Henderson

[mark1975]

I'm gonna state a case for the lad and the midfield in general.

I didn't think paying £16m when we had other priorities was particularly helpful to us, when we needed more natural quality outwide, but in the last few games I'm starting to see a few things start to bear fruit.

His energy, willingness to cover ground and play box to box over the last few games has been a real plus for us. He might not be making the killer pass and frustratingly, he's not linking up aswell with the knock downs from Carroll as he could be (the space last night was begging for a runner from midfield), but his over all pace off the ball and ability to keep things ticking over was a real plus. I'm not going to condemn Adam as I'm a massive fan, but Adam gives the ball away making more adventurous passes, while Henderson keeps possession well but rarely gets out of the comfort zone. If we found common ground between the two of them we'd be laughing! In Lucas and Henderson, with Gerrard and Adam there aswell, we've got potential for an very strong midfield over the next few years, Henderson's mobility is a must though for the team, particularly in the absence of Gerrard, which seems something we're gradually adjusting to.

A quick mention for wee Jay aswell, he's much maligned at times on here, for not much more reason than he's a bit unfashionable, but he's a more than able reserve and certainly pisses on much of the shite we've had on the bench over the last decade. Good passer, tenacious, reasonably quick and not scared to get stuck in.

If we get some real quality in the wide roles, we could have a really strong side over the next few seasons.

 

[Oncy]

He's crap.

 

[mark1975]

Haha..

 

[Mystic]

Exactly Mark, he's great, completely underrated here. His little move to open up space and fire off a decent shot was nice last night, he needs to keep trying things like this, and they'll get better and better. He's getting better and better and I think next season it'll start to really show

 

[the count]

Waits for Krump.....................

 

[FoxForceFive]

I've set out my stall already so dont need to add any more, just glad some others have noticed & I'm not a shite judge of a footballer, or at least if I am I'm in good company.

 

[mark1975]

I still think there's room for improvement overall with the midfield, they can all improve, but on paper at least, they all compliment each other, especially if we continue to play three in the middle. We do lack a ferocious ball winner and a creative force like Silva or Modric (Gerrard is at least showing signs of getting past his best on that note)., but there's encouragement there for the longterm.

 

[the count]

For the record I am on the Henderson bandwagon too and think that while he is already a tidy decent player he will end up a top class one.

 

[Mystic]

[quote author=mark1975 link=topic=48531.msg1475677#msg1475677 date=1328123348]
I still think there's room for improvement overall with the midfield, they can all improve, but on paper at least, they all compliment each other, especially if we continue to play three in the middle. We do lack a ferocious ball winner and a creative force like Silva or Modric (Gerrard is at least showing signs of getting past his best on that note)., but there's encouragement there for the longterm.
[/quote]

Quite, I think long term we're going to need to replace Adam with someone of the Modric, Silva, Mata ilk to provide that creative force and real goal threat, but for now Adam is great for that.

 

[viingx]

I don't mind the way he plays. I strongly disagree with paying 16 mill for a potential is a bit much, however.

 

[Woland]

If anyone else in the top half dozen had paid that money for him you'd all be pointing and laughing.

 

[Graham]

I like Henderson. He plays the ball early and I see him getting better and better in the coming years.

 

[Sunny]

* points at Krump and laughs *

 

[spider-Neil]

bren hates him with a passion. well, he (bren) needs someone hate on now that lucas has improved.

I mostly agree with mark's post. I think his progress has stalled with the injury to lucas. I thought henderson would be able to sit deep and sheild the defence but give more going forwards than spearing or lucas but clearly in the absence of both players he has had to hold his position which pretty much killed dead his forward runs.

I like the player, he does the simple things well, too often am I thinking 'fucks sakes the pass was on there' but I rarely if ever have to say that about henderson because if the pass is on 9/10 he will make it and often he will make the pass early. I think the better our pass and move gets the better he will get because he suits a one touch team far better than a team that will send it long or run with the ball.

count me in the camp that likes the player but currently he is treading water and if jonjo (for example) were to establish himself then henderson is the most likely to make way for him. jordan needs to add goals and assists to his game if he wants to continue being a mainstay of the team, either that or learn to tackle.

 

[Sunny]

Yeah score loads of goals like Lukaku for example.

 

[Woland]

Another player who no one remembers anything he ever does because it's always a bit meh - and the excuse is always that he's 'tidy' or 'technical' rather than a 'shithouse who hides' or 'just plain bollocks'

 

[spider-Neil]

[quote author=Sunny link=topic=48531.msg1475688#msg1475688 date=1328124809]
Yeah score loads of goals like Lukaku for example.
[/quote]

I didn't say loads, 'some' would be nice.

