Downing

[andyst79]

On the move according to this
https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/football/portsmouth-fc/paul-downings-fratton-park-farewell-as-portsmouth-loan-out-central-defender-pursued-by-doncaster-cheltenham-and-stevenage-3523691

[steve@dcfd]

If they are waiting for his exit to be signed off then unfortunately doesn’t sound like us as we have said we were waiting for clubs to make a decision.

[scunny rover]

Not bothered  about downing coming back really, would take jakobs and marquis though but this seems unlikely.

[mushRTID]

Think it would be a good signing and add some valuable experience.

I hope we are also in for a left back though, i do not want to see Rowe in defence any more.

[scunny rover]

Think it would be a good signing and add some valuable experience.

I hope we are also in for a left back though, i do not want to see Rowe in defence any more.

agreed but is there better out there wait and see i suppose

[Pside]

Not coming here. Just been confirmed on Twitter 

[big fat yorkshire pudding]

We've got oluwu and Williams fit at the moment who looked decent on Saturday together. Then hopefully Anderson, John next month will give us depth in that area.  Not sure it's a top priority, the midfield and attack is the focus surely?

[Pside]

I said this when we were first linked with him. I couldn’t see is signing a CB when we had 4 on the books

[Dare to dream!]

Downing isn’t what we need.

[dickos1]

Mchsheffrey said at the start that downing wasn’t top of his list

[drfchound]

Ah, but he also said he might not be going for his first choices.
(Tongue in cheek of course).

[Jonathan]

I’d rather we signed a solid left back than a centre half.

[keith79]

This transfer window will show how serious baldwin is.

[roversdude]

I’d rather we signed a solid left back than a centre half.

Absolutely Jonathan

[The Beast]

 

I’d rather we signed a solid left back than a centre half.

Agreed we need a left back desperately. Don’t like Danny Andrew as a person but what a footballer, his delivery from set pieces was absolutely outstanding! And he’s a left back at a struggling team in this division, we seem a million miles away from the standard, I really don’t envy McSheffrey!

[Canadian Rover]

I think Olowu is a good left back. He has mistakes in his game and they are easier hidden at left back...he's pacy good on the ball and a threat from set pieces and is good in the air. Would love to see a dominant/experienced centre back come in and Olowu as a left back option and cover as CB or added competition to that slot.

[Colemans Left Hook]

So no Downing street party for his arrival then

Cheltenham are signing anything that moves ..they certainly are at the races as they "March on"..  Having a festival of signings. 

  It makes you wonder where the money is coming from

[DearneValleyRover]

This transfer window will show how serious baldwin is.

What does it have to do with Gavin? He doesn’t choose the targets nor does he control the purse strings

[Jonathan]

I think Olowu is a good left back. He has mistakes in his game and they are easier hidden at left back...he's pacy good on the ball and a threat from set pieces and is good in the air. Would love to see a dominant/experienced centre back come in and Olowu as a left back option and cover as CB or added competition to that slot.

If Olowu was to be our left back then we would need a centre half. I probably haven’t paid enough attention to notice, but is he left footed?

[Alan Southstand]

It seems Covid is not the issue in Cheltenham!

[mushRTID]

I think Olowu is going to develop into a fantastic CB. Leave him there.

Remember when we signed Andy Griffin a few years back? Came in and was class.

I would like to see a LB of similar mould come in, the defence and team could do with an older head in there.

[silent majority]

This transfer window will show how serious baldwin is.

I don't get that. Do you think GB is making the decisions here?

[GazLaz]

I’d rather we signed a solid left back than a centre half.

I agree. A L1 average standard left back would free Rowe up and be a big improvement on Horton. You would potentially improve in two positions with one signing.

[CJK]

I’d rather we signed a solid left back than a centre half.

I agree. A L1 average standard left back would free Rowe up and be a big improvement on Horton. You would potentially improve in two positions with one signing.

Exactly this.

[roversdude]

This transfer window will show how serious baldwin is.

I don't get that. Do you think GB is making the decisions here?

It’s plain from Gavin’s interview that the transfer decisions are GMc’s

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Would agree with the left back observation however, would disagree with Danny Andrew as a benchmark. He was a poor defender first and foremost. Yes, occasionally scoring a spectacular goal but call me old fashioned, but I like full backs to defend first. Similar to Halliday who got up and down ok but was lacking at the ends where it matters, constantly getting beat for pace and not preventing crosses enough.

It's an area of weakness although, Olowu and John could play there but we need a specialist as I fear Horton gets beaten too easily and Rowe is better used further up.

[roversdude]

I’m still unsure of Horton to be honest, he came on leaps and bounds but seems to have stagnated a little bit lately (maybe a reflection on the confidence of the team at the minute). I’m a little concerned at how often he gets ‘megged’.
Definitely one for the future but him playing in front of Tommy didn’t work either, the majority of the game they both looked lost

[ctay]

I find it really interesting who is making the decisions on transfers. In the meet the owners it sounded like they blamed Richie for the summer signings and then said that from now on it would be more a committee decision. That made me question the manager appointment, maybe an experienced manager wouldn't accept that system.

[Cramby10]

We desperately need an organiser at the back though. Normally it is a centre half. Someone to encourage, sort out our line etc and hand the bollockings out when required. We currently don’t have that. You’d think Anderson would be that man but it doesn’t appear so.
Williams isn’t really good enough if you’re honest with yourselves and I doubt John will extend. So I would say we need someone like Downing.

[Rovers91]

I think Olowu is a good left back. He has mistakes in his game and they are easier hidden at left back...he's pacy good on the ball and a threat from set pieces and is good in the air. Would love to see a dominant/experienced centre back come in and Olowu as a left back option and cover as CB or added competition to that slot.

Leave him at centre back, we have seen what it can do with Cam John and get a natural left back in.