See it mentioned about Hendo a lot that he doesn’t pass forward or get up the pitch. doesnt take a ttactical genius to work out he’s not meant to be up and down box to box. We have 2 wing backs to get forward and 2 attacking misfielders in Ali and Lingard as well as sterling to do alll that. Hendos job job is just to screen back 4, cover wing backs when push on and keep it simple. Leave the attacking to the guys that are actually paid to be attacking. It’s not his fault that Ali and sterling are having shocking world cups and hence creating nothing for the team.
The match against Sweden is going to be a borefest with England struggling to score a goal from open play.
not sure what hendo position has to do with him not getting forward. i have never mentioned that, i have said he doesn't pass forward enough and always looks to pass sideways or back. for the record dier does the same and it annoys me. should look to put teams on back foot by playing it forward, not put our defence under unnecessary pressure. seen a lot of times forward pass on but played back.
so what do you guys want a) Henderson to leave the back 3 totally exposed? b) Henderson to, independently of what anyone else is doing, play forward passes... as in just play it to marked static players or lump it in behind where nobody is running it takes 2 to make a pass. and actually in the modern game is probably requires 3 or 4 guys making moves to create the space for a player to run into for a player like Henderson to play a good vertical.pass. Seriously... Colombia didn't come.out. they wete tight defense. you need players to run to pull defenders with them and then others to go for that gap. the only criticism possible is if he never looks up for a pass at all and just plays sideways
the last part you posted is what the point was all about lol. nothing to do with him exposing back 3 etc. he is not the only player to do this from what i have seen. the mentality has been to pass back and build again from back which puts defence under pressure, especially when there has been forward passes on.
so you are saying he never ever looks up, sees no good option and rolls it inside. He just plays that square ball by default? Its nothing to do with alli, sterling, lingard and kane failing to make space as he never raises his head and he just knocks it square?
I can't agree with this. I've said it before, but I was always taught to keep possession, and if it means a pass backwards or sideways so be it - if there's no obvious forward pass on. It's not necessarily putting the defence under pressure because it can bring the opponents out a few yards and create a bit more space for your own forwards. Forward passing is entirely dependent on the movement in front of you, something you can't always get the full picture of on a tv screen. Speculative forward passing just for the sake of it will lose possession more often than not. Passing amongst your back line waiting for an opportunity is a perfectly legitimate tactic against a well-regimented defence, imo.
? you have just said near enough same thing. or explain last part of original post i quoted. yes he has done that when there has been a forward pass on and he doesn't look, he is not the only one to do this. they play safe by default from what i have seen and never look to put teams under pressure quick enough.
I don't particularly rate Henderson, but he has been one of the best performers in the team and he is easily the best midfielder. Speaks volumes for how w@nk England are in general.
Which only happens when there is a opposition player near him. He always looks forward first when he's got the time and space to do so. However, playing as a lone DM for both Liverpool and England means he rarely gets that time and space.
Joe Allen got exactly the same criticism - never makes a forward pass. I agree with jenners that Henderson rarely makes a forward pass - when he does, however, it's usually quite spectacular with pinpoint accuracy. Makes me wonder if he is playing under instruction i.e. being a holding midfielder as opposed to a creative midfielder. I'm sure he never used to only pass backwards and sideways.
I'm not Henderson's biggest fan in that he is what he is. I do question his mentality... not in terms of dedication and application to his job just think he gets rattled very easily. Would never select him to take a penalty and his leadership qualities disappear when on the back foot. Having said that; He has literally played alone in midfield in this world cup... granted for half the matches nothing else was really needed. England may even get away with it again in the next match but that'll be it. Alli has been AWOL as a midfielder as has Lingard with the exception of the first half first game... I wouldn't have minded if it had been part of a hard working high press, Liverpool style but it's not. Dier when on is terrible. Loftus cheek I can't really remember his time when he was on. It's a poor midfield but I'm not convinced the blame is a Hendos door in this one. His job is to stand in the middle and hope the opposition doesn't realise they can overload midfield and bypass him. It's a shame it's a year too soon or TAA could be RB and tuck in beside him when not bombing on. Maybe Trippier has been doing that but I don't remember ...it's been mostly his runs and crosses I remember.
