Henderson

[mark1975]

I'd hazard a guess that it's cos an enhanced physical stature has completely fuck all to do with being a decent defensive midfielder.

He's fairly disciplined though and covers alot of ground, I don't think it's unfair to suggest the raw attributes are there, coupled with him bulking up a bit, in that sense it's exactly what we're missing in the engine room, someone who's both athletic and has a good physique, if he can channel some aggression into that we could have some player on our hands because technically he's also very good.

 

[Mystic]

I think the may reason there's such a division between the Henderson lovers like Me, Mark, GK, many others and all the haters is because he came in in place of Meireles and most people were expecting him to be at that level, whereas if you look at him as the long term investment he is, he's going to be a great purchase. The difference in his ability from a year ago is huge, imagine how much better he'll be in another year. He's only 22, he's got a great future ahead of him with us.

 

[Ryan]

Perhaps you're getting confused with the typical defensive midfielder who protects a back four, so needs to run around like Mascherano or intercep passes like Hamann. Unfortunately we don't really have a back four under Rodgers. Instead we have a gaping hold in front of Reina. This is why our defensive midfielder needs the physical stature to block off that hole and head away any long balls. Otherwise you end up having to create a greater number of chances in each game that the number of times Lucas gets shoved aside / gives away a foul in fear of getting shoved aside.

You have absolutely no idea about football. You're a smart guy though so I'm sure you're already aware of this.

 

[Rosco]

Meireles was a very good player but a bit of a luxury. Long term it might prove a good move (you know I'm a big Hendo fan and have backed him from the word go), but at the time it was met with derision fairly I think, it cost us because we were struggling for goals for the rest of that season, the midfield had zero movement. Longterm and with a degree of hindsight, we've built well in recent years, but for a spell it cost us and we're still feeling the repercussions of that now with a lack of experience, only in recent months have we had a few young players 'showing' they are capable of stepping upto the plate, we'd gone a whole 18 months were we were struggling to keep our heads above water.

I don't see why moves which are clearly envisaged for the long term should be met with any derision at all Mark. Particularly when they're made at a time when we're treading water and not in the mix for anything

 

[mark1975]

I don't see why moves which are clearly envisaged for the long term should be met with any derision at all Mark. Particularly when they're made at a time when we're treading water and not in the mix for anything

I don't mean the move for Henderson itself, fans are fickle and they will associate an outgoing with an incoming especially if they play a similar position - add the price and the notion we could have spent the same on a more established player, it was obviously going to get some backs up. That's why people probably laid into Henderson, but we know that already, some idiot was posting the same about Shelvey a few days ago, that he's "had a run of games now" and clearly is "just shit". We've seen it all before, these lads are 22 or less and are having final judgements made on their abilities after a run of games in lesser competitions or a few fleeting appearances.

As for treading water, again, you know fans are impatient and won't stand for a couple of seasons of building and waiting for youngsters to come good. Ideally we should, and it's great to see a few players now reaping the rewards of some indulgence, like Henderson, but for every moment of rebuilding there's always the flip side danger of losing someone like Suarez.

 

[dantes]

You have absolutely no idea about football. You're a smart guy though so I'm sure you're already aware of this.

We have different definitions of that word. If this was cricket, and I had no idea about the theory behind what was happening, I would be at a serious disadvantage. But football is different, it's faster paced. All but a very few special players have the mental capacity to apply what they "know about football" to an actual match. Football is a phenomenon like everything else. The cognitive variables which govern its behaviour are very simple, namely the two or three thoughts which go through a players mind at any given instant. So these volumes of football theory and tactical information which you posses, it's just a sideshow with no bearing upon the actual phenomenon.

If you want to tell me the fouls Lucas gave away were actually the conclusion of some 200 page tactical manual, and not based upon a simple emotion like fear and uncertainty, then I'll laugh at you...

 

[hamstrung_pigeon]

I think the may reason there's such a division between the Henderson lovers like Me, Mark, GK, many others and all the haters is because he came in in place of Meireles.

I'm not sure Henderson took Meireles' spot; I'd think Charlie Adam was the one because Kenny decided to build around Carroll - Suarez and liked Adams' set piece delivery and Hollywood passes. Henderson started on the right and mostly took Kuyt's minutes while Downing took Maxi's. In one fell swoop, the Suarez - Meireles - Maxi - Kuyt quartet which played very well together during Kenny's caretaker spell was stupidly dismantled.

 

[Ryan]

We have different definitions of that word. If this was cricket, and I had no idea about the theory behind what was happening, I would be at a serious disadvantage. But football is different, it's faster paced. All but a very few special players have the mental capacity to apply what they "know about football" to an actual match. Football is a phenomenon like everything else. The cognitive variables which govern its behaviour are very simple, namely the two or three thoughts which go through a players mind at any given instant. So these volumes of football theory and tactical information which you posses, it's just a sideshow with no bearing upon the actual phenomenon.

If you want to tell me the fouls Lucas gave away were actually the conclusion of some 200 page tactical manual, and not based upon a simple emotion like fear and uncertainty, then I'll laugh at you...

'We need a defensive midfielder to be strong so he can head long balls away'.

Who needs cognitive variables when you've got that belter.

 

[dantes]

'We need a defensive midfielder to be strong so he can head long balls away'.

Who needs cognitive variables when you've got that belter.

Ok. How about we need a player who can transition between defensive midfield and central defence each time we lose/win possession. How do you like that?

 

[Ryan]

I wish there was an alert on this forum which alerted me to when you finally stumble on a point Dantes.