Excellent performance from the lad last night, on form he will start v United in 9 days in front of Shelvey Sahin and Allen, got an excellent reception when he came off, totally impressed by the lad becoming more confident all the time.Brilliant attitude. Decent touch and vision , and IMO our best player without the ball and our best mover off the ball
he looked quite chuffed to get that reception as well. def a confidence player, so hopefully he will kick on now and go from strength to strength
He has improved a lot this last few weeks to the point of me thinking he might actually be worth keeping. I still don't see him as someone who starts every game but could be a good squad player
Never had a problem with Hendo, with the deal or as a player. Yes we paid a fair bit for him, but he's English and Under 25. Unless the player is desperate to leave their club its always going to be expensive to pry them away. And as a player, he's tidy, works hard and never seems to complain when he isn't being picked. Granted he's not going to be a match winner or produce magic, but I see him more of a Kuyt type player who gives 100% effort. Plus as mentioned he's still young, likely to improve further. Unlike Downing who 28 really should have hit the ground running.
Always been a fan of the guy. You can guarantee that he'll always give 100% effort and that's something that is really underrated at times, it isn't easy to have that level of commitment going into every game but he does it. Looking forward to seeing him and Joe become great players for us in the future. People may slate us for paying over the odds on British players but I feel it's a sense of identity to be proud of and continue to develop.
Interesting! We were surprised when he left as he never showed anything here to suggest he could play for 1 of the best teams in the country (which obviously a club of your size aim to be!). If you get there (top 4), I think he would fall by the wayside. Obviously as a local lad I hope he does as well as can be
His energy might prove Vital against Man Utd. Think he and Gerrard could make a good partnership, as one can cover for the other's weakness.
Lucas, Henderson, Gerrard is our best three atm, on form. The combined energy (and both can still keep the ball as well as Joe 'best passer in europe' Allen) allow Gerrard so much more freedom and keep us tighter at the back. Genuinely feel Jordan is more suited to this system than Allen atm because he gets into the box and has the energy to get back and defend afterwards - mostly because Suarez is the main creater, rather than the number 10. I pray that BR has the sense to start Hendo ahead of Allen against United.
wouldn't be an article about Hendo if i didn't contribute my usual observation that he gets in against Shelvey EVERY time. That's not to knock Shelvey, but to raise Hendo. If we want to play pass-and-move we need at least on midfielder to cover the ground, control the ball and pass accurately, and Hendo comes out on top every time.
This I've been saying for a long time that the lad remains me of Lucas. He is full of energy, willing to fight for the cause never giving up and has the technique to play at a high level. However, he was being played out of position, struggling and had the fans on his back, all at a young age. The only question mark I had was whether he had the mental state of mind that Lucas has, I think he has since he has not let the criticism get to him and he's fighting to get the recognition he craves. I have no doubt he will become a very good player, I just hope it is for us considering Brendan tried to use him as bait for Dempsey!
Given the freedom of Anfield against his old side who were mentally beaten by half time, he's obviously done well by the sounds of it. When has he ever shone against quality opposition, in a tough game? He's a headless chicken imo, Shelvey has much greater potential.
He is not getting praise purely based on the one game against Sunderland, he's been playing well for the last couple of months He did well against Man Utd (I think) when we went down to ten men and he was asked to played RWB. It was probably his best game for us up until that point, possible still is best game for us to date. Now, I know this IS one game, but I was just answering your question
Shelvey has much more headless chicken about him than Henderson to be fair. Whilst I won't get carried away with a couple of good showings against poorer opposition he was excellent Wednesday night and deserved the standing ovation he got. Sunderlands midfield has some very good players and Hendo earned the freedom of Anfield rather than being given it. From the very first whistle he was at them like a terrier. You know as well as I do that fans will always appreciate that kind of effort. Ask yourself a simple question Boots...how good was Osman at Hendersons age? He came through at what 22/23 years old (as a regular starter) and he was hardly consistent in his first few seasons. Hendo has been and will still be inconsistent for a while yet but football is as much about confidence and belief as anything and games like Wednesdays can only help a young player.
I for one have always defended henderson on the basis that his work rate, drive to improve and all round nice guy approach would see him succeed. He played sick v qpr, the commentators thought he was unfit not having played but he was sick... the next game he ran sunderland off the park. I think he's going to be a great player. I have stated time and again on this site that gerrard and shelvey should not and can not play together as both have the same issues in working. Gerrard needs someone to take up the laod of closing down and also covering his run when he does make them. Shelvey aint that. For the record shelvey is a bit of a div... not that he's not got talent but he really needs to go out on loan IMO, he did well to see of shain and played well v lesser sides as a false 9..... but i nthe prem we need players like henderson and lucas to allow gerrard to knock it about. I'd like to see henderson compete with allen now and shelvey come on a few times for gerrard.
All fair points mate. Obviously I didn't see your game, so I can't comment on it. I base my view on having watched the player since he first was being talked up at Sunderland. I've never rated him & was amazed when you bought him for big money. I've seen nothing since that makes me think he'll ever make it at the very highest level. However, your point about his age, confidence & experience is totally valid & the lad could yet prove me wrong. He certainly appears to have the right attitude, which increases his chances of success.
The jury is still out on him. If he's going to play higher up the pitch regularly he needs to show he can work hard AND create chances against the kinds of opposition we always struggle against (teams with a high intensity pressing game). I agree the money seems crazy and would have looked far worse if BR had shifted him on in the summer. However if he stays and develops into a first team player for ten years then 16 mill will seem like a bargain.
tobs.... well done you've just proved you are wumming you never saw him but based on somehow watching a sunderland kid you can tell he'll never make it. again work ethic, desire to improve and a fair amount of skills means he can be quite a good player, for instance if he works hard he could be a scott parker or gareth barry type for england if he goes the defensive route or if he works hard in attack he could be a david platt type. he will never be a gerrard or scholes. Its like me saying jack rodwell is gash bascially... just cos he is jack rodwell.
Learn to read love. I said I'd watched him SINCE he first came to the fore at Sunderland, so I've seen him many times, but didn't see your game on Weds I also said he could well prove me wrong, so how that translates to wumming I've no idea. Oh & Rodwell is was & always will be - average & I've always said the same, the lad can't read the game & City were mugged off at £15M
