I do wonder why Henderson gets so many "it's ok, he may be playing poorly now but he will improve given time" comments (which there is nothing wrong with btw) but Jay doesn't seem to be afforded the same luxury despite the fact I've never seen him put in as many poor shows as Hendo has done this year. Then we get the "Hendo tries really hard and stays after training" argument which again is commendable and fair comment but then doesn't Spearing give heart and soul as well? I do wonder if subconciously its related to transfer fee...if Hendo never cuts it then we've wasted lots of money and get some **** from opposition fans etc but if Jay doesn't cut it then we haven't lost any cash and its just "unfortunate". I'd pick Spearing over Adam or Henderson on current form any day of the week.
Go and f**k yourself. No wonder we get slammed by the wider community if these views are openly associated with the club. There is no evidence that foreign players with fancy names get a more favourable judgement from the fans just because they got fancy names.
What views? If you're suggesting this was meant to be a thread based around racial issues you're reading it all wrong lad.
Don't f*****g make it that I haven't read the piece properly. If you read it again carefully this time you will find that the OP said that the player should go and change his name and ONLY then would he get proper recognition. What did JJ mean by asserting that foreign players with fancy names get more recognition. Do YOU have any evidence for this?
Your being way over-sensitive lad. The way I read it (and JJ can correct me if I'm wrong) is that Spearing doesn't get the praise he deserves sometimes. The fact that Spearing hasn't got an exotic name or isnt particularly fashionable or flamboyant (as many foreign players are) means he maybe goes more unnoticed. Plus I'm pretty sure the changing name suggestion was made with tongue firmly in cheek. I think YOU need to be a bit more careful before u start labelling people as potential racists when the article was quite obviously not meant like that in any way whatsoever.
The final comment was a joke. Apparantly people have lost their sense of humor lately... Wait, do you find that offensive? Maybe I should remove that line also.
Nah mate you're getting edgy for no reason. The foreign is the unknown and has promise of something mystical and exciting- it's been the case with many things involving trade down the centuries. Football is a business and is therefore no different. It is you that is not understanding the true meaning of the word 'foreign' and adding negative connotations. Just read the number of articles slating our (apparent) 'by British' policy. That many think British players on the whole aren't good enough makes them more likely to deny a British player's quality, whereas a foreign player may not be prejudged in the same way (we're talking ability here). It's reflected in the media, forums and pubs up and down the country if you want your evidence. If you're going to take issue with anything make it the fact the OP says that Spearing is a better passer of the ball than Lucas!
I think you are a bit patronising. we have to be careful about what we write and what we say. Just because I raise a objection I am being labelled over sensitive, chip on the shoulder, no sense of humour, cannot read etc !! Classic. Blame the guy who makes a complaint. Shouldn't the OP have been more careful about saying that foreign players with fancy names get more positive treatment from the media or from fans?
I would like Spearing Lucas to be 2 first choice midfielders in a 4231 or 433 type formation. They can dominate and dictate any game. Spearing is also local and plays with passion and pride. Those 2 in the middle could really allow the attacking players a lot of freedom.
Spearing is a great squad player and is the type to make sure those with more ability keep working as he'll be pushing for their place. He's improved dramatically and i am happy to have him in the team, but he's clearly not in the same league as Lucas and will have to improve way beyond his normal potential before he's ever an ideal regular starter in a top team. He's great for many reasons, and his equivalent could cost up to £10mil to sign when you take into consideration commitment and the fact that he may well give 100% as a bit part player his entire career (normal squad players often have to be moved on every couple of years or lose focus), but i see him as a top notch homegrown squad player rather than a first team regular.
I mean no disrespect here. But i disagree with a lot of you. Sorry I do not think Spearing is "under-rated" at all. He has made a few howlers, for example his mistakes in the recent Manchester united game leading to a goal. In my opinion he plays better than Lucas did 2 years ago; however not by a great deal! The fact is when Lucas played badly most of us really couldn't stand him being in the team, 70% of us were calling for his head. He is a player who developed his game and changed miraculously over 1 and a half seasons. Ok, I know Spearing plays a similar position to Lucas and I feel there is a possibility he will develop in the same way. However we have to realize that this 7/10 times it does not flow this way. I'm not saying Jay is a bad player; however he is in my opinion average, a squad player, run of the mill.... I also feel we favor him too much over other better players simply because he came out of our youth team. In my opinion we have let this mentality hold us back. In January if we invested in an actual backup for Lucas we wouldn't of had so many problems this season. Face it! If Adam made the same mistake against one of the Manchester clubs (as Jay did) we would be calling for his head!!!!
Tbf pool a lot of our supporters dont rate Adam just as you point out that a lot of our support never rated Lucas a while ago,and how is Jay(or any of our youth players)supposed to progress if we dont give them first team football in competitive matches? If we dont promote from within we might as well do away with the academy and make do with a fully bought first team squad from now on.
At 23 Lucas had been capped several times for Brazil and was in the middle of the season that he ended up winning our player of the year award for. Spearing is a long way off that level at the minute. I think he's a must for us in most games at the minute but that says more about our squad than Jay's quality. I still think we need a defensive midfielder in the summer to give Lucas some competition but Jay could do a good job playing in a deep role alongside a defensive midfielder just like Adam did before Lucas' injury. Even at his worst he always makes himself available for a pass, moves the ball quickly when he gets it and knows his own limitations which is more than can be said about some of our players. He should be a good squad player for years to come but I'd be surprised if he ever turns out to be good enough for the first XI of a team aiming for CL football. By the way, it's not racist to point out that most British football fans perceive foreign (especially Spanish, South American, German etc.) football and footballers to be more fashionable and cultured than English football and footballers.
because certain fans feel the need to justify why so much was paid for Henderson..when Jay Spearing probably does the same job but cost naff all...only thing with him is he never came with hype...therefore it is people that dont really know the value of a player unless they come with hype,publicity and a big fee...its like Henderson is the richer version of Spearing therefore as in todays society...most kiss the arse of rich folk.
Spearing is a good squad player but still not in the class of Lucas. That doesn't mean to say that Jay won't be as good in the future but I'm saying right now, Lucas would displace Spearing instantly. For those who think Spearing and Lucas should be a partnership, bad idea. They are too similar and Lucas would be better off having a player like Adam or Gerrard next to him who can take the ball off Lucas and then start the attack. Since Lucas has been injured, I find that the opposition have more space and time in midfield and seem to get through to our defence a lot easier. I'm not saying that it's all Spearing's fault probably because he is having to work along side Adam who is very lazy and Gerrard who is ill-disciplined to play that deep. I think Spearing is decent cover for Lucas, providing Lucas isn't out for long periods of time. If we are to bring in new midfielders, I rather buy in wingers or central midfielders because it's very weak at the minute.
Liverpool have a wealth of riches in midfield. Henderson and Spearing are both young players with a wealth of potential. For me Henderson just appears to have more of that potential in central midfield. When you add Lucas and Gerrard to that central midfield then the immediate future looks very bright. However, I really feel that we need to find a young player to understudy Gerrard and neither Spearing or Henderson is that player. Just to add a little more spice to the thread. I feel that Adam will come back next year as a far better player than we have seen this season.
Totally agree mate Oh and Dave I agree with you about Adam as well so think u should do a seperate thread on that...now that would get a bit tasty
adam is dirt.... his head is down and that in comparision to henderson is disasterous. his set piece is shocking so i really think he ought to be benched and not played execpt to take gerrard off. If gerrard plays like he did v everton with that amount of engery and running then i think he will make our season. can he sustain it?
