Welcome to LFC Jordan Henderson

[Robbie-9-Fowler]

Personally I thought he had the sort of game best described as "quietly effective". We won the midfield battle, against some excellent players too, and I thought Henderson certainly played his part in that.

Exactly the way I saw it.. Put a great shift in, stand out moment was the first time ball through to Bellamy out wide.

[danperkins]

I haven't really been won over by henderson to be honest. He runs around alot and does have a good engine and some pace but for me he doesn't really do much else, and he is too timid to be a CM.

For me the only way you can get away with being that timid in the CM position is if you are world/top class i.e. Xavi,Modric etc and Henderson is far from that.

Gerrard playing in the midfield can only have a positive effect on his game, but for the money we spent on him he will need to do more than just run around and harry players, he will get time as he is young, hopefully his game can progress and he can push on as a player.

[Lents]

You are remembering he's still very young and has played 1 'proper' season in the Premiership, right?

The Xavi + Modric stuff is just tosh, they're established internationals with Xavi playing almost 600 games, Henderson hasn't played 100 first team games in his career yet. Modric is 4 or 5 years older than him and has played in the Prem for 4 years. He only became as good as he is over the last year and a half.
So, saying a 21 year old in his first season at a huge club is too timid to make it as CM is just wrong. I'm sure Spurs fans thought the same of Modric when he was first in their side, he certainly was lightweight, and 'timid'. Now look at him.
He'll grow into LFC like Lucas Leiva did and will in 3-4 years, be ready to step in when Gerrard retires.

It isn't JH's fault he cost £16m, but people are expecting him to play like a seasoned central midfielder who cost that much. For example, he's a similar price to what Anderson cost. i know who i'd rather have and Anderson has played for United for 4 years at least.

[Spanishfly]

You are remembering he's still very young and has played 1 'proper' season in the Premiership, right?

The Xavi + Modric stuff is just tosh, they're established internationals with Xavi playing almost 600 games, Henderson hasn't played 100 first team games in his career yet. Modric is 4 or 5 years older than him and has played in the Prem for 4 years. He only became as good as he is over the last year and a half.
So, saying a 21 year old in his first season at a huge club is too timid to make it as CM is just wrong. I'm sure Spurs fans thought the same of Modric when he was first in their side, he certainly was lightweight, and 'timid'. Now look at him.
He'll grow into LFC like Lucas Leiva did and will in 3-4 years, be ready to step in when Gerrard retires.

It isn't JH's fault he cost £16m, but people are expecting him to play like a seasoned central midfielder who cost that much. For example, he's a similar price to what Anderson cost. i know who i'd rather have and Anderson has played for United for 4 years at least.

[danperkins]

You are remembering he's still very young and has played 1 'proper' season in the Premiership, right?

The Xavi + Modric stuff is just tosh, they're established internationals with Xavi playing almost 600 games, Henderson hasn't played 100 first team games in his career yet. Modric is 4 or 5 years older than him and has played in the Prem for 4 years. He only became as good as he is over the last year and a half.
So, saying a 21 year old in his first season at a huge club is too timid to make it as CM is just wrong. I'm sure Spurs fans thought the same of Modric when he was first in their side, he certainly was lightweight, and 'timid'. Now look at him.
He'll grow into LFC like Lucas Leiva did and will in 3-4 years, be ready to step in when Gerrard retires.

It isn't JH's fault he cost £16m, but people are expecting him to play like a seasoned central midfielder who cost that much. For example, he's a similar price to what Anderson cost. i know who i'd rather have and Anderson has played for United for 4 years at least.

Chill, you sound like a bit of an apologist, i'm not writing him off at all, just pointing out the obvious and yes i know his age thank you

Hendo had over 70 first appearances for Sunderlands first team alone and knows the league pace and physicality, these aspects of the game are not new to him, part of the reason why Kenny bought him and Downing,less adaption time as oppose to a foreign player.

The thing about Lucas was that he was always aggressive, regardless of how he performed when he arrived for first few years, he is a completely different player to henderson, completely different. They were bought young, are professional footballers and have blonde hair is the only comparison i can make between the two of them.

I was a big critic of Lucas but one thing i could never criticize was his heart and aggression, and to be fair to Rafa who clearly seen these attributes and changed his game completely to suit them. A former box to box midfielder, is now considered probably the best DM in the league. Henderson attributes are very much different to Lucas's. You either have aggression or you don't, i don't think it's something that can be thought or learned, it's either in you or it isn't.

