Since arriving at Anfield in the summer of 2011 for a fee of around £16million, Jordan Henderson has been on a steady rise throughout his time at Liverpool, quickly becoming a solid member of Brendan Rodgers’ current side, and even staking his claim within the England national set-up in the run up to Euro 2016.
The former Sunderland man has subsequently been touted as a potential captain of future Liverpool teams, with some in the game even going as far as labeling the 24-year-old the ‘next Steven Gerrard.’
Within the context of such a claim, does the current Anfield midfielder really warrant such a lofty status, or has Jordan Henderson in-fact been just another in a long line of young English talents to simply receive too much hype in recent years?
Whatever your opinion on the no. 14, it must be conceded that the man from the North East has turned out to be a great deal better than what many within the footballing community initially deemed him to be. £16m certainly seemed like too much for a player that had barely achieved a thing in the Premier League, and had so far only displayed glimpses of what his overall game could offer.
Henderson has nonetheless proved that he is worthy of plying his trade in the English top-flight throughout the last few seasons, and definitely provides a positive force within Brendan Rodgers’ current side.
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However, none of this means that he is destined to become the next Steven Gerrard by any stretch of the imagination. Such claims seem to be born out of delusion rather than anything else. Yes – the romanticised idea of Gerrard being replaced by a young up-and-coming star currently in the same squad as the Liverpool legend would seem like the ideal situation, but if such claims are to be taken as truth, the future of this once successful football club will only continue to remain short of what Liverpool could ultimately be achieving.
Jordan Henderson simply doesn’t even come close to being the next Steven Gerrard in the grand scheme of things. Obviously scenarios such as this one are always subject to change, and of course, it is not impossible for the former Sunderland man to one day become an even better player, yet as things stand these bold statements are some way wide of the mark.
Gerrard possessed an ability that could see him get into any team in the world during his hey-day. His goal ratio from midfield was simply remarkable, he seemed to never lose control of the ball when the legendary Liverpool captain was at his best, and while that all important Premier League trophy nonetheless eluded the former England captain throughout his footballing life, his overall CV goes down as one of the best careers of his era.
The thought of Jordan Henderson starting for the likes of Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Real Madrid, and perhaps even Chelsea – with all due respect – would simply seem too out of place to be given any real consideration. For all his effort and admirable determination shown for Brendan Rodgers’ team this season, the 24-year-old simply will never reach the world class status that many expect him to if he carries on at his current rate of development.
Henderson may have proven to be a very good player this campaign, but in all honesty he just hasn’t been outstanding. He can certainly go on to achieve his own individual legacy at Anfield, but with all things considered, the current England international simply doesn’t warrant being labelled the ‘next Steven Gerrard.’
Away from such needless hype and media scrutiny however, and the former Sunderland man might just eventually prove his doubters wrong…
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It’s hard to sum up the general feeling around Elland Road at the minute. Worryingly, I can’t decide whether that’s due to the amount of different opinions flying around, or whether it’s simply a fact that there just isn’t much feeling at all.
Our fans are renowned for their passion and commitment to the cause. We wont ever give up a fight even when it seems like all is lost and we’ve been written off by the rest of the watching world. Being Leeds is more to people than just football, there’s a sense of a pride that surrounds the club, an aura, the mere fact that we are still scrapping away despite being down for the count numerous times over the last few years shows just how much belief, at times blind belief, we have.
Unfortunately, over time that belief has been tested and stretched to breaking point, and it appears that this time there is no quick fix. The club as a whole has lost that spark that has always been the difference between us and anybody else.
You can look at attendances as proof of this, but my worry goes deeper than that.
What reason do the younger generation have to support Leeds? In the past we’ve always been one of the bigger clubs, battling it out in the Premier League and in Europe with the elite teams from around the world, not only that, but we still had that spark that made us different from the rest.
When kids grow up, they look at their friends who all support the usual big teams, Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester City etc and have a decision to make. Most of them will just go with the popular choice at the time, but there are always a few that want something different.
That has always been our advantage.
No crowd roars like an Elland Road crowd. It amazes me watching fans from other teams celebrate when they score, barely even bothering to applaud. Any youngster that gets given a taste of Elland Road at its best wont ever look back.
