A steady debut


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Not really. Did Capello pick him thinking he was getting Cattermole? I actually think that Capello decided on a new system then tried to wedge players into it. If Henderson played any role in that system, it had to be somewhere in behind the front man.
Just mentioned this on another thread, but I presumed he was a meant to be more deep lying playmaker (straight from Football Manager) rather than a Cattermole type player. However having this type player and then playing direct long ball football makes this role redundant straight away.

I would be interested to see how many completed passes in a row we made last night compared to France and our average completed passes in a row compared to France.

Felt sorry for Henderson. I thought he played one of the better most creative balls when he split the french defence and played someone in. When Gerrard fecked off Henderson played further up the pitch more inline with where he plays for Sunderland and saw alot more of the ball.

Fuck I'm pissed off with England and the press today.
 
I don't want to read any press today because i know Henderson will be slaughtered.

My assessment of it last night:

He looked out of his depth at times, but still showed a confidence to want the football. Unfortuantely, as a team, England didn't keep the ball well enough and resorted to humping balls up top to Carroll who will no doubt be praised by all and sundry today because we have to kid ourselves that picking a big lump upfront is the way forward...or backwards, depending on your view of things.

Henderson rarely gave away possession, although he did keep it a bit too 'debut simple' for me and times, but that will come with games and confidence.

Like others have said, he looked much better when he got himself forward and that pass through to Milner (who should have burried it) was one of the best things to happen in England's final third.

The whole England performance was shocking - it was the international equivalent of watching Stoke (if only Rory Delap was English). Henderson was not the only one chasing shadows in the midfield, Barry was three yards off the pace, Gerrard let his man run for the second goal and spent most of the first half chasing the game, Milner constantly left the inexperienced Gibbs exposed; but it's easier to blame the new boys coming in than to look (once more) at the glaring problems in our national side.

And one last thing.....do they just decide that 'Stevie G' is MOTM before they even kick off??!?
 
I don't want to read any press today because i know Henderson will be slaughtered.

My assessment of it last night:

He looked out of his depth at times, but still showed a confidence to want the football. Unfortuantely, as a team, England didn't keep the ball well enough and resorted to humping balls up top to Carroll who will no doubt be praised by all and sundry today because we have to kid ourselves that picking a big lump upfront is the way forward...or backwards, depending on your view of things.

Henderson rarely gave away possession, although he did keep it a bit too 'debut simple' for me and times, but that will come with games and confidence.

Like others have said, he looked much better when he got himself forward and that pass through to Milner (who should have burried it) was one of the best things to happen in England's final third.

The whole England performance was shocking - it was the international equivalent of watching Stoke (if only Rory Delap was English). Henderson was not the only one chasing shadows in the midfield, Barry was three yards off the pace, Gerrard let his man run for the second goal and spent most of the first half chasing the game, Milner constantly left the inexperienced Gibbs exposed; but it's easier to blame the new boys coming in than to look (once more) at the glaring problems in our national side.

And one last thing.....do they just decide that 'Stevie G' is MOTM before they even kick off??!?

I think the media have been fair. England were poor, Hendo was anonymous (which is a cardinal sin for a midfield player) and Gerrard was our best player. Hendo has potential in the Sunderland side no way is he good enough for England yet.
 
I cannot think of ANY English midfield that the French team wouldn't have outpassed last night. It could have been Arsenal v Stoke we were watching.

It is laughable that any journalist would suggest we were outplayed in midfield cos of one player though, if you are going to blame one player for losing the midfield it has to be the experienced one, not debut boy.
 
How can people refuse to see that he was poor last night?

He was, and so was the rest of the team. On his side he has the fact that he is young, making his debut against a good French team and also the fact Postman fuckingnotactics Pat played him as some kind of defensive midfielder!?!?!

He looked lost, and tired, after about 5 minutes. Fair play to the lad he stuck at it and got a little better later on with a few decent passes and also quite a few times the more senior players decided not to give him an easy pass and elected for something more spectacular to a player heavily marked and we ended losing the ball.

Bit of a let down on all accounts to be fair, but it's not totally Hendersons fault at all.

4/10 - looked slow, knackered and lost.
 
I think the media have been fair. England were poor, Hendo was anonymous (which is a cardinal sin for a midfield player) and Gerrard was our best player. Hendo has potential in the Sunderland side no way is he good enough for England yet.

I certainly dont think the media snippets posted on this thread have been fair - especially the one saying that the French targeted Henderson's area of the pitch, becasue that simply isn't true.

But like i said, it's easier to blame the new lads coming in than to address the fact that actually none of our players are up to competing against the top international sides.

What did Gerrard do last night? Honestly i'm desparate to know. Because in the game i watched, he spent most of the first half running around like a headless chicken whilst squandering possession regularly because of his inability to pass a football less than 40 yards.
 
I think the media have been fair. England were poor, Hendo was anonymous (which is a cardinal sin for a midfield player) and Gerrard was our best player. Hendo has potential in the Sunderland side no way is he good enough for England yet.
Not all his fault, numerous times he was in space calling for the ball but the England players preferred the Hollywood ball, or direct ball missing out the midfield.
 
I cannot think of ANY English midfield that the French team wouldn't have outpassed last night. It could have been Arsenal v Stoke we were watching.

