Struggle: Stewart Downing has failed to live up
to expectations at Liverpool
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video
For Liverpool fans wondering what, after a return
of one goal in 26 games, the club saw in Stewart Downing, the
secret is now out.
Owner John W Henry and chairman Tom Werner watched YouTube
footage of him supposedly kicking five consecutive balls into five
dustbins from 30 yards at Aston Villa’s training ground and were
persuaded to complete a £20million move.
The only problem? The footage which shows Downing’s party
piece was a fake. Villa’s audio-visual team edited the video to
suggest Downing achieved the feat with five consecutive
kicks.
‘John and I said, “Oh my god, this player is brilliant, we
have to figure out a way to make a deal”.’
It will never be known for certain, but was this mock-up
responsible for Liverpool increasing their offer from £18m to £20m
when the two clubs were haggling over the fee last
July?
As for Villa, it appears that Nick Finney, who works in the
club’s media department, was the brains behind the
wheeze.
A Villa source said: ‘It was part of our 2010-11
season-ticket drive. ‘There is a message after it which reads,
“Seeing is believing,” which we thought was a giveaway. Obviously,
it wasn’t a big enough clue.’
The video Owner John W Henry and chairman Tom Werner
watched on YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HCvpk1QsaM&feature=youtu.be
‘John and I said, “Oh my
god, this player is brilliant, we have to figure out a way to make
a deal”.’