But as it stands, they wont have that option. The passion is dwindling and for the first time in my existence I can see people starting to care less about what happens to their club. They’ve put that much effort in to sticking at it through low after low that it’s got to the point where they don’t have the energy for it anymore.
It pains me to say it, but we are slowly but surely turning into just another average football team. The difference between us and the other clubs now is disappearing. We are no longer a big draw in the Championship, teams don’t fear Leeds United anymore.
I don’t blame GFH for this, they’ve inherited a club on it’s knees and they’ve been making an effort to get the fans back. The transfer window closed last week and most rational thinking fans will understand that despite not spending endless amounts of money, we have improved the squad and we’re quite clearly happy to pay the wages of better quality players. I’ve no doubt that we’ll see what GFH are truly made of in the summer, but by then who knows what position we will be in.
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Leeds need their spark back. Our recent win over Tottenham in the cup was a timely reminder of just how things could be, a capacity crowd filled with pride and passion, the players working hard together and our name back in lights for all the right reasons.
This really could be the breaking point. If the next few months go well for us then there is still hope for our recovery, if they don’t, I fear that the damage may become permanent.
West Ham United are lining up a £4m move for Manchester United goalkeeper Sam Johnstone to solve their goalkeeping problems, as per the Mirror.
The 25-year-old Englishman has enjoyed an impressive season on loan at Aston Villa but has never played a Premier League match so it feels like the Hammers could set their sights higher.
What’s the story?
The report states that West Ham will send Joe Hart back to Manchester City this summer and want Johnstone, of their city rivals United to replace him on a permanent basis.
Johnstone’s United contract was recently extended via an automatic one-year clause, according to the report, which means that the Old Trafford club will be entitled to a fee for the English goalkeeper.
The stopper is valued at £2.25m by Transfermarkt but the report claims the Hammers are eyeing up a £4m swoop to convince Jose Mourinho to part with Johnstone.
West Ham can do better
There are some positives to signing Johnstone; he is young for a goalkeeper, he is English, he is hungry to prove himself, he has enjoyed a good season at Villa Park and £4m is cheap in the current market.
But the fact remains that he hasn’t made a Premier League appearance at the age of 25. He hasn’t experienced the scrutiny that comes with being a first-choice top flight goalkeeper and West Ham is a very tough place to learn your trade right now.
A more experienced goalkeeper is needed to inspire confidence behind a defence that has suffered badly with injuries and departures in recent months.
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West Ham fans want to see greater signs of ambition at their club and I don’t think that the signing of Johnstone will satisfy their fanbase, who are looking for heavy investment in experienced Premier League campaigners this summer.
As Will Hughes can find his teammates with pin-point accuracy, chase down the opposition with the utmost determination, and hold onto the ball as if it were seemingly stuck to his feet – sometimes it’s hard to remember that Derby’s young creative midfielder is actually English.
Very few of his Championship counter-parts are as technically gifted as the Surrey born 19-year-old, and even though Hughes remains very much a raw talent in need of further development, he is soon becoming known as one of England’s most exciting prospects in many a year.
Despite being strong favourites to land the fiery blonde haired midfielder last season, Liverpool have now seemingly cooled their interest in Hughes after the young talent signed a new four-year-deal with Derby over the summer. But will such developments ultimately end Brendan Rodgers’ desire to sign the Pride Park favourite, or does a lucrative move to Anfield still await Will Hughes this January?
With all the possession play, tight passing and free-flowing football that was produced by Rodgers’ side last season, it comes as no surprise that the Reds wanted to add Will Hughes to their already bulky roster. The 19-year-old would have certainly fitted in with the footballing philosophy that was aimed for by Suarez and co, even if the immediate step-up to the Premier League initially proved difficult for the Derby star.
Whilst such a move would have been ideal for Rodgers last season, this year’s campaign has seen Liverpool completely fail to reach the high standards that they set in 2013/14, and without the dpearted Luis Suarez and injured Daniel Sturridge, the Reds hardly look worthy of a place in the top half of the Premier League, let a lone a top four spot.
