Didn't play his best game tonight but at least he had the balls to step up, why he did those keepie ups is anyone's guess since that helps literally no one. Glad it didn't matter in the end.
Jordan Henderson | New Athletic Interview: I strongly believe that me playing in Saudi Arabia is a positive thing
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Liverpool supporter at work told me today that he’s better than Iniesta ever was and will lead England to the World Cup. They really are a special breed.
Dont understand why he's on penalties, he never takes them for us and for good reason. Vardy should have been in his spot.
That said he's played his role brilliantly this tourmament.
That said he's played his role brilliantly this tourmament.
Ffs jesus, we're in this together, get behind them.
Yeah, he's not been bad. But he was a nervous wreck walking up the penalty spot. You could tell he'd miss it. Hope they don't get him to take another if there is one.
Soft twat fell down like a sack of spuds during the game and nervous wreck on the penalty. Liverpool’s Captain 
Yes, he shouldn't have taken it. Not his best trait. I really think any professional player will hit the top corner 9/10 on an empty stadium (some will do that with their eyes closed), so it's purely mental stuff. Which is a bad weakness to have for a captain.
Come on now, he's hard.
Love that.
I’ll never criticise a player for stepping up and taking a penalty, so credit to him for that. But I honestly don’t know what he brings to the team. I can’t think of a single player that could replace him though.
England’s big issue going into this tournament.
The only other option is Dier and he’s been awful when he’s played.
In fairness he is the only proper central midfielder in the team. He's been solid.
Henderson has been average this world cup, but he's doing his best and better than Dier who seems to have forgotten how to play as a midfielder and thinks he's a defender. He's there on merit.
It’s crazy. We don’t have an actual central midfielder to challenge him. It’s almost to our benefit though. He just does his job in the middle and in turn it allows us to actually play to our strengths supplying Kane, keeping the ball wide and stretching the pitch. I don’t think this team would benefit from having a midfield that would be expected to run the game. It’s all about playing from deep, providing width with the wing backs and overloading a side with The forwards.
Think he’s done quite well in a difficult role. No playmakers around him to give the ball to so he has to cover a load of ground and still find space himself. Has done well to break down some opposition attacks too by doubling up with the full backs.
Long live Hendo over Dier, blimey he's an accident waiting ti happen.
The Russian commentator (who was at the stadium, obviously, so saw more than us at the TVs) said before the shoot out that Vardy came to Southgate and it looked like he was declining/asking something. This was before the list of penalty takers was given — so it looks like he chickened out.
Back to the thread — he was so going to miss it. It was in his eyes.
If Vardy did do that as much as I dislike him it was the right thing to do by him .
It takes more to admit you don't want to take a pen because you don't feel confident than to step up to take it not wanting to be there .
Another poster mentioned that Vardy couldn’t run properly during the celebrations and was holding his groin. That might be why he ruled himself out.
He's played well and looked solid throughout, poor penalty but someone was always gonna miss.
I thought he took the penalty well, it was hard struck and in the corner, but the keeper guessed well and made a good save.
I kinda like him in midfield for England, he's a bit of a calming influence while Dele and Lingard run around a bit like lunatics trying to be more creative.
I kinda like him in midfield for England, he's a bit of a calming influence while Dele and Lingard run around a bit like lunatics trying to be more creative.
Henderson is one of those divisive players, when people are seriously arguing whether he's overrated or underrated. He doesn't do DM, nor the playmaker role. He does... his thing, I suppose. One of his key features is that it feels like he's everywhere.
Playing good for England so far. If England or Liverpool get the trophy he won't make the headlines, but for some reason a team without him looks a bit shaky.
Playing good for England so far. If England or Liverpool get the trophy he won't make the headlines, but for some reason a team without him looks a bit shaky.
Usually cant stand the sight of him in the England midfield but tonight I actually thought he was good.
His penalty was actually decent, Opsina made a great save.
I’m not his biggest fan, but thought he did well today. It was a bit weird seeing how nervous he looked when he was about to take the penalty, though, with him being our captain and all. Guess the weight of Englands expectations is heavy. That said, it wasn’t really a bad pen but more a great save.
He's a good footballer. Nothing truly special. But he's been our best midfielder so far and is providing a decent base for us.
He's benefited from us not playing against a top-drawer midfield yet though. The thought of him against Modric and friends is nightmarish.
One for the controversial opinions thread maybe, but he's probably as good as Darren Fletcher was. Solid at a bunch of things, spectacular at none. (Before anyone gets too heated, yes Fletcher looked world class in a fits and starts but I'm sure Liverpool fans would say the same about Henderson)
He's benefited from us not playing against a top-drawer midfield yet though. The thought of him against Modric and friends is nightmarish.
