UNLESS is has all been an elaborate ruse by Gareth Southgate, and let’s face it he doesn’t look the sort, Jordan Henderson will captain England tonight for the first time.
It’s a remarkable achievement for a lad who has been written off countless times during his football career. When researching this piece I found an article that included the sentence “Jordan Henderson’s short career has already had more ups and downs than Alton Towers” from, wait for it, November 2010.
Who knows what the analogy would be now. The ups and downs show no signs of letting up. There are Liverpool fans who would have sold him in the summer. There might be some who still would. Jordan keeps pushing on, developing his game, adding to his achievements.
His career is a reminder that ascents are rarely in a straight line. How attitude is as important as talent when the going gets tough. Even at Sunderland it is assumed he was thought of as a young star straight away. In fact he was loaned out to Coventry aged 18, after just one first team appearance.
This can deflate a player, make him doubt whether his boyhood club truly believe him. Instead Jordan did what he always does. Gets on with it and tries to prove his talent. His focus at Coventry, likely his first time away from home, was undoubted. Here is a young Jordan Henderson talking in an interview for the Coventry club programme.
“You have to adapt when you are on loan. It doesn’t matter how long you are going to be here. I am here to work hard and do my best for Coventry.
“Football is my life — it has been since I was a little boy. It’s all I’ve ever wanted to do so I am prepared to give up everything I’ve got to become a footballer — whether that’s leaving home or leaving my friends. My number one priority is football.”
Even at 18 he seemed to recognise nothing was going to be given to him. That drive to succeed was apparent. Now he talks about how that period helped develop him as a player.
Back at Sunderland Henderson won Young Player of the Year twice in a row, yet not every fan was convinced. He was booed off the pitch when substituted against Manchester City in March 2011, just months before Liverpool bought him for £16 million. Here is Jordan towards the end of that season, after scoring twice for Sunderland against Wigan to guarantee Premier League survival.
“People say you have to be mentally strong during those periods and you can never doubt yourself. It makes you confident when you have all the players and the gaffer making sure you are OK. Had my form dipped? Maybe a little bit. At no point did I stop working hard, or less.
“The creative stuff I was doing wasn’t coming off. In the last couple of weeks I’ve got better and I have proved a point or two.”
Henderson might have been talking about Sunderland, but it could have just have easily been several points during his Liverpool career when many Liverpool fans doubted if he had the required quality for the level.
His first season at Liverpool was underwhelming at best, with just two goals from 48 appearances. The price tag didn’t help, nor the — probably untrue — rumours that Sunderland would have accepted half of the fee and were staggered by Liverpool’s opening offer. It seems unlikely given how manager Steve Bruce has spoken about him since.
Jordan Henderson will have known he wasn’t showing his full potential. Possibly scarred by being booed by the fans he’s stood alongside as a Mackem a few years earlier, he apparently turned the tables on a local journalist interviewing him in his first season and asked him what the fans thought of him.
At the end of his first season the manager and director of football who had bought him were sacked, apparently for badly spending club funds. Jordan Henderson probably didn’t need it confirming by Damien Comolli today that they might have been partly referring to him. Then a new manager came in and tried to give him away to Fulham.
Most players would have gone, given the complete lack of faith reflected in being a makeweight for Clint Dempsey, of all people. Jordan was determined to fight. He eventually won over Brendan Rodgers, becoming a key part in the side of 2013/14 that came so close. The manager put the lost points at the end of the season partly down to not being able to replace him when he was suspended.
Yet still adversity came. Alex Ferguson very publicly stated that his running style “might cause him injury problems later in his career.” Everyone got very angry for him. Then, in a possible act of witchcraft, he got an injury to his heel that meant he couldn’t run.
It was painful watching Henderson at times last season. It looked quite literally painful for Jordan. He just couldn’t get about. The worry was Fergie’s words were coming true. That the club weren’t telling us everything. That Emre Can had overtaken him anyway and that Klopp was looking at other midfielders. He was an unused substitute in the Europa League Final.
In the summer the rumours started again. That Lovren might become captain. That Klopp didn’t fancy him that much and was open to bids. When asked directly about it, the manager was hardly rushing to put out fires.
“I am pretty sure it is only a rumour, but if not and if a player — let’s not say Hendo but any player — comes to me and says he doesn’t feel comfortable and wants to leave, style of play, more money, then you always have to start thinking. That’s all I can say on this.”
