Henderson at centre half?

[SUFC Handsworth]

Quite happy with the signing of Bent, experienced leader of the line, can knock in a few goals and has a good record at Championship level. I'm sure the two young loanees will help shore up the back line a little but there's still a big gaping hole at centre half.

I just wonder if Hendo when he is fit could be a success at centre half. He's good in the air, a physical presence who should be able to throw his weight about. It's been done before, poacher turned game keeper and I can't see Hendo and Benty being an effective front two.

If he's learnt owt from being a centre forward then all he has to do is foul and man handle the forward and the ref gives the free kick to the centre half, so he should be halfway there.

If they don't get a proper centre half in by the end of January, Adams could at least try Hendo as a cb in the reserves.

 

[Greavsy]

I don't think this would work to be honest mate. If he did get played there and Untied took an hiding Adams would get some right stick. I am sure a natural centre half is better than any make shift striker come centre back.

 

[Highbury_Blade]

The centre half position takes a specialist. Just chucking a big lad in there wouldn't necessarily work. It's a different skillset to that of a striker.

 

[boo radley]

The centre half position takes a specialist. Just chucking a big lad in there wouldn't necessarily work.

A little bit like Greg Halford then?

 

[Highbury_Blade]

Could do, but it probably wouldn't be ideal, just like it's not ideal that we've been playing Ertl there.

Off the top of my head, i can only name two players that could operate comfortably at centre back and striker, and that was Dion Dublin and Paul Warhurst (Obviously for warhurst i use 'comfortably' in the loosest possible sense ).

There are probably loads of others, but the they've usually been playing both positions throughout their careers. Chucking Hendo in there just because he's big wouldn't work in my opinion. I'm not aware of him having playing CB before.

 

[BerksBlade]

Gary Doherty & Chris Sutton also had a go at both positions IIRC.
Not sure I can see Hendo at CB though...

 

[Pinchy]

I remember reading somewhere, sometime that Hendo started his career as a centre-back!

 

[ListerBlade]

I remember Reading somewhere, sometime that Hendo started his career as a centre-back!

I thought that too

 

[travellingblade]

I thought that one of our current issues was the number of penalties we've conceded.

 

[Bladesway]

I remember reading somewhere, sometime that Hendo started his career as a centre-back!

So did I but it would be the worst idea ever. Round pegs and round holes is what we need now.

 

[Torrix1889]

Hendo will be lucky to play anywhere this season.

 

[SteelCity Blade]

It's an interesting thought and I'm sure with some sound instruction Hendo could make a reasonable auxiliary centre half, but it would be a waste of his abilities IMO.

Despite the stick he sometimes gets I rate him at this level and United look far more dangerous up top when he plays.

I would sooner see him playing up front with Bent, once he regains fitness. I could see them forming a decent partnership.

 

[parisblade]

Hendo will be lucky to play anywhere this season.

Does anyone have the latest on his return to fitness? Is he out for the season then?

 

[Revolution]

Does anyone have the latest on his return to fitness? Is he out for the season then?

And can anyone confirm that Ryan France, last seen in first team action in November 2009, is actually still alive?

 

[Grecian2000]

Ryan and Lord Lucan are training Shergar for his comeback race at this years Atlantis Gold Cup.

 

[S64 Blade]

Hendo gets sent off enough when playing up front. So playing centre half won't help the problem.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Quite happy with the signing of Bent, experienced leader of the line, can knock in a few goals and has a good record at Championship level. I'm sure the two young loanees will help shore up the back line a little but there's still a big gaping hole at centre half.

I just wonder if Hendo when he is fit could be a success at centre half. He's good in the air, a physical presence who should be able to throw his weight about. It's been done before, poacher turned game keeper and I can't see Hendo and Benty being an effective front two.

If he's learnt owt from being a centre forward then all he has to do is foul and man handle the forward and the ref gives the free kick to the centre half, so he should be halfway there.

If they don't get a proper centre half in by the end of January, Adams could at least try Hendo as a cb in the reserves.

How many penalties per game do you want to give away.

It would be difficult to even get a point when the other team score 15 every match.

 

[Torrix1889]

MA said his return wasn't imminant but that he was making progress....

 

[SwissBlade]

I'd love to see Hendo at CB, just to try it. He may even learn how to play his striking role better. As in how to not give away so many freekicks

He'd be no worse than Noz

 

[Grecian2000]

As in how to not give away so many freekicks

How many can we afford to give away on the edge of and inside our penalty area before this nugget would sink in?

 

[norfolkblade]

Gary Doherty & Chris Sutton also had a go at both positions IIRC.
Not sure I can see Hendo at CB though...

Sutton started as a defender, then realised he was probably better suited up top, I don't think Hendo would be smart enough to make the switch tbh, he's better throwing his weight about at the other end!

 

[SwissBlade]

How many can we afford to give away on the edge of and inside our penalty area before this nugget would sink in?

He'd learn very quickly in front of the Kop

 

[marko1889]

So did I but it would be the worst idea ever. Round pegs and round holes is what we need now.

kevin blackwell last words lol

 

[SUFC Handsworth]

Hopefully we will get a decent experienced centre half in by the end of January, but if they don't still big questions in the centre of defence for me. If that's the case there's nowt to lose giving Henderson a couple of games in the reserves at cb to see if he's got the apptitude for the position, especially as they now have another decent leader of the line in Bent. If he's no good in the position then they've not lost owt, if he takes to it then it's a bonus.

I'm sure I read a Henderson interview in the programme where he said he saw himself going back to centre back later in his career, perhaps that time is sooner than he thought.

As for other strikers turned defenders, I remember Alan Young doing it with some success in the early-mid 80s and I seem to recall Billy Whitehurst even turned his hand to centre half in one game and was ok. It was before my time but didn't United use John Tudor as centre half in emergencies? Albeit all of them only did so as stand ins.

 

[oaklandrdblade]

Garry Birtles (yes he who hates us) ended his career playing CH and did a decent job. More recently didn't Heskey end up that game playing at CH and doing a cracking job as I remember?

 

[Pinchy]

How many penalties per game do you want to give away.It would be difficult to even get a point when the other team score 15 every match.

Be fair Grumpy. Monty is doing his best but the lad needs some help!