Play like he did last night and you'd be hard pressed to find a better player for what we can afford in that position.

He was excellent last night.

True - he should play there more often. He’s got the attributes to be all the centre mid we could ever afford - but we still need another as we only have 3 for 2 positions.

I agree he played well but in contrast I thought Cork looked ponderous when he came on.In both cases it was just a preseason friendly and the fact remains we are extremely light on numbers in that area of the field

randomclaret2 wrote:I agree he played well but in contrast I thought Cork looked ponderous when he came on.In both cases it was just a preseason friendly and the fact remains we are extremely light on numbers in that area of the field

Cork was poor last season, and although not the biggest Hendrick fan, I was hoping he would slot in along side Westwood, however he was needed more out wide.

I think if we do get in a CM, it'll be at the expense of Cork.

Close that window before the money blows away. Jeff is here.

For me, Hendrick is our best CM at the club when played there. Amazing that playing a player in his strongest and most position makes him play well. The stick he got for playing out of position was madness and even last season when used in the middle of the park he was one of our best players for those games.

I do hope we’re in the process of tying Jeff down to a longer contract. At 27, he should be coming into the sweet spot of his career and value, very soon.

Hendrick and Westwood look to have the edge, at the moment.

Its a no from me. One friendly against Nice does not mean this will work against PL opposition. I also base this on evidence seen to date. We need this area strengthening. He can do a job wide if needed for me.

McNeill was out into CM for the last 20 minutes

Westwood and Hendrick have always looked good together - seem to compliment each other well.

Think back to Olympiakos at home when they ran the game.

bfccrazy wrote:For me, Hendrick is our best CM at the club when played there. Amazing that playing a player in his strongest and most position makes him play well. The stick he got for playing out of position was madness and even last season when used in the middle of the park he was one of our best players for those games.

Couldn’t agree more. Strong, athletic, good on the ball. All the attributes that everyone is screaming out for.

Just wait until Defour returns, it will be like signing a new player......

Hendrick has been our mr versatility over the years. With McNeil, Jay Rod, JBG and Brady we dont need him out wide, and with Jay Rod and Vydra we dont need him playing behind the front 2.
I never saw last night's game, but he has always looked a better player with the game in front of him, CM might well prove to be his best position. The only downside would be his ability to dive in wildly on the edge of our box.

TheFamilyCat wrote:Couldn’t agree more. Strong, athletic, good on the ball. All the attributes that everyone is screaming out for.

Slow and ponderous you mean and gives the ball away a lot.

No, I meant what I wrote.

Pleasing news, even if it was only a friendly.

Agree entirely with the poster above who said that Westwood and Hendrick have always gelled well together whenever they've been paired. Before Cork arrived two summers ago they played together a few times whilst Defour was injured (and in preference to Barton) and they looked like a potentially very decent combination. No reason now, as they both approach their prime years, why that shouldn't still be the case.

Hendrick has always had all the technical and physical attributes to be a superb central midfielder for us - his problem has always been between the ears, with a tendency to fade out of games when he makes a mistake (and a habit of occasionally making daft decisions which leads to the mistakes that lead to him fading). As a result, he's probably not stamped his authority enough on games when he's been in the middle of a central two. But he's certainly had some fine games for us in a midfield 2 (1-1 draw with City at home two seasons ago springs to mind) and there's no question he can do the job. Frankly it's a better bet that as he enters his prime his maturity will enable him to assert himself more, than that we'll be able to find a midfielder with all his physical and technical gifts who also has the mentality that carries someone like Westwood or Cork through.

He's a great option and perhaps that's why the midfielders we have been linked with this summer - Kitch, the ukranian at Genk - appear to be more forward thinking and flexible players who can also operate at the top of a midfield 3 or potentially out wide.

TheFamilyCat wrote:No, I meant what I wrote.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion bud - but Hendrick not for me as we need much much better so lets hope the extra 9 million will go towards a very good midfielder

Nobody will ever be good enough for you.

TheFamilyCat wrote:Nobody will ever be good enough for you.

Why say that ?? there is probably a good few better playing in the championship - and no i cant be bothered with to name them.
But like i said its only my opinion and i would like to see him replaced in this window while he only has a year left on his contract - put him up for sale and see what options he has - wont be any in premier league for sure.

