Topic: Jordan Henderson

[helmboy_nige]

I think Shelvey offers more than Henderson does.  I don't even think it's close.  Is that a crime? 

Whatever Henderson does, Jonjo can do, and yet most of what Jonjo can do, Henderson can't.

And I guess that's were we disagree.

I think both players have a great amount of potential, but I honestly don't think Jonjo can hold possession the way that Hendo can.  Jonjo is like a young Gerrard.  An attacking midfielder who you send forward to create and score.  You don't trust them with holding the midfield together.  Henderson, I feel, is best in the central midfield role were his job is to support the attack and protect the defence.

It doesn't mean that Jonjo is better than Henderson... or vice versa.  It just means they are different players.

[danwarb]

Jonjo held possession better than Henderson today. Played more passes, 82% completed to 77%. Gerrard kept possession better still.

[best-foot-forward]

This is spot on.

Lucas was always defensively good.

Sorry to pull you up but no he certainly wasnt, he was an attacking midfielder, but the defensive side of his game was poor at the beginning of his time here but has remarkably improved since then.

[Coolie High]

Good game today

[Juan Loco]

Jonjo held possession better than Henderson today. Played more passes, 82% completed to 77%. Gerrard kept possession better still.

Shelvey played considerably less passes though.

[rusty-la]

. That is 4 just off the top of my head. Maybe Sahin is a bit unrealistic, but the other 3 would have been easily gettable with sufficient backing.

Your entire post is unrealistic. 

Seriously, when your not dicking around on FIFA PS3, what do you think yourslef?.

[Evans]

Henderson doesn't have the presence he needs in midfield yet. He's always running but isn't on the ball enough. Lucas' contribution grew and he's on the ball as often as Gerrard now, playing as many passes.

If you check here: http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/team/first-team/statistics, he's actually the midfielder we have with the most passes this season -- albeit he's one of the ones who's played the most games.

[Rafas the man]

Your entire post is unrealistic. 

Seriously, when your not dicking around on FIFA PS3, what do you think yourslef?.

Oh, so getting Caybaye who went for £4m is unrealistic? Or McCarthy from a bottom 5 team? Grow up and actually think about what you are saying. Sahin went to Madrid so yeah, if we did try for him we would have most probably missed out. However I think if we but the effort into getting the other 3 we could have managed it.

[rusty-la]

Jonjo held possession better than Henderson today. Played more passes, 82% completed to 77%. Gerrard kept possession better still.

92.73 per cent of stats are made up.

Excpet on RAWK where 25 per cent of bullshitters are 100 per cent right.

[danwarb]

Shelvey played considerably less passes though.

More. 56 to Jordan's 52.

http://www.whoscored.com/Matches/507221/LiveStatistics/England-Premier-League-2011-2012-Norwich-Liverpool

[MassDriver]

Love how many people take it seriously though


Defo think the shape of the midfield is a lot better when Henderson is sitting rather than Spearing. Spearing should have the attributes to be better at it - and always looks like he's having a better game - but I think the midfield works better when it's Hendo at the base. If anything I think you play Spearing where Shelvey was today (though I'm not sure I would), in a really shitty imitation of Alonso and Sissoko.

Yeah , I agree. Henderson playing that 'sitting' role does seem to work much better because he usually keeps it simple and his positioning is more consistent than Spearing. On the other hand , Spearing does usually try more ambitious passes than Hendo but does have a tendency to wander around a bit too much.  I think both together can work as long as there is a player like Shelvey or Gerrard in front and all the midfielders share the 'dirty' work.

As I said , this role seems to suit Hendo more than an out and out attacking role.

[Sheik_Yerbouti]

Why does it have to be a similar player ?
Why not a bloody good player who'd have made a big difference to the team ?

In my opinion we didnt need Henderson when we signed him, and he's done nothing to change that opinion since he joined.  I'd obviously be delighted if he somehow developed into this great player some people think he's got the potential to be, i just cant see it from what he's shown so far. And i certainly hope we go out and aquire a good central midfielder this summer to partner Lucas, or worst case, replace Lucas if he cant come back from his ACL injury. Having had a such an ordinary central midfield, be it with Henderson playing there or not, has cost us dearly this season i think.

[Evans]

Sorry to pull you up but no he certainly wasnt, he was an attacking midfielder, but the defensive side of his game was poor at the beginning of his time here but has remarkably improved since then.

Lucas wasn't an attacking midfielder, but what they in Brasil call a 'secondo volante' or something, meaning something like the most offensive of the two defensive midfielders in a team i believe. This has been thoroughly discussed elsewhere on this forum at some point, and it's quite interesting if you look it up.

[rafathegaffa83]

Thought he did well today. Looks much better in a midfield duo alongside Shelvey than Spearing.