Now Klopp might have been making a point to his squad, but for Jordan there may well have been a feeling of deja vu. Another manager who isn’t sure. He started the season in a deeper position. The criticism of him after Burnley, and to a lesser extent Arsenal, was vocal. Yet again he came back. He’s been terrific for the last month.
I understand why people see Jordan Henderson as captain material. At 26, he has almost seen it all. He’s a great role model for a younger England side. You’ve got a setback? Which one, mate, I’ve had them all. Let’s have a chat about it and I’ll tell you what to do.
Many Liverpool fans aren’t bothered about England. I’m pretty much one of them. It’s hard not to be made up for Jordan, though. The man who has responded to every adversity with class, determination and a willingness to learn.
It might make him walk that bit taller for Liverpool, too. Which is no bad thing indeed.
He deserves it.
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The problem is, when you look around the team who is a better choice either at Liverpool or for England? That depends on what you want from a captain I suppose but for me there’s no one better than Henderson.
Does a captain need to be a good player? I think so. So, that’s most of the England squad out already.
Does he need to be a leader? Well, that depends on definition of leader but you can’t really have a shy or timid lad as captain. I don’t care much for political correctness, I say what I feel because I know it always lacks intent to cause offence so that’s enough for me but lads aren’t lads today in the way they used to be. They’re somewhere inbetween male and female. It’s not just the personal grooming. Their voices seem higher, which is little surprise considering the jeans they wear, and their bodies more effeminate. I don’t think men of today have hairs on their chest and if they do they wax them off. Maybe it’s evolution and a good thing. Maybe it’ll be good for world peace in a couple more decades when testosterone has finally died out. My point is only that the captains of the past can’t be the captains of today. They don’t exist.
As a little side note, I went to see my mate last month at his new gentlemans grooming headquarters GHQ shop. He asked me what I wanted and having had the same cut since 1980 I said do what you want mate. Just bring me out of the 80’s and closer to the millennium. The sides were short, great, but the top was longer and he blow dried it back and across. Now, call me a heathen but I don’t blow dry my hair. I don’t have the time nor the inclination. It’s just not me. I don’t wear gel either. I mean, yeah, when I left there I felt well cool and women were looking at me more than usual. I felt good tbf. Now though, I look more 1930 than 2000. In fact, more than a few have remarked it’s very similar to Hitler’s and I agree and it’s because I refuse to blow dry it and I’ve just let it fall in a wedge and brush it across every 5 minutes with my hands. The point of the story is it sums up how men are changing. Not saying it’s a bad thing. It’s just happening.
So for me, in the current climate, Henderson is the worthiest captain for both Liverpool and England. I’ll be honest, after a shave I do sometimes put Nivea on because my skin dries, so forget that connection, it’s understandable. He’s got the leadership qualities in the dressing room and he’s got the leadership qualities on the pitch. Plus, who else is it gonna be it at Liverpool? Lallana, Coutinho? Firmino? No chance. Milner is too quiet I’d guess though comes closest. As for England, I actually very much respect Rooney. I’d be a hypocrite to mention the grannies. I think he’s been an absolutely quality player and a top bloke but he’s coming to an end. Step up Ali, Walcott, Townsend, Lingard – it’s not happening.
There is an argument over some of the defenders but they’re all pretty shit and certainly characterless.
Henderson was captain tonight on merit in every way and more and should get the role full time. If anyone can come up with a better shout then I’m all ears (with a few hairs coming out of them these days).
Sounds like Robins been nipping at the hair of the dog
Blogs like this, although well intended, can have a habit of making Henderson sound a bit like a charity case, like he’s only got to where he is because he’s a plucky young fellow that managers want to give a chance to due to his effort. Let’s make one thing clear – you don’t get to captain club and country in the hypercompetitive world of football today unless you have genuine talent.
Henderson has played under three Liverpool managers and three England managers, all of which could have dropped him from their teams had they not rated him. None did, and three of them made him captain. Is it likely all these top level managers are wrong about Henderson? Those inside the sport know that when Henderson is fit and in form he is a real asset to a team and the numbers of goals he’s been involved in over recent months is testament to that.
