Topic: Jordan Henderson

[Willi]

Jordan Henderson is our future. Like i was convinced 3 years ago by Lucas.

[J-Mc-]

Jordan Henderson is our future. Like i was convinced 3 years ago by Lucas.

The potential is there to see, he's got fantastic vision for a lad his age, just needs to develop his confidence on the ball a bit more and we've got a top player on our hands here.

[Bakez0151]

i really do hate some people on here

can't wait for you to be proven wrong you gang of hermits

maybe you'll just catch on with the rest of the crowd when it happens. fck knows half the people that used to chat shit bout lucas, only think he's quality now because everyone else does

should we have not played lucas when you all were sayin he was hopeless too? please tell me, whats the difference? how is a young player with great potential going to get better without being played?

tell me this please.

[geoffstrong]

do you know why we had so much good possession simply because we recycled the ball well from the midfield to the wide men and the one who recycled the ball the best all game  was Henderson!

The future is Henderson alongside Lucas with Shelvey doing the same role the Stevie had today, get used to Henderson being our CM he will be there for years to come and blind twonks will still be slating him and making themselves look pathetically stupid, like some in here are right now!

[DanA]

Jordan Henderson I think has a lot of potential but has a lot he needs to work on as well.  I don't think he should have been used as much as he has this season and I think he has but that's not to say I don't rate him. If he can lift his strength, tackling and positioning I reckon we've got a player on our hands. I reckon we've already seen a fair amount of progress already this season.

I think his best position will be partner to a proper DM and I think he'll be very good at it. I'm hoping he does like Lucas and spends the summer getting stronger and improving his tackling and positioning. If he does he could come on in leaps and bounds I reckon.

Watching Gerrard behind Suarez against Norwich has me yet again thinking I don't want to see Gerrard as a CM/DM anymore. He is so much better as a second striker. Jordan could be the man to play the Alonso role in a 4-2-3-1 for us over the next 5-10 years.

[soberphobia]

I like Henderson as a footballer but like most people just don't know where he fits. At this stage of his career he doesn't look tactically disciplined enough or positionally aware enough depending on your interpretation to be a DM but maybe a good CM in a 3 midfield. Maybe he will become more tactically astute in time because he is obviously a very disciplined professional. The best i have seen him play is in a more advanced role centrally placed but we seem to have lots of options there.

I get the feeling that KD wants to develop him to play a similar role to what Carrick does for United. The lad has some real talent so it will be interesting to see where he ends up fitting in. I am neither pro or Anti the lad because i think at this stage the question  is still not answered in the positive or the negative but is being played out before us.

[jooneyisdagod]

I like Henderson as a footballer but like most people just don't know where he fits. At this stage of his career he doesn't look tactically disciplined enough or positionally aware enough depending on your interpretation to be a DM but maybe a good CM in a 3 midfield. Maybe he will become more tactically astute in time because he is obviously a very disciplined professional. The best i have seen him play is in a more advanced role centrally placed but we seem to have lots of options there.

I get the feeling that KD wants to develop him to play a similar role to what Carrick does for United. The lad has some real talent so it will be interesting to see where he ends up fitting in. I am neither pro or Anti the lad because i think at this stage the question  is still not answered in the positive or the negative but is being played out before us.

Pretty much where I stand with respect to him as well.  I can see the things he does well and yes he does a lot of good things but nothing to justify the kind of adulation I see here and I can also see he things he should do but he doesn't for whatever reason.  And I'm really interested to see where he is going to fit in the future.

One thing is for certain though, we bought him to be a wide player and from that view, I think it was an absolute bomb on Commolli and Kenny's part. 

[RedLeader]

Why are people having this debate??

He's a fucking LIVERPOOL player for christ sake.

Get behind the kid and give him a fucking chance. FFS.

[jooneyisdagod]

Why are people having this debate??

He's a fucking LIVERPOOL player for christ sake.

Get behind the kid and give him a fucking chance. FFS.

Because its a fucking forum unless you think the point of having a forum is for 30,000 people to post well done lad one after the other in every single player topic.

[RedLeader]

Because its a fucking forum unless you think the point of having a forum is for 30,000 people to post well done lad one after the other in every single player topic.