I’m looking forward to seeing this Jeff Hendrick play. The way he’s been talked up over the Summer I feel my minds been playing tricks with me for the last three years.

Let's hope it is a sign of things to come.

I'm not his biggest fan as I don't think he tries to influence the game anywhere near enough.

But while he's still a Burnley player I will wish him the best and hope he comes good.

Definitely worth giving him a go I think. Unfortunately with Dyche it seems to be if Cork is fit he plays no matter what.

As well as I have seen him play for Burnley. Caveat, it was a friendly and we were 2 up inside 10 minutes. I would like to see how he fares in a more competitive game and, in particular, when we are on the back foot.

It was real positive, as was McNeil. He was excellent when he first came on and performed creditably in CM as the team changed formation. I am not saying we do not need an extra CM but, based on last night and with the same caveat, he can play CM

See how he goes on to be fair but looks like he is running his contract down to earn a payday.

The thought of Hendrick and Westwood spearheading our midfield prem league campaign is both painful as it is depressing . They both are valuable squad members but they desparately need a creative force alongside

Last night couldn't have been an easier game with Nice being so under strength 3 of there best players played at Africa Cup of Nations and did not travel with the squad
There was some good individual stuff last night but dont gauge anything of that game as they where very poor and Hendrick looked a world beater

Does a more effectieve and consistent job on the right for me.

If Hendrick can adapt to a more defensive role than he has played in, then he has a future as a starter for this club.

I have to call it when I see it, I said when we signed him that he’d never justify the fee we paid, but given his versatility and the genuinely quality moments he has provided, he DID justify. Fair play to Jeff Hendrick.

Hendrick isn't the problem

SGr wrote:then he has a future as a starter for this club.

But he is a regular starter.

bfccrazy wrote:For me, Hendrick is our best CM at the club when played there. Amazing that playing a player in his strongest and most position makes him play well. The stick he got for playing out of position was madness and even last season when used in the middle of the park he was one of our best players for those games.

He was decent when played out wide too.

Whoever thought the role he was lumbered with was good for him needs a psychological evaluation. At times it was literally like playing with ten men.

One of my favourite players is Jeff. Good in the centre, but not our best there. That accolade goes to Ashley “dean marney” Westwood.

Jeff's time at TM seems to have been undermined by two issues beyond his control - firstly his fee, which was about the going rate for a top-end Championship CM at the time. Ironic really bearing in mind the number of posters who've criticised the club for not spending big to cover the same position in this window - and secondly that he's been asked to cover three different and very specialised positions - one of which (the so called no. 10 role) he wasn't suited for. Compare and contrast with Westwood and Cork who've focussed entirely on fairly conventional CM roles and dodged much of the criticism that's come the way of Hendrick as a result.

Personally I don't think we need to be looking for someone to come straight into the starting 11, but we do need someone comparable to three (fit) players we have to cover those positions to share the workload and give us the option to free Jeff to play on the right (given the questionable fitness records of JBG and Lennon) where he has looked very effective - especially in our post-Christmas purple patch.

I wonder if we are (still) interested in Klich from Leeds?
He might be what we are looking for, to add that competition in CM?

Spijed wrote:But he is a regular starter.

McNeil-Cork-Westwood-Gudmundsson

Right now, who is he regularly starting over?

EarbyClaret wrote:Jeff's time at TM seems to have been undermined by two issues beyond his control - firstly his fee, which was about the going rate for a top-end Championship CM at the time. Ironic really bearing in mind the number of posters who've criticised the club for not spending big to cover the same position in this window - and secondly that he's been asked to cover three different and very specialised positions - one of which (the so called no. 10 role) he wasn't suited for. Compare and contrast with Westwood and Cork who've focussed entirely on fairly conventional CM roles and dodged much of the criticism that's come the way of Hendrick as a result.

Personally I don't think we need to be looking for someone to come straight into the starting 11, but we do need someone comparable to three (fit) players we have to cover those positions to share the workload and give us the option to free Jeff to play on the right (given the questionable fitness records of JBG and Lennon) where he has looked very effective - especially in our post-Christmas purple patch.

Once again, spot on

Does make you wonder why though, if Hendrick hasn’t signed a new contract, we’re not trying to sell him this window to cash in on an asset and not lose him for anything. Plenty of speculation on Heaton but none on Hendrick.

Unless of course he’s about to sign a new deal, which would be great.