Not the season coming up, but the one after it. He'll slowly take over from Gerrard as he gets older. I dont think Allen and Hendersons futures are particularly linked, so they could both be playing lots.
What's the deal with Hendo?
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Not the season coming up, but the one after it. He'll slowly take over from Gerrard as he gets older. I dont think Allen and Hendersons futures are particularly linked, so they could both be playing lots.
He started showing some performances like that last season, and he'll be more consistent in them this season no doubt. Its not too far fetched for him to become captain in four years time.
I like Modo.
Gayers.
And no yis don't.
And no yis don't.
Modo's cool. He's like that kid who's excited about Christmas but he's an adult who hates Stewart Downing
Have you ever tried it? Needs seasoning but not too bad
I think the more accurate description is that his finishing isn't consistent, especially in the earlier part of the season. He's actually got excellent finishing technique, and when he's scored, it has almost always been an amazing goal. The clip posted by TheThingIs on the first page of this thread shows quite well what he's capable of.
In his first season, I thought he showed occasional glimpses of talent but severely lacked courage and confidence, often seeming to defer or hide behind the senior players. His second season has seen him grow a pair of balls and greater belief in himself, and he's looked to impose himself more. Hopefully the added competition in his 3rd season will force him to really step up and have the breakout season. I want to see him go full Cyclops mode on opponents.
In his first season, I thought he showed occasional glimpses of talent but severely lacked courage and confidence, often seeming to defer or hide behind the senior players. His second season has seen him grow a pair of balls and greater belief in himself, and he's looked to impose himself more. Hopefully the added competition in his 3rd season will force him to really step up and have the breakout season. I want to see him go full Cyclops mode on opponents.
Negotiation was not really Kenny's strong point, was it? And Comolli was no help in that department.I have mixed feelings on Henderson. In his first season, when many fans were less than thrilled with his performances, I always thought that he is a talented player, who simply was going through his first season jitters. I could see he has fundamentally good all-around technique, a bright head on his shoulders and an excellent attitude - so I thought there was no reason for him to be shit once the settling-in period is over. I am happy that this season we saw the real Hendo - and I'm sure he'll continue to improve. He is a good player.
That being said, I doubt that Hendo's qualities make his suitable to be a regular starter in Brendan's team. As a starter, he would be much better suited to an old-fashioned British 4-4-2 with 2 box-to-box CMs and no "specialist" DM or AM roles, but that's clearly not the system this team is being built around (and there are less and less teams left in the Premier League who still play this way). Brendan's midfield 3, whether it's "normal" or "inverted," doesn't have room for a genuine box-to-box player. Every player in such system has to have a more or less specialized role and that's a problem for a player like Hendo, who can do many things well, but doesn't have really outstanding qualities or skills. For a specialist defensive midfielder, his tackling and anticipation are not good enough, and his passing too inconsistent and impatient - Lucas is simply a better DM than Hendo, even on last year's form (and I'm very confident that Lucas will be much better next season). For an attacker, he doesn't have nearly enough dribbling technique and flair; he can play on the wing, but he is not a winger either.
Many fans rate Hendo higher than Allen and Lucas at this point because of their respective form last season, and it's perfectly understandable - Hendo finished the season clearly in better form than the other two. Another factor might be that Liverpool fans generally like "passionate" players more than "cerebral" ones. But in the end, I have no doubt that both Allen and Lucas are more valuable than Henderson in Brendan's team. They are the cornerstones (doesn't mean they are irreplaceable, but other cornerstones would need to be put in their place), whereas Hendo is more like mortar that helps to plug the gaps and hold things together. That's how I see it, but much more importantly, that's how Rodgers sees it too - based on many clues and statements.
With that in mind, let's ask ourselves 2 questions:
1. Was Henderson purchase (£16M + add-ons rising to 20M and contract originally worth 65,000 per week, now apparently it's 70K per week) a good piece of business by Kenny and Comolli, considering what Henderson brings to the team?
My answer is no. It might have been justified eventually if we stayed on Kenny's 2nd season course with Carroll up front, Downing on the wing and Hendo taking over from Gerrard in the middle to partner Charlie Adam. Unfortunately that whole strategy was way behind the times and soundly failed in practice (even in that case, quadrupling Hendo's wages was a stupid idea and probably unnecessary anyway). In Rodgers' team, the role that Hendo will probably play in the next few years could have definitely been filled with far less expensive players. In the current wage structure it's hard to justify paying Henderson 70K per week, when the likes of Coutinho, Borini and Allen are earning 40-50K and Aspas only around 30K.
2. If Henderson is indeed a squad player, would it make sense to sell him now and try to invest that money in a first 11 player?
I think this is a complicated question. In theory, yes, it would make sense and it wouldn't shock me to the core to find out that Henderson is sold this summer and the funds from his sale go towards a deal for Wanyama or Mkhitaryan. However, I think it's much more likely that Henderson will be here next season. Rodgers definitely will not want to sell him for cheap, and probably it will take at least one more season of quality performances to convince potential buyers that Henderson is worth a substantial investment (let's not forget that he has been generally poor until 2nd half of last season - in other words in 3/4 of his time here). This will also let the player leave - if he leaves - with his head high and a sense that the Liverpool chapter was not a failure. Also, from the manager's point of view, keeping Henderson is a decent insurance policy in case Allen keeps struggling to integrate himself into the team and Lucas's struggles to return to form (I think both problems are unlikely - but it's still better to have insurance). And if Henderson keeps progressing and makes himself too useful to part ways with - all the better.
I don't see any need to rush to sell. As has already been said he's young, versatile, English (which is good from a homegrown quota perspective) and has the potential to improve.
He may be an expensive squad player but good squad players are harder than people to think to come by - we should know as there has been a bit of a revolving door at Liverpool over the years.
He may be an expensive squad player but good squad players are harder than people to think to come by - we should know as there has been a bit of a revolving door at Liverpool over the years.
Course we could.
You know Cyclops is a cunt, right? He's responsible for killing Xavier and his dream & his powers are fucked.
I don't mind him, but what's he actually good at?
He runs around a lot - but his passing is meh, his tackling is meh and he often looks clueless as to what's going in around him.
I thought you said he was decent or whatever other thinly veiled bollocks it was? Everyone knows your opinions are fucking pointless, how many threads are you gonna jump around like a child in everytime a minority posts something of similar ilk to yourself? It's pathetic, like your "good riddance" type posts on Carroll and Downing. Have a bit of fucking humility, you can't resist laying it on thick against anything English or Norwegian. Quit being the site loon, at least Glock was endearingly bonkers. I keep trying to cut you slack but then I'm too quickly reminded how much of a fucking annoying childish cunt you can be.
What's your problem?
First off I never wrote good riddance in that Carroll topic. Ask the mods about that one.
Second, don't I have a right to doubt a certain player in the squad?
And no I'm not into your style of gung ho support for every player in our team.
If he's shit I'll fucking call him shit but in this case I never did, did I?
I think the only reason you're pissed off about this is because some of the posters in this thread agree with me.
The thread was never about Hendo being shit or me wanting him to be sold, I just questioned his role in the team.
Calm the fuck down.
50k a week for Doni? Bogiest transfer ever.
Chill out Modo
Lol why only Modo?
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