Jordan Henderson

[dww]

Iirc we had a conversation about this where I said it might be the making of Henderson to have to force his way back into the side. Therefore I will also take credit thank you

Fair enough, I thought you might remember that.

[Alex]

A couple of half decent performances (and that Blackburn game last season) in 60+ appearances does not mean he is up to it yet. He has not made it. He is far from making it. He has been woeful in 98% of his appearances to date and that's a fact.

And people keep banging on about him getting into good positions - well that counts for nothing if you are not scoring or assisting although he did "assist" the first Suarez goal against QPR. Jury is still out for me and I wouldn't be disappointed at all if he is sold.

How about being played out of position all of last season?

Its not a 'couple' of 'half decent' performances. No one has said he has made it. He seems a way off that. But he is better than lots give him credit for. I think you are doing him a real disservice with that.

I can remember a couple of Europa Games where he has played well for us, and one or 2 league cup games.

He is only 22 and that's still young for someone in such a crucial position.

[Reece]

How about being played out of position all of last season? How about only really playing about 10 games this year?

Its not a 'couple' of 'half decent' performances. No one has said he has made it. He seems a way off that. But he is better than lots give him credit for. I think you are doing him a real disservice with that.

I can remember a couple of Europa Games where he has played well for us, and one or 2 league cup games.

He is only 22 and that's still young for someone in such a crucial position.

Mate, he said in his post that it's a fact, so why are you arguing? A fact is a fact and is irrefutable.

[Chazza]

'Time to take my opportunity'

After making his 50th league appearance for Liverpool against his old club on Wednesday, Jordan Henderson pledged to continue working hard and grasp every opportunity Brendan Rodgers gives him.

Having excelled despite illness during the 3-0 victory over QPR on Sunday, the midfielder was impressive again as the Reds swept aside his former employers Sunderland in the Barclays Premier League.

The 22-year-old hopes his recent run of games can be a platform to regular first-team football.

"It's obviously nice to play as many games as you can. I've got to keep doing that and hopefully I can play more games," Henderson told Liverpoolfc.com.

"I've just been working hard, keep plugging away. Over Christmas there are a lot of games so the whole squad is needed.

"You've got to take the opportunity when it comes. I've enjoyed playing so hopefully I can keep working hard, improving and getting my chance.

"We're very pleased with the performance and the result - I think we defended very well, created lots of chances and overall we deserved to win the game.

"Every time we have started well, we've managed to go on and score a few goals. We'll look to do that all the time. The most important thing is to win the game and we managed to do that."

Earlier this week, Mike Marsh revealed how Henderson had to be quarantined before the clash with QPR due to the bug he was suffering from - but the midfielder was pleased to report full fitness now.

"I feel a lot better now. It was just that night, I don't know what it was. Hopefully I don't get it again," he said.

Henderson had the perfect vantage point in central midfield to watch yet another masterful performance from Steven Gerrard, who makes life easy for his teammates according to the No.14.

He added: "Stevie has done it for many years now - everybody knows how good he is.

"The last goal was an unbelievable pass by him. He's a pleasure to play with and makes it easier for a lot of us."

http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/latest-news/time-to-take-my-opportunity

[saj]

A couple of half decent performances? Fair enough.

According to the fantasy premierleague site, he has played 505 minutes this season, with 2 assists. If my math is correct, that's less than 6 full games. Hardly been given a chance in the team to justify your ridicule.

And why hasn't he been given a chance? Maybe it's because he's not been good enough?

How about being played out of position all of last season?

Its not a 'couple' of 'half decent' performances. No one has said he has made it. He seems a way off that. But he is better than lots give him credit for. I think you are doing him a real disservice with that.

I can remember a couple of Europa Games where he has played well for us, and one or 2 league cup games.

He is only 22 and that's still young for someone in such a crucial position.

