Jordan Henderson (Liverpool -> Al-Ettifaq (5 months) -> Ajax)

I feel for Jordan.. Some will always go at him as a first point of call when things aren't going well.

My take on him is that he is a good player, not a world beater by any means but a good solid player, the type that most top clubs have in their squads that are undervalued because they aren't the standout players but who are very strong squad options and very reliable for their managers. Is he a Gerrard at his peak? Of course not, is he. Fabregas, no.. Is he a Keane or whoever.. No but he does jobs that they didn't, I hear Carrick get sh*t from Utd fans all the time which I don't get..

Jordan is a go to player for the manager to get his message into the pitch, he doesn't call Stevie over or others, it's Hendo, that's why he made him vice captain (for the record I think he will only stay that and never move on to main captain)

He has struggled this year too, yes but most have, he has struggled in a struggling midfield and with no real movement in front of him to get beyond.

I hear all the stuff about him being shifted about and doesn't have a specific role like that's a bad thing.. I assure you that in this level of football and any good level that these types are invaluable to managers, that only the better technical players can switch roles and look comfortable.. I always insisted that you could tell how good Stevie was early on because he could play any role on the pitch and it look natural to him, that he was the best right back we had, the best right mid, the best second striker, the best bursting cm as he was so talented..
Similar with Raheem, he can play wide, as a 10, as a forward, he even went left wing back Saturday and had played rb before and he looks assured in any role.
Hendo can play numerous positions and be comfortable, can adjust and play there because he gets the game, he has a great game understanding.

Other players don't have it, it doesn't make them 'lesser' players in my mind if they only specialise in one role but they don't have the ability or game intelligence to play other roles and not look a fish out of water.. And maybe Hendo doesn't always put a motm performance in in those other roles he very rarely looks uncomfortable and he has probably suffered from nailing one role by being the adjustable one that managers can put in a different role and know he will do a solid job for them.

He has done a solid job for me at rwb, anyone who had watched Manquillo live know how raw he is and I'd rather Hendo there than him..

For me of always have a 'Henderson' type in the squad.. They are invaluable in the modern game

Like Kuyt.
Nothing too fancy, works his socks off for the team.
He hasn't been at his best this season, but he's been far from as bad as some try to make out.

I find it hard to credit the amount of stick he gets on here, but it seems it's popular to scapegoat him at the moment.

I find it hard to credit the amount of stick he gets on here, but it seems it's popular to scapegoat him at the moment.

Charlie Adam syndrome.

First port of call.

Charlie Adam syndrome.

First port of call.

If he was as bad as charlie "fu**ed after 30 minutes" Adam, I could understand the level of criticism, but the fact is he's done OK in every match I've watched.
Not brilliant, and not to the standard of last season, but as PD says, you need grafters, and even if everything else is going badly for him, he'll still work his arse off.

If he was as bad as charlie "fu**ed after 30 minutes" Adam, I could understand the level of criticism, but the fact is he's done OK in every match I've watched.
Not brilliant, and not to the standard of last season, but as PD says, you need grafters, and even if everything else is going badly for him, he'll still work his arse off.

That made me smile.

My point being - Charlie wasn't our biggest problem that season either......but rather like Jordan he became totemic.

Doesn't he have the most number of assists this season. just saying like 

Doesn't he have the most number of assists this season. just saying like 

Same as Raheem mate, but bearing in mind we have not scored many that's not saying much.
Jordan has also scored  2 goals in 15 apps same as Lallana in 10 apps.

I genuinely like Jordan, but God's honest truth is he NEEDS to play better. This team needs him to be playing like he was last year. For some reason or another he seems to have regressed a bit. If he was at last year's level with this new formation we'd be flat out terrifying.

I genuinely like Jordan, but God's honest truth is he NEEDS to play better. This team needs him to be playing like he was last year. For some reason or another he seems to have regressed a bit. If he was at last year's level with this new formation we'd be flat out terrifying.

But that there is the thing with Jordan, the manager has looked at a different formation and realised that with it he needs a RWB, Johnson is injured, I don't think Manquillo is ready, and he has turned to Hendo to play there, in a position that's not the most natural to him but he knows he can do a job there for him well, and he is doing it well, maybe not like a Dani Alves would do but... I tell you what, Lucas, Allen etc etc couldn't play wing back.. Only the most natural players can move to other positions naturally

Like BR doesn't become a bad manager in 3 months, don't think Hendo becomes a bad player either.

that would make sense if he had been a consistently top player throughout his career.

