Hendo is the perfect example of fans using goals to solely define a forwards worth and lots are doing exactly the same with Ched.
My take on Hendo, and on strikers in general, brings this issue into play.
I will accept that goals are not the be all and end all of a forward's role. There are other things that forwards can do - most notably, bring other players into the game and lay on goals for their colleagues.
With that qualification, however:
(1) someone who scored less than, say, once every 5 games in a top 10 team better be bringing a lot to the table in terms of assists and approach play, or he should be left out for a more regular scorer; and
(2) Somebody has to score the goals. In this regard, I think that many people underrate players who "do nothing but score". Andy Gray was someone described like this. So was James Beattie (which was unfair in his case). I think this is because people have too high standards as a result of watching the PL and expect everyone to have a skill set like Wayne Rooney. In my book, if a player is putting the ball in the net regularly (ie anything over 15 goal a season pace), he's worth his place irrespective of what else he does.
I am of the school of thought that Hendo is a dirty player who deserves a good 75% or more of the fouls given against him (it is worthy of note, in this regard, that all 3 of his sendings off have been 100% justified) and doesn't help the team as much as some people maintain. He doesn't hold the ball up well with any regularity and his presence encourages the big hoof (admittedly that's not his fault personally). Given these views, I did not think he did well last year and there were times I would not have picked him. This year, though, he has put the ball in the net a lot more often in open play. I still think his game has flaws, but on the basis someone has to score, I'd have him in the team at present when not suspended.
Evans, on the other hand, neither scores or contributes in other meaningful ways. Waste of a place.
deary deary me