It is laughable that any journalist would suggest we were outplayed in midfield cos of one player though, if you are going to blame one player for losing the midfield it has to be the experienced one, not debut boy.

Doubt it. Stoke know how to get the best out of 'straightforward' football.

Henderson was steady-away - decent enough for a debut. As we listen to the wailing from the press regarding Englands inability to keep the ball and back themselves in tight situations, I find it interesting that the only player in Englands midfield who was able to retain posession consistently - also the only one fluent in one and two touch football - is the young debutant who they are currently writing off. I, too, would love to find the individual stats for last nights game. Some of these lazy, know-nothing commentators could do with re-educating.
 
Head in the sand. Very very poor, and that's being kind. The only mitigating factor was the quality of the opposition.

The good news is that every Premiership manager will have seen that so he will be staying

Totally agree. Poor performance more back passes, litlle vision and by-passed for a lot of the time.

£20.0m? I wish!
 
Not all his fault, numerous times he was in space calling for the ball but the England players preferred the Hollywood ball, or direct ball missing out the midfield.

Completely. If the golden generation don't trust themselves to pass and control a ball if the opposition are within 10 feet, that is their weakness. The French certainly weren't afraid of doing so.
 
Some good points.

Another thing I've pondered is that Henderson would be suited to play in a continental league as he's good at keeping possession until he can play a constructive pass. Doesn't seem to get flustered.
 
How can people refuse to see that he was poor last night?

He was, and so was the rest of the team. On his side he has the fact that he is young, making his debut against a good French team and also the fact Postman fuckingnotactics Pat played him as some kind of defensive midfielder!?!?!

He looked lost, and tired, after about 5 minutes. Fair play to the lad he stuck at it and got a little better later on with a few decent passes and also quite a few times the more senior players decided not to give him an easy pass and elected for something more spectacular to a player heavily marked and we ended losing the ball.

Bit of a let down on all accounts to be fair, but it's not totally Hendersons fault at all.

4/10 - looked slow, knackered and lost.

Maybe a tad harsh, but it would be around about that mark for me aswell....

However, i would also give

Barry - 2/10...... looked slow, knackered and lost and never touched the ball...... not even once.
Gerrard - 5/10...... what did he do??? and it was his man that set up the second goal according to the footballing guru Danny Murphy, so there.
Milner - 4/10... worked hard but ultimately shit
Walcott 1/10.... only realised he was on when he got taken off.

So all in all, it was a pretty solid debut given the context.

What pisses me off with the journos is there is a clamor frnw blood to brought through and as soon as it is, after 90 mins of football they then all say....."he's shit him like"....... talk about fickle... i thought these people were experts?
 
Maybe a tad harsh, but it would be around about that mark for me aswell....

However, i would also give

Barry - 2/10...... looked slow, knackered and lost and never touched the ball...... not even once.
Gerrard - 5/10...... what did he do??? and it was his man that set up the second goal according to the footballing guru Danny Murphy, so there.
Milner - 4/10... worked hard but ultimately shit
Walcott 1/10.... only realised he was on when he got taken off.

So all in all, it was a pretty solid debut given the context.

Yep might seem harsh, but the others would all be around the same mark, some lower.

If Capello is going to bring in some youth then at least give them a game in their proper positions and not against a team the calbre of fricken France.

They were all piss poor and nobody seemed to have any idea on what they were 'sposed to be doing out there.
 
I couldnt hear the comments after the game but this morning im quite suprised that Henderson is getting stick?
The consensus in the pub was when Barry went off Henderson alongside Gerrard played much better.
Carrol did ok while he was on but didnt get a lot of service.
Both have a lot to offer but they need time.
As for England IMO it showed a number of things, Cappello doesnt understand English football and we should be rid ASAP. Lescott isnt any good at this level. Barry shouldnt play for England again as hes awful. Walcott shouldnt start in front of Johnson. Ashley Young should start as he looks like he belongs. Milner and Gerrard should be our centre midfield pairing. Crouch should start his record for England makes it so.
And most of all the players should be fined if they lump the ball forward aimlessly!!!
Well done Henderson tho he has a bright future :)
 
Could have had Messi and Zidane making their debuts and they would have struggled in that midfield.

As soon as we play half decent opposition we resort to hoofing it. The players aren't comfortable in possession and never will be.

Capello may as well have done with it and play Crouch and Carroll up front with a striker running off them. Dispense with any notion that we can play football and resort to what we do best - hoofing to the big man.
 
Could have had Messi and Zidane making their debuts and they would have struggled in that midfield.

As soon as we play half decent opposition we resort to hoofing it. The players aren't comfortable in possession and never will be.

Capello may as well have done with it and play Crouch and Carroll up front with a striker running off them. Dispense with any notion that we can play football and resort to what we do best - hoofing to the big man.


That's how we used to play back in the 70s and we never qualified for anything back then.

I thought Henderson didn't disgrace himself last night.
 
Haway lads, red and white glasses to one side, the media are generally right here, he was chasing shadows for most of the game.
I would be amazed if he gets in the next squad, whenever that is.
The caveat for this is that I really don't care about FAFC so as long as he is fit, I am happy.
 
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