate Downes on 10:30 - Aug 4 with 3140 views | Price_1991 |
Nope sorry, he said last summer he wanted to leave, didn't do anything of note or worth during the past season. Although he came through the academy he clearly doesn't want to play for the club any more so we can't be sentimental about it and he needs to be moved on. |  | | |
| How nice would it be if we could reintegrate Downes on 10:37 - Aug 4 with 3111 views | iamipswich |
| How nice would it be if we could reintegrate Downes on 10:30 - Aug 4 by Price_1991 |
Nope sorry, he said last summer he wanted to leave, didn't do anything of note or worth during the past season. Although he came through the academy he clearly doesn't want to play for the club any more so we can't be sentimental about it and he needs to be moved on. |
Can't say I disagree with that to be honest. I think if we had a little more depth in CM position I wouldn't be even contemplating it. | |
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| How nice would it be if we could reintegrate Downes on 10:47 - Aug 4 with 3047 views | Price_1991 |
| How nice would it be if we could reintegrate Downes on 10:37 - Aug 4 by iamipswich |
Can't say I disagree with that to be honest. I think if we had a little more depth in CM position I wouldn't be even contemplating it. |
I would say that CM is probably the area that is lowest on the recruitment list now, if we can get another one in brilliant but lets not waste time focusing on there when we still need another CB, LB and winger. They are the 3 positions I feel we still need to strengthen. The good thing that I've seen so far with the new signings are that the majority of them can play and are comfortable playing in a variety of different positions so we do have cover if needed. | | | |
| How nice would it be if we could reintegrate Downes on 10:50 - Aug 4 with 3024 views | SomethingBlue |
It's in the player's court and if he doesn't get what he wants in the next fortnight or so then he has a big decision to make and a fair bit to swallow up — because his career has absolutely nosedived in the past year. Plenty of factors to blame for that but not sure he's helping himself. | |
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| How nice would it be if we could reintegrate Downes on 10:51 - Aug 4 with 3008 views | Trickster |
I don’t understand what the point is in playing him in the U23s. If he’s not going to play for us again and he doesn’t want to be here, why not leave him out completely? |  |
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| How nice would it be if we could reintegrate Downes on 10:54 - Aug 4 with 2961 views | SomethingBlue |
| How nice would it be if we could reintegrate Downes on 10:47 - Aug 4 by Price_1991 |
I would say that CM is probably the area that is lowest on the recruitment list now, if we can get another one in brilliant but lets not waste time focusing on there when we still need another CB, LB and winger. They are the 3 positions I feel we still need to strengthen. The good thing that I've seen so far with the new signings are that the majority of them can play and are comfortable playing in a variety of different positions so we do have cover if needed. |
CM is an absolute emergency (unless Downes somehow sorts his head out). Nolan nowhere near ready so what happens when we lose Evans or Harper, the latter of whom is unlikely to be entirely consistent in any case? A lot of people seem to think we are far more "done" than we are — great business up to now but, as Cook rightly suggests, we need loads more. | |
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| How nice would it be if we could reintegrate Downes on 10:57 - Aug 4 with 2919 views | Vaughan8 |
| How nice would it be if we could reintegrate Downes on 10:51 - Aug 4 by Trickster |
I don’t understand what the point is in playing him in the U23s. If he’s not going to play for us again and he doesn’t want to be here, why not leave him out completely? |
I'm not sure if this is a serious comment but for the sake of the club (if we sell or he needs to play for whatever reason) and the player, you need to keep him in some decent sort of match fitness surely?
