I like that team - would definitely have moreno and manquillo as the full backs though. Once Can gets up to scratch, he will be 10x the player Henderson will be. Can will be the driving force from our midfield which is desperately missing. However, we need to upgrade Lucas and henderson IMO - we need players who are confident on the ball and actually carry it a few yards. Lucas and Henderson offer nothing on the ball.
Knew you wouldn't be impressed with Flanno and Enrique! Agree on CM. Lucas Henderson & Can are still a long way off being a top 4 central midfield but Can is young and looks like he could have a bit of potential and Henderson can play well as shown last year. Just need a big dominant commanding CM who can put his foot in but play a bit (Alex Song?)
Can can play that role - give him more mins and he'll look sharper and he'll be driving this midfield forward. Henderson makes some very good runs off the ball but I'm really concerned re. what he does on the ball. His touch is really poor, he always looks sideways or backwards which then slows down the attack, he can;t run with the ball, and he lacks composure in the box. I do like Henderson but if we want to be a proper team again, a player of his calibre is merely a utility player at best - similar to a James Milner.
Last year Henderson's passing was very good. I still maintain he's brilliant at playing first time through balls but he needs that movement ahead of him. Last year we had that and this year we don't which might be one reason he's struggling. Similar with Coutinho and all those creative players, they need people making the runs to open space and get on the end of passes.
Will be even better when we make some signings in January: Neuer Johnson - Skrtel - Pique - Alba Mascherano Isco - - - - Allen Gerrard Messi - NeymarObvioulsy, no matter who we sign Johnson, Skrtel, Allen and Gerrard will still play
He has it in his locker but he's so inconsistent (technically speaking). If he can add that consistency, composure, confidence then he can be a good player. Personally, I feel his ceiling of potential is quite limited and I don't see him ever being a crucial part of a title winning team. BUT - I think he can be a crucial member of the squad.
We have a few players suffering because of the lack of movement. Our team is built based on pace and pressing, we need to stick to that mentality and that means no space for any of the fit forwards we currently have.
I have a firm belief in Henderson. I posted in July suggesting he be made Vice Captain. His form mirrors the team but we have seen what he can do and the impact he had on the team last season.
Its no coincidence that he was in a withdrawn role whilst we struggled and we've been playing a bit better since Hendo was moved forward on the right. We really need him in a B2B role centrally though. Definitely not as RWB.
Henderson is a runner he is best served by releasing to be oart of the press. 4 players should press 6 defend.
Imo, Moreno still has a lot of work to do to improve his defending. Don't understand why Manquillo isn't getting more time.
The gamble on signing Mario Balotelli has not paid off. The guy that went to Chelsea or the one Swansea must have been better than Mario Balotelli.
The reason Henderson was so important last season is because he was the one who baby sat Gerrard and gave the midfield much needed energy. Ignore his hard work and endless running for a moment - what else does he bring? And I don't mean to knock the lad - I think he's important to the squad. But put it this way, which other top teams would he walk into? I'll give you a hint - none.
