Going Downes

So Flynn Downes has been sold to Southampton for £18 million. That's a healthy £8 million profit on the £10 million David Moyes paid for him two years ago, though with Edson Alvarez injured playing for Mexico you do wonder if Downes might have been needed as back-up. Flynn had some good games in the Europa Conference early rounds, though never looked quite ready for the Premier League. Though to be fair, he was rarely played in his best position in front of the back four. 

Flynn will also be fondly remembered for looking like he was going to steam into the AZ Alkmaar Ultras when they went for the West Ham players' families at the end of the Europa Conference semi-final. You can take the boy out of Brentwood... Downes had a very good season in the Championship with Southampton last time out, helping them win the Play-off Final, so it will be interesting to see how he does in the PL again. Meanwhile the club has gained around £38 million from the sales of Benrahma, Kehrer and Downes this summer, which should be enough to fund another signing or two.

Downes, Downes, deeper and Downes

Good to see the on-loan Flynn Downes win promotion with Southampton in the Wembley Play-off Final against Leeds. He started the move that led to the winning goal and has had a fine season for the Saints, making 37 appearances and scoring twice. Flynn is also one of our own coming from the East End of, erm, Brentwood. More importantly Downes is going to come back a better player. The Saints want to buy him, but with West Ham's squad being so thin he surely deserves a few more chances with the Hammers as an alternative or deputy for Alvarez and Soucek. And he's got to be better than Kalvin Phillips.

Downes, Downes, deeper and Downes

Nothing against Flynn Downes. He's a promising young midfielder and can do a job as a ball-winner deputising for Soucek or Rice. But Moyes seems to have a bizarre penchant for starting him in big away matches. Downes has only started in four matches this season and three of those were Man United away, Liverpool away and Tottenham away. His other start was at home to Bournemouth. If you want to give him experience then why not try some easier games? 

When Downes does come in it's as part of three holding midfielders, which negates the scoring chances of the team as a whole. Downes was a decent tackler and passer at Swansea, but has no goals and no assists this season and has never been known as a goalscorer. He prefers to keep possession rather than try a through ball. Against Spurs only Antonio and Bowen were out and out attackers. Nor has the tactic worked, in all three of these big away matches the team has lost. 

Moyes brings in Downes when he wants to keep things tight, but a team that has spent £160 million in the summer should be better than just trying to keep the score down and nick a late goal. Benrahma, Fornals or Lanzini (and Paqueta when fit) have to return to the side to offer some much-needed creativity.

Going Downes with the Hammers

Good to see the Hammers signing an Essex Man who supports the Irons. Flynn Downes was born in Brentwood, breeding ground of top footballers (and this former firm but fair centre back), but made his debut for Ipswich and then moved on to Swansea City. He seems to like a tackle and will strengthen the defensive midfield position after the departures of Noble and Kral. At 23 and at £12 million he's a good age and price. Hopefully he might develop from the Championship in the way Jarrod Bowen has done. My pal Huw, an uber Swansea fan, says this of Flynn: "Very good all-rounder who can double up in defence. One of those players you particularly notice when he is not there and your other players suddenly don’t look as good." Welcome home Flynn.