| Dragan Solak Suggests That Transfer Flop Can Still Be A Hit At St Mary's 09:50 - Jun 17 with 3939 views | SaintsNews |
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| Dragan Solak Suggests That Transfer Flop Can Still Be A Hit At St Mary's on 11:10 - Jun 17 with 3817 views | PatfromPoole |
If memory serves, Beattie was not heralded at the time as a star signing.
He was clearly young and raw at the time, and his arrival was a bit in the background compared to Mark Hughes.
He clearly however had a high workrate, and most fans warmed to him because of that.
Downs needs to work an awful lot harder as a player to have any chance of winning the fans over.
You can almost forgive an appalling first touch when the player is clearly giving 100%.
Downs shows no sign of doing this. |  |
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| Dragan Solak Suggests That Transfer Flop Can Still Be A Hit At St Mary's on 11:41 - Jun 17 with 3752 views | dixiefrog |
Well what else was he going to say. Dragan bigs up Downs because he’s a Saints player (even though the fans think he’s dog sh1t), and if the fans think he’s shit then so will any potential buyers and thats x millions down the toilet. | |
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| Dragan Solak Suggests That Transfer Flop Can Still Be A Hit At St Mary's on 12:14 - Jun 17 with 3706 views | HytheFerrytales |
My guess is that Solak has been told by Spors/Eckert that we need a CF, a combative CM and a CH if departures come about ( we know the possible ones).
He knows none will come too cheap so will try to get away with 2 out of the 3 and give Downs a go as back up to Larin...then maybe work to get one of our youngsters in that department to start getting game time for development. | | | |
| Dragan Solak Suggests That Transfer Flop Can Still Be A Hit At St Mary's on 12:15 - Jun 17 with 3703 views | Ifonly |
In January Tonda told the club he didn't want Downs and needed a centre forward instead. That was vital to our success. I only hope Tonda still has the authority at the club to demand that again, because that's what we need now Stewart has left, regardless of the cost.
If Downs is still here at the end of the transfer season, that will show the club has taken a big step backwards. | | | |
| Dragan Solak Suggests That Transfer Flop Can Still Be A Hit At St Mary's on 13:28 - Jun 17 with 3622 views | Glogly |
| Dragan Solak Suggests That Transfer Flop Can Still Be A Hit At St Mary's on 12:15 - Jun 17 by Ifonly |
In January Tonda told the club he didn't want Downs and needed a centre forward instead. That was vital to our success. I only hope Tonda still has the authority at the club to demand that again, because that's what we need now Stewart has left, regardless of the cost.
If Downs is still here at the end of the transfer season, that will show the club has taken a big step backwards. |
Agree with this.
Solaks comments are either clever subterfuge designed to throw targets off the scent or just reverting back to their tight arse ways and not appreciating CF's command a high fee. A lets face it, our track record in clever subterfuge hasn't been great over the recent weeks..... | | | |
| Dragan Solak Suggests That Transfer Flop Can Still Be A Hit At St Mary's on 13:46 - Jun 17 with 3581 views | 1885_SFC |
Lorent Tolaj: top scorer for the Pilgrims during the 2025/26 season, bagging 21 goals in all competitions (18 in League One). He is known for his imposing physical presence, hold-up play, and strength as a traditional number nine.
I am positive he could make the step up a division & he's the right age at 24. My Plymouth-supporting mate reckons he's real class and with Celtic sniffing around, he isn't going to be staying in Devon much longer. We need a replacement for Ross Stewart... and if it's a choice between Tolaj or Damion Downs in the no.9 shirt next season, it's a no-brainer. |  |
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| Dragan Solak Suggests That Transfer Flop Can Still Be A Hit At St Mary's on 15:26 - Jun 17 with 3484 views | SaintNick |
| Dragan Solak Suggests That Transfer Flop Can Still Be A Hit At St Mary's on 11:10 - Jun 17 by PatfromPoole |
If memory serves, Beattie was not heralded at the time as a star signing.
He was clearly young and raw at the time, and his arrival was a bit in the background compared to Mark Hughes.
He clearly however had a high workrate, and most fans warmed to him because of that.
Downs needs to work an awful lot harder as a player to have any chance of winning the fans over.
You can almost forgive an appalling first touch when the player is clearly giving 100%.
Downs shows no sign of doing this. |
You are right Beattie was not heralded as a big signing, but he was the replacement for Kevin Davies and went straight in the first team.
Downs was not heralded as a big signing either, he had both Ross Stewart & Adam Armstrong ahead of him and also Cameron Archer, so he was one of four forwards.
He had only a season of Bundesliga 2 behind him, he was very much one for the future.
Beattie had high workrate, but then again so did Mickey Evans and a host of other forwards over the years who have produced a lot of work rate but little in terms of end results.
