Football

Here we are, Downing (written last summer)

A certain player happens to have completed more successful crosses in the past three seasons than anyone else in the Premier League; he is the top-flight’s 5th-most successful chance-creator over the past seven seasons, and the only one of that top five to not be in a Champions League side over the duration (the other four being the world-famous quartet of Fabregas, Gerrard, Lampard and Giggs). His club’s Player of the Year, he is someone who has regularly registered in excess of ten assists a season throughout his career, with as many as 14 in 2006/07, and is capable of getting double-figures in goals (he did so in 2007/08, and was just one shy of last season). All this, and on average fit to play in all but three games a season over the past five years. (Stats courtesy of Opta Joe.)

According to Opta stats – Stewart Downing, Charlie Adam and Jordan Henderson created 239 goal scoring chances between them last season – 56% of what the entire Liverpool team did in 2010/11

If you look at it from a stats point of view, at least with the current understanding of football (as Corny says, it's not all been worked out yet), Downing should be one of the winningest players in the Prem (if you excuse the Americanism).

So in summary I think Liverpool have bought players for the right reasons (with the possible exception of Carroll), but for whatever reason, either that system doesn't work, or something else needs to change first.