Jordan Henderson

[Alex]

I personally think Adam is the Gerrard replacement, not Henderson. So when he is fit I think itll be Adam that misses out.

[Exiled_red]

I personally think Adam is the Gerrard replacement, not Henderson. So when he is fit I think itll be Adam that misses out.

I hope not, I don't really think Gerrard is suited to the role Adam played yesterday, also Adam is a much better set-piece taker than anyone else in the squad so it would be useful to have him in the team. Personally I'd prefer a midfield of Gerrard, Lucas, Adam and Downing to Henderson, Lucas, Gerrard and Downing

[kris90210]

He's technically very good, he has great fitness, and is supposed to have an excellent mentality. And he clearly has the potential to be creative as last seasons stats prove. I think he's the sort of player who will continue to improve and develop his game. A Lampard type, who perhaps won't hit his peak till his mid 20's.

I think Kenny sees him as someone who is capable of playing it simple and moving into space - the epitome of a pass and move player (potentially). Unfortunately, most of his passing seems to be backwards or sideways at the moment. He was far too negative yesterday.

He'll get better, I'm sure.

[MrMichael]

I don't know I maybe totally wrong, but I think we will get a better idea of his role when GJ comes back into the team. I have a feeling he will start wide right but when downing moves further up the pitch he will come inside and make a 3 man midfield, which will provide more cover for the fullbacks to bomb forward and allow the whole team to press higher up the pitch. As I said could be totally wrong but I see something along those lines happening.

Sounds eminently plausible and sensible to me

He's technically very good, he has great fitness, and is supposed to have an excellent mentality. And he clearly has the potential to be creative as last seasons stats prove. I think he's the sort of player who will continue to improve and develop his game. A Lampard type, who perhaps won't hit his peak till his mid 20's.

I think Kenny sees him as someone who is capable of playing it simple and moving into space - the epitome of a pass and move player (potentially). Unfortunately, most of his passing seems to be backwards or sideways at the moment. He was far too negative yesterday.

He'll get better, I'm sure.

Agree with this too

[CJ]

One game.

must be an eternity for yourself. thats 6 lots of 15 mins.

plus halftime

[Gary_LFC]

First post - Deep breath, no pressure here goes: My first thought when i got the ground yesterday and heard the team was why hendo was in ahead of dirk in the first place, likewise Flanno/Kelly. Obviously the fact he was playing against his old team and making his debut played a major part in his display though, he just wanted to make no mistakes, it must be hard enough making your debut at such a young age with a hefty price tag on your shoulders, add to that it's your childhood team your playing against and his emotions must have been all over the place.

So basically i'm just saying give the lad a chance, I know we didn't see anything from him attacking wise really but that'll come with confidence, his distribution is obviously very good, I don't think I remember him giving the ball away at all? Could be wrong.

[CJ]

First post - Deep breath, no pressure here goes: My first thought when i got the ground yesterday and heard the team was why hendo was in ahead of dirk in the first place, likewise Flanno/Kelly. Obviously the fact he was playing against his old team and making his debut played a major part in his display though, he just wanted to make no mistakes, it must be hard enough making your debut at such a young age with a hefty price tag on your shoulders, add to that it's your childhood team your playing against and his emotions must have been all over the place.

So basically i'm just saying give the lad a chance, I know we didn't see anything from him attacking wise really but that'll come with confidence, his distribution is obviously very good, I don't think I remember him giving the ball away at all? Could be wrong.

good first post. however, its the rules that first posts are in downing related threads

i have to agree, not sure chelsea fans will think they cant win the league after one game. so hoping we will still get top 4

[doogle]

For a start he doesn't give possession away cheaply trying to do stupid things he can't do(and as much as I like dirk ) like Kuyt who at the worst of times has a woeful 1st touch and poor judgement when trying to do the out of the ordinary , 2nd He is still young and obviously has something about him which Kenny thinks he can mould, in his interviews its always when I realised the club and Kenny were interested, give the lad some slack its his first few months at a big club where he's bound to feel a tad nervous against 'his' club where he has grown up and his family are from and who he and them are supporters, if you played against Liverpool how would you feel 1st time after growing up there and supporting them and still only being 21 or so

First post - Deep breath, no pressure here goes: My first thought when i got the ground yesterday and heard the team was why hendo was in ahead of dirk in the first place, likewise Flanno/Kelly. Obviously the fact he was playing against his old team and making his debut played a major part in his display though, he just wanted to make no mistakes, it must be hard enough making your debut at such a young age with a hefty price tag on your shoulders, add to that it's your childhood team your playing against and his emotions must have been all over the place.