I guess I asked the wrong question, then..

WHY the fuck are people giving a 21 year old lad that clearly has potential such a hard fucking time after 1 season, a season where Gerrard & Lucas were/are injured for long spells, and Henderson clearly played more games then he would have done??

BTW Joony.... I wasn't part of this forum when Lucas was being slaughtered by all and sundry.
Look where that "debate" got the naysayers, eh.

Give the lad a chance, too many people want him to be everything, now.
It doesn't work like that, not in this era of football.
Rare exceptions aside, a younger player needs a season/maybe 2 to bed in correctly.

[jooneyisdagod]

I guess I asked the wrong question, then..

WHY the fuck are people giving a 21 year old lad that clearly has potential such a hard fucking time after 1 season, a season where Gerrard & Lucas were/are injured for long spells, and Henderson clearly played more games then he would have done??

BTW Joony.... I wasn't part of this forum when Lucas was being slaughtered by all and sundry.
Look where that "debate" got the naysayers, eh.

Give the lad a chance, too many people want him to be everything, now.
It doesn't work like that, not in this era of football.
Rare exceptions aside, a younger player needs a season/maybe 2 to bed in correctly.

To answer your first question, there clearly is a differing opinion to you with respect to Henderson's potential.  And I guess that leads to debate.

The situation with Lucas isn't the same as this.  It was always obvious that Lucas was a central midfielder and he did struggle initially being asked to play a couple of different roles when he himself said he was a ''volante'' (I think that is the term but correct me if I'm wrong) or the player that plays along side the ball winner and circulates possession.  So I suppose, people saw that what Lucas possessed as traits were perfectly suited to the position. 

For me Henderson has a number of attributes that are very similar to Lucas.  But we already have Lucas, so what is Henderson's role in the team going to be ?  And is he equipped for that role ?  I think those questions remain.  But Henderson was also bought to play on the right and Meireles was shipped out to make room for him IMO.  So that complicates matters further.  To cut a long story short, there may be parallels with Lucas but that is no reason not to have a debate.  People are on this site because they love talking football.  Sometimes you get a bit of shite and sometimes you get brilliance.  But you'll always get debate because people will not agree with you.  But that is the best part about posting on a forum !

[Severely]

An epic group of supporters we've got here. Give him a torrid time after he puts in a decent shift in CM. When he learns to put his engine to better use, and he gets more confidence and stops fading in and out of games, he'll be the perfect midfield partner for Lucas. At the moment, he plays badly when the team plays badly because he doesnt have the confidence to step it up yet, but that'll come as he gets used to playing for a massive team like us and as the team itself improves.Hard worker, disciplined, excellent technique and mobility, with an eye for the occasional killer pass. That's how i'd describe him now, imagine what he could be in a few years.

[Dash Snow]

For me Henderson has a number of attributes that are very similar to Lucas.  But we already have Lucas, so what is Henderson's role in the team going to be ?

He has a great ability to play first time balls into space, i don't think Lucas really has that vision, even if he do have the technique.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9ugfFQ6ObY

That clip is a good example of what a midfield pairing of Lucas and Henderson can give you. Henderson knows what kind of player Lucas is and he knows that Lucas is going to win the ball, so he's already on the move when Lucas makes the tackle. And Henderson also knows that Suarez is roaming in the space between the CB and the LB, so he knows exactly what ball to play, and he executes it brilliantly. Both players like to harass the opposition rather than make tackles, and i think that a midfield pair of Lucas and Henderson is the best option we have with our squad right now. Both more holding than the attacking midfielder (preferably Gerrard or Shelvey), but Henderson should be a little bit more attacking and creating, while Lucas should be more about winning balls and recycling them.

[KirkVanHouten]

Too young, too English. Doesn't know how to do tricks and step overs, get rid.

There are some people in here that have decided that he is going to fail. Regardless of what he does in the future they are going slate him because they don't want to be wrong, so basically they actually want him to fail here. He's 21, I think we're going to have to wait a couple of years to make a definitive statement about his career at Liverpool.

[Discipline]

Too much people concentrate on him doing a "mistake" to slate him than to support the guy. Can't help but think that he would of been crucified if he missed the Jonjo chance...