He was not played out of position all last season. That's another myth. He played some games out wide (and he drifted into midfield anyway), he played some games in the middle. And his best performance last season was at Blackburn away where he played...wait for it...right back!

I just don't rate him. He did OK yesterday but when Allen came on yesterday, he was amazing and was doing the things that he needs to do more regularly such as getting into the box (with Lucas back that will be possible now) and Henderson needs to to start doing those things more too.

In any case, the last 2 appearances from Henderson where he has done OK have been against 2 teams where their midfield have not pressed ours at all. The real test for him will be if he can perform like that against teams that do press our midfield, which I doubt he will.

Mate, he said in his post that it's a fact, so why are you arguing? A fact is a fact and is irrefutable.

Cool, Henderson on the whole has been amazing. And obviously everyone was really upset when Rodgers tried to offload him to Fulham

[yamiedo]

He was fantastic yesterday. Even the manager knew it and rightly praised him for it.

[RichC]

And yet he's getting a chance and doing well now ? Probably tells you he is showing his ability in training and since getting back into the side he's done well. No coincidence the midfield has looked better these past couple of games with the added energy he brings.

He's done better than ok, look at the MOM threads for the two games which shows his name cropping up a lot, gives the impression that a lot of people have thought he's done well.

Essentially you don't rate him it seems, fair enough but give credit where credit is due which at the moment it is.

[Reece]

Cool, Henderson on the whole has been amazing. And obviously everyone was really upset when Rodgers tried to offload him to Fulham

It just gets my goat when people say "that's a fact" in an attempt to make what is their opinion seem stronger.

It's not a fact that Henderson has been WOEFUL in 98% of games he has played in, it's just your opinion.

I don't think anyone would argue that he's been great to date, but I think most would argue that he's not been "woeful" that often.

[Alex]

He was not played out of position all last season. That's another myth. He played some games out wide (and he drifted into midfield anyway), he played some games in the middle. And his best performance last season was at Blackburn away where he played...wait for it...right back!

I seem to remember him playing RM most of last season, well the opening half anyway. Downing on the left. I know its not all games.

I also remember him having a blinder at RB when Johnson was injured. I was wrong to say he played all games out of position. But he certainly played most of them like that. I think its fairly accepted that he was played out of position by Kenny isnt it?

[dww]

I seem to remember him playing RM most of last season, well the opening half anyway. Downing on the left. I know its not all games.

I also remember him having a blinder at RB when Johnson was injured. I was wrong to say he played all games out of position. But he certainly played most of them like that. I think its fairly accepted that he was played out of position by Kenny isnt it?

I'm not sure you can say that right midfield is 'out of position' as that is where he has played most of his professional football (as far as I can tell).

[Alex]

He plays better when its in the Centre, that's all I am basing it on really. Plus I remember him playing there for Sunderland (In the 2 games I watched him )

[saj]

I seem to remember him playing RM most of last season, well the opening half anyway. Downing on the left. I know its not all games.

I also remember him having a blinder at RB when Johnson was injured. I was wrong to say he played all games out of position. But he certainly played most of them like that. I think its fairly accepted that he was played out of position by Kenny isnt it?

Tha majority of games he was in midfield. In some games he was played "out of position" last season BUT he played RW and (apparently) that was the position he played quite often at Sunderland anyway. IIRC, after Lucas got injured he played practically every game in Midfield.

[Alex]

Hence my note about the opening half.

[kubrickscube]

Henderson is a very handy player to have in the squad. He's clearly growing in confidence - which is making him more attacking.

[red g]

It just gets my goat when people say "that's a fact" in an attempt to make what is their opinion seem stronger.

It's not a fact that Henderson has been WOEFUL in 98% of games he has played in, it's just your opinion.

I don't think anyone would argue that he's been great to date, but I think most would argue that he's not been "woeful" that often.

Henderson polarizes opinion as much as Lucas in his first seasons and Lucas was WOEFUL in 100% of games he played in, according to some ( i think it was only about 63.4%)