Afternoon and I am still a bit rough from my weekend down the Emirates. One big thing I noticed from the game was the midfield battle between our 20 year old Jordan Henderson and Arsenal's 19 year old Jack Wilshire. First thing is that it wasnt really a battle as Wilshire out-smarted, out-paced and out-played Henderson at every aspect of the game. Theres no questionning the fact that this kid is the real deal but it left a lot to wonder about Jordan Henderson as to wether he will make it and become of the standard that it takes to deserve and cement an England place. Two things could come of this, either Henderson never reaches this standard or he knows that Wilshire is at a completely different standard and he gets his head down end of the season and works on his pace etc and come back even better next season. I would say part of the problem is that Henderson is NOT a central midfielder and cant tackle as his only tackle on Saturday resulted in a boooking. I hope he works hard over the summer as I beleive in him as do many Sunderland fans that he can reach the top if he beleives he can. Good Luck Jordan.
Hes far more effective on the right wing, been saying this for ages and now we dont need him in the middle!
I would say When Catts is back up and running, Jordan will be pushed out on the right With Catts deep and Muntari in a more Forward role like, Catts Henderson Muntari Welbeck Sessgnon Gyan
wilshere is head and shoulders above henderson playing central midfield. henderson needs to spend a season or two playing on the right wing before he's judged on his potential, but wilshere is looking like he has the potential to be a top level central midfielder. syd's right too, he has an edge to his game. arguably it shouldn't need to be, but all the best central midfielders have it, the desire to leave their foot in, check an opponent and make their mark, and wilshere does this, henderson never has.
Agree with you all (whooo a triple quoter!) and specifically with Cyprus..... a little more aggression in his game would not go a miss.
That we used to have a side containing Henderson, Welbeck, Muntari, Sessegnon, and Gyan just shows how much we've gone backwards over the last 5 years.
If I could pick one to sign permanently I'd choose Henderson as he's reliable and a fine player. If I had both available and (miraculously) fit and I could only play one of them then I'd choose Wilshere.
There's some good threads in the archives, I normally just read them, but these two players have had contrasting careers the past couple of years. Henderson now considered vice England Captain, probably captain elect once Rooney calls it a day or gets drunk again. The other, well he's on loan to Bournemouth now. Klopp has annihilated Wenger in the development stakes here, regardless of Wilshere's injuries, both players have had bad luck.
I think Wilshere is a good player, nowhere near the levels he was at when he first turned up on the scene. He's gone backwards. I was so jealous of Arsenal having him at one point.
Aye he's got talent but it doesn't regularly translate into anything useful or effective so he may as well just be a plodder. I think if he can keep getting games he'll be a good prem standard player worth say 25 mil but I don't see him bossing it at a top side. He should give up the tabs too seeing as he's never fit, as an ex smoker I know it held me back on the (5-a-side) pitch.
He's always a mistimed stretch away from his next long term lay off, it's taken Wenger about 5 years to realise he's unreliable. Maybe the same can be said about Cattermole, unreliable so you can relate to that. All good if you can rely on Jack for 50 games a season but you can't.
Wilshire is naturally head and shoulders above Jordan for me but Jordan's attitude and professionalism has seen him eclipse Wilshire big style. Jordan's a model pro who's made the most of what I'd consider to be fairly limited ability. Wilshire's a little prick who's thrown away a lot of potential. Hard work beats talent unless talent works hard.
IMO The big difference is that Jordan Henderson started with a solid grounded attitude thanks to a supportive solid family and knowing the need to work hard - Wiltshire is more talented at football but as often happens with talented players, has a poor attitude But another solid rising star at Sinderland is Pickford -
Yeah fingers crossed Jordan stays grounded and keeps working hard. He doesn't seem the sort to just go off the boil and meander but it's hard to say. I don't think he'll be with us past 2018/2019 anyhow!