However, before he had his good run of form during the second half of last season, he had two entire seasons with us where he was absolutely rubbish.  basically he's been a midtable player his entire career except for a few months last season.

So it's not like he's "become" a bad player in 3 months.  More like he's gone back to the player he was and those 6 months or so last season were just an anomaly.

Two assists for Hendo tonight, started slow, but overall a decent performance back in the middle.
And imo his set piece deliveries were an improvement too, thought we looked more dangerous from them, and the 4th goal came directly from one of them.

I've said it a million times... This lad is a centre midfielder, playing him out wide is as effective as playing Lucas, Stevie or Joe Allen on the wing, you just wouldn't do it. Just because he's a good athlete doesn't mean he can play in any position. Play him in the middle of the park and he'll deliver week in, week out just like he did last season.

Can't believe some people didn't learn from when he first came into the club and Kenny had him playing wide right, the poor lad was slaughtered despite claims from myself and a very small group of others to play him in the centre. He moves to the centre and he's the flavour of the month all of a sudden, now the same group of people are popping up and slaughtering him again for performances which once more were coming from wide.

Today once again proved he's a quality player when you play him in the middle, but for some reason I don't think that'll stop what I sadly have to say is the majority of people on here from hanging him out to dry again should he put a foot wrong, even if he's playing out of position again. Lots of people really tarnish the clubs reputation of having the most knowledgeable fans in the world with the treatment Jordan has received this season, lets all agree to get behind the man who in a few years will be the captain of this great club, and recognise him for the talented CENTRE midfielder he really is.

That's why he shouldn't be playing as a wing back.

Gotta give him credit...this was more like the performance we came to expect from last season. Don't know if it's keeping him central and keeping Gerrard out of the team, but whatever it is, we need to stick with it if he's going to be playing. Nice work tonight.

Jordan played pretty well yesterday. Those deliveries into the box for Moreno's goal and Sterling hitting the post were outstanding (and maybe why Brendan tried him out at RWB?).

Henderson has to stick at CM if we continue with this formation. A huge part of our effectiveness last night was our pressing game, which is obviously one of Hendo's strong points, and just his general workrate and ability to make forward runs -- things Gerrard can't consistently do anymore at his age and in this formation.

In the wake of Stevie's announcement now is the time for Hendo to step up and make a point that he can be the next captain fantastic for this club.

In the wake of Stevie's announcement now is the time for Hendo to step up and make a point that he can be the next captain fantastic for this club.

I'm sure he will. Expect him to increasingly pivotal over the coming weeks.

In the wake of Stevie's announcement now is the time for Hendo to step up and make a point that he can be the next captain fantastic for this club.

Hate to break it to you mate but Henderson is never going to be even half the player Stevie was in his prime.

Hate to break it to you mate but Henderson is never going to be even half the player Stevie was in his prime.

I don't think anybody is suggesting that Fed - merely that the time is right for Hendo to fully escape Stevie's shadow and flourish. Those of us who appreciate the kid believe a) he's already vital to us and b) there's a lot more to come.

Steven Gerrard isn't going to be replaced by anybody directly. It's just not possible.

Hate to break it to you mate but Henderson is never going to be even half the player Stevie was in his prime.

Asking Henderson to be the next Gerrard is very dangerous. All he can be is Jordan Henderson and continue to grow into a bigger and better Jordan Henderson, not try to be Steven Gerrard, there's only ever going to be one Gerrard.

Hate to break it to you mate but Henderson is never going to be even half the player Stevie was in his prime.

I agree but I think Jordan has been playing in Stevie's shadow thus far. In the games where Gerrard didn't feature Hendo has played his best football for us in his best position. I think Hendo can thrive given more responsibility in a central midfield captains role.

Will be interesting to see how he takes on the role of captain as of next season.

Will be interesting to see how he takes on the role of captain as of next season.

I wonder if he will..? Perhaps a new player will come in and become captain - if not perhaps Skrtle for a season..?

I wonder if he will..? Perhaps a new player will come in and become captain - if not perhaps Skrtle for a season..?

Then why make Hendo vice captain for this season then?...