Jordan Henderson

[el matador]

he had another decent game for us yesterday.

keeps things simple and ticking over. if kenny played him in centre mid from the off he would be completely ready for next season.

for me he should be first choice centre mid with lucas next season. looks a proper player will be huge for us.

[RichC]

Unless we bring someone else in I'd agree with that

[Mostar]

I wouldn't make him first choice CM as imo he is not ready yet.

He has great stamina, his running rate is top notch, has tons of touches in the game etc but he lacks the end product atm.

I'd play him definitely next year but not as much as this year nor I would expect him to carry us.

He will get better but imo he has long way to go.

[RichC]

Depends for me what we do in the summer if we don't strengthen there he should play with Lucas but essentially I hope and expect us to improve in the middle as jay and Adam aren't good enough

[Lee]

His technical abilities and his vision are sound.

If he had the balls of Shelvey then he'd be quite some player. Just needs to be a bit more confident, grab the game and believe in himself.

[Mostar]

Depends for me what we do in the summer if we don't strengthen there he should play with Lucas but essentially I hope and expect us to improve in the middle as jay and Adam aren't good enough

I hope as well that we will buy smart and really improve our midfield in the summer as imo we need more quality and if we don't and we keep the status quo I don't think we will do well next season.

[Exiled_red]

Unless we bring someone else in I'd agree with that

The thing is as it stands we have to bring someone in. Adam isn't good enough, Spearing is a squad player and Henderson has little experience there, that leaves Lucas and Gerrard, IMO Gerrard isn't suited to the 'normal' central midfield role.

[Mostar]

The thing is as it stands we have to bring someone in. Adam isn't good enough, Spearing is a squad player and Henderson has little experience there, that leaves Lucas and Gerrard, IMO Gerrard isn't suited to the 'normal' central midfield role.

Plus Gerrard injury problems seems to be ongoing so I don't think we can relly on him as much as we did (he is also not getting any younger neither).

Aquilani may be coming back but that means nothing as he will be loaned back to another Series A Team anyways.

[Exiled_red]

Plus Gerrard injury problems seems to be ongoing so I don't think we can relly on him as much as we did (he is also not getting any younger neither).

Aquilani may be coming back but that means nothing as he will be loaned back to another Series A Team anyways.

I'd have liked to have seen Aquilani get a chance, but it seems that he doesn't want to be here. We need to put our foot down this summer and insist if no-one pays cash up front he's going no-where, we'll have become a laughing stock in Italy with the deals we've done involving him.

[el matador]

mate the whole point of having a player like henderson is that he doesnt have an end product. he has to win the ball back and keep play ticking over. he supplies the pass that supplies the pass to a shot on goal or an assist.

he doesnt need to produce an end product rather he has to supply the balls to the creative players who then provide an end product.

thats the problem with charlie adam. he thinks he has to have an end product every time he gets on the ball so he ends up playing hollywood passes and gives the ball away constantly instead of keeping things simple.

henderson reminds me of ronnie whelan and he was a brilliant player.

[Muddled]

mate the whole point of having a player like henderson is that he doesnt have an end product. he has to win the ball back and keep play ticking over. he supplies the pass that supplies the pass to a shot on goal or an assist.

he doesnt need to produce an end product rather he has to supply the balls to the creative players who then provide an end product.

thats the problem with charlie adam. he thinks he has to have an end product every time he gets on the ball so he ends up playing hollywood passes and gives the ball away constantly instead of keeping things simple.

henderson reminds me of ronnie whelan and he was a brilliant player.

I agree in part. However, Henderson has to add goals to his game.

I would expect a central midfielder to chip in with double figures in a season.

[Exiled_red]

I agree in part. However, Henderson has to add goals to his game.

I would expect a central midfielder to chip in with double figures in a season.

I think that's somewhat unrealistic to be honest, very few central midfielders get 10+ goals a season, those that do usually play off the front man rather than a 'traditional' central midfield role, or they boost their figures by taking penalties. I'd say that a player playing in a 'traditional' central midfield role not taking penalties a goal return of ~5 a season would be an expected return.

[el matador]

I agree in part. However, Henderson has to add goals to his game.

I would expect a central midfielder to chip in with double figures in a season.

I think that depend purely on the system. alonso and mascherano didnt score ten goals between in any season and we didnt do too bad when they were both in central midfield.

hendersons got a very good engine and once he settles down with a proper defensive mid like lucas he will feel that he has more freedom to make those runs.

infact if kenny has played henderson centrally from the beginning of the season you would see a more progressive and dynamic henderson now.

I would bet my life that he will develop into a top top player for us. the lad can do everything.

[BootRoom]

He should play in the centre or not at all; the game just passes him by when he's on the flank. Also, he should work on eradicating the first-time 18 inch lay-off from his game and take the ball on more often.

[Muddled]

I think that's somewhat unrealistic to be honest, very few central midfielders get 10+ goals a season, those that do usually play off the front man rather than a 'traditional' central midfield role, or they boost their figures by taking penalties. I'd say that a player playing in a 'traditional' central midfield role not taking penalties a goal return of ~5 a season would be an expected return.

Maybe I'm being greedy during a season long drought!

I expect five from a central defender, I just think with Lucas providing zero goal threat, we need to find goals from elsewhere; maybe 20-25 across the remaining midfield three (if we are playing in midfield) would be a better, more obtainable figure.

I think that depend purely on the system. alonso and mascherano didnt score ten goals between in any season and we didnt do too bad when they were both in central midfield.

hendersons got a very good engine and once he settles down with a proper defensive mid like lucas he will feel that he has more freedom to make those runs.

infact if kenny has played henderson centrally from the beginning of the season you would see a more progressive and dynamic henderson now.

I would bet my life that he will develop into a top top player for us. the lad can do everything.

Again, fair point. Although I was critical of Alonso and his goal record; for somebody who could strike a ball so true, I thought we only saw glimpses of it infront of goal.

But yeah, agree with the rest of the post, I'm a big fan of Henderson and think he has a great future; it's his touch and vision that I've been impressed with most, he suits a quick passing game and I think he sees some great angles, he just needs to add some belief and tenacity.

Oh, and goals, obv.