I don't think he's been banished Winston Boegarde style (yet!) | | | |
| How nice would it be if we could reintegrate Downes on 10:57 - Aug 4 with 2914 views | gordon |
| How nice would it be if we could reintegrate Downes on 10:54 - Aug 4 by SomethingBlue |
CM is an absolute emergency (unless Downes somehow sorts his head out). Nolan nowhere near ready so what happens when we lose Evans or Harper, the latter of whom is unlikely to be entirely consistent in any case? A lot of people seem to think we are far more "done" than we are — great business up to now but, as Cook rightly suggests, we need loads more. |
Yes - if Evans does his hamstring on Friday in training, the situation is a bit of a mess, can't really see us throwing in Humphreys out of position for a debut - and wouldn't be great if we lost and Downes and McGavin are sitting in the stands perfectly fit. |  | | |
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| How nice would it be if we could reintegrate Downes on 10:58 - Aug 4 with 2901 views | iamipswich |
| How nice would it be if we could reintegrate Downes on 10:47 - Aug 4 by Price_1991 |
I would say that CM is probably the area that is lowest on the recruitment list now, if we can get another one in brilliant but lets not waste time focusing on there when we still need another CB, LB and winger. They are the 3 positions I feel we still need to strengthen. The good thing that I've seen so far with the new signings are that the majority of them can play and are comfortable playing in a variety of different positions so we do have cover if needed. |
Slightly disagree with this, especially in light of Fraser's injury. As far as I can see it, in CM we only have Harper and Evans (back from a knock himself) fit. As others have said, Downes more than likely won't be the answer but I think we could do with at least another midfielder to provide some real depth in that area. | |
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| How nice would it be if we could reintegrate Downes on 10:59 - Aug 4 with 2891 views | gordon |
| How nice would it be if we could reintegrate Downes on 10:50 - Aug 4 by SomethingBlue |
It's in the player's court and if he doesn't get what he wants in the next fortnight or so then he has a big decision to make and a fair bit to swallow up — because his career has absolutely nosedived in the past year. Plenty of factors to blame for that but not sure he's helping himself. |
Do we actually know what's going on - is Downes actually refusing to play in the first-team? | | | |
| How nice would it be if we could reintegrate Downes on 10:59 - Aug 4 with 2890 views | Price_1991 |
| How nice would it be if we could reintegrate Downes on 10:54 - Aug 4 by SomethingBlue |
CM is an absolute emergency (unless Downes somehow sorts his head out). Nolan nowhere near ready so what happens when we lose Evans or Harper, the latter of whom is unlikely to be entirely consistent in any case? A lot of people seem to think we are far more "done" than we are — great business up to now but, as Cook rightly suggests, we need loads more. |
Not saying we don't need loads more however there are other areas I feel we should be strengthening the biggest for me is bringing in a solid CB. | | | |
| How nice would it be if we could reintegrate Downes on 11:01 - Aug 4 with 2858 views | iamipswich |
| How nice would it be if we could reintegrate Downes on 10:59 - Aug 4 by Price_1991 |
Not saying we don't need loads more however there are other areas I feel we should be strengthening the biggest for me is bringing in a solid CB. |
CB while I agree needs strengthening, is certainly less of a priority than CM. We have 3/4 first team ready CBs so another would be nice but we have 2 fit CMs! | |
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| How nice would it be if we could reintegrate Downes on 11:02 - Aug 4 with 2855 views | gordon |
| How nice would it be if we could reintegrate Downes on 10:59 - Aug 4 by Price_1991 |
Not saying we don't need loads more however there are other areas I feel we should be strengthening the biggest for me is bringing in a solid CB. |
Need a CB too, I just think in the short-term we're an Evans injury away from having to field an unnecessarily weak team in the first few matches. | | | |
| How nice would it be if we could reintegrate Downes on 11:03 - Aug 4 with 2835 views | MattinLondon |
| How nice would it be if we could reintegrate Downes on 10:30 - Aug 4 by Price_1991 |
Nope sorry, he said last summer he wanted to leave, didn't do anything of note or worth during the past season. Although he came through the academy he clearly doesn't want to play for the club any more so we can't be sentimental about it and he needs to be moved on. |
Last season Cook underperformed - I’ll give him the benefit for now but to date, under him, the performances were poor and his man management came across as petty as well.
If Downes wants to leave then can we really blame him? Higher level, better standard, better players, he wants to prove himself.
Casting him adrift just seems childish and not making use of a good asset. Plays well, good for the club and good for him in terms of putting him in the shop window.
Edit. Obviously I don’t know the full story - maybe Downes doesn’t want to play full-stop. [Post edited 4 Aug 2021 11:04]
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| How nice would it be if we could reintegrate Downes on 11:08 - Aug 4 with 2776 views | Churchman |
| How nice would it be if we could reintegrate Downes on 10:51 - Aug 4 by Trickster |
I don’t understand what the point is in playing him in the U23s. If he’s not going to play for us again and he doesn’t want to be here, why not leave him out completely? |
Fitness? Maybe a prospective buyer wants to see him play? Who knows. It does seem a little odd.
I agree with others that the situation is totally in Downes’ court. At 22 he should be playing week in week out, especially after recovering from serious injury a few years ago. But his career is dribbling away.
For me as a prospect he looked at one time a top end Championship player at worst. Yes, he wants away and has done for a couple of seasons, but the scouts are hardly chasing like a pack of wolves for his signature. With his ability, they should be.
It’s up to him. |  | | |
| How nice would it be if we could reintegrate Downes on 11:25 - Aug 4 with 2629 views | franz_tyson |
Does anyone really any know what state of mind Downes and the club are in?
