Jordan Henderson made his much anticipated Liverpool debut at Anfield, in last Saturday’s opening game of the season, and I for one, was more than a little surprised. When I say ‘a little’, it has nothing to do with the young midfielder’s actual ability or current form. No, I believe, and I hope I’m wrong in saying so, that his instant start was all down to his hefty price tag. If this was, and is, going to be the case, then obviously it is the wrong choice for both club and player.
Of course, nobody at Liverpool is ever going to admit it if it is true, but like it or not Henderson’s hefty fee brings with it a pressure that calls for his instant inclusion – even if he isn’t ready just yet. Don’t get me wrong. I am in no way insinuating that Henderson isn’t ready just yet, or that he had a poor game on his debut, or anything else negative regarding the player’s new Liverpool career. It is more of a plea in hope that he is given the time to continue his development at his own pace, and in doing so, turn into the player Kenny Dalglish, and, especially Damien Comolli, hope he can become – without having any added pressure heaped on him, which will come from the media during every appearance in the starting eleven. Whilst the media are never going to be as patient – keen to generate any story into sensationalist headlines, the management and fans should allow his progression to occur naturally rather than have him play him just for the sake of his fee.
Eyebrows were raised when Liverpool forked out the £16-odd million it cost to take Henderson from his hometown club Sunderland, where he had only played two full seasons. But the youngster was seen as one of the rising stars of English football, making his full senior England debut last season and even touted by FIFA as one of thirteen young players to watch in 2011, on their official website back in January. His then manager Steve Bruce, hailed him as ‘the best young British footballer there is’ however, more key to his eventual hefty price was that he was actually English – and we all know the going rate for English players in today’s market; especially young ones – proven or otherwise.
Not only were eyebrows raised at the price, for the lack of consistent proven quality on his part, but for the fact that Liverpool had acquired a player who, whilst can play on the right-hand side of midfield, is not a specialised right-winger. Many say he is going to eventually fill the role left by Steven Gerrard once he decides to hang-up his injury prone Predators, in a more central-role, and if this is the case, then Liverpool can afford to groom him into that role when ready and needed. On his debut, Henderson was selected to start – as a right-winger. They may think he was ready, but he certainly wasn’t needed in that position for Saturday.
Not saying he isnt gonna be a descent player in the future, but he was the wrong signing at the wrong time. 16 mil would have been handy right now. Cahill, Shawcross
repeating the same articles with different headlines has only succeeded on me now refusing to look at ANY of your articles for the future by default
If you want clicks give decent articles not headlines to sucker people into clicking on your link
It wont happen again
i don’t get this urgency with a CB. yes, we will need one at some point,but we have 4 adequate players at the moment.
i think too many people have jumped on this due to pre-season.
we can afford to wait and bide our time for the right man at the right price.
as for jordan henderson – had we not signed him and got back in 2 years time when he was established, would you be surprised if ended up costing over 20million? get him now whilst we can mould him into a liverpool player. he’ll be fine for us. kuyt is now 31 and meireles never looks comfortable out wide.
the arse paid 12mil for oxlade chamberlain whos 17, sunderland paid around 9mil for wyckham at the same age.
between 10-16mil for henderson is good business in the current market
well said mate
Agree we could have waited to sign him and why we didn’t/won’t go for Mata, only Dalglish knows???
But he is here now so that debate has finished !
Back to this story…
I think KK was right to include JH last Saturday.
Firstly, many were making their debuts so he wasn’t soley in the limelight. He would have been in the same boat as the others so less pressure (although I understand LFC debut will always be high pressure, this would at least soften it).
Second – It was at home and against a team we should have beat when looking at the fixture list.
Yes I would have played Maxi or a three of Suarez – Carrol – Downing upfront.
I’d have also played Aquaman on merit of preseason. That should have caused more debate than Henderson.
i would guess saturday is a great game to continue hendersons progress against what looks like being a very weak arsenal side indeed.
same starting 11 as the sunderland game,with maybe kelly in for flanagan,although again, looks like a great game to repair any damaged confidence flanagan may have had from the sunderland goal.
when Gerrard comes back, who makes way? henderson, adam or lucas?
henderson is getting game time but is also underno illusions he will step aside when stevie coms back, which in itself raises the question of pushing gerrard out wide again.
I think his inclusion was partly because Kenny wanted to fill him with confidence and there are few better ways not to do that than to leave him on the bench for the first game.