Beattie took two seasons to truly start to look like he would make it
If you can forgive an appalling touch etc if a player is giving 100% then I take it you were in the "Sign Him" camp when Ali Dia ran around like a headless chicken  |  |
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| Dragan Solak Suggests That Transfer Flop Can Still Be A Hit At St Mary's on 16:26 - Jun 17 with 3418 views | Butty101 |
| Dragan Solak Suggests That Transfer Flop Can Still Be A Hit At St Mary's on 15:26 - Jun 17 by SaintNick |
You are right Beattie was not heralded as a big signing, but he was the replacement for Kevin Davies and went straight in the first team.
Downs was not heralded as a big signing either, he had both Ross Stewart & Adam Armstrong ahead of him and also Cameron Archer, so he was one of four forwards.
He had only a season of Bundesliga 2 behind him, he was very much one for the future.
Beattie had high workrate, but then again so did Mickey Evans and a host of other forwards over the years who have produced a lot of work rate but little in terms of end results.
Beattie took two seasons to truly start to look like he would make it
If you can forgive an appalling touch etc if a player is giving 100% then I take it you were in the "Sign Him" camp when Ali Dia ran around like a headless chicken |
Downs has also just had a distarous loan that caused the fans to riot! Not even joking. |  |
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| Dragan Solak Suggests That Transfer Flop Can Still Be A Hit At St Mary's on 18:13 - Jun 17 with 3373 views | Ron11 |
| Dragan Solak Suggests That Transfer Flop Can Still Be A Hit At St Mary's on 13:46 - Jun 17 by 1885_SFC |
Lorent Tolaj: top scorer for the Pilgrims during the 2025/26 season, bagging 21 goals in all competitions (18 in League One). He is known for his imposing physical presence, hold-up play, and strength as a traditional number nine.
I am positive he could make the step up a division & he's the right age at 24. My Plymouth-supporting mate reckons he's real class and with Celtic sniffing around, he isn't going to be staying in Devon much longer. We need a replacement for Ross Stewart... and if it's a choice between Tolaj or Damion Downs in the no.9 shirt next season, it's a no-brainer. |
100% logical suggestion.
But do they even look at players like him? Downs is just a silly haircut pretending to be a footballer. | | | |
| Dragan Solak Suggests That Transfer Flop Can Still Be A Hit At St Mary's on 19:34 - Jun 17 with 3329 views | 1885_SFC |
| Dragan Solak Suggests That Transfer Flop Can Still Be A Hit At St Mary's on 18:13 - Jun 17 by Ron11 |
100% logical suggestion.
But do they even look at players like him? Downs is just a silly haircut pretending to be a footballer. |
Lorent Tolaj "could" be the next Rickie Lambert. After all, we signed SRL from (at the time) L1 Bristol Rovers - and look how that turned out! | |
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| Dragan Solak Suggests That Transfer Flop Can Still Be A Hit At St Mary's on 20:06 - Jun 17 with 3307 views | shotters |
| Dragan Solak Suggests That Transfer Flop Can Still Be A Hit At St Mary's on 19:34 - Jun 17 by 1885_SFC |
Lorent Tolaj "could" be the next Rickie Lambert. After all, we signed SRL from (at the time) L1 Bristol Rovers - and look how that turned out! |
He played for Aldershot and purely for that reason its a no from me |  |
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| Dragan Solak Suggests That Transfer Flop Can Still Be A Hit At St Mary's on 21:57 - Jun 18 with 3039 views | 1ASIN12 |
Dragan is a Fvcking loon so probably actually thinks this dud is good. | |
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| Dragan Solak Suggests That Transfer Flop Can Still Be A Hit At St Mary's on 23:04 - Jun 18 with 2991 views | HytheFerrytales |
| Dragan Solak Suggests That Transfer Flop Can Still Be A Hit At St Mary's on 21:57 - Jun 18 by 1ASIN12 |
Dragan is a Fvcking loon so probably actually thinks this dud is good. |
Not sure about the loon bit. Since the unfortunate developments, he has publicly backed Eckert and seems to have active legal posturing in place that may well avoid an FA ban for the coach.
As for Downs, I doubt Solak would know him if he bit his leg...anyhow what use to anyone is it for the Club hierarchy to mug Downs off in public whether he stays or goes or not.
Despite being early days in the window they know it will get chaotic later and will keep all options open until it becomes clearer who is not going to be here on opening day.
