Be Brave Blackwell - Drop Henderson

[Fiery Blade]

Blackwell should now stand up and be counted - on Tuesday drop Henderson and change the way we play!

 

[Micalijo]

Very difficult to play differently with Monty in the middle.

Lack of goals from Daz now beyind a joke. I agree with you and wish we could change but it aint gonna happen.

 

[Sensiblade]

Blackwell should now stand up and be counted - on Tuesday drop Henderson and change the way we play!

And who out of our massive choice of Evans and errr, umm, err 'No One Else at the moment' would you put in in Henderson's place?

 

[Foxy]

Henderson isn't the problem when the rest of the team don't stand up and be counted.

Back to Monty, tell me who put more in and did more to try and drive us forward today?

The two players picked out weren't by any stretch the worst in our team today.

 

[Muttley]

I think it's tactics that need to change. We have to play Hendo and Ched....as there is no bugger else! (very bad planning!). It's looking like Treacey is crocked now.
What are they thinking? That we can scrape promotion without any injuries or suspensions? The lack of serious cover is unforgiveable!

 

[Stan]

Henderson isn't the problem when the rest of the team don't stand up and be counted.

Back to Monty, tell me who put more in and did more to try and drive us forward today?

The two players picked out weren't by any stretch the worst in our team today.

But somebody's got to be skapegoat !

 

[Micalijo]

Monty is outsanding every time I see him - but we will never be a passing side which is what I assume Fiery is on about if he is in a 4 man midfield.

I am not at all saying Monty is a bad player.

 

[Sensiblade]

But somebody's got to be skapegoat !

I'd blame Carney then

 

[Bladesman]

Henderson is the problem when all you see and hear is "foul by Henderson" "Shirt pulled by Henderson" "Another free kick coneceded by Henderson" and sometimes if we are lucky we get to hear "offside Henderson".

Mind you we cant drop him because we have nowt to replace him with.

To think 12 months ago we had far too many strikers and now we havnt got enough!

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

Henderson isn't the problem when the rest of the team don't stand up and be counted.

Back to Monty, tell me who put more in and did more to try and drive us forward today?

The two players picked out weren't by any stretch the worst in our team today.

the only way Hendo can be blamed for the match today is if he kept giving the ball to the opposition when our midfield had committed themselves.
While possible it would be highly unlikely as he holds up the ball excellently week in week out.
I would suspect that we would better looking at the support he got from the attacking midfielder who played today.

When we play 4-5-1 you can't blame the forward if the ball is knocked upto him a no one is breaking past him or leaving a 20 yard gap back to them.
What is he supposed to do?

I will hold judgement until I see extended highlights but if I was a betting man I'd say go with the 2nd scenario being more likely.

Hendo ain't the prettiest but he does a job, and as much as it confuses some of you his jobs isn't to score all the goals.



EDIT: Bladesman, we had plenty of strikers, none of them good enough (if you aren't including BT) none of whom I wish were still here.

 

[Foxy]

Henderson is the problem when all you see and hear is "foul by Henderson" "Shirt pulled by Henderson" "Another free kick coneceded by Henderson" and sometimes if we are lucky we get to hear "offside Henderson".

It's a problem, because he's targetted by refs.

90% of fouls conceeded by him again today, were not fouls. Even if they were, again it was one rule for one and one rule for Hendo.

Mind you we cant drop him because we have nowt to replace him with.

One of my points exactly.

 

[Bladesman]

It's a problem, because he's targetted by refs.

90% of fouls conceeded by him again today, were not fouls. Even if they were, again it was one rule for one and one rule for Hendo.



One of my points exactly.

Just so happens to be every ref every match every game.

You know what? He should make a complaint to the FA.

 

[Come from away]

We will be more effective with two wingers on the field, Quinn just can't do that job. See what happens Tuesday.

 

[Large Mendonca]

Henderson is the problem when all you see and hear is "foul by Henderson" "Shirt pulled by Henderson" "Another free kick coneceded by Henderson" and sometimes if we are lucky we get to hear "offside Henderson".

Mind you we cant drop him because we have nowt to replace him with.

To think 12 months ago we had far too many strikers and now we havnt got enough!

Bang on. Rightly or wrongly we give possession away too many times with the "Henderson fouls" - it needs to get sorted either way because it breaks down our play in good areas far too much.

Personally i think Hendo gets singled out and the infingements do seem harsh, but Blackwell has to take this on board and sort it out.

 

[Foxy]

Just so happens to be every ref every match every game.

You know what? He should make a complaint to the FA.

