Henderson: I'm No Benchwarmer
Tuesday, 16th Oct 2012 16:02

New loan signing Stephen Henderson says he’s joined the Blues to play games rather than spending his time sitting on the bench at West Ham. The 24-year-old, whose three-month loan deal includes a 24-hour recall clause, has made only two Capital One Cup appearances since joining the Hammers in March.

Henderson, who is contracted at Upton Park until 2015, told the club site: “Anyone who knows me will tell you I’m not the type of player who wants to sit on the bench and pick up his wages.

“So when I got told I could go out on loan and I knew Ipswich were keen, it was an easy decision for me. I spoke to the manager on Saturday and was here for training on Monday morning.

“It’s a fantastic club, Ipswich, and I’m really looking forward to showing people what I can do. I know the results have not gone as well as the club would have hoped but seeing the players work on the training ground and the squad that is here, I’m sure things will turn around very quickly.

“With the squad here, on paper, I could see Ipswich competing in the top six and hopefully I can play my part in helping the club move up the table.

“I need to play games. That’s why I’m here and if the opportunity is there to stay beyond January and everyone is happy with that, I’d definitely want to do it.”

Henderson was one of the three Portsmouth players targeted by the Blues in January, but contrary to widespread reports at the time says no fee was agreed between the clubs: “I heard rumours about me coming here but it never got anywhere near that.

“I was told by Portsmouth in January that two clubs had come in for me - Newcastle and West Ham. Portsmouth were in a bit of a mess at the time and we were never sure what was going on but I was never told that Ipswich was a possibility for me.

“If I’d known that, then I would have had a massive decision to make but it didn’t get anywhere near that.”

Photo: ITFC

Photo: Action Images

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gazzmac4 added 19:03 - Oct 16 Dropping Scotty Loach for a loanee will be the last straw for me i think. Dont get me wrong im all for competition but one mistake in 10 or so games does not make a goalkeeper awful. Fingers crossed this is just to provide competition and isnt a straight swap come saturday!
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billysdad added 19:07 - Oct 16

I don't believe that Scott Loach should be dropped for having a howler.

I also believe competition for places in the team (all places) is healthy.

My biggest belief however, is that you shouldn't be first choice just because you support the team and make all the right noises. Hell, I've supported Town all my life, been going to matches for 30 odd years, am currently a season ticket holder and I am also a goalkeeper -THAT DOESN'T AUTOMATICALLY MAKE ME THE BEST KEEPER FOR ITFC THOUGH!

Let's pick our players based on who will get us points for the time being please. And anyway, who's to say Portsmouth really didn't accept an offer from us and Henderson might want to stay permanently?

Or Jewell can sign me, I am a "true blue" after all, isn't that all some people seem to want.......?

kuyski added 19:44 - Oct 16 before you dont want to use the money to got the right player but now you need spent a lot of the money for the loanees to save the teamï¼Œso ridicoulas of this.
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warbeat78 added 20:05 - Oct 16 Im no bench warmer, well you are at hammers who chose to play for in front of us, but good luck any way while you with us and wear the shirt with pride because you wouldn't get a chance if i were in charge but hey!!! onwards and upwards hopefully COYBssss!!!
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Warkys_Tash added 20:54 - Oct 16 The only problem I have with the deal is the 24hr recall clause, we ended up in the cart with that same deal last year & you would have thought Jewell would have learned from that!
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oscarwhiting added 21:09 - Oct 16 Scott's loach is a blue...
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Blue_Armee added 21:25 - Oct 16

Bobblehat - Ok I will stop 'spouting on' and 'being childish' now but do you agree with this short termism that ME, SC and PJ have adopted ?

Do you think players on short term loans are as commited to the cause and have the passion for the club that our players have ?

The development of our young players is being ignored to benefit other clubs players who just want a few games so they can return to their clubs who will in turn get the benefit.

I think 1 change of staff instead of 9 and we will turn the corner.

We have got a good squad they just need a leader.

Garv added 21:47 - Oct 16 Disappointing and unnecessary for me. I think Loach needs to be persisted with and given a real run of games.
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warwickblue added 22:02 - Oct 16 Come on! It's obvious that Henderson is going to give us a whole new dimension in the goal-keeping role. Clegg has fitted him up with a blue-shirt...
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JimmyJazz added 08:55 - Oct 17 I don't believe he played a game for West Ham last season, so he's been a benchwarmer since January. He may be fed up with that scenario, particularly when WH went and signed Jaaskelainen to play aheda of him
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levington added 08:57 - Oct 17 West Ham told him to go on loan.
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Legend added 09:59 - Oct 17 Henderson not a bench warmer? Then what was he doing at West Ham? ummmm warming their bench every Saturday? 'Our' own keeper should not be a bench warmer either!
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Ipswichbusiness added 10:48 - Oct 17

I think that Loach is a quality 'keeper. However two things concern me;
1) will it undermine Loach's confidence to know that the 'keeper we tried to sign permanently last January is now being signed on loan following him having had one bad game? It makes it look as if Loach was second choice all along.
2) if we couldn't afford to pay proper wages to sign players on a permanent basis in the summer, how come we can suddenly afford to sign all these loanees?

Surco72 added 12:59 - Oct 17

To be fair to Jewell ,Henderson was his 1st choice ,then Kuzcak ,then Loach .So if your No 1 becomes available then why not go for him ?
Loach will only benefit from the competition and is young and will improve .
Fans keep bleating on about building for the future then over react to every little item . Smith was costing us points he has been replaced ,Loach cost us 3points v Cardiff he is now under pressure to perform ,why shouldnt the players be under as much pressure as the manager ?

LordMamu added 13:07 - Oct 17

It is inconceivable that if an offer was made that his agent would not even have mentioned it to him. It's not the way it works. So either the club are being economical with the truth or he is. Take your pick. EIther way we don't need him and it's a shoddy piece of man management from a club spiralling downwards, ever downwards. The Fat Controller must go the way of the Dark Lord...