Fabinho

[RedReet]

Fabinho has looked decent last 2 matches but that's no reason to dismiss what Heno brings to the team. Decent midfield options now.

[Liverpool]

very slow when he was chasing down at one point in the second half he seemed to be going backwards

[kemm1]

Hendo can play a good game, but too often is only 50% and we need better, i have been pointing out his slackness for ages and now fabhino steps in it really highlights what we have been missing.

Yes, but his ability in tight spaces and to turn and go forward while pressure is on his back is not good at all.

[kemm1]

Fabinho has looked decent last 2 matches but that's no reason to dismiss what Heno brings to the team. Decent midfield options now.

Fabinho or not, Hendo has some limitations in his game. Not saying he won't play a key part all season.

[SB]

Yes, but his ability in tight spaces and to turn and go forward while pressure is on his back is not good at all.

Can’t disagree with that unfortunately

[Fernandinho]

Probably the first time in the last 4-5 years that I genuinely believe that Hendo is comfortable not apart of our best midfield 3... With the form of Fabinho and Gini and one other spot being contested by Milner and Shaq who are both in excellent form, I struggle to see how he gets back in for the short term.

How good is it to have so many options in midfield! Turned our potential weakness into a strength and we aren't even talking about Ox at the moment.

[Kenneth]

Frustrating that it took so long tbh.

[The_weatherman]

Probably the first time in the last 4-5 years that I genuinely believe that Hendo is comfortable not apart of our best midfield 3... With the form of Fabinho and Gini and one other spot being contested by Milner and Shaq who are both in excellent form, I struggle to see how he gets back in for the short term.

How good is it to have so many options in midfield! Turned our potential weakness into a strength and we aren't even talking about Ox at the moment.

And you didn't mention Keita either, Hendo needs to step up his game now, although I just can't see him adding enough to his game.

[baitman]

And you didn't mention Keita either, Hendo needs to step up his game now, although I just can't see him adding enough to his game.

He can go in the bargain bucket along with moreno and lallana.

[The_weatherman]

Nah, he's the captain and has served the club well, he got unlucky with injuries but we are not throwing him under the bus.

[ntto]

I want to see hendo back to how he was when he first joined and played alongside Gerrard.

He was full of energy and running and was the main source of our pressing game in the middle of the park. His role has changed - perhaps with age - over the last few seasons and he's more the first back of our midfield. He was superb in his first couple of seasons

[danperkins]

To be fair to Hendo, he is a box to box midfielder who loves to burst forward and get into opposition box, before he was asked to curb that and play the deeper role, he was racking up a good number of assists and making those lung bursting runs up the pitch. 6 goals and 10 assists the season before he was asked to change roles. Credit where it is due.

[SB]

Nah, he's the captain and has served the club well, he got unlucky with injuries but we are not throwing him under the bus.

He has served us well & been unlucky with injuries but him slipping down the pecking order is not us throwing him under the bus. We need to pick our side based on form not sentiment. If he warrants a starting spot he’ll deservedly get it but if we play better without him he’ll be a bit part player until such times as his form forces a rethink.

[Norbs]

To be fair to Hendo, he is a box to box midfielder who loves to burst forward and get into opposition box, before he was asked to curb that and play the deeper role, he was racking up a good number of assists and making those lung bursting runs up the pitch. 6 goals and 10 assists the season before he was asked to change roles. Credit where it is due.

Maybe his body can't do that hence the club altering his role so that his runs are over a shorter distance

[baitman]

He has served us well & been unlucky with injuries but him slipping down the pecking order is not us throwing him under the bus. We need to pick our side based on form not sentiment. If he warrants a starting spot he’ll deservedly get it but if we play better without him he’ll be a bit part player until such times as his form forces a rethink.

Precisely this.
They will be installing a revolving door when kirkby is redeveloped.
Sometimes we have held on to players for far too long. If it was because we still were lacking a suitable replacement then fair enough, although more should have been done to ensure we were not reliant on fading or sub standard players.
If we were to be hanging on to them due to sentiment then thats poor management, when we were world beaters we were always ready to replace when needed, even if the player in question had been an absolute legend for us.