If we’d had a decent management team a year ago, we’d have sold Downes for the best money and got a replacement in. That’s football. If our youngsters do well and get a move upwards, then it’s an indication our academy is doing something good. Why do we want to keep our youngsters here forever? Let them go at the optimum time where it suits everybody. Now he’s here a year too long and his price has dropped and sounds like he still wants away. I don’t see why the club has to bend over backwards and integrate him back. What happens if we do integrate him back and there’s a last-minute bid that he wants and we can’t turn down. We then are scrambling around for a replacement at the last minute.
If Downes wants away then accept it. Plan around him and try and get him a move. Can’t blame a young player for wanting to better himself. | | | |
| How nice would it be if we could reintegrate Downes on 11:32 - Aug 4 with 2570 views | itfcjoe |
Been a badly handled situation from all sides since last summer - sadly too much damage done. |  |
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| How nice would it be if we could reintegrate Downes on 11:32 - Aug 4 with 2552 views | Pinewoodblue |
| How nice would it be if we could reintegrate Downes on 10:30 - Aug 4 by Price_1991 |
Nope sorry, he said last summer he wanted to leave, didn't do anything of note or worth during the past season. Although he came through the academy he clearly doesn't want to play for the club any more so we can't be sentimental about it and he needs to be moved on. |
Any player with any degree of self respect would have wanted to get away last summer. |  |
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| How nice would it be if we could reintegrate Downes on 11:43 - Aug 4 with 2486 views | MattinLondon |
| How nice would it be if we could reintegrate Downes on 11:32 - Aug 4 by Pinewoodblue |
Any player with any degree of self respect would have wanted to get away last summer. |
Especially for an higher level. | | | |
| How nice would it be if we could reintegrate Downes on 12:00 - Aug 4 with 2407 views | Churchman |
| How nice would it be if we could reintegrate Downes on 11:32 - Aug 4 by Pinewoodblue |
Any player with any degree of self respect would have wanted to get away last summer. |
Indeed - and last summer is when he should have gone. It’s been a waste of a year for him and a waste of a salary and sell on fee for us.
But we are where we are and I hope the situation is resolved soon. He will be a good acquisition for somebody for little money and I’m a little surprised he didn’t get snapped up before Dozzell. | | | |
| How nice would it be if we could reintegrate Downes on 12:26 - Aug 4 with 2306 views | timothyeo |
| How nice would it be if we could reintegrate Downes on 11:32 - Aug 4 by itfcjoe |
Been a badly handled situation from all sides since last summer - sadly too much damage done. |
It's a shame, as on form he's probably still our best central midfielder. Again, it's my primary criticism of the new regime since Cook first came in that we look to be cutting off our nose to spite our face. | | | |
| How nice would it be if we could reintegrate Downes on 12:33 - Aug 4 with 2264 views | ArnieM |
Downes is finished with Town and even though the door was left open for him to “ reintegrate” he appears to have slammed it shut in Cooks face . Fine , cheerio 👋 |  |
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| How nice would it be if we could reintegrate Downes on 12:40 - Aug 4 with 2200 views | Illinoisblue |
| How nice would it be if we could reintegrate Downes on 11:32 - Aug 4 by itfcjoe |
Been a badly handled situation from all sides since last summer - sadly too much damage done. |
He needs a new agent, surely. Should have moved on by now |  |
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| How nice would it be if we could reintegrate Downes on 12:55 - Aug 4 with 2132 views | franz_tyson |
| How nice would it be if we could reintegrate Downes on 12:26 - Aug 4 by timothyeo |
It's a shame, as on form he's probably still our best central midfielder. Again, it's my primary criticism of the new regime since Cook first came in that we look to be cutting off our nose to spite our face. |
So what do you suggest? Offer him a bumper contract he couldn’t turn down?
He obviously wants a move away and upwards. Good luck to him. That’s what happens in most clubs - better ambitious players reach a stage where they want to take their career forwards.
However good Downes is, we don’t know whether he is Cook’s type of player or is that he is committed to playing for Cook.
If Downes had come out publicly to say he wants to stay then I think his treatment is harsh, but sounds like both parties accept they’re going to part ways. Cook’s trying to build a squad - why have a player in his first team squad who doesn’t want to be here?
Just opinions, but I think Evans is likely to be our best CM ATM. More to his game. Too early to tell if Harper can offer more or the same as Downes. | | | |
| How nice would it be if we could reintegrate Downes on 13:08 - Aug 4 with 2048 views | bobbyramsey |
| How nice would it be if we could reintegrate Downes on 10:59 - Aug 4 by gordon |
Do we actually know what's going on - is Downes actually refusing to play in the first-team? |
No we don't know but I'm sure that Mr Cook does. |  | | |
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