Liverpool FC Forum

I sense a case of selective memory creeping in. Not wanting to put too fine a point on it, Henderson was ***** for his first 12 months. He had numerous chances under Kenny to show his talent but failed to do so then showed a complete lack of confidence under BR. As Johnnie Barnes said on tv after the Villa game, his confidence has returned off the back of a 7 game undefeated run as captain of the England U21's. All credit to the lad, he's taken stock and turned it round when I thought he was a lost cause. In the painful 12 month transfer dealing experience of Woy and Kenny, he's one of the few success stories.  Long may it continue and quite frankly I'm very happy to see his starting week in week out these days.  I'm gonna have to lie down now.....   

Reg » Tue Apr 02, 2013 2:04 am wrote:I sense a case of selective memory creeping in. Not wanting to put too fine a point on it, Henderson was ***** for his first 12 months. He had numerous chances under Kenny to show his talent but failed to do so then showed a complete lack of confidence under BR. As Johnnie Barnes said on tv after the Villa game, his confidence has returned off the back of a 7 game undefeated run as captain of the England U21's. All credit to the lad, he's taken stock and turned it round when I thought he was a lost cause. In the painful 12 month transfer dealing experience of Woy and Kenny, he's one of the few success stories.  Long may it continue and quite frankly I'm very happy to see his starting week in week out these days.  I'm gonna have to lie down now.....   :ghostface:

jesus mate he was 21, moving away from his hometown, signing for a huge club for big money and being played out of position, it`s no wonder that he took time to settle.
it took terry mcdermott 3 years to become a regular when he signed from newcastle but he ended up part of the greatest midfield in the history of english football.
we write players off too early these days.

Yakka, you're probably right. On a more pleasant subject, have you got the 1974 FA Cup Final on DVD? The standard of football was as good as anything today but the two stand out players for the Barcodes were Terry Mac and Alan Kennedy, head and shoulders above the rest, we really did cherry pick when we took those lads away.
Great buys.

Henderson is looking better but lets not overdo the excuses. Out of position or not Hendo was struggling and a lot of the criticism was justified. Coutinho is from a foreign country. He doesn't speak English. He isn't used to the Premiership. He is very young and has started very well. Yes players can take time to settle but 18 months is simply too long given current crazy wages and transfer fees.

Ronaldo took two and a half seasons to adjust

Lucas took 2 seasons

Morientis could never settle dispite his pedigree

Same with players like Veron and Crespo.

Where as some players like Torres settle quickly

Henderson is young with his whole future ahead of him - he was never as bad as suggested last season - his ability was always there but lacked confidence and self belief after a big move with lots of pressure

He is now maturing and settling this season and becoming a key player in the team. Lots more to look forward to from Henderson.

There is no set time frame for players to settle into new teams.

Henderson was sh'ite, not because he didnt have the talent, but because he didnt have the bollox at the time to stop playing like a little girl.
Thankfully he has grown a pair and even sprouted some peyabs round them, and what a transformation!
Now were seeing the real player at last and long may it continue...

devaney » Tue Apr 02, 2013 2:08 pm wrote:Henderson is looking better but lets not overdo the excuses. Out of position or not Hendo was struggling and a lot of the criticism was justified. Coutinho is from a foreign country. He doesn't speak English. He isn't used to the Premiership. He is very young and has started very well. Yes players can take time to settle but 18 months is simply too long given current crazy wages and transfer fees.

just because money has come into the game doesnt mean that players will automatically settle quicker.
bob paisley told ian rush he was going on the transfer list because he struggled in the early part of his career here, john toshack cost us a small fortune and scored only 4 or 5 goals in his first season, peter beardsley struggled early on as did jan molby, grobbellaar had a nightmare start to his anfield career but went on to win more medals than any other keeper in our history including clemo.
some of the greatest names in our history struggled to settle at the club early on.

I agree with most of that post except Beardo didn't struggle at all - fitted in like a glove alongside Barnes and Aldo very early on

Benny The Noon » Thu Apr 04, 2013 2:52 pm wrote:I agree with most of that post except Beardo didn't struggle at all - fitted in like a glove alongside Barnes and Aldo very early on

beardsley did okay at the start but he was far from spectacular, dont forget that beardsley was the big transfer of that summer, he was the british record signing that was expected to be the star man at the club but it was john barnes who stole his thunder.
beardsley himself has said that he wasnt happy with his form when he first arrived and didnt feel he was doing himself justice until after the turn of the year.
he had only scored four goals up until christmas (not a great return for a forward playing in a team that was running amok) but then scored 6 in the month of january alone, he himself often cites the game against coventry on new years day 1988 as the day when he really kicked into gear. i think that was possibly the first game where he upstaged john barnes.

