01 Dec 2017 09:41:43
For me Henderson is better in an advanced role but the issue is the players who play furtehr up are much better than him. Trying to accommodate Hendo in a role which doesn't suit him what so ever which is the deep lying role is a waste of time in my opinion. He isn't an orchestrator, he isn't a protector he contributes very little to the team and is certainly not a captain on the field. His attitude as a professional is wonderful but i don't see win the big trophies with Hendo as the core of our team.

1.) 01 Dec 2017
01 Dec 2017 09:59:28
Hendo should sit on the bench and if the game is won should be bought on for seeing it through.

2.) 01 Dec 2017
01 Dec 2017 10:03:30
I think he is better in a box to box role than anyone else in the league when fit and on form.

Problem is, his fitness has deserted him. Add that to the fact he is being asked to play a role he has failed to adapt to and it is a recipe for disaster.

Don't forget how good he was between 2013/ 14-2014/ 15 in a box to box role. He got about 10 goals and 25 assists across those two seasons. Without his high energy pressing, selfless runs, and link up play in the final third being utilised though, he has just looked average.

3.) 01 Dec 2017
01 Dec 2017 10:29:33
Think the best role now for Hendo now would be as a utility squad player, hence taking over from Milner who will leave in the summer.
We will sign one of Goretzka or Meyer in the summer plus Keita coming in as well. That's two spots in midfield taken and one left for Lallana, Gini and Hendo to fill. Out of those 3, Gini and Lallana cover more ground and link up better with our forward players.

4.) 01 Dec 2017
01 Dec 2017 10:32:02
is anyone else getting tired of the hendo-centric critique. can one player be the core of a team?

5.) 01 Dec 2017
01 Dec 2017 11:02:19
Spot on mk. He was so important to us and I struggle to think he can't ever get back to that level again. Think a few weeks rest might be the thing for him to regain some form. Or perhaps ease some niggling injuries which could be affecting his game. Probably but until after Christmas period I'd imagine. I wonder is the weight of captaincy affecting him too? It's difficult to inspire when your form is out the window.

6.) 01 Dec 2017
01 Dec 2017 12:05:45
I am, Faith. It is becoming ridiculous and boring. They say he passes sideways. When has passing sideways ever been a prob for the great Ajax and Barcelona teams under Cruyff, LVG and Pep? NEVER. Why? Cos that is how you keep possession when the forward pass is not on so as to not cause a turnover while forcing a forward pass and get caught out on the counter. But his detractors who IMO, just don't like him as a person cos they feel he should have never been capt. (their gripe is with BR and Klopp, not the poor boy mind you) are now making it sound like it is now the forbidden thing to do. Ridiculous!

Pep passed sideways uncountable times in his career. So did Xavi and now Busquets. Are they crap players too? But suddenly it is a HUGE prob when Hendo does it. The boy is playing an un-natural position and giving his all for the team even playing with injections BUT it is not good enough for his haters cos they seem to not be able to think that far. For a player not suited for the role, he was great last season till his injuries and that is affecting him and his leadership on the pitch, as AOE said.

Mk nailed it too. Hendo was awesome in 13/ 14 and should be playing that Hendo, would be great alongside Naby Keita in the double pivot Klopp likes to play. I don't know if that Hendo is still around BUT I hope he can regain that form as he was dynamite for us esp. in the big games. His detractors should change the record cos it is getting tedious.

7.) 01 Dec 2017
01 Dec 2017 12:07:52
Whilst I agree, hendo certainly isn’t a master of any specific role in midfield he is still more important to the team than can, especially with can being so lacklustre recently. Last season can improved vastly then had his head turned for whatever reason and now wants to leave and he’s back to his old inconsistent best. I’ll be happy to get a decent fee for him and replace him with a top quality DM. Hendo will either play in the 3 alongside Keita and one of our other creative players in wijnaldum, Lallana or coutinho (or his replacement) . Either that or he’ll be a squad/ utility player and the 3 in midfield would be a dedicated DM, Keita and one of the creative players. Either way I think it’s important to keep hendo.

The criticism of him has been slightly unfair as he’s been asked to play a role he just isn’t that affective in. In my opinion that is Klopps fault for failing to recognise we needed better defensive reinforcement at the back and in midfield. Hendo is actually really good when it comes to the box to box role, that’s his natural game.

8.) 01 Dec 2017
01 Dec 2017 12:20:03
That's the problem - some of you are picking out particular seasons when a player did well. Good players invariably play well all the time. That's the difference.

9.) 01 Dec 2017
01 Dec 2017 12:31:31
That is a bit harsh Izzo. Henderson is still a very good player underneath his injury troubles. We constantly see glimpses of it.

You can't just ignore the fact that he is a good player because he's had 2 seasons of injury troubles. The problem is that like with Daniel Sturridge, there is only so long you can afford to wait for a player to get fit before you replace them. We waited for Sturridge for far too long before Rodgers finally decided to phase him out of the starting XI and that contributed to cost him his job in the end. Klopp is at risk of making the same mistake with Henderson.

Very good player though. It isn't about being selective, it is about being fair in your analysis. You might as well say that Agger was a bad player for being injured. However, you can't keep somebody who is always struggling with injury just because they are good when fully fit. I think if Hendo hasn't proven his fitness by the end of this season, we will see him replaced. No need to ignore his obvious abilities though or discredit his past achievements. Bad players don't get to be the captain of England and Liverpool.

10.) 01 Dec 2017
01 Dec 2017 12:49:54
Best B2B midfielder in the league? What the actual hahaha.

11.) 01 Dec 2017
01 Dec 2017 14:48:08
When fit and playing to his full ability i don't think there are many better at that particular role Samuel.

Arsenal only have Ramsey who is inconsistent, City only have Delph and Toure who can't get into their midfield, United only have the still improving Pogba doesn't get back well enough yet (hence why Matic was so desperately required) and Fellaini who is vastly over rated, Chelsea have Bakayoko and Drinkwater who are average at best, but to be fair Kante is better than Henderson in hindsight, and Spurs only have Sissoko who is absolutely atrocious etc. Our own Emre Can is similar to Pogba in that he gets forward very well but tracks back far to slowly, and Milner is just a headless chicken.

At the lesser sides i suppose you have a few decent players such as Hendrick (Burnley), Doucoure (Watford) McCarthy (Everton), Mooy (Huddersfield), Davis (Southampton) etc. I'm not convinced any are better than Hendo when he is fit and on form (though Doucoure could be potentially) .

Aside from Kante (who is definitely better despite me forgetting him in my last post) and potentially Doucoure and Pogba in the near future, a fit Henderson is better than any other box to box midfielder i can think of in the Premier League.

Why don't you try writing an intelligent response this time, Samuel? Football is an opinions game and I'm keen to hear who you think is better than a fit and in form Henderson, and why? The beauty of an opinion on a subjective topic is that you can't be wrong.

12.) 01 Dec 2017
01 Dec 2017 17:15:13
I get it when some defend henderson. Super guy. But he is playing in that defensive midfiels role. And he is being critisized in that role. Most agree its not his best position to play so as ling as he plays there he will get stick for it. I think Moreno would be a better wing but het slayed as a left back. And fairly so when he is bad he is really bad.

13.) 02 Dec 2017
02 Dec 2017 11:02:29
Great post, MK.