Ian Taylor left out of tour...

[Damo70]

What about dicksplash?

I think I can honestly say that I have never used that word. But it is a fine word and I will make it my mission to use that word today. Although my opportunities are limited because I am at home looking after the kids all day. The wife might not be impressed with the way I greet her at the front door tonight and it will all be your fault.

[RussellC]

Clampy- Fair enough. It wasn't meant as a literal comparison, more a turn of phrase. In hindsight Frank lampard would have been a much better (and literal) comparison to make.

But my initial point was that I don't look back at Hendrie as somebody who really failed to achieve his potential. He think he was a decent player, but limited by his lack of physicality and strength and would say that he probably peaked at being capped once by England.

[Drummond]

Hendrie was a clever player, I often thought that he'd have worked well with JPA (who I think was one step ahead of the players around him most of the time).

[Ian.]

I liked Hendrie a lot, he might have fulfilled his full potential under different managements. A shame his career went on the way side. I'm glad he's back with us in some capacity.

[Toronto Villa]

Hendrie was on TalkSport not too long ago and he came across as a very well spoken and humble individual. It was clear to all that he made a number of mistakes in his life and that those decisions had taken their toll. That it was maybe time to give something back wherever he could to whoever might accept it. I'm glad he has been given the opportunity to do this. Every man that has fallen on difficult times needs a road to redemption story. Maybe this is a part of his.

[PeterWithesShin]

There can't be many players who have clocked over 300 games for us who get as much stick Hendrie does.

[silhillvilla]

Can anyone confirm if Ian Taylor is with the tour party ?

[peter w]

What about dicksplash?

I think I can honestly say that I have never used that word. But it is a fine word and I will make it my mission to use that word today. Although my opportunities are limited because I am at home looking after the kids all day. The wife might not be impressed with the way I greet her at the front door tonight and it will all be your fault.

Don't be a dicksplash.

[Mister E]

There can't be many players who have clocked over 300 games for us who get as much stick Hendrie does.

Isn't it the frustration of knowing that he would have been so much better if he hadn't been a dicksplash? He had the potential and blew it.
I remember taking my then-7 yr old son (at least, I think he was about that age) to see Hendrie play for the England U21 team at Bradford and suggesting that he was one of the ones that might just form the basis of a decent England MF in the not-too-distant future ... He had so much to offer and really didn't deliver on it.

[Russ aka Big Nose]

In 1997 the England u21 squad (managed by Peter Taylor) played a qualifier at Ashton Gate and trained the week before at the ground of the side I played for.

As a thank you, our first team (me included) played them on the Sunday afternoon.

The England side featured Lee Hendrie, plus the likes of Jamie Carragher, Heskey, Huckerby, Lee Bowyer, Ricky Scimica (capt.), Marcus Hall, Darren Eadie, Andy Marshall (gk), Matthew Rose, Stephen Hughes, Jamie Scowcroft etc.

So relative to his peers at that age, Hendrie went on to have a better career than most of them (for a variety of reasons). He was also fine to chat to on the day - he didn't particularly want to get involved but he was better than most others. Some were either (seemingly) very shy or complete tossers.

I've heard the stories of him setting fire to £20 notes in Legs Eleven and being a knob around town, plus he seemed to have a surge in form just before he was awarded a new contract, but I have never thought he deserved the reputation he has with most fans.

Last year I played in the Football Aid game at VP and he was one of the ex-players - again he was good with people and looked to be making an effort to see everyone enjoy it. By contrast, Gareth Farrelly was a bit sulky - though that might be because I nutmegged him in the game!

For those desperate to know the score (I know, no-one really) it was England u21 seven, Sun Life one - we were very happy with that.

[Damo70]

Has every Midlands footballer set fire to £20/£50 notes in Legs Eleven or is it just Lee Hendrie, Stan Collymore and Lee Hughes?

[eamonn]

Gerrard says in his autobiography something about watching Hendrie in training on international duty (would they have coincided at U21?) and how he was easily the best player on show.

He did have a nice understanding with Angel at times, especially that little step over he did to let it run through to Angel (or Dublin) that fooled defenders more than once.

I cut him more slack than most cos he was a local lad who had the ability to brighten up a game with a lovely moment of skill. I always feel sad when lads that fit that bill, - Luke Moore,  the Fonz, Albrighton etc. leave us and also why I really hope Gary Gardner shows us what he can do and goes on to be a hero for us.

[silhillvilla]

Has every Midlands footballer set fire to £20/£50 notes in Legs Eleven or is it just Lee Hendrie, Stan Collymore and Lee Hughes?

As did Liam Ridgewell. Or did he wipe his arse with it ? I get confused .

[N'ZMAV]

Gerrard says in his autobiography something about watching Hendrie in training on international duty (would they have coincided at U21?) and how he was easily the best player on show.

He did have a nice understanding with Angel at times, especially that little step over he did to let it run through to Angel (or Dublin) that fooled defenders more than once.

I cut him more slack than most cos he was a local lad who had the ability to brighten up a game with a lovely moment of skill. I always feel sad when lads that fit that bill, - Luke Moore,  the Fonz, Albrighton etc. leave us and also why I really hope Gary Gardner shows us what he can do and goes on to be a hero for us.

my thoughts exactly.

[paul_e]

Has every Midlands footballer set fire to £20/£50 notes in Legs Eleven or is it just Lee Hendrie, Stan Collymore and Lee Hughes?

As did Liam Ridgewell. Or did he wipe his arse with it ? I get confused .

Isn''t there photographic evidence that ridgewell did that though?