BACK in July and August, on the eve of the new season, Anfield Wrap writers looked at what the future could hold for players and manager at Liverpool FC as the big kick-off loomed large. A lot has happened since then, not least the sacking of Brendan Rodgers and appointment of Jürgen Klopp. With the international break now upon us, it seemed like a good time to ask the same question again. Here, ANNA WALSH examines Jose Enrique’s Anfield situation and wonders whether anything has changed for the Spaniard, a £6million signing from Newcastle in 2011, who has racked up 96 appearances
————–
WHAT I learned from watching Press Gang (besides the fact that it would be much cooler to be a maverick like Dexter Fletcher than super-organised and always busy like Julia Sawalha) was that a writer should try not to get emotionally involved with their subject.
I first looked at Enrique’s chances in the summer and, in order to avoid clouded judgment, I considered both sides of the debate, giving as much weight to the loudl-shouted Twitter opinions of the FIFA 16 boo boys as to my own delight at the pictures of his awesome Bengal kitten.
I tried half-heartedly to walk in the shoes of the anti-Enrique lobby, who lambasted Enrique for whiling away the hours choosing filters for his Instagrams while the rest of the team toiled in his absence. I too lapped up the stories of the lad who wasn’t really arsed, hanging round with persona-non-grata such as Mario Balotelli and Fabio Borini, dragging down little Albie Moreno with their “on-holiday” attitude to life. Clearly not one of Brendan Rodgers’ favourites, Enrique was the last doggy in the window, and his nearly-transfer to West Brom brought out the angry Twitter mobs in force.
Too many holidays, they said. Too many pictures of his nice house and his pretty girlfriend and his tea. Too much time in a suit on matchday and not enough even on the bench. While West Brom were too busy attaching a tracking device to Berahino to complete Enrique’s paperwork, they started on him for sticking around and staying on the wage bill, as though his (admittedly large) weekly wage was the only reason Marco Reus failed to materialise at Melwood over the summer.
Such was the cacophony, Enrique deleted his Instagram and stopped using his Twitter account. Silenced by the haters, his last tweet was quite touching. What leads people to hound someone off Twitter for taking selfies? I’m baffled.
— José enrique (@Jesanchez3) September 1, 2015
Where did he go, then? After starting only six matches in 2014/5 was that to be the last we saw of the Valencia-born defender? The Liverpool Echo’s James Pearce’s assessment at the end of September was that there could be a way back for him, even under Rodgers. But the flowering of Joe Gomez’ talents was another nail in the coffin with a manager who seemed intent on marginalising him.
Under Klopp, though, all bets were off; another flurry of articles suggesting that maybe Enrique could have his Norma Desmond moment under the new manager. But the awful injury to Gomez, and the mixed form of Moreno, surely gave Enrique the chance to impress the new boss, for whom everyone was starting from zero. Still under a self-imposed social media break, the only positive sighting of him under the new regime was at his post-Chelsea Halloween party, and even there he’s hardly recognisable. In fairness, that’s probably the point.
Adding this to Enrique’s unexplained absence from training recently, he seemed an ideal case for the Without a Trace investigators. However, the rumours have been confirmed that his bad luck with injuries has continued, and that he’s now back in training after another recent knock, and able to fight for his place.
(Incidentally, in the research for this piece I came across this as the first Google review of Melwood: “What a dive i am a birmingham fan and our training ground is better.”)
After a really good day’s work, a “job well done” Klopp hug could surely increase productivity in most workplaces. With the new manager still in his honeymoon period, and his profession of a clean slate for everyone, could it be a matter of time before a back-to-fitness Enrique emerges on his radar?
Out of favour under Rodgers, Lucas Leiva’s leonine Renaissance and Sakho’s reassuring passion in defence (until his recent injury) prove that he’s put his money where his mouth is in terms of coming to the players with fresh eyes.
Despite failing to live up to his price tag for many of the fans last season, Adam Lallana’s passable impressions of a gegenpresser have impressed the rangy German too, and showed us that a change at the top can make a difference to the whole team, even in this short a time.
A confident Ibe is now showing the skills that his potential merited, and though he’s not a new Sterling, we are certainly seeing a new player with renewed swagger. Klopp’s man-management skills are getting the players running through the pain wall in order to be part of the boss’s joy at the final whistle.
