Charlie Adam

[Fivex]

One person used the word pivotal, and he has an elephant for a face.

Everyone else see's his potential, but once again Mattshark's standards are so high that his head's gone round the world and is firmly lodged up his own arse.

[Mattshark]

One person used the word pivotal, and he has an elephant for a face.

Everyone else see's his potential, but once again Mattshark's standards are so high that his head's gone round the world and is firmly lodged up his own arse.

Not really, he I just don't see him excelling at anything and he is defensively non-existent.

I get the feeling that Rodgers doesn't rate him in the way Kenny did.

[dww]

That is true.

But what is there about him that makes people think he will be pivotal to us?

I think if you believe that he has neat short passing skills and has shown himself to be good at doing this even in the attacking third. As last season went on he was a bit more creative too and the stats at Sunderland suggested that there he created a lot of chances. Given we are looking to play a possession orientated game does it seem unreasonable to say that a player with high pass completion in the final third, who has shown that they can create chances, might be a key member of the team going forward? He also plays a lot of his passes first time, so his speed of play should be good - another thing that should fit our new style.

[SB]

I don't think he'll ever be pivotal for us but I do think he'll become a very handy player for us.

Hendo will benefit from being out the limelight. Squad role ideal and should have been the case last season. That said, think last season will benefit him in long run.

Agree with both of you gents. it will be interesting to see if he blossomed under BR. There's a player in there if the manager can only give him the confidence to push on.

[kris90210]

I think if you believe that he has neat short passing skills and has shown himself to be good at doing this even in the attacking third. As last season went on he was a bit more creative too and the stats at Sunderland suggested that there he created a lot of chances. Given we are looking to play a possession orientated game does it seem unreasonable to say that a player with high pass completion in the final third, who has shown that they can create chances, might be a key member of the team going forward?

He's also a mobile player who covers a fair amount of ground. He's not the finished product by any stretch of the imagination, but he does have the potential to come good for us.

I think we're right to keep him this season. It'll be interesting to see how he develops.

[Rich]

One person used the word pivotal, and he has an elephant for a face.

Everyone else see's his potential, but once again Mattshark's standards are so high that his head's gone round the world and is firmly lodged up his own arse.

Sadly M.Shark seems to value his lofty opinions over all others.

[TheElephantMan]

I think if you believe that he has neat short passing skills and has shown himself to be good at doing this even in the attacking third. As last season went on he was a bit more creative too and the stats at Sunderland suggested that there he created a lot of chances. Given we are looking to play a possession orientated game does it seem unreasonable to say that a player with high pass completion in the final third, who has shown that they can create chances, might be a key member of the team going forward? He also plays a lot of his passes first time, so his speed of play should be good - another thing that should fit our new style.

saved me typing a response.

[SB]

And other people feel the need to keep saying that Henderson will be a top class player.

I just have higher standards

Round about midnight I bet not

[Robbie-9-Fowler]

And other people feel the need to keep saying that Henderson will be a top class player.

I just have higher standards

A lot of people including myself have gone on about how he will become good so I've no problem with you saying he won't.. Over the past few months I must admit I'm starting to lean towards your way of thinking.

Shelvey has bypassed him, Allen has joined and Sahin on loan.

I think I rated him because I felt he was ahead of what we had.. Adam/Spearing and with Lucas and Gerrard being injured and Shelvey being loaned out we really where in a mess.

[Neil Young]

I think if you believe that he has neat short passing skills and has shown himself to be good at doing this even in the attacking third. As last season went on he was a bit more creative too and the stats at Sunderland suggested that there he created a lot of chances. Given we are looking to play a possession orientated game does it seem unreasonable to say that a player with high pass completion in the final third, who has shown that they can create chances, might be a key member of the team going forward? He also plays a lot of his passes first time, so his speed of play should be good - another thing that should fit our new style.

The fact there seems to be no speculation about him leaving suggests the manager might see a future for him too, despite the supposedly high fee comparable to Downing's, IIRC.

[Mattshark]

I think if you believe that he has neat short passing skills and has shown himself to be good at doing this even in the attacking third. As last season went on he was a bit more creative too and the stats at Sunderland suggested that there he created a lot of chances. Given we are looking to play a possession orientated game does it seem unreasonable to say that a player with high pass completion in the final third, who has shown that they can create chances, might be a key member of the team going forward?

Downing also had very high chance creation stats too to be fair, it says nothing about the quality of the chances created.
I don't personally think he short passing is anything spectacular and he hides to often in games, especially in the system we play which also requires pressing and that is something that statistically Henderson is our worst player for.
I think he is a average player who doesn't excel at anything in particular imo.

[Mattshark]

Sadly M.Shark seems to value his lofty opinions over all others.

Well it would rather stupid if I thought my opinions were wrong wouldn't it.

[Mattshark]

Round about midnight I bet not

[SB]

So we agree

[Rowan]

That is true.

But what is there about him that makes people think he will be pivotal to us?

This is just my opinion, Matt, but I think Henderson has a number of things about his game that would make him a decent fit for a team built around possesion and measured build up play. He has good game awareness, great levels of fitness, a knack of being able to mix simple play with more incisive play and to me has a reasonable enough idea of positional sense in both an attacking and defending regard.

What he doesn't have the ability to do is beat a man (as seen when marooned out on the right wing) he seems to seriously lack confidence and most of his more extravagant play is when he's picked up the ball under pressure and has had to react on instinct. He also doesn't appear to know how to tackle.

But he should be the player that Joe Allen looks like he might be and I think the fact he's slowed somewhat in getting there may be an issue for him.