So basically i'm just saying give the lad a chance, I know we didn't see anything from him attacking wise really but that'll come with confidence, his distribution is obviously very good, I don't think I remember him giving the ball away at all? Could be wrong.

[el matador]

henderson looks like a technically good player with excellent athletic ability and good composure on the ball. young players should ideally be played in their preferred position which he wasnt and it looks like kenny wants him to get used to a new position.

it will take time and when johnson gets fit im sure he'll help henderson play that role better.

[BrooklynRed]

He'll be fine for us, but he should not start over Dirk Kuyt on the right. I get the feeling he got the start to give him a chance against his old club, but against Arsenal I believe Dirk should start. We can use his graft and tracking back, plus I think he and Suarez know one another very well and I think that will make a difference.

[MrMichael]

First post - Deep breath, no pressure here goes: My first thought when i got the ground yesterday and heard the team was why hendo was in ahead of dirk in the first place, likewise Flanno/Kelly. Obviously the fact he was playing against his old team and making his debut played a major part in his display though, he just wanted to make no mistakes, it must be hard enough making your debut at such a young age with a hefty price tag on your shoulders, add to that it's your childhood team your playing against and his emotions must have been all over the place.

So basically i'm just saying give the lad a chance, I know we didn't see anything from him attacking wise really but that'll come with confidence, his distribution is obviously very good, I don't think I remember him giving the ball away at all? Could be wrong.

Welcome to the site

Agree with pretty much all of that, it was a slightly surprising selection for me, what with Flanagan playing behind I would have thought Kuyt's older head would have made more sense though I can understand Kenny wanting to show some faith in the lad, and playing against his old club will have meant a lot to him. I'm sure we'll see an awful lot more from himthough as the season goes on, he was excellent for Sunderland last year for a long spell, is a very level headed young lad, and will benefit from playing with someone like Johnson in the longer term.

Its a total cliché of course, but the huge amount of money we spent on him is hardly his fault; we've paid a premium for a lot of potential and nobody should be jumping to judge him too early in what should be a long career with us.

[Neil Young]

Welcome to the site

Agree with pretty much all of that, it was a slightly surprising selection for me, what with Flanagan playing behind I would have thought Kuyt's older head would have made more sense though I can understand Kenny wanting to show some faith in the lad, and playing against his old club will have meant a lot to him. I'm sure we'll see an awful lot more from himthough as the season goes on, he was excellent for Sunderland last year for a long spell, is a very level headed young lad, and will benefit from playing with someone like Johnson in the longer term.

Its a total cliché of course, but the huge amount of money we spent on him is hardly his fault; we've paid a premium for a lot of potential and nobody should be jumping to judge him too early in what should be a long career with us.

And to be fair nobody did. People waited until full-time and they very much deserve credit for it. We can ask no more and I don't think we can accuse the OP of any undue haste or kneekjerkery whatsoever.

[SB]

And to be fair nobody did. People waited until full-time and they very much deserve credit for it. We can ask no more and I don't think we can accuse the OP of any undue haste or kneekjerkery whatsoever.

as ever

[davegrady1]

Neil

I think the posts have been questioning his role in the team rather than the player himself and amount we payed. As Kris said he will keep it simple, pass & move. I agree on the right may not be his best position but lets give the lad and and the team a bit more time to gel together.

Welcome to the forums Gary_lfc

[Mostar]

First post - Deep breath, no pressure here goes: My first thought when i got the ground yesterday and heard the team was why hendo was in ahead of dirk in the first place, likewise Flanno/Kelly. Obviously the fact he was playing against his old team and making his debut played a major part in his display though, he just wanted to make no mistakes, it must be hard enough making your debut at such a young age with a hefty price tag on your shoulders, add to that it's your childhood team your playing against and his emotions must have been all over the place.

So basically i'm just saying give the lad a chance, I know we didn't see anything from him attacking wise really but that'll come with confidence, his distribution is obviously very good, I don't think I remember him giving the ball away at all? Could be wrong.

Good post.