Solak has said money is available to produce a squad that can push for promotion again next time. | | | |
| Dragan Solak Suggests That Transfer Flop Can Still Be A Hit At St Mary's on 07:03 - Jun 19 with 2889 views | jopreston |
I still remember seeing Downs scoring last pre-season. A very well taken goal and a lot of comments about him looking the real deal. Clearly he has something but likely has had the stuffing knocked out of him by Still, confidence and such like. Maybe TE can get a tune out of him. |  | | |
| Dragan Solak Suggests That Transfer Flop Can Still Be A Hit At St Mary's on 09:40 - Jun 19 with 2795 views | Bridders2 |
| Dragan Solak Suggests That Transfer Flop Can Still Be A Hit At St Mary's on 07:03 - Jun 19 by jopreston |
I still remember seeing Downs scoring last pre-season. A very well taken goal and a lot of comments about him looking the real deal. Clearly he has something but likely has had the stuffing knocked out of him by Still, confidence and such like. Maybe TE can get a tune out of him. |
Tonda may get a tune out of him but it's a big gamble, and we can't rely on Archer, we need to buy a proven goal scorer. Let's hope Spors and his team are keeping a close eye on some of the World Cup forwards...or he's got a nugget up his sleeve.This season depends on it. | |
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| Dragan Solak Suggests That Transfer Flop Can Still Be A Hit At St Mary's on 10:36 - Jun 19 with 2748 views | Ifonly |
| Dragan Solak Suggests That Transfer Flop Can Still Be A Hit At St Mary's on 07:03 - Jun 19 by jopreston |
I still remember seeing Downs scoring last pre-season. A very well taken goal and a lot of comments about him looking the real deal. Clearly he has something but likely has had the stuffing knocked out of him by Still, confidence and such like. Maybe TE can get a tune out of him. |
Pre season friendlies are nothing like competitive games. Downs may be able to trot about unchallenged in a friendly, but he can't handle the physicality of the Championship. Like most utility forwards, he can't win a physical battle with a Championship centre back.
As for his goal, my memory of it is that from an unmarked position in a wide area, he ran on to the ball, carried it forward and finished well. We don't need forwards who do that because we play with wingers now. We need a centre forward who can play with his back to goal and a centre back climbing all over him. Arma used to play like Downs did there (maybe apart from the good finish) and he wasn't up to the job of being a centre forward either. Archer and Diaz are the same. Get rid of the lot of them and bring in a centre forward. | | | |
| Dragan Solak Suggests That Transfer Flop Can Still Be A Hit At St Mary's on 10:51 - Jun 19 with 2726 views | SaintNick |
| Dragan Solak Suggests That Transfer Flop Can Still Be A Hit At St Mary's on 10:36 - Jun 19 by Ifonly |
Pre season friendlies are nothing like competitive games. Downs may be able to trot about unchallenged in a friendly, but he can't handle the physicality of the Championship. Like most utility forwards, he can't win a physical battle with a Championship centre back.
As for his goal, my memory of it is that from an unmarked position in a wide area, he ran on to the ball, carried it forward and finished well. We don't need forwards who do that because we play with wingers now. We need a centre forward who can play with his back to goal and a centre back climbing all over him. Arma used to play like Downs did there (maybe apart from the good finish) and he wasn't up to the job of being a centre forward either. Archer and Diaz are the same. Get rid of the lot of them and bring in a centre forward. |
Sorry did you just say we dont need forwards who can carry the ball forward & finish well ?
Downs hasa lot to prove, will he prove it ? I don't know but you can only judge a player when he leaves.
There are plenty of players over the years who have been at this club and not really performed, but gone on to do so elsewhere, the League is littered with players who have been in our youth system and made it elsewhere, its the same for all clubs.
Cyle Larin had just returned to Mallorca from a loan at Feyenoord, barely playing and not a goal in sight when he arrived at St Mary's, a worse record than Downs who at least had an assist.
Downs was a player playing poorly in a side of players playing poorly for most of his appearances last season,
Don't judge a player till he has had a a decent chance to show his talents and until le leaves the club. | |
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| Dragan Solak Suggests That Transfer Flop Can Still Be A Hit At St Mary's on 11:20 - Jun 19 with 2699 views | Ifonly |
| Dragan Solak Suggests That Transfer Flop Can Still Be A Hit At St Mary's on 10:51 - Jun 19 by SaintNick |
Sorry did you just say we dont need forwards who can carry the ball forward & finish well ?
Downs hasa lot to prove, will he prove it ? I don't know but you can only judge a player when he leaves.
There are plenty of players over the years who have been at this club and not really performed, but gone on to do so elsewhere, the League is littered with players who have been in our youth system and made it elsewhere, its the same for all clubs.
Cyle Larin had just returned to Mallorca from a loan at Feyenoord, barely playing and not a goal in sight when he arrived at St Mary's, a worse record than Downs who at least had an assist.
Downs was a player playing poorly in a side of players playing poorly for most of his appearances last season,
Don't judge a player till he has had a a decent chance to show his talents and until le leaves the club. |
I don't think you understood what I was saying. I didn't say that Downs will never succeed anywhere (he's already had some success in Germany). I said he is the wrong style of forward for what we need.
What we need is a Ross Stewart replacement, a centre forward, someone who can play the same way and share the load with Larin. If we still played like we did under Russel Martin, or 4-3-3, then we'd need players like Arma, Archer, Diaz (and possibly Downs) to play in those wide attacking roles, where Arma used to excel. But we don't play like that now, we play with specialist wingers in the wide areas, and a specialist centre forward in the middle.
So no, we don't need utility forwards to carry the ball, we need wingers and centre forwards. Downs is neither of those, so he has no role. Even if he improved his skills, he'd still be the wrong type of player. | | | |
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