[lord_anshul]

His first touch passing is massively under-rated. The boy sure has some kinks in the game but you dont expect him to be a world beater at the age of 21. He has got great engine, is generally very fit and most importantly he can spot a pass or a run.

His only issue is that he needs someone to give him confidence so that he can apply himself more. Many a times is about to make a challenge but just at the last moment he'll reserve himself. But that things will come with experience

Couple of years on the pitch and he'll make all you haters chew your words.

[locultom]

Did well. Showed a growing maturity in his positioning and as ever worked hard and used the ball sensibly. Just needs to relax a little bit and drive into space when he sees it. I think all the game time this season is starting to pay off.

[nocturnalvin]

To be fair, at this moment, his best position would be to play alongside a Lucas, rather than do a Lucas.

[Fellini]

His first touch passing is massively under-rated. The boy sure has some kinks in the game but you dont expect him to be a world beater at the age of 21. He has got great engine, is generally very fit and most importantly he can spot a pass or a run.

His only issue is that he needs someone to give him confidence so that he can apply himself more. Many a times is about to make a challenge but just at the last moment he'll reserve himself. But that things will come with experience

Couple of years on the pitch and he'll make all you haters chew your words.

Agree with that assessment mate. He really needs to believe in himself more and he'll become a top player. Reminds me so much of Lucas a few years back. Once he believes he's good enough to be a Liverpool player he'll be a good 'un.

[keyo]

do you know why we had so much good possession simply because we recycled the ball well from the midfield to the wide men and the one who recycled the ball the best all game  was Henderson!

The future is Henderson alongside Lucas with Shelvey doing the same role the Stevie had today, get used to Henderson being our CM he will be there for years to come and blind twonks will still be slating him and making themselves look pathetically stupid, like some in here are right now!

henderson's strengths are his mobility and passing.....he is perfect for the modern high tempo pressing/possession game that prevails throughout europe.....exactly what benitez had us playing, what barcelona and most spanish clubs play.......

he is not the finished article by any means, and is not an automatic pick by any means, but look at what he brings to the team and judge him based on that, not what he doesn't bring.....let him grow and show his strengths under the guidance of the management, and show his full range of talents as he (hopefully) fulfils his potential

[helmboy_nige]

do you know why we had so much good possession simply because we recycled the ball well from the midfield to the wide men and the one who recycled the ball the best all game  was Henderson!

The future is Henderson alongside Lucas with Shelvey doing the same role the Stevie had today, get used to Henderson being our CM he will be there for years to come and blind twonks will still be slating him and making themselves look pathetically stupid, like some in here are right now!

Yep, that's pretty much how I see it too.  Shelvey moving into the Gerrard position and Henderson alongside Lucas.  The key is ensuring we have squad depth for when injuries occur.

[Evans]

Yep, that's pretty much how I see it too.  Shelvey moving into the Gerrard position and Henderson alongside Lucas.  The key is ensuring we have squad depth for when injuries occur.

Three-man midfield for next year:
Lucas, with Spearing as a back-up.
Henderson, with Adam as a back-up (albeit Adam may well be just as much a back-up for the most attacking midfielder)
Gerrard, with Shelvey gradually taking over his place.

It's a decent enough bunch of midfielders that, six guys for the central positions. I think our squad depth in that area is alright for the moment.

[rakey_lfc]

I think him and Lucas would make a great pairing!

[Jellies]

Not disciplined enough to play defensive mid? Did you actually see the game last night?

[Tonyh]

There are lots of signs that he is learning. He is playing with more discipline and our midfield passing has looked crisper and more accurate. I think with another few months of tactical experience him and Lucas may well be our central midfield partnership next season. But as part of pre season, I would like to see him add a few pounds of muscle and a touch more aggression.

[rakey_lfc]

Not disciplined enough to play defensive mid? Did you actually see the game last night?

I was quite drunk in fairness!

I didn't mean they both had to play defensive mid! I just think they'd compliment each other as a pairing!

[RogerTheRed]

Played well today and when Gerrard went forward he seemed to grow in confidence.