Such a poor turn in form has therefore likely not gone unnoticed by Will Hughes in his attempts to work out where best to play out his career. Liverpool have become slightly more direct with their new strikers on board, and as the Merseyside club are no strangers to signing promising young English talent for way over the odds, only to see them later fail as a result of their over ambitious spending, Will Hughes could have become one in a long line of young prospects who simply failed to make the grade at Anfield.
That is not to say that the Hughes would definitely struggle at Liverpool now however, among the likes the recently impressive Lazar Markovic and Philippe Coutinho, Hughes could in-fact still be the perfect fit for Rodgers’ should his time come in the Premier League.
Although the discussion remains no more than mere transfer talk at this current stage, Derby County’s desire to keep a hold of their latest sensation arrives in much more definitive terms. Upon Hughes signing his new deal in the summer, Rams boss Steve McClaren reflected: “He is a promising young talent and we are looking forward to working with him over the next few years.”
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Whilst such statements should never be taken for gospel and could literally change overnight, it seems that for the moment at least, Will Hughes remains very much a Derby County player, and should his side achieve promotion to the Premier League this season, this young star will likely be playing for the Rams, not the Reds.
Aston Villa’s Alan Hutton is closing in on a loan switch to La Liga outfit Real Mallorca, according to reports from Sky Sports.
The Scottish international is believed to be surplus to requirements under manager Paul Lambert, and has been loaned to Championship side Nottingham Forest this term.
This has led to speculation that he will be allowed to leave the club this month if he can find a willing suitor.
Real Mallorca are reportedly interested, and are keen to take him on a temporary basis with a view to a full transfer this summer.
Talks are at an advanced stage, with the Spaniards setting a deadline of early next week to have a deal tied up.
Hutton is open to the prospect of playing abroad and would relish the opportunity to play regular football at the highest level.
The 28-year-old started his career with Rangers, where he was dubbed as one of the rising stars of Scottish football.
Tottenham swooped for his signature in 2008, but he failed to match expectations at White Hart Lane.
He was loaned to Sunderland two years later, before completing a permanent switch to Premier League rivals Aston Villa in 2011.
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Despite his below par domestic form, he has won 28 caps at international level and is keen to remain a part of the Scottish international set-up.
As reported by Transfermarketweb.com, Liverpool are interested in signing Anderlecht midfielder Leander Dendoncker in the upcoming summer transfer window.
What’s the story?
With the future of Emre Can at Anfield very much in doubt, Jurgen Klopp is likely to be on the hunt for midfield talent from around Europe this summer in an effort to replace the German international’s contribution to his first team.
One name that is being linked with a move to Merseyside is Anderlecht midfielder Leander Dendoncker.
That’s according to Transfermarketweb.com, who say the player will be available for around £26.4m when the transfer window opens.
Is he the kind of player that can replace Can’s skills in the Reds’ engine room?
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Good enough for Liverpool?
Dendoncker was a star in the Anderlecht side that went all the way to the UEFA Europa League semi-finals last season but with that team almost unrecognisable from the current state of the Belgians, he’s failed to replicate that form this term.
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He struggled to make an impact in the UEFA Champions League group stages and for much of the season has been utilised at centre-back rather than midfield, perhaps making the skills he’d require at Liverpool a little bit rusty.
He is still young and learning and at 22 years of age has potential, but hasn’t done enough in an under-performing Anderlecht squad to prove he has enough about him to replace a player like Emre Can, especially with the reported fee going beyond £20m.
As the festive period fast approaches there is only one thing on the minds of football fans across Europe. Presents and turkey will of course have their role to play this December, but after Christmas ends and households throughout the nation are littered with wrapping paper and empty boxes, we at least have the January transfer window to look forward to.
Yes the winter window never really lives up to the transfer dealings that happen in the summer, and yes, players who sign in January usually under-perform, leaving managers and clubs wary of doing any business whatsoever during mid-season. But as is always the case in the modern world of football, Premier League clubs very rarely learn from their mistakes.
Take a look at the potential transfer bargains available this January, with a thought to which clubs need to do the most business throughout the window.
10. Ravel Morrison
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Once described by ex-Birmingham manager, Lee Clark, as the best English talent since Paul Gascoigne, Ravel Morrison’s brief career has so far been nothing short of controversial.