And the mentions of Xavi and Modric were merely to say it's very rare you can get a CM that is not aggressive that will be top class, you have to be really gifted. It was a general comment. And modric is still lightweight, but he's just outstanding technically and always was, hence my point.

I hate that "it's not his fault we paid x-amount", i don't mean to be rude but that's just a silly comment, people saying same thing about Carroll. The fact being that 50 million quid, could have been used to buy other players who could effect us "now" and help us get into the champs league. A comment i will never understand, kinda of a kop-out IMO. It isn't his fault but it happened and can't be ignored or excused.

P.S. Who gives a **** about Anderson dude, random comment & i could throw in someone like Chicarito who cost half the price and scored bags of goals straight away last season etc, neither hear nor there. I'd rather concentrate on the performances of players at LFC, rather than the failures of players at other teams

[The Birdman]

Some his appreciation and first time passing like to Bellamy last night, playing Downing in early in the 1st leg prove to anyone sensible and prepared to give Henderson the benefit of time that he is a good player.
He needs to add more of a goal threat and maybe take some more risks with his passing in the final third but like others have said he's 21 playing his first season at a big club.

It was only this season before his injury that Lucas started to take more risks and be more confident with his distribution.
Fans slagging off players who haven't been here 5 minutes do my head in, especially when they are young players.

[The Birdman]

Chill you sound like an apologist, i'm not writing him off at all, just pointing out the obvious and yes i know his age thank you

Hendo had over 70 first appearances for Sunderlands first team alone and knows the league pace and physicality, these aspects of the game are not new to him, part of the reason why Kenny bought him and Downing,less adaption time as oppose to a foreign player.

The thing about Lucas was that he was always aggressive, regardless of how he performed when he arrived for first few years, he is a completely different player to henderson, completely different. They were bought young, are professional footballers and have blonde hair is the only comparison i can make between the two of them.

I was a big critic of Lucas but one thing i could never criticize was his heart and aggression, and to be fair to Rafa who clearly seen these attributes and changed his game completely to suits them. A former box to box midfielder, is now considered probably the best DM in the league. Henderson attributes are very much different to Lucas's.

And the mentions of Xavi and Modric were merely to say it's very rare you can get a CM that is not aggressive that will be top class, you have to be really gifted. It was a general comment. And modric is still lightweight, but he's just outstanding technically and always was, hence my point.

I hate that "it's not his fault we paid x-amount", i don't mean to be rude but that's just a silly comment, people saying same thing about Carroll. The fact being that 50 million quid, could have been used to buy other players who could effect us "now" and help us get into the champs league. A comment i will never understand, kinda of a kop-out IMO.

P.S. Who gives a **** about Anderson dude, random comment & i could throw in someone like Chicarito who cost half the price and scored bags of goals straight away last season etc, neither hear nor there. I'd rather concentrate on the performances of players at LFC, rather than the failures of players at other teams

Lucas aggressive???
What held him back in the first couple of seasons was he was too timid if anything and not physically strong enough.
In no way shape or form has Lucas always been aggressive.
We signed him as an attacking box to box midfielder and Rafa turned him into a defensive midfielder.
That comment sums it all up, Lucas aggressive

[danperkins]

Lucas aggressive???
What held him back in the first couple of seasons was he was too timid if anything and not physically strong enough.
In no way shape or form has Lucas always been aggressive.
We signed him as an attacking box to box midfielder and Rafa turned him into a defensive midfielder.
That comment sums it all up, Lucas aggressive

Completely disagree. He was always aggressive but just not physically strong enough to cope, big difference there

Lucas gave away an incredible amount of free kicks in silly positions in his early days, he was never shy of a tackle.

As for the bolder bit, i have no idea what that means surely you just made my point no? But sure was it you think Gerrard is the best defensive midfielder in the league?? Edit

[Le Chef]

I just feel he needs to show more determination and aggression than he has been, he too often just plays safe. He needs to attack the box more often and show a little fight.

I mentioned this on Saturday, he needs to man up a bit, clatter someone and show he has a bit of fight in him.

He pressed very well last night, and did a job

[dom9]

Yes, you said "get in there" and every post since has been criticising Adam, Downing and Henderson. Each to their own I suppose and I guess we haven't won anything yet just thought even you might give a bit of praise out after last night but obviously not!

Stalker alert.

You are remembering he's still very young and has played 1 'proper' season in the Premiership, right?

