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Jordan Henderson (signed for Brentford)

Mowgli said:
Milner has faded but you still regard him as a no brainer?

People don't have a crystal ball
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I think Milner was still able to play competitively in the PL until he was about 37.

Welbeck and Vardy have been similar.

It's very difficult to predict for players that have been playing internationally.
 

The Beautiful Game said:
I have to say, his doubling down on his motives for moving did him no favours. His move was clearly motivated by money, not politics. And while he probably underestimated the blowback—especially given his previous support for LGBTQ+ causes—it doesn’t make him an agent of the regime. He’s not out there promoting it. He played football there. It’s a grey area, but it’s not the same as being part of sportswashing.

Off the bat, I think there’s a huge difference between moving to a Saudi club and supporting the regime behind the PIF that owns the club. I know plenty of lads who work over there, they aren’t supporting the regime, they’re just doing a job. Henderson didn’t sign for a PIF-owned club. Al-Ettifaq is privately owned. Yes, it’s still in Saudi Arabia, which has laws and cultural norms that many of us would consider repressive, especially towards women and LGBTQ+ people. But the club itself isn’t an arm of the regime in the way Newcastle United is directly tied to the Saudi state.

I’m hoping he’ll realise he’s made a mistake and acknowledge it but he’s failed to do so in the past. That said, I think it was a lapse in judgement which he corrected in a few months. People make mistakes in life, I don’t think it should condemn them for good. In this case, I certainly wouldn’t extrapolate Henderson’s mistakes onto SAFC.

From a footballing perspective, he’s a player who’s never relied on pace. He’s an intelligent player, knows the league, won everything there is to win domestically, loves the club. Who wouldn’t want someone like that in the dressing room? I’m annoyed at him for his decisions and tarnishing this link, but I think he’d be a huge asset.
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See I don’t think there is a difference. I don’t think it was a lapse of judgement. He knew what he was doing when he signed for a Saudi Club. It was his choice, his decision.

It’s sad because he was so brill, championing LGBT rights groups, and kids poverty.,

Then he went to a country that would dismiss those rights in a heartbeat.
 
MarcoG said:
He doesn't do that though. He's never really done that. His phsyicality has always been his main way of playing to his best level. It's hardly a surprise he played for Liverpool and was a key player for Klopp in that era where they pressed like crazy. You could use him as the deepest midfielder in that team because as a unit they'd all be flying about up the pitch trying to press the other team into a mistake with a really high defensive line, even then Klopp still went to Fabinho as the sitter and moved Henderson higher up the pitch when he could. At 35 he's not suddenly going to be able change his game that drastically to now become composed enough not to want to press. Similarish to when we signed Leadbitter (obviously Henderson's miles better, not comparing their ability) and he was supposed to sit, he couldn't do it. Just wasn't his game.

We'd be far better off with a mobile ball winner, someone in the mould of Joao Palhinha than we would be Henderson. Our midfield already lacks physicality so if you take Bellingham out and put in a 35 year old who's legs started going a few years ago then it's not gonna be great. People just keep blindly screaming EXPERIENCE for whatever reason like it makes it an amazing signing. Quite literally thousands of players we could sign with experience and a decent chunk will be a better fit.
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Physicality has never been a huge part of his game. He isn't a great tackler and he has never been great in the air. He does have great stamina and can get about the pitch to close down. He's a model pro so I can't see him having an issue doing that.

His game has always been based on passing. He has a superb touch, is a brilliant short and long passer and as I first noticed at Sunderland he has time. He buys time by using small feigns to unbalance defenders so they can't easily close him down.

Pace isn't really part of his game either. He could certainly sit in the quarter back role and spray the ball about and use his experience and positioning to pick the ball off.

I do agree we need more physically, ball winning and aerial ability in the side. I'd be in for 6'1" Rudoni for that.
 
Fact Hunt said:
What about Israel’s actions in Gaza? If you dared go there then I suspect you’d be more likely be strung-up by the IDF than the people of Gaza.

What a strange bloke you are, Chewit.
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Well clearly from a different planet to you my friend.
Firstly let’s just fact check. You are aware that many queer groups have come out in support of a Hamas led Palastine on the war v Israel?

If so you therefore get irony of the same groups cancelling Jordan because of the Saudi approach to LGBTQ groups, would then support an official terrorist organisation that would deny them any rights at all.

Hypocrisy i am sure you agree. There are LGBTQ people living amongst the poor people of Gaza now but they wouldn’t dare admit to it.

As far as the point I was making goes, I don’t see what it has to do with Israel,
a place where LGBTQ are accepted as part of society.

Let’s not go down a mine on Israel v Gaza it’s horrific and there is clearly evil on both sides, but it’s not part of my point at all.

Finally to pick you up on your point, I would trust the normal people of both Gaza and Israel before the people who lead them.

Please stay on your planet

​

Keith S30S said:
Physicality has never been a huge part of his game. He isn't a great tackler and he has never been great in the air. He does have great stamina and can get about the pitch to close down. He's a model pro so I can't see him having an issue doing that.

His game has always been based on passing. He has a superb touch, is brilliant short and long passer and as I first noticed at Sunderland he has time. He buys time by using small feigns to unbalance defenders so they can't easily close him down.

Pace isn't really part of his game either. He could certainly sit in the quarter back role and spray the ball about and use his experience and positioning to pick the ball off.

I do agree we need more physically, ball winning and aerial ability in the side. I'd be in for 6'1" Rudoni for that.
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Rudoni looks some player, but surely we have to get some real top level experience in.
 