Is he captain material? Well, his teammates obviously respect him, he has a good temperament on and off the pitch, and Klopp in particular clearly finds he can work with him. We know Henderson is determined and we know he is humble enough to admit his deficiencies (which he usually then tries to work on). He may not be the raging bull that Steven Gerrard was but few are likely to be. Henderson is his own man and he not only deserves to be captain he is capable of being captain, no matter what his critics say.
Add the Liverpool captain with lots of experience under the belt, Hendo is a good stop-gap for captain but that’s all.
I don’t think his place is nailed on, for say, the next 3-5 years. Yes he will be in and around the England squad/team, but not first name down on the team sheet.
I can see Dier or Stones,(once he learns he is a CB not Xavi), getting the gig long term.
He works hard. He doesn’t back down. He seems to be a great pro. He’s loyal. He can adapt and learn from a great manager. He proves people wrong – not just fans, pundits and journalists but top class managers. He’s got passion. He’ll happily take one for the team.
Personally – I think he is improving at 26. He can be the captain of a Liverpool side challenging for the title for the next 5-6 years
Jordan Henderson has determination, grit and some talent – that I have seen so far. However the way some of these articles go on about him makes me wonder if he is of Xavi, Ronaldinho, Zidane, or Gerrard’s caliber of player. If he has what it takes it will show through without everyone trying to make a case for Henderson to be captain each time there’s a flash-in-the-pan performance.
I do not dislike Henderson nor have I booed him or other players as I don’t understand that kind of demoralizing behavior towards athletes, especially our own, when we don’t always know why they aren’t giving their best. In that regard then I would love nothing more than for Henderson to lift the league title along with his teammates, whether he is captain or not on that day.
I just don’t think he ever will reach the heights of the above mentioned players that made them certain fit for captaincy. It is not due to his running style like Whiskey Nose stated. I just think he does not have the skills to change the game and the mental strength that served the above mentioned players in various situations they and their teammates were in, week in week out – consistency was key.
These players strike/struck fear in the hearts of the opposing team, and rallied their team on more than one occasion, single-handedly at times, even when things look like they’re done, both on club and world stages. Given Liverpool’s history, this is a big ask — maybe for Sunderland, winning some nice awards every now and then, makes Henderson a sure bet.
Anyways, Manchester United will be another strong test. If Henderson is captain, then I expect nothing less than for him to lead us through to victory even, (and I hope not), if we are 3-0 down at half time on Monday.
So up the Reds!!!
Hendo is a puzzle to me. I understand why Liverpool supporters didn’t fancy him initially (as I was certainly one of them). But after his response to the Dempsey debacle and his rise in importance in 13/14, I struggle to understand it now. Besides all the admirable qualities mentioned in this article (kudos, John), Hendo’s stats are well decent. Yes, he needs to score more but his chance creation and assists for a deeper-lying midfielder are good. Of course he is no Gerrard, but who is? (If he was given the penalty-taking responsibility from StevieG, Hendo would now have a good scoring record, something often forgotten when goal stats are considered. For instance, he’d be our leading scorer this season to date.)
What really puzzles me is why England supporters don’t fancy him. He really is a model of perseverance and guts. He could so easily be the nation’s darling. Yer after a great performance, there’s the damning him with feint praise. After an average performance, there’s the damning him because he didn’t win the game singlehandedly.
Anyway, I don’t care about what other supporters think. And maybe I should care about what Liverpool supporters think. But I’ve come to the conclusion that Hendo relishes proving people wrong.
At 26, his best years are ahead and that bodes well for all of us. One criticism of Hendo in the past is that for all his self-confidence, he did defer to stronger players. Perhaps it was partly selfishness, perhaps it was being a little overawed (playing next to Gerrard, it’s understandable), but he made them look good (if you know what I mean), and played within himself. He is now maturing and the captaincy makes him curb these natural tendencies. I reckon he’ll make his critics eat their own words over the next 3-4 years.
There is more than one way to be a leader of men and I think Hendo’s indomitable will is underrated. I suspect he is the one you look at before engaging the enemy and know there is no bend there. Sometimes that alone can ease doubts and give strength. He doesn’t necessarily need to be bombastic and hugely charismatic, we have another man to provide that currently.
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And—which is more—you’ll be a Captain my son. !
Up the Reds’ own Jordan Henderson!