And if anyone could do with one of Klopp’s performance-enhancing hugs right now, it’s Enrique.
READ: What next for Philippe Coutinho? #2
* We’ve been shortlisted for Podcast of the Year by the Football Supporters’ Federation. Please vote for us here! Don’t let Alan Davies win!*
[rpfc_recent_posts_from_category meta=”true”]
Pics: David Rawcliffe-Propaganda-Photo
Sell/offload him as soon as reasonably possible.
He’s wasted the chance he was given at Liverpool Football Club.
Bring in or promote from within a new backup/challenger for Moreno.
Why not? He was a good solid left-back under Kenny and passable in Brendan’s early days. He has all the physical attributes and is a better defender than Moreno, better on the ball too. I’ve no idea what went on behind the scenes, but he seemed to me to be another of those players Brendan turned against when he was injured. Having said that, Bertrand is a better player than either Moreno or Enrique.
The x-files are back soon. Perhaps the club could request Scully and Mulder add his disappearance to their case backlog. Last seen doing a selfie somewhere warm, probably too fik for alien abductions, as he’d probably trip over something in the control room and crash the craft.
Not sure what happened to Enrique under Rodgers.
I’m still of the opinion that there are few better left backs in the league in a one on one duel.
Although I don’t think his attributes are suited to what Klopp is looking for from his full backs, particularly in the attacking areas of the pitch.
Enrique was far too one-footed to really succeed under Rodgers or under Klopp. He also wasn’t the most adventurous going forward.
But, if all you want is a solid left back to do left back things then he was ok.
confused a bit. shouldn’t we expect our left back to do left back thing and also to be left footed, at least?
My view is that (based on the current squad we have….not including all the wish list of a new Riise to new Roberto Carlos to Diva Maria Carey) he is ok to be a back up to Moreno or at least to compete with him.
Clyne was impressive as left back for us once…but still I would rather have Clyne at his natural right back role and Moreno.and Enrique compete for left side…
I’d put him in to give Moreno/Clyne a rest in League Cup & Euro League as there doesn’t seem to be a young left back in contention. But after that, sell him (or give him away).
I have zero sympathy for Enrique and hold zero hope he ever breaks back into the squad let alone the team.
He will still be in holiday mode whether we see his pics or not, and he’s finished as a player.
In my opinion it’s more his mentality and commitment than his body not holding up. Sturridge is turning out the same. They don’t actually love the football all that much, they get comfortable and then their mind starts to create injuries in their head.
Who said or implied that you or anyone else should have “sympathy” for Jose Enrique and/or that you should hope he breaks back into the squad or the team?
Why the animus towards Jose Enrique?
He’s on contract. He got injured. He did his rehab, he trains, he’s available. He’s fulfilling his side of his contract, LFC are fulfilling ours, what’s the problem?
Contract. Full pay to the last day. If anyone has a problem with the concept, never ever call yourself a “person of the Left”, a socialist, a leftie. Ever.
Who knew Liverpool FC had so many sport physios and coaches around this part, working with the injured players closely and giving away their insightful assessments on the players’ state of mind. Why being so judgmental when we have only the faintest idea or knowledge of what’s going on. Why the hatred and negativity…
As I say, my opinion.
Quite right I could be wrong as yes, I’m not an LFC physio.
This is a comment section right? Where we post what we think though on the subject?
Enrique seems like an awesome dude but he runs like a Ninja Turtle. Just sayin.
He’s very flawed but we’ve had much much worse players than Enrique over the years it seems weird in such a injury hit season there is still no sign of him even under a new manager who seems set on giving everyone the chance to prove themselves. I can only presume he’s angered the club at a higher level and there are instructions that he’s not to be considered or he personally has just completely given up. Who knows.
he should be playing he was a solid defender that could tee up goals and when you watch him on the touch line nobody ever gets passed him. forgoten man. gets injured for a season comes back gets a couple of games and then is thrown on a heap of despair and negative comments from people who couldnt care less. great player by a country mile the best defender we have. if he hadnt got injured he was in line for a call up to the spanish team. that says it all. i liked rodgers as a manager maybe abit young in the head at times. but you cant ignore talent. very wrong.