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I'm not afraid to admit I’ve called Karl Henry some bad names down the years as he clattered through Bolton Wanderers players with varying degrees of legality.
Whether he was wearing the colours of Wolves or QPR, the uncompromising midfielder seemed to be in the thick of it, hovering perpetually in the zone between ‘booked’ and ‘final warning’.
Much to my confusion, on researching this article, I found Henry had actually only been cautioned five times in 12 appearances against Bolton. But I’m sure he deserved more.
That view was reinforced a few weeks back when I went searching in our picture archive, to be confronted with an array of images portraying Darren Pratley, Medo Kamara, Chris Eagles, Ivan Klasnic and Wellington Silva being pole-axed under the weight of one of his challenges.
I had a fairly one-dimensional view of the 34-year-old when I got wind that Wanderers were looking to bring him in on a free transfer, but boy am I glad they did.
Up until a few weeks back Wanderers were not only crying out for someone to put their foot in, they were also in dire need of another strong voice on the pitch. Henry has shown in his short time at the Macron he ticks both boxes.
At 34, nothing should really phase a footballer, so to be plunged into a debut 24 hours after meeting your team-mates for the first time is not a major hurdle. Henry made a solid start at Bristol City and backed it up against Aston Villa, albeit in defeat on both occasions. It was not until the Sheffield Wednesday game, however, that we really started to see what he is bringing to the team.
Henry has lightened the load on Darren Pratley, for starters. Regular readers will know I rate Pratley as a player and a person but until recently he was trying too much, and his performances suffered.
Phil Parkinson asks a lot from his central midfielders. In this team it is a physically-taxing role and if anyone is not at 100 per cent, the gaps can be opened up and exploited. We saw that at Hull, against Middlesbrough and Brentford.
It is easy in central midfield to appear as if you are having an influence, rattling through the odd challenge, closing down a full-back or two, or gesticulating to the crowd every once in a while but these days the endless reams of technical data weeds out those who are affecting a game, and those who are not.
In the past few games I have come to appreciate Henry’s influence extends beyond a few crowd-riling challenges. Being in the right position to control a game is just as vital.
There is a great quotes from Italian legend Paolo Maldini which goes: “If I have to make a tackle, I have already made a mistake.” I think the modern game is just as much about brains as brawn.
Wanderers have a truck-load of work left to do if they are to repair a poor start but, as I have said along, one thing counting in their favour is character. This team - from top to bottom - won’t quit.
Last weekend’s win against Sheffield Wednesday came at a crucial time, as belief on the terraces was starting to wane. Football fans, and indeed journalists, are more prone to reacting to the ups and down. But as long as Parkinson and his team can keep their heads when results go against them they will have taken a big step towards survival.
Having the right people in the dressing room is vital. And Henry, who played more than 200 games for Mick McCarthy, and 50-plus for Tony Pulis and Harry Redknapp, seems that sort.
Looking ahead to January, when my expectation is that the Whites are within reach of 21st place, I would say experience is vital in any prospective signings.
Adam Armstrong, Josh Cullen and Reece Burke are learning on the job - and will improve as players in the long-run - but the club cannot afford to take any gambles on younger players who will have to adapt to a survival fight. There simply isn’t time.
Source
Whether he was wearing the colours of Wolves or QPR, the uncompromising midfielder seemed to be in the thick of it, hovering perpetually in the zone between ‘booked’ and ‘final warning’.
Much to my confusion, on researching this article, I found Henry had actually only been cautioned five times in 12 appearances against Bolton. But I’m sure he deserved more.
That view was reinforced a few weeks back when I went searching in our picture archive, to be confronted with an array of images portraying Darren Pratley, Medo Kamara, Chris Eagles, Ivan Klasnic and Wellington Silva being pole-axed under the weight of one of his challenges.
I had a fairly one-dimensional view of the 34-year-old when I got wind that Wanderers were looking to bring him in on a free transfer, but boy am I glad they did.
Up until a few weeks back Wanderers were not only crying out for someone to put their foot in, they were also in dire need of another strong voice on the pitch. Henry has shown in his short time at the Macron he ticks both boxes.
At 34, nothing should really phase a footballer, so to be plunged into a debut 24 hours after meeting your team-mates for the first time is not a major hurdle. Henry made a solid start at Bristol City and backed it up against Aston Villa, albeit in defeat on both occasions. It was not until the Sheffield Wednesday game, however, that we really started to see what he is bringing to the team.
Henry has lightened the load on Darren Pratley, for starters. Regular readers will know I rate Pratley as a player and a person but until recently he was trying too much, and his performances suffered.
Phil Parkinson asks a lot from his central midfielders. In this team it is a physically-taxing role and if anyone is not at 100 per cent, the gaps can be opened up and exploited. We saw that at Hull, against Middlesbrough and Brentford.
It is easy in central midfield to appear as if you are having an influence, rattling through the odd challenge, closing down a full-back or two, or gesticulating to the crowd every once in a while but these days the endless reams of technical data weeds out those who are affecting a game, and those who are not.
In the past few games I have come to appreciate Henry’s influence extends beyond a few crowd-riling challenges. Being in the right position to control a game is just as vital.
There is a great quotes from Italian legend Paolo Maldini which goes: “If I have to make a tackle, I have already made a mistake.” I think the modern game is just as much about brains as brawn.
Wanderers have a truck-load of work left to do if they are to repair a poor start but, as I have said along, one thing counting in their favour is character. This team - from top to bottom - won’t quit.
Last weekend’s win against Sheffield Wednesday came at a crucial time, as belief on the terraces was starting to wane. Football fans, and indeed journalists, are more prone to reacting to the ups and down. But as long as Parkinson and his team can keep their heads when results go against them they will have taken a big step towards survival.
Having the right people in the dressing room is vital. And Henry, who played more than 200 games for Mick McCarthy, and 50-plus for Tony Pulis and Harry Redknapp, seems that sort.
Looking ahead to January, when my expectation is that the Whites are within reach of 21st place, I would say experience is vital in any prospective signings.
Adam Armstrong, Josh Cullen and Reece Burke are learning on the job - and will improve as players in the long-run - but the club cannot afford to take any gambles on younger players who will have to adapt to a survival fight. There simply isn’t time.
Source