The ex-Manchester United starlet has so far been accused of two counts of witness intimidation as a juvenile, as well as a more recent accusation of assault on an ex-girlfriend. The latter case has subsequently been dropped, but along with several bust-ups with team mates (both on and off the pitch), Ravel Morrison has done little to help himself so far.
The 21-year-old is blessed with incredible talent however. He has a calmness on the ball that is more commonly found within players from the continent, and his ability to pick out a fine pass is second to none among the England U21 international set up.
Morrison’s contract is up in the summer, and with his time at West Ham seemingly coming to an end, former clubs that he spent time at on loan, QPR and Birmingham, may just decide that this once priceless asset may be worth it if he can finally get his head straight.
9. Fabian Delph
Aston Villa’s latest talent has certainly been turning heads recently in the Premier League. He has gained many admirers this season for his direct style of play, intense energy output, and impressive ability to score class goals.
Delph definitely needs to develop some consistency within his game, as he is still far from the finished article, but this 25-year-old nevertheless is a fairly exciting prospect.
After several impressive displays and the reward of a recent England call-up from Roy Hodgson, you would think that Villa would be doing everything they can to keep hold of the centre-midfielder. Things will not be so easy for Paul Lambert however, as with his side seemingly going nowhere in the league at the moment, Delph’s reluctance to sign a new contract doesn’t bode well for the Villains.
Everton and Liverpool have both expressed interest in Fabian Delph in recent weeks, so a move could well be on the cards for the midfielder if he continues to find his feet in the Premier League.
8. Adrien Rabiot
This young French midfielder may have the look of a new David Luiz, but since the arrival of Yohan Cabaye and the continued form of Blaise Matuidi and Marco Verratti, Adrien Rabiot has seen little time to express himself in PSG’s first team.
Rabiot has drawn praise from both Carlo Ancelotti and current boss Laurent Blanc for his composure on the ball and ability to break up play. He can offer a great deal to any team that is willing to give him the chance, but at the young age of 19-years-old, Rabiot is hardly a big name at PSG at the moment. He was once considered to be one of Ligue 1’s rising stars during 2013/14, but that line of thinking has since evaporated for the young talent.
Arsenal, as well as a whole host of names from the rest of Europe, have expressed an interest in Adrien Rabiot, but they may be put off by the midfielder’s reportedly high wage demands. If this is the case, a loan move may be the more sensible option for those looking to take on the young Frenchman.
7. Andre Ayew
As the sons of former Ghana legend Abedi Pele, Andre and his brother Jordan never fail to attract interest from the Premier League and beyond. Although he is still only 24, the older of the two brothers, Andre, is continuing to impress critics within both France and Europe.
The exciting winger/forward has become a firm fan-favourite during his time at Marseille, but after impressing for his nation at the World Cup this summer, Andre Ayew’s spell in France may be coming to an end. He has several qualities to his game, including fast pace and strong finishing, that would certainly put him in good stead to ply his trade in the Premier League.
Both West Ham and Newcastle have been reportedly keen on Ayew in recent years, but a move to one of Europe’s more illustrious clubs may still await the Marseille forward with his contract ending next summer.
6. Fabian Schar
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With Paulo Sousa’s Basel sealing Champions League qualification at Anfield this week, Fabian Schar proves to be a player whose stock is on the rise.
The Swiss centre back has wowed fans in his native homeland for his ability to clean up in defence and chip in with a few important goals in the process. The 22-year-old defender has since developed his role in the heart of Switzerland’s back line, ousting former Arsenal utility-man Johan Djourou in the process.
Basel will therefore be certainly keen to hold onto Schar, but as the prospect of playing in one of Europe’s top five most popular leagues looms ever closer for the young centre-back, doing so won’t be so easy for Paulo Sousa.
A move this winter does seem unlikely however, as Schar is cup-tied for the Champions League and would obviously leave Basel with unfinished business if he were to depart so soon. Nevertheless, Borussia Dortmund and a whole host of clubs from Serie A, have continued to express their desire to sign the young defender.
5. James Milner
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Manuel Pellegrini’s ex-Newcastle and Villa winger has always been somewhat of an enigma for fans of the Premier League.
During his career, James Milner has displayed spells of brilliance as an attacking force with a good eye for a pass. The English winger has particularly shone alongside the likes of David Silva, Sergio Aguero and Yaya Toure with Manchester City in recent years, yet he has never really established himself as a first team regular under either Pellegrino or Mancini.
Milner has also failed to bring his club form onto the international stage, but as that is the case with nearly every player who represents the Three Lions these days, his poor form comes as no surprise. Despite this, James Milner can also play the utility-man role by popping up at right-back every now and then when required.
With his contract due to expire soon, it seems doubtful that the England international has a role at Man City beyond this season. Several Premier League teams have are reportedly interested in Milner, with Liverpool again being touted as the front runners.
4. Dani Alves
Within Pep Guardiola’s star-studded Barcelona side circa 2009/10, Dani Alves was largely considered to be one of the best full-backs in the world.
A subsequent drop of form and a quite frankly poor World Cup campaign have nevertheless put an end to that status, and seemingly put an end to Alves’ time at Barca as well. It has been confirmed by the Catalonian giants that the flying Brazilian will be leaving the club in the summer.
This news will not put off potential January suitors however, with all of the Premier League’s top sides looking to win the race to sign this once prized asset. PSG are also considered to be highly interested in the defender, but with the chance to sign Dani Alves for free next summer, perhaps a January move will come too soon for the Barca no. 22.
As well as the ability to score flashy free-kicks, Dani Alves has won the world over for his technical skill and the touch of flair that he brings to the defensive side of the game.
3. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar
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As most of the Premier League’s big sides are looking for a striker to ease their goal drought in 2014/15, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar may prove to be the perfect signing.
‘The Hunter’, as he has become known for his ruthless nature in front of goal, has developed an ability to score for fun in the Bundesliga with Schalke 04. He also has plenty of Champions League caps as well a long term experience of playing international football that would surely impress any clubs looking to sign the Dutchman.
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Whilst he has never been considered one of the world’s very best strikers, Huntelaar has been a constant force in Europe during spells with Ajax, Real Madrid and AC Milan. Yes the Dutch forward hasn’t had his scoring boots laced to maximum efficiency at all times, but Schalke’s current main man has definitely gone a long way in rediscovering his form in the Bundesliga.
Liverpool and Arsenal should certainly be considering a Klaas-Jan Huntelaar who only has a year remaining on his contract in Germany.
2. Yevhen Konoplyanka
This 25-year-old talent may provide us with one of the least well known players on this list, but for fans of the equally unknown Ukrainian club, Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk, Yevhen Konoplyanka is a true star in the making.
The Ukrainian winger has drawn plaudits for his performances in the Europa League, and with a move to Liverpool reportedly falling through at the last minute last season, Konoplyanka could soon be on his way to somewhere new.
He has the ability to provide an attacking force for his side throughout the entire 90 minutes, as well as being a good passer, a good crosser and a player who rarely seems to tire. For these reasons he would seem a great addition to the Premier League.
As very few Ukrainians actually make it in English football however, perhaps a degree of caution should be applied for any club looking to sign Yevhen Konoplyanka.
1. Sami Khedira
Whilst Sami Khedira doesn’t look like he’d be one of the most technically gifted midfielders that Europe has to offer, the half-German half-Tunisian enforcer is no mere water-carrier.
As his sublime individual display in the 7-1 semi-final destruction of Brazil this summer displayed, Khedira has all the characteristics of a calm ball winner and strong box-to-box midfielder. Under the guidance of Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid however, the German World Cup star has often been considered second best and deemed worthy of only a place on the bench.
At a side like Arsenal though, Khedira would find himself with a lot more game time on his hands and the opportunity to potentially develop into one of the league’s best centre-mids.
Everyone knows that the Gunners could do with someone of Khedira’s calibre in their side, and with the advent of his contract running up at Madrid, a move to the Premier League could soon become a reality for the German star. A worrying injury record however, remains the only issue holding back Sami’s career at this current moment.
Newcastle manager Alan Pardew believes that a loss to QPR in Saturday’s Premier League encounter could lead to fear of relegation.
The Magpies have endured a tough start to the campaign, with the act of balancing Europa League football and domestic games weighing heavy on the squad.
This has seen the St James’ Park outfit slip down to 15th position, just two points from the relegation zone.
Pardew believes that their weekend clash with second-bottom QPR could be a tricky one:
“We’re going to have a lot of pressure this week,” he is quoted by The Mirror.
“QPR will be expected to lose, so they can come and play with a little bit of freedom – but not us.
“We’re going to have to play under monster pressure.
“The fans need to be right on our side, whatever happens – even if QPR go 2-0 up.”
Newcastle face back-to-back trips to Manchester United and Arsenal before hosting Everton in the coming weeks, and Pardew feels that points must be won ahead of this tricky set of fixtures:
“It’s going to be one of those days when we must win,
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“Usually, people say it’s a must-win game – but I’m telling you it’s must-win.
“That’s what we need to do.
“We’ve always been about the next game. It’s the next game because that’s the only thing that you can legislate for. Already, I’m looking forward to it and it can’t come soon enough.”
Marouane Fellaini was recalled to the Manchester United starting line-up for the first time since his return from injury for the second leg of their Champions League last 16 tie against Sevilla.
The divisive midfielder failed to impress in the hour he was on the pitch as United put in an insipid performance and were eliminated in embarrassing circumstances, going down 2-1.
Paul Pogba replaced the 80-cap Belgian international, showing signs that he is over the gashed leg that kept him out of Saturday’s victory over Liverpool and that gives Jose Mourinho a midfield selection dilemma.
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That is something the Portuguese manager has not had for a while given the spate of injuries that have limited his midfield options in recent weeks.
The Sevilla defeat has added even more importance to Saturday’s FA Cup quarter final showdown with Brighton at Old Trafford so it is imperative that Mourinho gets it right in his engine room.
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That’s why we’re asking you; should Fellaini keep his spot in the side for the visit of the Seagulls? Let us know by voting in the poll below…
Aston Villa seems to be heading for the Premier League trap door quicker than Usain Bolt can run the 100 metre race. Had it not been for their three wins and a draw in their opening four games, they would be rooted to the bottom of the table right now with nowhere to hide.
They have lost their last six games on the bounce, ironically just after their boss signed a new five year extension on the back of his side’s great start to the campaign. The ten points they accumulated in four games was an impressive start without a shadow of a doubt. Since then, they have been in rapid decline, losing five out of their last six games without even a goal to show for their troubles. It took them until their latest defeat at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur to score a goal, but it wasn’t enough to avoid defeat.
They now face an in form West Ham in their next match, an away game which will be made even more of a daunting prospect for the Villa considering the suspension of key player Christian Benteke after his sending off against Spurs for “punching” (more like stroking) Ryan Mason.
After West Ham, they then face a home tie against an even more in form side in Southampton who have been nothing short of perfect so far this season, and find themselves sitting in second place behind league leaders Chelsea. On paper, it is hard to see past another two defeats in their next two games, which would see them having lost a massive eight games on the trot.
Their only reprieve comes after the game against Saints, a relegation crunch match and six pointer against fellow strugglers Burnley who are about the only team worse than Villa at the moment.
Villa are leaking goals for fun this season and not scoring many at all, so they are facing issues at both ends of the pitch, a worrying sign that you are in big trouble. They have the joint second worst goal difference in the whole league and they don’t look like they can find a solution.
Normally if a team is defending well, they might be struggling to score and are perhaps drawing too many games. Or a team is scoring well but are also conceding and at least then a team in that position can look to outscore the opposition and would have a few more points on the board.
It has to be said that on paper, Villa haven’t got the type of team that you would consider a relegation scrap candidate. They should be finding themselves in the top half of the table, and quite a tough team to play. However at the moment they are everyone else’s team of choice to play after Burnley, the Premier League’s newest whipping boys.
It is hard to see where manager Paul Lambert is going to find the motivation and inspiration from to lead his team to victory in their next couple of games. It is vital that they pick up something from these next two games, or they will be dragged a lot further into trouble and potentially end up in the bottom three come the end of the season.
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One team they can draw inspiration from will be Newcastle, who after finding themselves in similar peril went on a winning spree and find themselves out of trouble (for now) and even managed to defeat Spurs away and Liverpool at home.
Aston Villa will be hoping for similar joy in their next few games, or it will be hard for them to dig themselves out of trouble. It could well be that this is the season that sees them finally fall through the trap door into the Championship!