[Fellini]

Three-man midfield for next year:
Lucas, with Spearing as a back-up.
Henderson, with Adam as a back-up (albeit Adam may well be just as much a back-up for the most attacking midfielder)
Gerrard, with Shelvey gradually taking over his place.

It's a decent enough bunch of midfielders that, six guys for the central positions. I think our squad depth in that area is alright for the moment.

Don't forget, this is LFC so we'll most likely sign at least two more central mids in the summer when what we really need is another striker and winger 

[mickeydocs]

I think him and Lucas would make a great pairing!

Totally agree... really hope it lives up to its billing. Two hardworking selfless players with great awareness.

We really do have a good spine to which just needs adding to - Reina, Johnson, Agger, Skrtel, Enrique, Lucas, Henderson, Gerrard, Suarez.... just add a top wide player and a top striker...two more players and that would be some first eleven. Aquilani would be some serious player to rotate with Henderson and Lucas.
Carroll, Bellamy, Spearing and Downing are decent back up players. Add in our up and coming players such as Kelly, Coates, Robinson, Shelvey and Sterling and maybe we can start to dream again.

Time to reduce Carragher's role in the team. Maxi and Kuyt have been good servants but time has come to move them on, and as for Joe Cole, hopefully Spurs will be in for him.

[Niru Red4ever]

To be fair, at this moment, his best position would be to play alongside a Lucas, rather than do a Lucas.

Agreed, but it wouldn't harm to give him the Lucas role in the 'meaningless' fixtures. Would make him a better midfielder.

And if he does improve his defensive play (Lucas's defensive play initially was not good, regardless of him having been a volante or whatever); he  MAY be rotated with Lucas when we play the smaller teams. Most of our midfielders now - Gerrard, Adam, Shelvey, even Aquilani if he comes back - are better playing up the pitch; so if Hendo ends up being half decent in a holding role that would be a bonus (and give us options).

[Not A Scouser]

Henderson was clearly the holding midfield player.  He never got close to the opposing penalty area and sat in front of the central defenders.  His role was exactly the one Lucas plays.  He moved the ball around very well and worked hard.  This is the position that is most important for possession and we had around 60%.  His main problem is his defensive positional sense, which he will gain over time.  After all, this is the first time he's played in that position all year.  This is his future position at Liverpool FC, either starting in a 2 with Lucas, or as the base of a midfield 3 with two more attacking players in front of him.

He's never played in the position at Liverpool, he's 21, and he was as good as Spearing in that position.

[Hyypia headers]

I think him and Lucas would make a great pairing!

So do I. I thought Henderson was ver disciplined yesterday and his workrate since QPR has been fantastic. If we can get him to play like that every week, him and Lucas would give players like Shelvey and Gerrard the chance to play in a free roll.

I rate Henderson highly and at this point, he is not one of our problems.

[Brentie]

Am I the only one who's reminded of a young Sebastian Veron when watching him play?

[The 5th Benitle]

Am I the only one who's reminded of a young Sebastian Veron when watching him play?

You're getting more and more tedious.
We get your position on Henderson.

[Juan Loco]

Brentie's just upset we didn't sign Gardin Hendaux-saen for half the price.

[Gandalf]

Don't forget, this is LFC so we'll most likely sign at least two more central mids in the summer when what we really need is another striker and winger 

Personally, I think we need two CMs in the summer.

[helmboy_nige]

Am I the only one who's reminded of a young Sebastian Veron when watching him play?

What you mean the one with 2 La Liga medals, 1 PL medal, 4 copa italia medals and a uefa cup medal*?  That Veron?  That's very nice of you Brentie 

* ah the wonder of wiki

[Evans]

Personally, I think we need two CMs in the summer.

Because Lucas isn't good enough, Gerrard is too old, Shelvey shows no promise, and neither Henderson, Adam nor Spearing should be in the squad? Or because we need more than six central midfielders?

[T.Mills]

Quick question, if Shelvey's going to develope into the CM we all expect, were does that leave Hendo in terms of playing position?

[El_Pistolero]

Quick question, if Shelvey's going to develope into the CM we all expect, were does that leave Hendo in terms of playing position?

Next to Lucas. Behind Shelvey.