One for the controversial opinions thread maybe, but he's probably as good as Darren Fletcher was. Solid at a bunch of things, spectacular at none. (Before anyone gets too heated, yes Fletcher looked world class in a fits and starts but I'm sure Liverpool fans would say the same about Henderson)
He's hard and does keepie uppie, it's Jordan Henderson.
He kicks hard and fails at penalty, it's Jordan Henderson.
He kicks hard and fails at penalty, it's Jordan Henderson.
Can't fault him even if he missed the penalty, to step up at the World Cup is a big test of character.
I did feel before the equaliser he was starting to hoof it a bit too much though, but Colombia were pressuring him well at that point so it wasn't easy for him, especially not with Dier stinking up the place.
I did feel before the equaliser he was starting to hoof it a bit too much though, but Colombia were pressuring him well at that point so it wasn't easy for him, especially not with Dier stinking up the place.
Totally agree and it's that reason I've got massive respect for his and Walker's performances this tournament.
Say what you want about their individual quality but their roles are virtually thankless tasks.
Henderson is literally a one man midfield ffs. Lingard, Ali and Sterling ahead of him. None of them are natural possession or dictating players which means Henderson's job is to be the first option for defence (where he's under pressure in midfield) and then to turn, supply AND cover those in front of him.
A 'lesser' player would be happy to recycle possession and just sweep up play but he's been up and down, taking the ball in awkward positions and facilitating play. Same can be said of Walker, he's being very brave to actually try and play football as the third centre back, a position he's not that familar with.
Southgate and the players can take big credit for this mentality.
Trust me, I'm the first person to criticise Henderson throughout the season, but I have to admit he's doing a good job for England.
Definitely not letting us down and putting in some solid displays. Feels weird to say that.
Definitely not letting us down and putting in some solid displays. Feels weird to say that.
I'd argue strongly against the bold. He's the most defensive in a 5 man midfield. He has bags of support. That's why it's working.
We're effectively spending most of the game(s) playing 3-3-3-1. He's never isolated.
I agree with the final point. Southgate has got the first 11 set up very well. I've seen far better England sides but I've not seen one that's better set up that seems to know its game plan.
I’m not his biggest fan in a holding midfield role which is why I’m relieved that we’ve signed Fabinho. I’ve always felt that his best football came in 13/14 when he was playing as the most advanced player in a midfield three.
That being said, I think he’s done well for England in this tournament. I’m not sure there’s another English midfielder who could’ve played in that role as well as he has.
I've never watched him in a Liverpool shirt aside from against United. I don't rate him very highly, but he's organised. The simple work is done well and he seems to be able to have a decent tactical head on his shoulders.
Southgate has done well to get 3 ball playing defenders behind him, and two tactically efficient wing backs alongside him. He's always got an outlet and he makes himself the outlet for others. He's putting a good shift in. Everyone always has a safe option available. (Though we're using it a little too often at times)
How much further we progress in this tournament will rely on how well we can keep that safety first attitude but also get Lingard, Alli & Sterling involved in the final third.
I'm tired of him, his reading of the games is not very good, even Walker is pissed off at him for blocking the path where he could pass out from the back. He doesn't know where he could exploit space so he just released a long ball quickly and pray that ball would do something so good. He'd be skinned out by the likes of Pogba, Modric, KDB and Coutinho and left him dead on the pitch.
He's the best of a bad crop of midfielders in the England set up.
I prefer him to Dier disappearing for 90 minutes, or Delph giving the ball immediately back to England's back three on the four occasions over the 90 minutes that they manage to play a pass out of defence.
At least Henderson tries to do the right things.
I prefer him to Dier disappearing for 90 minutes, or Delph giving the ball immediately back to England's back three on the four occasions over the 90 minutes that they manage to play a pass out of defence.
At least Henderson tries to do the right things.
Because he is a defender. Poch floats him around between defence and midfield where necessary.
The funny thing is when Liverpool fans unironically post this gif to show how hard he is as if Costa wouldn't tear him apart
Come on now, he's hard.
The funny thing is when Liverpool fans unironically post this gif to show how hard he is as if Costa wouldn't tear him apart
Would he though?
Costa acts tough and all, but he might be meek once someone doesn't back down.
Yeh. I'm actually impressed with the maturity in his play. He made the midfield ticking and solid, without the need of being flashy.
I think there are shortcomings in his game that stop him from being a top midfielder, but he does all the basics and goes through a lot of good work in a game and solves problems for his team mates. He is missing the last bit to be a positive solution for a team looking to score a goal, but there's no one else English who come close to doing the midfield job he does.