The Xavi + Modric stuff is just tosh, they're established internationals with Xavi playing almost 600 games, Henderson hasn't played 100 first team games in his career yet. Modric is 4 or 5 years older than him and has played in the Prem for 4 years. He only became as good as he is over the last year and a half.
So, saying a 21 year old in his first season at a huge club is too timid to make it as CM is just wrong. I'm sure Spurs fans thought the same of Modric when he was first in their side, he certainly was lightweight, and 'timid'. Now look at him.
He'll grow into LFC like Lucas Leiva did and will in 3-4 years, be ready to step in when Gerrard retires.

It isn't JH's fault he cost £16m, but people are expecting him to play like a seasoned central midfielder who cost that much. For example, he's a similar price to what Anderson cost. i know who i'd rather have and Anderson has played for United for 4 years at least.

The fact that he is regularly keeping Maxi, Kuyt, Spearing or however out of the team, and starting every game speaks volumes.

Lucas aggressive???
What held him back in the first couple of seasons was he was too timid if anything and not physically strong enough.
In no way shape or form has Lucas always been aggressive.
We signed him as an attacking box to box midfielder and Rafa turned him into a defensive midfielder.
That comment sums it all up, Lucas aggressive

Not sure what he was on about there.

[danperkins]

I mentioned this on Saturday, he needs to man up a bit, clatter someone and show he has a bit of fight in him.

He pressed very well last night, and did a job

[Lents]

@danperkins i won't quote your whole post, but will say a couple of things.

I am not an apologist, since there's nothing to apologise for? I've been made up with his performances on the whole.

The Anderson comment was entirely relevant, to a player of a similar age, price tag and at a 'big' club. The Chicharito comparison however, is bewildering and just shows you up really. I wasn't point scoring, i was merely pointing out that Henderson is gifted, the U21 captain (a bit like Lucas, who you admit you were a 'big critic' of) and we should be pleased we spent £16m on him and not someone like Anderson.

As for your non-aggressive Central Midfield player argument, if I could be arsed i'd list player after player who's generally considered, or has been in the past to be 'top class' without being aggressive. In fact you don't have to look very far, what about Xabi Alonso for starters?

The 'it's not his fault he cost £16m' again, is a relevant point as people seem to be using this as a stick to beat him with.

In short, your argument is pretty weak.

[danperkins]

The fact that he is regularly keeping Maxi, Kuyt, Spearing or however out of the team, and starting every game speaks volumes.

Speaks volumes?? Henderson isn't a DM, Spearing is. Maxi isn't a CM or ever used a RM. And Kuyt has been very much sub standard this season.

Sure Kenny has persisted with Downing too. We paid a lot of money for them and are short on players with injuries and suspensions. He has had no choice but to play them.

[dom9]

Speaks volumes?? Henderson isn't a DM, Spearing is. Maxi isn't a CM or ever used a RM. And Kuyt has been very much sub standard this season.

Sure Kenny has persisted with Downing too. We paid a lot of money for them and are short on players with injuries and suspensions. He has had no choice but to play them.

It's about the shape of the team whole though. Henderson has been accomodated in all the games in one position or another. Others have moved position to accomdate him thus displacing the likes Spearing or Maxi.

Downing does somewhat undermine my case though.

[danperkins]

The Anderson comment was entirely relevant, to a player of a similar age, price tag and at a 'big' club. The Chicharito comparison however, is bewildering and just shows you up really. I wasn't point scoring, i was merely pointing out that Henderson is gifted, the U21 captain (a bit like Lucas, who you admit you were a 'big critic' of) and we should be pleased we spent £16m on him and not someone like Anderson.

As for your non-aggressive Central Midfield player argument, if I could be arsed i'd list player after player who's generally considered, or has been in the past to be 'top class' without being aggressive. In fact you don't have to look very far, what about Xabi Alonso for starters?

The 'it's not his fault he cost £16m' again, is a relevant point as people seem to be using this as a stick to beat him with.

In short, your argument is pretty weak.

Anderson is coming from a completely different country from playing under 20 games at Porto, and was bought at the age of 18. Henderson is English,was bought at 21 and has had 2 1/2 full seasons in the premier league. Seriously it has absolutely no relevance whatsoever mate, you couldn't have picked a worse comparison

Are you honestly saying Alonso isn't aggressive? I have never heard anyone say that ever about Xabi Alonso. And you'reway of talking about money like that is really skewed way of looking at things IMO, if didn't spend it, well then we would have it now? And that 50 million of the two players mentioned could go a long way in any transfer window.

Look i'm not going to get into a back and fourth, PM me if you feel the need to do that. But to me you're logic and explanations are completely skewed and baffling.

Anyways, you might be made up with Henderson at LFC so far and that's fair enough each to their own. But i don't really think i'm on my own when i say he has alot to improve on in his game