Jordan Henderson (Liverpool -> Al-Ettifaq (5 months) -> Ajax)

He's not a terrible player. Granted he doesn't have amazing moments like Suarez, Bellamy or Gerrard (let's be honest, how many players do at his age?!).

He's got tons of potential. His one touch passing is very, very good. He has vision as well. Now, he keeps it tidy and simple and spreads the play when he can.

Just give him some time, he's just developing under Kenny and quality players like Gerrard.

Love the part of that when he megged Cole and then left Terry for Dead!

Can show some of his talents tomorrow and may even grab a goal.

Don't want to get on at the lad, just not sure what he is offering us. Neat and tidy on the ball, but seems to lack the confidence to do anything beyond the bare minimum.

Not taking the games by the scruff of the neck with or without the ball.

Come on Jordan! I'm sure he has it in him to blossom, just seems to lack confidence.

As mentioned above, I can't fault him his effort or energy, hes very tidy on the ball and seems to have the desire to succeed here..

But I just don't see what hes offering to the team that justifies him starting before the likes of Spearing/Shelvey/Maxi.

Barring a few neat and tidy passages of play, the game just seems to pass him by for me abit too much, hes not currently chipping in with a shed load of goals, creating a bucket load of chances or storming around the pitch throwing in tackles and breaking up the play.

In a couple of years time (Still only 21) I honestly think we will have a real player on our hands, but at the moment I think hes slightly overawed by the size/expectation of the club and ultimately reluctant to try anything that gets you up off your chair and think "F***ing well done lad".

Still, a good career ahead of him, just hope he comes out his shell abit more.

He'll get there; of that I have no doubt.

He'll get there; of that I have no doubt.

If he does I think it'll take a couple of years mate, bit like it did with Lucas. I wonder whether the price tag might become a bit of an albatross around his neck though?

He needs to be more adventurous, IMO. Try to make things happen and all that because at the moment, he just seems he prefers to give the ball to someone else to make things happen.

He can be some player in the future. Still currently learning.

If he does I think it'll take a couple of years mate, bit like it did with Lucas. I wonder whether the price tag might become a bit of an albatross around his neck though?

I just feel he's got something Scotty and daft as this may make me sound; I can see him grow into a Gerrard type player - in fact, I believe he's been bought with that role in mind. Jordan has a way to go yet but I honestly believe he'll be a star.

He's a tidy player and work well with Lucas and a creative player in a three- he covers ground and passes sweetly but looks a bit nervous and edgy when asked to attack. Needs a bit of confidence in himself, with an attacking element added to his game could be a very good player

I honestly think he will come good. Remember he is just a young lad still learning his trade. His workrate can't be faulted, he just needs more end product.

Fact is he has a load of talent that he has given us glimpses of all year. The attacking element, the adventurous side of him will come out with experience and that is why I believe we see him out there even when out of his natural position. Quite honestly it would seem to me if you have a footballer that has the talent to play multiple roles the more he sees out of his comfort zone the more complete player you will have. I don't think we should be looking at him as a specialist (defensive/offensive  Midfield/Wide) I think he has talent to be a complete player and that is why Kenny sticks with him even out of position because the end product will be so much better when the time comes.

I've seen basically what I expected from him this year. Didn't expect the world to light up under him or the other way around. Playing well and I don't groan when seeing his name on the team sheet. Always improving.

It's all about perseverance, just like it was with Lucas. It may not appear that much is happening with Jordan at the moment but as this quote by social reformer Jacob Riis.


"Look at a stone cutter hammering away at his rock, perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it.  Yet at the hundred-and-first blow it will split in two, and I know it was not the last blow that did it, but all that had gone before."


It's all about time and perseverance with the likes of Jordan.

I just feel he's got something Scotty and daft as this may make me sound; I can see him grow into a Gerrard type player - in fact, I believe he's been bought with that role in mind. Jordan has a way to go yet but I honestly believe he'll be a star.

I really am with you on that mate, he has everything technically, watch his movement at times live and you can just see how good he is. He needs to get it between the ears but that will come im sure.
Most of this season he is playing is a slightly un-natural position but has shown real glimpses of the player he will turn out to be.

Time is what we need to give the lad, he has played a big part already this season, so Kenny must be happy with his progress.

I just feel he's got something Scotty and daft as this may make me sound; I can see him grow into a Gerrard type player - in fact, I believe he's been bought with that role in mind. Jordan has a way to go yet but I honestly believe he'll be a star.

not wanting to get stuck into the lad but I really can't see the comparison, even when you compare him to Gerrard at the same age. As a young lad Gerrard had pace and power and great tackling ability and unfortunately I don't see any of those three qualities in young Jordan. The only area I'd perhaps compare to Gerrard is his engine and ability to cover a lot of ground over 90 minutes which he does do, in fact he works very hard when he plays.