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Morse said:
Not at all. After his abusive posts I'm entitled to have a go back. Why are yoy defending him?

I'm completely baffled as to why you'd dig that up and have a go at me. Did the disgusting insults and provocation he threw at me pass you by?

If people are going to cause trouble and wind people up, I think people are entitled to call them out. I don't start with ad hominem, but I'm human and have a threshold...

Did you call the other poster out for his comments?

Edit: Sorry, yes you did call him out. My apologies! :oops:
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Mate,

They weren't your words, absolutely not. Apologies if you thought they were.... my comment was aimed at @Birtley Lad

The quote I put up was one made by @Birtley Lad , Post #213 on the thread:

Could the UK ever go the same way as the US?​


Hope that clarifies it 👍
 
janey said:
See I don’t think there is a difference. I don’t think it was a lapse of judgement. He knew what he was doing when he signed for a Saudi Club. It was his choice, his decision.

It’s sad because he was so brill, championing LGBT rights groups, and kids poverty.,

Then he went to a country that would dismiss those rights in a heartbeat.
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I do get it, particularly as you say given his involvement with the rainbow laces campaign, but I think there’s a difference between working in a country with some backwards laws and supporting the regime.

Like I said, I know people who work out there for the ludicrous money on offer. They don’t agree with the laws and customs of the country they work in.

Same with people going on holiday to Dubai etc. Working in or visiting a country isn’t acceptance or promotion of its beliefs and customs. I honestly think if PIF hadnt bought Newcastle, this wouldn’t be as big a scandal.

He’s a hypocrite. He’s put money above his principles. Then he doubled down and tried to protect his image and failed. I don’t think he’s a bad person though. I think his values are still the same as they always were. His priorities were a surprise though. The reason I call it a lapse of judgement is because he left so quickly. I think it finally sank in and he ended up leaving a lot of that money on the table. I’d like to hope that was because he came to his senses.
 
People need to get over this "Henderson got paid money to play in Saudi Arabia". Are you gonna check if all your plastic products contain any derivatives of Saudi oil? Are you gonna check if your flight flying to Alicante contains any imported Saudi oil? The UAE is not much different. Are people gonna refuse to sit next to someone who's been on holiday to Dubai next?

What a load of woke wetwipes.
 
Im wrang oni said:
Bottom line on this is if someone said Sunderland have the chance to bring in a 35 year old current England international who has captained his club team to winning both the EPL and ECL who is also a Sunderland supporter, 99% would say sign him up.
It's only because it's Henderson and his dubious Saudi decision that brings any doubt. He's made a bad judgement which happens. In the context that he wasn't and still isn't the only high profile player to make that decision.
There's nothing to suggest his character would be disruptive towards the current culture in any way. Indeed there are no footballing reason why he wouldn't be an ideal signing.
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If the Saudi’s didn’t own the mags, there would be zero (absolutely nowt) said by the vast majority of Sunderland fans. (Some have painted themselves into a corner on the subject)…… not all, but most
 
hls said:
So when are the mags gonna be forgiven?
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He left all the money in the desert mate if reports are true he didn’t get a penny in the end. These two thing ain’t even remotely the same, ones a state owned run football club with fans wearing towels and calling themselves the Saudi boys the others one player who rectified his mistake pretty quickly. Why people keep linking the two I’ll never know.
 
Mackemansj1 said:
He left all the money in the desert mate if reports are true he didn’t get a penny in the end. These two thing ain’t even remotely the same, ones a state owned run football club with fans wearing towels and calling themselves the Saudi boys the others one player who rectified his mistake pretty quickly. Why people keep linking the two I’ll never know.
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You do know, whether it’s right is another point.
 
BallardsBonce said:
If the Saudi’s didn’t own the mags, there would be zero (absolutely nowt) said by the vast majority of Sunderland fans. (Some have painted themselves into a corner on the subject)…… not all, but most
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Our assistant manager used to work in Saudi Arabia. People will want him out soon
 
Locke's SAFC said:
The second point is correct. Henderson does in fact have the money to not need to go to Saudi.

The main point is bollocks, however. Nobody on this board gives the first fuck about what happens in Saudi. FACTNESS!

All of these virtue signallers on this board would have been in Saudi for about 500 quid a week man. FACTNESS, NO QUESTIONS ASKED!

The absolute state. You people really think you're kidding everyone with your bullshit.
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Signing the type of player (experienced midfielder who can play a deeper role) who has an afinity with the club and area is what we should be doing if the finances are right.

He's made a mistake and looked like a hypocrite over a failed Saudi move.
 
Sunderlandellight said:
People need to get over this "Henderson got paid money to play in Saudi Arabia". Are you gonna check if all your plastic products contain any derivatives of Saudi oil? Are you gonna check if your flight flying to Alicante contains any imported Saudi oil? The UAE is not much different. Are people gonna refuse to sit next to someone who's been on holiday to Dubai next?

What a load of woke wetwipes.
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Didn’t he waive his Saudi contract after realising he’d ballsed up
 
Mackemansj1 said:
He left all the money in the desert mate if reports are true he didn’t get a penny in the end. These two thing ain’t even remotely the same, ones a state owned run football club with fans wearing towels and calling themselves the Saudi boys the others one player who rectified his mistake pretty quickly. Why people keep linking the two I’ll never know.
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Exactly, and to be honest irrespective of the country in question no club should be owned by one. Imagine trump buying Liverpool for America with all this extra tarif revenue. 😂 Thinking about it who knows, a quick meeting with starmer to put some pressure on the government and the FA then do the deal. It worked for Johnson’s oil deal.
 
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