Perhaps so, did you think he got treat fairly and constantly today?

I can't believe he stays as patient as he does, i'd probably get myself sent off if I was in his position for bollocking the ref.

 

[Bladesman]

Perhaps so, did you think he got treat fairly and constantly today?

I can't believe he stays as patient as he does, i'd probably get myself sent off if I was in his position for bollocking the ref.

Probably not but we knew he had a reputation when we pissed a cool £2mil on him.

Yet its saint Hendo now he is wearing red and white when back in his Gillingham/Watford days when he spent most of the time elbowing the likes of Page and Morgan in the face Id imagine most of us were calling him a dirty bastard back then.

Anyway perhaps he has tried to change the way he plays but he has built a reputation over the years that clearly has meant his card is marked with most if not every ref.

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

Said it before and as others have said, Henderson is the problem. I've no problem particularly with the guy, he has his plus points and he does his job pretty well, unfortunately, this is not a job that should be required. Add to that the lack of goals and assists and the arguments to persist with him are difficult to agree with.

Blackie said yesterday that his 'dream' is to have a team capable of playing it long, short, pretty, hard in other words have the ability to play all styles whenever the situation calls. Unfortunately, when Hendo is in the team, we resort to plan A 95% of the time. There's no point in having 2 wingers, a fluid 4-3-3 system, a £3M striker, if all we're going to do is lump it to Hendo when, invariably, either the ball isn't good enough or a foul (rightly or wrongly) will be given against him.

The last few games apart, the defence has looked solid, with Monty in front of them and Harper getting forward, a combination of wingers either side, we have a decent looking 9 there for this division and whilst the jury is out on Ched, he has looked to have decent movement and ability which will improve given a run of games. So to me, the key is getting someone else in Hendo's position, Wardy to run them ragged giving space for others, maybe Camara. At the moment we are predictable and the same old problems are here in that we may get away with it away, but are struggling to impose ourselves and easy to defend against at the Lane.

I appreciate options are limited at the moment and I can't see Blackie dropping 'the best striker in the division' but I can't see things changing until he does. The argument is that we have accumulated plenty of points under Blackwell, fair enough but can anyone see us doing anything different to last season where we will be OK but not good enough at the end of the day ?

 

[Micalijo]

Correct Jim, I'd like to see us try obviously, otherwise we might as well pack in and become a fully blown property development company, but there is no way we can win at Wembley in likely hot conditions without any hope of retaining possession.

Is there any chance of Evans and Ward becoming a front 2? I personally can't see it, plus the side is very small with no Henderson.

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

Is there any chance of Evans and Ward becoming a front 2? I personally can't see it, plus the side is very small with no Henderson.

As I say, I'd love to see Wardy and Evans but it isn't going to happen. Of course we need a big man to play Blackie's style, my argument needs a change of approach. Blackie seems to be halfway there bringing in wingers but what's the point if we're going to lump it ? We have passed it around at times this season and looked good so we know we can do it.

 

[Fiery Blade]

Blackwell has nailed his colours firmly to the mast with his unadulterated praise of Henderson but I would like to see Ward (when fit) and Evans up front at home with Evans playing the lone striker away. With wingers in abundance we should murder the opposition. Keane and Defoe did ok on match of the day against Burnley where we failed in three matches last year with lumping up the middle!

 

[SwissBlade]

Henderson for me was always the wrong signing and 2mill was way over the top. Last season when he wasn't injured or suspended, he was great.

I actually think he does a good job and when the system works it usually means that Henderson is playing well. So it means that Henderson has to play 100% every game he plays.

I agree that we don't have a plan B when Henderson plays. But thats because he wins so much.

The system also relies on the wingers performing, funny how all the criticism is thrown at Bunn, Monty and Henderson, yet we all listened to the same commentary and Edwards picked out Cotterill as the player he wanted off!!!

Lets not make a scapegoat of every player that has a bad game or two, but if you really want to, then have a go at all that under perform!

 

[Muttley]

But thats because he wins so much......erm...does he?

Sounded like Cotts had a nightmare yesterday. My criticisms are at the lack of plan B, or even wanting to try one.

Big question tho. IF we play to our strengths at home, why change it away? It's still football, played on a grass pitch, a goal to score in and one to defend.
Same number of players...etc....

If the players ignore the fact that the opposition will have more fans there and get on with their paid jobs, then I don't see why we should have a different system for each.

 

[SwissBlade]

Big question tho. IF we play to our strengths at home, why change it away? It's still football, played on a grass pitch, a goal to score in and one to defend.
Same number of players...etc....