[rusty-la]

Oh, so getting Caybaye who went for £4m is unrealistic? Or McCarthy from a bottom 5 team? Grow up and actually think about what you are saying. Sahin went to Madrid so yeah, if we did try for him we would have most probably missed out. However I think if we but the effort into getting the other 3 we could have managed it.

Ok

Here's the rules. After someone you had never heard of became good, you can't name them as the player you always wanted. That would be silly.

So, before they become famous/good who would you buy?

And what will they cost?

[Juan Loco]

More. 56 to Jordan's 52.

http://www.whoscored.com/Matches/507221/LiveStatistics/England-Premier-League-2011-2012-Norwich-Liverpool

My bad, you were right. Misread it first time around.

I prefer Shelvey myself, but think Henderson made that midfield work today by virtue of being a smarter player than Spearing (despite probably being a worse tackler, less aggressive and slower over the first 5 yards).

[Rafas the man]

Ok

Here's the rules. After someone you had never heard of became good, you can't name them as the player you always wanted. That would be silly.

So, before they become famous/good who would you buy?

And what will they cost?

I heard of McCarthy when he was 16, when he first had a trial. Sahin has always been someone I have watched since visiting Holland and seeing him play for Feyenoord in 2007 when he was on loan. Cabaye was captain of the Ligue 1 winning team, so at £4m it's shameful if we weren't interested. As for Tiote, I hadn't heard of him before Newcastle, but he was boss last season. Is that good enough for you? Or do I need to go back to my Xbox or PlayStation before I am allowed an opinion that isn't going to be scrutinised?

[Rafas the man]

As for who I would buy now, the obvious ones to look at would be Banega or Martinez, however I think Herrera at Bilbao was fantastic in the games against United, and would probably cost less than Martinez. I am also a big fan of Joe Allen, having seen him play at Wrexham where he was on loan a few years ago, very technically gifted player and has very quick feet.

[RyanBabel19]

Anyone give me an unbiased analysis of his performance today ? Missed the game and all i've seen so far were 2 of Suarez goals

[rusty-la]

I heard of McCarthy when he was 16, when he first had a trial. Sahin has always been someone I have watched since visiting Holland and seeing him play for Feyenoord in 2007 when he was on loan. Cabaye was captain of the Ligue 1 winning team, so at £4m it's shameful if we weren't interested. As for Tiote, I hadn't heard of him before Newcastle, but he was boss last season. Is that good enough for you? Or do I need to go back to my Xbox or PlayStation before I am allowed an opinion that isn't going to be scrutinised?

Easy Tiger, step away from the 'shoot button'

None of us had seen Tiote coming, if only we had, he looks quality this season. But, as much as I like him, Lucas does it better for me.

Cabaye is another one that looks potential. Not heard of the rest.

[Evans]

As for who I would buy now, the obvious ones to look at would be Banega or Martinez, however I think Herrera at Bilbao was fantastic in the games against United, and would probably cost less than Martinez. I am also a big fan of Joe Allen, having seen him play at Wrexham where he was on loan a few years ago, very technically gifted player and has very quick feet.

Have to say I think we've taken this "who else to buy"-discussion to far. Henderson is who we have now, and he's doing a good job. Not good enough according to someone, but i don't think we're about to replace him with a different cm at this point, so no point in name dropping dozens of other hypotheticals. We have other parts of the side than needs strengthening before central midfield.

[Rafas the man]

Easy Tiger, step away from the 'shoot button'

None of us had seen Tiote coming, if only we had, he looks quality this season. But, as much as I like him, Lucas does it better for me.

Cabaye is another one that looks potential. Not heard of the rest.

Not heard of McCarthy at Wigan? He was fantastic today, look out for him on MOTD if you catch it. Only 21

[liverpoollovefc]

He had a decent game today.  He was a lot more lively than usual.  The great performances by Shelvey and Stevie made his job easier, and he took advantage.

[cptrios]

Anyone give me an unbiased analysis of his performance today ?

Asking for an unbiased analysis of a Henderson performance is like asking for an unbiased analysis of an Obama speech. (And no I can't give you one as I didn't see the match.)

Also, eff Cabaye. Eff him hard. He was a snip for £4m and he's a fine player, but he seems like a complete and utter dickhead. Honestly, if you type his name into Google, the 4th and 5th search options that pop up are "Cabaye foul" and "Cabaye Spearing."

[helmboy_nige]

Have to say I think we've taken this "who else to buy"-discussion to far. Henderson is who we have now, and he's doing a good job. Not good enough according to someone, but i don't think we're about to replace him with a different cm at this point, so no point in name dropping dozens of other hypotheticals. We have other parts of the side than needs strengthening before central midfield.

Agreed.  It's also a little disrespectful to the players we have.

[Rafas the man]

Agreed.  It's also a little disrespectful to the players we have.

I was simply answering the question asked. As you said we have Jordan, so lets hope he can become better than anyone mentioned

[RyanBabel19]

Asking for an unbiased analysis of a Henderson performance is like asking for an unbiased analysis of an Obama speech. (And no I can't give you one as I didn't see the match.)

Also, eff Cabaye. Eff him hard. He was a snip for £4m and he's a fine player, but he seems like a complete and utter dickhead. Honestly, if you type his name into Google, the 4th and 5th search options that pop up are "Cabaye foul" and "Cabaye Spearing."

a biased one then, i dont really care, just interested how he played

[helmboy_nige]

a biased one then, i dont really care, just interested how he played

*unpins grenade and tosses it in*

Kind of reminded me of a young Schweinsteiger 

[Tony18:5]

Thought it was the usual Henderson performance ran around and passed it quite a lot, without influencing the game.

As I've said on may occasion still not ready for the first team in my book, but in 1,2,3 years will be decent.

Can we afford that ?

[Evans]

Thought it was the usual Henderson performance ran around and passed it quite a lot, without influencing the game.

As I've said on may occasion still not ready for the first team in my book, but in 1,2,3 years will be decent.

Can we afford that ?

Again, here's the problem when people looks at Henderson. We can't have eleven guys that "influence the game" equally, but we do need players that play their part in the team. It's about having a team that plays fluent football, not about having eleven individuals that take the game in their own hands.

[TheYashLFC]

I guess I'm part of the minority here but I thought Henderson did a great job today. Passed the ball well, especially that "crisp" pass to Enrique. People forget how young he is yet his playing style is very mature. He'll be a great player in the coming years, I wish people were just a little more patient.

[helmboy_nige]

I guess I'm part of the minority here but I thought Henderson did a great job today. Passed the ball well, especially that "crisp" pass to Enrique. People forget how young he is yet his playing style is very mature. He'll be a great player in the coming years, I wish people were just a little more patient.

Thankfully, I don't think you are in the minority.  The negative peeps are always the loudest on the internet.

[sideshowme]

had another excellent game in yet another different position.  lucas and henderson will run the control room of our midfield for years to come.

[Tony18:5]

Again, here's the problem when people looks at Henderson. We can't have eleven guys that "influence the game" equally, but we do need players that play their part in the team. It's about having a team that plays fluent football, not about having eleven individuals that take the game in their own hands.

Errr I am aware its a team game, but Henderson has not once stepped up to the plate.

Remind me how many years is it since we won the league ?

[sideshowme]

Again, here's the problem when people looks at Henderson. We can't have eleven guys that "influence the game" equally, but we do need players that play their part in the team. It's about having a team that plays fluent football, not about having eleven individuals that take the game in their own hands.

what the hell does "influencing the game" mean, anyway?  if you play your role in the team and fulfil the requirements of that role, then you're influencing the game.

it's like kenny said today, when asked about suarez's hat trick before talking about the team performance: talking about the hat-trick was talking about the performance.

if we had a team of players performing their role as well as henderson did today, we wouldn't be in our current predicament.  that's influence for you.

[Brentie]

a biased one then, i dont really care, just interested how he played

Reminded me a bit of Pirlo at times and Redondo at other times. Really think he'll develop into a Effenberg type player but definately has the tools to become a Rui Costa- whether that happens we can only wait and see but at worst I can see him turning into a Marco Senna type player even though the player he reminds me the most of is a young Petit.

[Evans]

Errr I am aware its a team game, but Henderson has not once stepped up to the plate.

Remind me how many years is it since we won the league ?

Are you trying to blame Henderson for that? Henderson steps up with passing and link-ups, and retaining possession in midfield, quite consistently for his age when he's played centrally, and we need a player for that.

[micke_lfc]

had another excellent game in yet another different position.  lucas and henderson will run the control room of our midfield for years to come.

true that

[Evans]

what the hell does "influencing the game" mean, anyway?  if you play your role in the team and fulfil the requirements of that role, then you're influencing the game.

it's like kenny said today, when asked about suarez's hat trick before talking about the team performance: talking about the hat-trick was talking about the performance.

if we had a team of players performing their role as well as henderson did today, we wouldn't be in our current predicament.  that's influence for you.

I agree with you mate, that's exactly what I'm trying to say.

[Brentie]

Seriously though, did Ok. Was conservative in his passing as ever except for a good ball to release Downing down the right in the second half and a nice crossfield ball to Bellamy.

Positiioning was good and worked hard. Not much goal threat or creativity though but that wasnt his role at all today so no minus points for that.