A lot of activity on here again, will no doubt go down in history in our club as one of the most controversial captains we've ever had if nothing else.
As many of you are most likely aware, I like Henderson, I think he's a great player when everything is right with fitness and position etc.
I decided to go researching and recount his career, at the end we'll see if that alters any opinion of his one way or the other.
2011/2012 - Listed as one of 13 players to watch by FIFA and joins Liverpool for £16million. I remember it being seen as a lot of money at the time for what was a very raw young talent. I think here is where the uphill battle starts for him. I don't think fans welcomed him with open arms. We had just bought Suarez for £22 million which isn't that much more and also sold Mascherano for £17.5 million. People wanted someone like Mascherano, a known, proven player. I also remember thinking if we had to pay £20million for Downing that year, that actually £16million for Henderson may seem a snip in a few years time. I stand by that now, I think the £16 million we paid for him now looks a good deal? Can we? That season he played 31 games, scored 2 and made 1 assist. Was being played in lots of different positions, never looed comfortable on the ball. Poor first season by anyones book.
2012/2013 - England U-21 player of the year. Captain of England U-21s. I think well received by most as a very good U-21 player, and a good captain. Didn't play much for us that year, 16 starts but with 5 goals and 4 assists. I think he made the most of his chances this season and won the manager over in a way. I remember being enthusiastic about him playing more but again, most people not interested. I still remember a lot of the time Henderson being forced out wide and he had his best performances when coming on instead of Allen in the centre. I really think he would have benefited from being played in CM from an early start. Stints at Right Mid and even Right Back here hurt him.
2013/14 - With Shelvey leaving and Allen not impressing, Henderson played more. With the diamond Henderson is at his best I think. Gerrard playing deep and Coutinho a lot of the time with Henderson in CM, he covered a tonne of ground. I see a lot of people saying 'yea but he can run a lot' as if it's some passing comment or something to be ignored. He ran 36km in this season, 4th highest in the league. Water carrier comments aside he still scored 4 and made 7 assists.
2014/15 - He was made vice-captain of the team and now we're left with Gerrard on the bench a lot or being subbed off. Very frustrating season with Henderson taking a lot of the blame. We'd lost Suarez who could have captained the team, lost Mascherano and Agger. Peoples minds drift back to Carragher and Hyypia and the captains they were. And now during a frustrating season they see Henderson as the captain, he's a kid, he's not the captain we're used to round ere'. No thanks. His turnout of 6 goals and 9 assists made him our best player that year in my eyes. I think for at least periods here, some people were saying good job to him and seeing that he's never been a wide player but CM is his position. Think he did a little bit as RWB which has awful and then very good in CM when he played there.
2015/16 - What can you say? Only 15 appearances his lowest PL turnout ever, 2 goals and 3 assists. Definitely injured for most of those appearances. Things reset to square one.
So I think he's turned most people around once however he's now in a position where he has to do it again. I feel like he was only getting started until last season where injury. And his career here has been very stop, start. CM to RM to RB on and off the bench. Poor positioning cost him one season of his career and so now has injury. I think he's been desperately unlucky, I think he'll stay as captain, I think it's an uphill battle against 3 things:
1) Injury - If heel problems continue it could be the end of his time here unfortunately.
2) Fans - Needs to remind people why he's the captain of the club. Put last season in the back of his mind and remember he's been improving every season.
3) Performance - I don't think Klopp will play him if he doesn't perform. There are options in CM now with Can, Grujic, Milner and some of the younger lads too! He has shown he can pick a pass and has a good assist record for the club. I think he needs to add goals, because I think Grujic can.
Overall, I'm not as confident with Jordan as I was this time last year for example, however that's mainly to do with the injury and can he overcome it. Being given the FIFA player to watch list, England U-21 armband, Senior caps, the Liverpool armband. You don't do those things if you're average, this isn't a lamb in sheep's clothing, this is the highest level of football there is. You don't fluke your way in over and over. Every season he keeps adding to his work rate, his vocalness on the field, organisation and growing into the captains role. He added more goals each year and more assists to the point where he made the most assists. And then the injury happened and as he says himself; as many say actually, he was playing through the pain. That's dedication to the cause isn't it? That's a good sign that your captain really wants to play and back into it isn't it?
I think Klopp may ease him back in perhaps, however part of me just thinks he needs 10 games under his belt at CM and then we'll see the best of him come out again and I think he's earned that chance at least to show everyone he deserves to be the captain.
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