We've been mid-table for a long time. You could even argue at the dawn of having players like Alonso, Gerrard etc we've always fallen below the top four one season or another.
I do however agree with you with Lallana. With the characteristics that you have mentioned, and that for me he's the only player that will look to rile up the players around him to get us going. His presence in the team is missed, but again injuries prevent Adam from being a full time option.
Coutinho definitely by example, but I don't think his heart will be in it beyond this season. Emre Can is another one.
Maybe the missing ingredient to Henderson's leadership is his wing-man in midifield Adam Lallana. Time will tell until he comes back in to the squad, and we will be much more better off.
Agree with most of your post.
The team with alonso in let's not forget we won the European cup though, we had another European cup final in 2007, we won the FA cup and we mounted a serious title challenge which wasn't down to fluke due to two in form strikers like S&S. We were ranked 1st in Europe at that time too. We were always in the KO stages around the quarters or semi's.
I don't think it can be argued that the midfielders we had back then are head and shoulders above the ones we have now. Henderson doesn't get in that team back then, does he?
You said he wouldn't get anywhere near our team for the last five years if he wasn't any good but his competition has been emre can, an ageing Lucas, an ageing Gerrard etc and throughout his time here we've done next to nothing, we've been languishing around 7th. My point being is, it's not a massive achievement getting a shirt in the Liverpool midfield right now. We don't have any stand out CMs.
Agree with everything you've said on Lallana. I think he is missed too. He usually kick starts the press and other players follow him. He's not scared to put a foot in, he's not scared to get in the referees face or his opponents face either, he's not scared to shout at his team mate to pull his socks up and demand better from him. Adding to the fact he is a decent player then he is very captain material.
I also agree that henderson performs much better when adam is in the team (and I've said that plenty of times on here) but thats actually a criticism of Henderson believe it or not.
I've seen Henderson perform well for us in two short periods. The first was in the nearly season under Brendan when he partnered Gerrard in midfield. Gerrard was the leader, Gerrrad was our captain, Gerrard was the one who we counted on, the one who led us to the title almost. Jordan, while playing pretty well at the time, was happy plodding along minding his own business doing the donkey work for Gerrard. He was happy to be co pilot.
The second spell was very similar. It was at the start of last season. Jürgen pushed Lallana into the middle and our attack blossomed. We had played all of our rivals away from home bar one and we were sitting top of the league. We were on fire, smashing everyone we played. Henderson played his part during that spell but again, for me, it was Lallana who shone and it was him who I felt was the leader on the pitch. Henderson was happy being his number 2, his co pilot.
It's been said plenty of times that when we are playing well and we're winning (usually because our attack is so lethal) then Henderson can usually hide behind that. When it's not going so well though and we need a captain like figure, he's nowhere to be seen.
Look at Spurs away this season, we turn up down there and we don't play well at all, where is our captain? He's nowhere mate, he's invisible, he's a ghost. Sometimes all it takes is one big 50-50 hit in a tackle and it can change a whole game. The crowd react. Other players react. And we don't see this kind of thing from Hendo.
He is happy being somebody's co pilot, the responsibility is too heavy for him and I'm sorry to keep banging my drum but he just isn't up to the job.
One last thing on coutinho and emre. I agree they will be off this summer. But to be fair to them, coutinho in particular, he has remained very professional on the pitch. He is still giving it his all whenever he puts a red shirt on even though we know he doesn't want to be here - similar to Suarez? He would still be worthy of the armband on a short term basis. Vice captain to Adam for me.