ycsatbjywtbiastkamb » Thu Apr 04, 2013 3:53 pm wrote:

Benny The Noon » Thu Apr 04, 2013 2:52 pm wrote:I agree with most of that post except Beardo didn't struggle at all - fitted in like a glove alongside Barnes and Aldo very early on

beardsley did okay at the start but he was far from spectacular, dont forget that beardsley was the big transfer of that summer, he was the british record signing that was expected to be the star man at the club but it was john barnes who stole his thunder.
beardsley himself has said that he wasnt happy with his form when he first arrived and didnt feel he was doing himself justice until after the turn of the year.
he had only scored four goals up until christmas (not a great return for a forward playing in a team that was running amok) but then scored 6 in the month of january alone, he himself often cites the game against coventry on new years day 1988 as the day when he really kicked into gear. i think that was possibly the first game where he upstaged john barnes.

to be fair how the hell could anyone out perform John Barnes in 1987/88

Henderson has shown improvement and his confidence is high but hes benefited a lot by the poverty of the performances around him, its not exactly hard to stand out in our central midfield at the moment, anyone who can put in a tackle will stand out where that easy to play against. Gerrards engine isnt what it was and Allen, Shelvey and Lucas have been terrible for the most part. Henderson is nothing special at all IMO but is a decent squad man, pity that hes such an expensive one. Central midfield must be improved or this team isnt going to improve.

Fowler_E7 » Thu Apr 04, 2013 5:55 pm wrote:Henderson has shown improvement and his confidence is high but hes benefited a lot by the poverty of the performances around him, its not exactly hard to stand out in our central midfield at the moment, anyone who can put in a tackle will stand out where that easy to play against. Gerrards engine isnt what it was and Allen, Shelvey and Lucas have been terrible for the most part. Henderson is nothing special at all IMO but is a decent squad man, pity that hes such an expensive one. Central midfield must be improved or this team isnt going to improve.

If you also include the likes of Cole and an out of form Sterling into the equation it is very easy to see why BR has had very little choice other than to play the likes of Downing and Henderson. They both displayed the most incredible lack of understanding as to what was expected from them under Kenny.

The likes of both Downing and Henderson have played because their form warrants selection and both have been a part of our best run of games in nearly 2 seasons.

I guess giving them a bit of credit for finding that form and being a part of the team is too much.

Benny The Noon » Thu Apr 04, 2013 12:43 pm wrote:The likes of both Downing and Henderson have played because their form warrants selection and both have been a part of our best run of games in nearly 2 seasons.

I guess giving them a bit of credit for finding that form and being a part of the team is too much.

I agree.  I don't get the continued criticism of Hendo and Downing.  I think Hendo has began to prove that he is a genuine contender to replace Stevie.  When he plays with confidence he looks quite mature and composed for a 21 year old kid.  When I've watched him play for the U21's (and captain them during the 9 game win streak in which they haven't conceded a single goal) he looks like he doesn't belong.  He seriously just sprays the ball everywhere without hesitation and seems to create something every time he touches the ball.

I feel Downing has been one of our most consistent players this season after he started cementing his starting spot.  I've been really impressed with him, and people still try to act like he's been underperforming because he won't live up to his 20 million price tag, but I think he's actually been quite good this season.  Especially after it sounded BR didn't want him anymore, he really upped his game and has looked to be putting in the proper effort.

devaney » Thu Apr 04, 2013 9:29 pm wrote:

Fowler_E7 » Thu Apr 04, 2013 5:55 pm wrote:Henderson has shown improvement and his confidence is high but hes benefited a lot by the poverty of the performances around him, its not exactly hard to stand out in our central midfield at the moment, anyone who can put in a tackle will stand out where that easy to play against. Gerrards engine isnt what it was and Allen, Shelvey and Lucas have been terrible for the most part. Henderson is nothing special at all IMO but is a decent squad man, pity that hes such an expensive one. Central midfield must be improved or this team isnt going to improve.

If you also include the likes of Cole and an out of form Sterling into the equation it is very easy to see why BR has had very little choice other than to play the likes of Downing and Henderson. They both displayed the most incredible lack of understanding as to what was expected from them under Kenny.

Suarez, Sturridge and Coutinho a front 3 Rodgers could have easily picked. No Downing plays because he deserves to be in the starting line up.

Henderson i have reiterated time and time again. The guy is a very very good player and last season didnt show it because

A) He was played out of position
B) Lacked confidence becuase of a massive move
C) Most of the team was below par last year

At the present time Henderson is our BEST central midfielder.