I really am with you on that mate, he has everything technically, watch his movement at times live and you can just see how good he is. He needs to get it between the ears but that will come im sure.
Most of this season he is playing is a slightly un-natural position but has shown real glimpses of the player he will turn out to be.

Time is what we need to give the lad, he has played a big part already this season, so Kenny must be happy with his progress.

Yeah i'm not so sure on the movement thing fella. not sure if it was you who asked if i'd seen him play live and that if i had i'd appreciate this part of his game but i went the game on Sunday and was particularly watchful of Henderson, especially given that we were dominant in the game and i really didn't see it. Our set-up was a bit strange on the day given we played periods with Suarez on the right hand side and Jordan furthest forward in a 3 (ahead of Gerrard & Adam) and for long spells we played 2 up top with Henderson on the right. During the parts of the game where Hendo weas playing more centrally and higher up the pitch it dodn't make sense, he was furthest forward and therefore responsible for making things happen in the attacking third but once again his first thought was generally to play the ball backwards or sideways. Now i don't mean to get on top of the lad, particularly after a resounding win but for me, Shelvey was more positive in less thasn 15 minutes than Hendo was the previous 85.

Does movement make him a good player though?

I agree with Scott on this one, as much as I want Henderson to become a class act I can't see it myself, he might turn out to be a good premiership performer once he matures and hones his skills, but he will never be Gerrard, so the Gerrard comparisons are a bit silly to be honest.

Yeah i'm not so sure on the movement thing fella. not sure if it was you who asked if i'd seen him play live and that if i had i'd appreciate this part of his game but i went the game on Sunday and was particularly watchful of Henderson, especially given that we were dominant in the game and i really didn't see it. Our set-up was a bit strange on the day given we played periods with Suarez on the right hand side and Jordan furthest forward in a 3 (ahead of Gerrard & Adam) and for long spells we played 2 up top with Henderson on the right. During the parts of the game where Hendo weas playing more centrally and higher up the pitch it dodn't make sense, he was furthest forward and therefore responsible for making things happen in the attacking third but once again his first thought was generally to play the ball backwards or sideways. Now i don't mean to get on top of the lad, particularly after a resounding win but for me, Shelvey was more positive in less thasn 15 minutes than Hendo was the previous 85.

Sunday wasn't the best performance from him to base my argument granted Scott lad 

By movement I don't just mean off the ball, I mean the whole package, his touch, his shape with the ball, the ease he has doing all the simple things ( my fault ) I just meant he has the ability there and it seems second nature to him, he doesn't need to think about it, it just happens.

We need to be patient with him, I genuinely think he will turn out to be a good player for us. I've said before on the likes of Stevie ( not comparing him yet to Stevie) that they are the victims of their own versatility and talent.. They are asked to play in positions not overly natural to them because they can and have enough about them to do that. Jordan is another of those and eventually will play in his natural position and then really look the player I think he will be.

Only time will tell.

Does movement make him a good player though?

I agree with Scott on this one, as much as I want Henderson to become a class act I can't see it myself, he might turn out to be a good premiership performer once he matures and hones his skills, but he will never be Gerrard, so the Gerrard comparisons are a bit silly to be honest.

It's just a gut feeling with him mate. I'm not saying I think he will be as good as Stevie, not many are. But I just think he has it and will end up being a very good player for us.

Some people need to learn lessons from Lucas, again not saying he will be 3 time world player of the year but I think we need to be patient and give him time and certainly not write him off like some are doing.

Maybe movement will make him a good player but I still can't get over the fact how he's so good at one touch, be it a control, a pass or whatever.

Along with that one touch ability of his, he's got a decent vision and that fits together perfectly. His pass for Downing against City was brilliant, so was his pass for Suarez against Bolton. As for Sunday, he did play that high lofted lob that led to the second own goal.

Just give him time. He's been playing alot out of position and IMO, that helps his development. Look what happened to Gerrard when he was played as a RB and RW in his younger days. It makes him what he is today.

He's got the attitude, the touch, the technical abilities and more. He keeps it tidy and simple but he just needs to be more adventurous in future.

It's just a gut feeling with him mate. I'm not saying I think he will be as good as Stevie, not many are. But I just think he has it and will end up being a very good player for us.

Some people need to learn lessons from Lucas, again not saying he will be 3 time world player of the year but I think we need to be patient and give him time and certainly not write him off like some are doing.

I agree mate, I think time will tell, I would really love to see him turn out to be like Lucas in 3 years, I don't think anyone would complain!

Adryan, Gerrard was class act though, from the moment he scored his first goal, his formed dropped in his early years because of his injury problems he had (back injuries, growth injuries), but when he played he looked class.

Always have and always will defend this lad.

Think he is a class act. His youth means he gets it wrong some of the time, but he's far from awful. Will be one of the best midfielders in England when he hits his peak.