 

[mark1975]

[quote author=Woland link=topic=48531.msg1475683#msg1475683 date=1328124368]
If anyone else in the top half dozen had paid that money for him you'd all be pointing and laughing.
[/quote]

United have had enough Steady-Eddie types in their side over the years who I've appreciated more than others probably have. They took shit for ages over paying £20m for Carrick, the lad might be the proverbial water-carrier but he's got the medals so who's to argue? Alonso did an article a while ago where he mentioned him and how he get's United playing, something that alot of people fail to recognise. Fletcher's another good example. I think Henderson has shown enough to suggest that he's got the attributes there, he just needs the experience and confidence. He's like, what, 21? Lampard was 23 when he joined Chelsea, he scored 0 goals in his first full season playing for West Ham and 10 in his second season.

 

[Squiggles]

We definitely overpaid, but he has all the makings of a good footballer. I don't think he's yet got the confidence or the experience to influence games as much as he should.

 

[Woland]

[quote author=mark1975 link=topic=48531.msg1475693#msg1475693 date=1328125170]
[quote author=Woland link=topic=48531.msg1475683#msg1475683 date=1328124368]
If anyone else in the top half dozen had paid that money for him you'd all be pointing and laughing.
[/quote]

United have had enough Steady-Eddie types in their side over the years who I've appreciated more than others probably have. They took shit for ages over paying £20m for Carrick, the lad might be the proverbial water-carrier but he's got the medals so who's to argue? Alonso did an article a while ago where he mentioned him and how he get's United playing, something that alot of people fail to recognise. Fletcher's another good example. I think Henderson has shown enough to suggest that he's got the attributes there, he just needs the experience and confidence. He's like, what, 21? Lampard was 23 when he joined Chelsea, he scored 0 goals in his first full season playing for West Ham and 10 in his second season.
[/quote]

The problem isn't with having steady players, it's with spending everything you have on them and getting rid of skillful ones. How much water have we got and why does it all need carrying by all these useless unimaginative negative anti-footballers? And you can compare Henderson with Lumptard when he also has 100 goals from midfield. We've had tons of shit that was over-priced, why not compare with them instead? It's far more likely that he'll be another plodder than a world beater.

 

[dogboy]

I'm with Mark on this one. 16m was a lot to spend on what some are saying is basically a 'tidy player' however if he ends up being a bit more classy and influential than that, (which, fingers-crossed, he will) it'll be money well spent. Even if he stalls, Liverpool would still be buying our annual quota of average players for 6-7m per season so we're still saving money.

 

[mark1975]

I never said he wasn't overpriced, I agree, or at least, it wasn't a priority. As for getting rid, Alonso and Meireles went off their own backs, it wasn't a case of getting rid (although Rafa fucked up Alonso in the first place).

 

[Delinquent]

[quote author=Woland link=topic=48531.msg1475683#msg1475683 date=1328124368]
If anyone else in the top half dozen had paid that money for him you'd all be pointing and laughing.
[/quote]

Yup.

There's no doubt he's willing and energetic, but he offers very little threat with the ball. In fact, he rarely looks for anything more than a simple pass. There just isn't enough about him to suggest he'll ever be good enough. What's more, it bugs me that we spent so much on a player who has almost no redeeming features, particularly when we had better players in his position already at the club.

 

[Hansern]

[quote author=Woland link=topic=48531.msg1475683#msg1475683 date=1328124368]
If anyone else in the top half dozen had paid that money for him you'd all be pointing and laughing.
[/quote]

If Utd had done the same we would have said yet another we missed out on. The lad will be quality.

Great post Mark. Yesterday We looked a lot like the side that played some excellent football last season.

 

[Peatcheo]

I think he has loads of talent, really tidy and doesnt lose the ball very often, could become a very good player!

 

[Oncy]

Hes crap.

 

[jan]

He's one of those "doesn't do much wrong" type of players, which I usually hate.

But he runs a lot so he's not completely useless. And he's young and could improve, etc. Anyway, average at the moment.

 

[hmmmmm1]

He cant tackle, cant pass, cant shoot

He is the white momo Sissoko...

 

[Cerberus]

Jordan "ready salted" fucking HORRENDERSON. No points for guessing who came up with that one. Anyhooter, I'm not convinced by him. Nothing he does in a game gets my attention. All this "tidy" and "keeps possession" should be a fucking prerequisite for a professional footballer, not their standout attribute.

Youth is on his side however. Hopefully he matures into a dynamic, creative and goal scoring midfielder ala Gerrard. We might have to get out the wonder serum though.

 

[KopKing]

I hope he improves in the future because as of now, he's a nothing player.