The further adventures of Lil' Lee

[PeterWithesShin]

Yet another player to file under 'they pissed away their potential'. Also a likely candidate for the file marked 'but probably doesn't care that much'.

[Chico Hamilton III]

Seeing that list resulted in a theme from Littlest Hobo earworm

I've got Ray Pollard's "The Drifter" running through my ears

[exiled on the wirral!]

I remember when he lost it with the villa fans at a pre-season frendly with Walsall one year...it was really funny!

[Aston Manor]

I always liked him so good luck to him.

[Hoppo]

What did Hendrie do to some of you? I remember being proud as fuck in The Hibernian when he hit the post on his cameo for England.. also for all those with twisted stories of Hendrie my best mates son plays for kidderminster youth and has met and played with him loads of times and has only good things to say.. he is an ex Villa player who could and should have done better he knows that more than anyone.

[garyshawsknee]

Least he's still got the appetite to play I suppose. Should be a good reminder to our current crop of youth that you always have to keep your feet on the ground and stay focused.

[trog]

i always thaught he could of done a good job for someone like walsall.

[DB]

He blends in well with that Bradford top.

[SoccerHQ]

Decent player in his day. Not sure his attitude was that decent.

Same for me.

When him and Barry were coming through, both had issues with drink. Barry soon got the message and knuckled down and so at 31 is playing in the champions league and still for England.

Before the age of 30, Hendrie was playing championship football.

He was o.k but was in a comfort zone for too long here (ironic he's become very well travelled since he left!)

[adrenachrome]

Ron Atkinson writing about LH in The Gruaniad in November 2001:

I regard Hendrie as the answer to England's left midfield problem. He's back to his best at Aston Villa in a successful side and although he's being used in a central role by John Gregory, he has played a lot on the left. I know from signing him for Villa when he was a kid how comfortable he is in that position.

There are only two 15-year-olds I've watched and known straight away they were certainties to be top players. Lee was one and Norman Whiteside the other at Manchester United. Ten minutes of seeing Lee in a trial at Villa was enough to convince me to offer him a contract.

He was recommended by a pal who tipped me off that the lad was about to sign for Birmingham. I got Lee in for the trial and then invited him with his parents to the training ground, where I convinced them it would be better for him to come to Villa. Lee says he's a Villa supporter but I think he was a Blues fan at the time.

He was too young for the first team when I was in charge but his main position was wide left. We had our pre-match meal at the training ground and often the youth team would be playing there. Lads like Ray Houghton and Steve Staunton spent time watching Lee because it was obvious he was special.

He's got good energy, works hard and is capable of scoring at least 10 goals a season. His one England cap came under Glenn Hoddle at left midfield and, although Lee's not a natural left-footer, his left foot is more than good enough to take people on and get crosses in.

Not that crosses are the be-all and end-all. If Michael Owen's playing we're not looking so much for crosses as someone who can play balls through people, and Lee has the ability to come off the side and do that.

We called him Little Lee Hendrie and I think that's stuck with him because he still looks about 12. But at 5ft 10in he's taller than some might think. People say he can be a bit fiery but I don't mind that passion as long as he channels it right.

[hawkeye]

Hendrie had the talent to be top footballer, he sadly did not have the dedication.

[Zhong Yi]

doubling as a possible candidate for amusing moments at Villa Park thread:

Lee Hendrie getting 'nicked: 30's copper style' by Gianluca Vialli, whilst playing for Chelsea.

[Californian Villain]

Would you class hendrie as a former Villa favorite?

I'm not sure I would

I don’t think I would, he had a couple of decent season but nothing outstanding. He always seemed like {b]a big time charlie[/b] to me and that’s why I wasn’t surprised to hear about his financial trouble.

Totally. And 27 goals in 251 games? It should have been much more than that.

[darren woolley]

I hope he does well there.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

People laugh at me when I say that Jay Lloyd Samuel could have been one of the best left backs in the country.
Bags of natural talent, but lazy and arrogant.