Bravo Jordan: show Chelsea your class but stick with us

Fabio Capello has given us a good excuse to show off addick_tedKevin‘s latest Sunderland player image. Michael Turner was also, apparently, in Capello’s list of possibles (that outstanding second half at Spurs not quite enough to clinch it for him?), Darren Bent would have been involved if fit, so all in all we have reason to applaud the rising quality of Steve Bruce’s squad …

Thoroughly deserved selection, and reason for celebration (a sober one, on the eve of Chelsea away) for Jordan Henderson.

The lad has advanced by leaps and bounds under careful care at Sunderland and it will be a source of pride for those concerned with his development, as well as Jordan himself, that he may be about to win his first full international cap at just 20.

The open secret that he was on Fabio Capello’s list of probables for the France friendly inevitably has fuelled a little more speculation about his longer term future. A future the football hacks insist is likely to be away from Wearside at Chelsea, Arsenal, Man Utd or Man City.

Steve Bruce continues to praise the player’s grounded attitude and his application but also continues to make realistic noises about his chances of keeping him at Sunderland. Sadly, that realism is beginning to sound a little like defeatism.

Salut! Sunderland fervently hopes to see Henderson in our colours – and England’s – for seasons to come.

But in case there should be any doubt about the correct approach should the pressure from outside become impossible to resist, here – especially for Bruce, Niall Quinn and Ellis Short – is a reminder, from the morning after his starring role in the England 21s’ victory over Romania a month ago, of our position:

Jordan Henderson: how we say ‘hands off’ to the brands

“The excellent Jordan Henderson.” That was the Mail. Man of the Match, reports Ian at the Blackcats list, “he and Muamba controlled the midfield but JH also had three of England’s very few shots on target and scored England’s first with, according to all the pundits.`wonderful technique`.”

Why does that terrific response to a Sunderland player’s brilliance on the international stage fill some us with dread? Because it will fuel the speculation, already begun, about a supposedly “big” club – brand is shorter if we have either Manchester club, Arsenal or Chelsea in mind – coming in with a bid.

Back to the Blackcats. This was the sequence:

Terry….

Watched the U21s last night. The team performance was flat at times but they were worth the win. JH had a good game throughout and deserved MotM. His goal was as good a 20-25 yarder as you’ll see, received the ball and fired in one movement. Hope he brings that skill back to the SOL.

Further on the U21s. I think Capello’s decision to call up Jack Wilshere to the first team on the same evening as the U21s play the return leg in a tight game is poor. He’s important to them and his absence weakens their chances. I don’t think he’ll even figure for the first team.

To compound his poor judgement, he should have called up JH. Streets ahead of Wilshere.

Rob
If scholes or drogba had scored that, everyone would have been going mental this morning.

It was an absolute beauty!

.

Me

Tragedy is we probably won’t be able to keep him

Terry

Go on tinker, I’ll bite. 🙂

Where else will he be guaranteed 90 minutes in every game other than with teams on a par with Sunderland? No career progress there. He’ll be a bench warmer and sub with all teams in the top six for a couple of years. If he cracks on and does the business for us, “the world’s his lobster”.

Like Bruce said, almost every Championship manager asked to take him on loan.

I like the lad. I like the fact that he’s never phased by who he’s facing, bags of confidence. He plays with his head up and he gave Wilshere both barrels after a move broke down last night. Strong and always tries to be available on the pitch.

I think his foreseeable future is with us and I haven’t seen such confidence since 18 year old Colin Todd twatted Billy Bremner.

Mike

He’s certainly attracting some attention. Steve McManaman said during
his commentary on last week’s game that he sees Henderson as not just
a future England player, but a key part of England’s future given his
versatility. Though he also thinks he should be played on the right.

We could, of course, relax and accept that it will or will not happen. Players feel no more loyalty to clubs than clubs show to them. Jordan, by all accounts, is not even a Sunderland fan, or wasn’t growing up. Don’t let this worry you even more but he is said to have supported Man Utd as a kid.

But if we do have to accept the possibility of interest from elsewhere, what can we do about it? I’ll tell you.

Didn’t Bruce once say that on his day, Kenwyne was worth £20m? Or was it £40m? Well what does that make young Jordan worth? You’ve got it in one: £50m or £20m plus our pick of a couple of their older players. Example: I’d sooner keep Jordan but if we can’t, then let us take Man Utd’s £20m plus Scholes and Giggs (or a couple of others if no one agrees with my assessment of their continued worth).

Monsieur Salut