Here's an extract from an article by freelance football writer Alex Hess..
'Towards the season’s end, though, he was treated for the first time to a string of games in a settled position, something which resulted in – surprise surprise – some very decent form. Deployed at the base of midfield, alongside one of Jay Spearing, Jonjo Shelvey, or Captain Marvel himself, Henderson provided a solid platform for some of Liverpool’s better attacking performances, most notably away at Carrow Road and against Chelsea at Anfield. The deep-lying central role suits his mobile frame and assured short passing style, and Henderson looked very much at home in the position, quietly tidying up and recycling possession with minimal fuss. He’s perhaps not quite Andrea Pirlo reborn, but has shown a capability to healthily tread the middle ground between the ‘destroyer’ and ‘creator’ functions that now define the deep central midfielder, much in the manner of his now-indispensable Brazilian team-mate. Henderson’s odd, ungainly running style also disguises a deft command of the ball as well as a springy, energetic athleticism that serves him well in midfield.'
He's actually a very good player, with bags of ability and athletic prowess. He'll have a good season in my opinion. What are your thoughts?
Henderson has Lucas Leiva syndrome
posted on 4/8/12
Cm yes he has bags of potential ...
As a winger.... God no!!
posted on 4/8/12
We bring in a young player to a huge club and expect him to be Pele the next moment.
No one knows, but he has all physical attributes to become a great player, now, that's up to him and Rodgers to make him mentally stronger, personally I think he will come good.
posted on 4/8/12
..and he fits to Rodgers' philosophy much better, and naturally, if played in the right position.
posted on 4/8/12
I still think his best work would be as the midfielder given the most licence to get forward. If we're to look at the midfield that Swansea deployed in the second half of last season, there was Leon Britton in the holding role, Gylfi Sigurdsson as the most attacking midfielder who got forward in support once the ball was fed into the wide areas, and Joe Allen, who was the bridge between the two, the catalyst that dictated when to keep the ball and when to commit to an attack.
IMO, Henderson's best work would be in a role similar to Sigurdsson's. I don't think he has the imperious passing range to dominate a game in the Allen role, changing the Tempo, the angle of attack and being the hub of all of our forward play. I definitely don't see him as a designated holding midfielder.
But Sigurdsson's role, more advanced and with a greater emphasis on tidy play mixed with forward running? Yeah, I could definitely see a confident Jordan Henderson pulling that off. The problem, of course, being that we rarely see him being confident. But he's shown on occasions that he's got an eye for a pass in the final third, and if a player as mobile as Jordan times his runs from deep correctly, it's a nightmare to defend against.
Unfortunately, our unbalanced midfield means that we also have Gerrard, Adam and Shelvey who look most comfortable in that position. If we were to shoehorn one of those back into a deeper playmaking role, for me it would have to be Shelvey, because even though he's the youngest, he doesn't seem to make the mind-boggling passing choices that Gerrard and Adam make at times (Rodgers addressed this in relation to Gerrard on Thursday by bringing Lucas on and pushing Gerrard forward into a very defined attacking midfield role).
Anyhow, I think Henderson definitely has the raw materials to be a success here - maybe he just needs his Lucas moment. A lot of pundits seem to think that Lucas' good form started 12 months ago, when in fact he'd been steadily improving since mid-March 2009, when he was brought into the lineup at short notice for the 4-1 at Old Trafford. He was very good that day, and never looked back.
Maybe Henderson just needs a really big performance or late winner against a rival team to get him kick started, I always felt that Lucas' form would have picked up quicker had Neville not denied him a winner in the Derby with that handball. not being played on the wing will help Jordan, too.
posted on 4/8/12
Complete BS. The guy is a one dimensional headless chicken. I hate this Lucas comparisons. Yes Lucas was no Alonso at the time but to his credit he got stuck in and tried to make an impact on those games. All hendo does is hide in games, refuses to take responsibility and passes the buck. He is not even in the same league as Jonjo Shelvey.
Just because a talented Lucas transformed his career does not mean a poor wannabe will do the same.
posted on 4/8/12
He can be good if he stops pulling a Hoduoini during the match.
posted on 4/8/12
I think, as said, Henderson has the ability to be a very good player, the question is, does he have the mental strength?
Jonjo Shelvey is far and away the better player at the moment, because he has the bottle to try and make an impact on the game. For example, the Chelsea goal at the back end of last season, there is no way Jordan would have hit that, he'd have brought it down, and given it to whoever was stood 10 yards away.
But then again, him taking more risks means the fans also have to try not to jump on him when he does try something and gets it wrong, because it's going to happen.
posted on 4/8/12
Henderson is much, much better technically than Shelvey. And Shelvey is quite good.
Shelvey is much, much more driven to impose himself on the match.
Get them in a lab and splice them together.
posted on 4/8/12
Without sounding like a WUM you guys should look to sign Lansbury from Arsenal if we can.t give him games as he always out shone Henderson. Would love for him to stay at Arsenal as he is a top talent but for some reason Wenger over looks him.
posted on 4/8/12
I've seen Lansbury a couple of times, and he's been fairly impressive. TBH though, buying another center midfielder is the last thing we need to do right now, we have too many as it is.