Teams play different when they come to the lane which allows us to play a more open game.

Then when we go to their place they play more open so we have to get tighter.

I was watching footy focus yesterday, apparently Burnley play the same at home and away. They have a cracking home record, but are getting turned over every other week away from home.

I'd just like to see us doing the simple things right in whatever system we play.

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

Big question tho. IF we play to our strengths at home, why change it away? It's still football, played on a grass pitch, a goal to score in and one to defend.
Same number of players...etc....

If the players ignore the fact that the opposition will have more fans there and get on with their paid jobs, then I don't see why we should have a different system for each.

Absolutely although again, Blackwell would say look at our results away from home and without checking, it wouldn't surprise me if we've got a better away record under Blackwell than at home.

We've just lost two away games againts Coventry and Swansea where we dominated for long periods, were sloppy and came away with 0 points. Blackie's tactics away from home are fine if you don't concede but we don't seem capable of taking the games to teams or sticking the knife in and taking advantage when we're on top.

As ever, the priority is not to lose first, win second and to me, Hendo is a negative striker choice if that makes sense !

 

[Fiery Blade]

With Henderson we can only play one way - Hoofball
As already stated Henderson is targetted by refs but he is not innocent all the time - he pulls and pushes leans and backs into defenders and his footballing ability is very, very limited.

 

[lenners]

With Henderson we can only play one way - Hoofball
As already stated Henderson is targetted by refs but he is not innocent all the time - he pulls and pushes leans and backs into defenders and his footballing ability is very, very limited.

Under Blackwell we can only play one way, the Blades Way, which means high tempo, getting it forward quickly, lots of pressure etc, etc.
It generally gets results when players are at it - and Ward was a great signing in that context.
And Henderson generally wins the ball and does a good job.
But for the life of me I can't see why we've spent good money on a bloke who simply doesn't seem to want to get stuck in.
He's playing like a bloke who really thinks he's made it and doesn't have to put the effort it - and that kind of attitude stinks and definitely isn't the Blades Way.
As for those who say he hasn't had the opportunity or isn't fit, fer crying out loud he's started plenty of games and if he isn't fit when he's aged 20 and trains every day he's got no chance.

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

Under Blackwell we can only play one way, the Blades Way, which means high tempo, getting it forward quickly, lots of pressure etc, etc.

You've long been an advocate of changing our approach Len yet you seem happy with Hendo and are scathing about Evans. You also seem to be agreeing that it's the system / tactics that's the problem. Are you saying this is the way it is, accept it and we shouldn't be going for the likes of Evans and stick with the Adebola types ?

To me, Blackwell seems stuck between the two, he wants to change the way we play but still plays players and tactics to suit his old ways.

 

[lenners]

You've long been an advocate of changing our approach Len yet you seem happy with Hendo and are scathing about Evans. You also seem to be agreeing that it's the system / tactics that's the problem. Are you saying this is the way it is, accept it and we shouldn't be going for the likes of Evans and stick with the Adebola types ?

To me, Blackwell seems stuck between the two, he wants to change the way we play but still plays players and tactics to suit his old ways.

I'm realistic that with Blackwell we will only play one way and it can be relatively successful with the right players.
I can't see why anyone would go for Evans, particularly a team with promotion pretensions.
And yes, Adebola would have been a better choice as back up to Henderson.
Ward, or someone like him if injured, is the man to play alongside Henderson or your Adebola-type - definitely not a billybigtime who can't be arsed to play the way we do.
It's about practicalities and management, being honest about what you're trying to achieve and how you're trying to do it.
If you're trying to be Stoke, then get the players. Have the guts to go for power and speed and do not spend millions on a player who has neither.

 

[ghandi]

Perhaps so, did you think he got treat fairly and constantly today?

I can't believe he stays as patient as he does, i'd probably get myself sent off if I was in his position for bollocking the ref.

I think he should get himself sent off for violent conduct that way he'll have to be replaced. Hendo's strike rate is worse than a soggy box of Swan Vestas. Also it might lead to a change of tactics from our OUF (one up front) management duo of a second rate keeper and a clogging centre half 2nd choice for the pigs.

 

[Fiery Blade]

I think he should get himself sent off for violent conduct that way he'll have to be replaced. Hendo's strike rate is worse than a soggy box of Swan Vestas. Also it might lead to a change of tactics from our OUF (one up front) management duo of a second rate keeper and a clogging centre half 2nd choice for the pigs.

At last ! A sane poster Well done that man:thumbup: