Sorry, he still looked **** to me. He has the IQ of a melon baller, and while he is tenacious, be simply does not have the brains to be constructive in any way. I can't believe I am waiting for Joe Allen to get fit to get this donkey out of the team. Sterling, Hendo and Enrique were really sub standard today, and I would have started with Alberto, Ibe and a well watered shrub instead.
I could accept a difference in opinion on Hendo if you didn't then go and say you wanted Allen instead Hendo's shown FAR more use to the team than Joe has and actually compliments the players we have rather than try to do the same job as the others - but worse.
Lol, I've criticized Henderson for being a bit chicken headed but always with the qualification that he was young, had stupid pressure put on him because of price and yes, our of his best position. I've said the same about Allen as well.... Would rather they both turn out great though.
Whoopdie doo! he put in a few tackles, so what? He gave the ball away more times than he made tackles, and what did he offer going forward? He was below average for a holding midfielder, let alone one who is supposed to move forward. I can see where you are coming from, he was good, compared to himself, and as a Liverpool fan, you are desperate for the lad to do well. I to want him to do well,,,, for Sunderland or West Ham, just not Liverpool. Is he as good as Coutinho? Would you honestly let him stay in the team once Coutinho is fit?
69/75 passes completed (92% accuracy), won 7 out of 7 tackles & recovered the ball 12 times. What? Coutinho plays in a completely different position, and no, I wouldn't keep him in ahead of Coutinho but I wouldn't fail to acknowledge when he's played well.
But he's not a holding midfielder, and yet looked good today. Recovered the ball 12 times around the pitch. 69 out 75 successful passes (92%). 32 out 38 forward passes (in the holding midfielder role). He blocked 2 shots on goal. He made 4 successful clearances. I can find more stats if you'd like, or maybe in this case stats don't matter? If we are going by sight, then he looked composed on the ball and lively off of the ball. He bossed that performance in my opinion and in the opinion of many Liverpool fans and pundits alike. Just to compare, Lucas made 43 out 48 successful passes vs Sunderland. 27 were forward. Given that this isn't even Hendo's best game in a Liverpool shirt, I'd say he's come in leaps and bounds since he joined. He's certainly above Allen in the pecking order, Alberto is a youth that will be a substitute until he's a bit older, and Suso is off at loan. You say Coutinho would take his place, but that doesn't make sense. Coutinho plays amongst the front 3, not the midfield 3. Moses should be the one making way for Ford.
True, just don't think everyone does as its to easy to get away with saying "I always thought he'd come good" when talking on a forum. The regulars know I've defended Henderson for two seasons PS...I've shown I'm willing to put my hands up with as I've done it with Skrtel a few times before he proves me right again
To be fair, imagine that. Are you honestly saying Coutinho would do better as a DM? Not slagging that you don't rate Hendo, there's people have players they don't like but.... Or are you saying like I did the other night that poor Hendo no matter what won't replace any of the 3 if they're fit?
Johnson: I accept people's points but I just don't rate him as a defender. He has & will prove me wrong in games but I can't shake the feeling.
Got to say, the comparison between Henderson and Coutinho is a little silly as they are different players but I also understand why Noble said it; in this 352 system, when fit Johnson will be RWB and Coutinho will be the AM which means Henderson its him or Lucas at CM because Gerrard (as captain and living legend) won't be dropped.
Johnson is a 50:50 for me. I've defended him many times but also criticised him too. The former is usually when people question his ability and positioning, the latter because of his concentration and effort levels.
We all have our players we just go ????? About. As long as a guy is trying then fine, up to manager to replace with better. Personally, and it might all be lies but I'll always hope the best & hold off full rant on guys that give 100%. Hate speeches then nothing. It's why I'm not impressed with Sterling. He reveled in the original limelight but seems to dislike the graft & competition. Again, young but gut says no. Obviously hope I'm wrong!
I think most of us agree about Sterling but also know he is still very young and needs time to progress. Part of me wonders if he's broken into the side too early, he could benefit by this experience but be stuck in the rut too long at Liverpool so moves on to progress his career before blossoming. Obviously, I hope I'm wrong but at the minute, he seriously isn't cutting it IMO. Just in addition to Johnson; I would actually like to see us move him on. He is getting on and is part of what I call the unsuccessful era and more than likely doesn't have that winning mentality (win at all costs) because he's been in such a comfortable position with the club for so long. I've said this a few times, others (Skrtel, Agger, Lucas and Reina) are part of this group IMO too. It sound harsher than I mean it to be as they are clearly good players that have a winning desire but I think the vast majority need to be moved on so that the club can move forward.
