Date: 13th November 2014 at 12:05pm
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Former Liverpool winger Stewart Downing says being played out of position by Brendan Rodgers during his time at the club was perhaps the lowest point of his career.

Downing arrived at Anfield in the summer of 2011 for a fee of £20million, having starred for Aston Villa as a winger.

After a difficult debut season under Kenny Dalglish, Brendan Rodgers arrival saw Downing deployed in the unfamiliar position of left back.

Downing has rediscovered his form at West Ham United after another positional change, and believes the move to Upton Park has saved his career, following a recall to the England squad after some outstanding performances in east London.

Asked if his stint at left back was as bad as it got, Downing said: “Yeah, I think so. Obviously I was out of the team for me just to play, just to get back in the team, was a big thing.

“But at left-back it was obviously difficult. It was a chance to get back in the team for me, so I obviously had to go along with it. I wasn’t happy playing at left-back. It’s not my natural position.

“I knew from then that it was time for me to move. I was getting signals – other players were coming in and I am getting used at left-back rather than winger.

“I think you know when the writing is on the wall for you at a club, so the West Ham move came at a good time for me.

“It was a chance for me to go and play football regularly and play under a manager who wanted me to play every week.”

 

7 responses to “Former Red says playing under Rodgers was a career low”

  1. F Trotter says:

    Hahaha Downing never produced the goods. He was given every opportunity to prove himself. Now when Liverpool are having a bit of a difficult spell people like Downing jump on the lets bash Brendan Rogers wagon. If Downing was any good he would still be at Anfield!

  2. Chris K says:

    It must be a pretty low experience being played left back if your a left winger but i watched all his games and he didnt seem to be having a go at defenders or taking on and shooting!He got what he deserved.

  3. daveevs says:

    when he played in his favoured position he was crap anyway

  4. Irons Megree says:

    He’s now playing for a top 4 club and playing better than any other English midfielder at the moment. COYI!

  5. Dave R says:

    Not sure bout that Stewart you was shite under Kenny too .

  6. chris says:

    stewart bro we understand u were willing to give ur best but ur best wasn’t encouraging enough. i remember hendo was once used at the right back but he rediscovered his form and was subsequently granted his natural midfield role.

  7. Victor Hunt says:

    I never understood why Downing got so much flack during his time at Liverpool, there were far worse in the team. Some of his runs down the wing and passes into the box were as good as anybody, but at that time there was nobody to get on the end of them. Rogers seems to specialise in putting players in positions they are not familiar/happy with.