The Jordan Henderson Debate

After England’s opening game win, the focus turned on Jordan Henderson. For some he was abject and lacked quality, for others he was tremendous and was England’s best player. What does this say about the way a player like Henderson is seen in England?

The pressure was high on England. It always is in these tournaments. Let's not fool ourselves. While this time it was made out that the pressure wasn't high or that expectations weren’t ‘unrealistic’, the truth is that we all hope that this is the tournament where it clicks and we can make it a success. And I'm sure the squad and coaching staff want to go all the way. We should be ambitious and aim high, we have always had good players, yet it just hasn’t worked out. Something happened, or we froze at the critical moment. 

We don’t often win many of our first games and this has added to the pressure and inevitable criticism. Getting a win this time is very important and positive. At 1-1 the pressure appeared to be there again, the critique of individuals, the perceived negativity of the players, the excuses of the climate, the system, the sense that England were choking again - please don't put Martin Keown on commentary for England games please! I mean I thought we were trying to support our team, not kill them at the first mistake. Yet it doesn't surprise me in our negative culture. 

So THANK GOD Harry Kane scored and won the game. Talk about relieving the pressure! Because although people could criticise and pass judgement, England got the win. And that is ultimately the key. We got some really good football too! Yes they scored with two set pieces – but they were very well worked set pieces – and when the majority of goals so far are the result of set pieces, it points to the upmost importance of executing with attacking and defending set piece situations; the little details, the importance of taking responsibility, of being focused and communication, the innovative movements and subtle ‘dark arts’ which could unlock a defence and get that important goal. England showed they could produce in these situations. 

And yet it is easy to throw out the “England can only score in set pieces” and forget how impressive they played throughout the game, particularly the first 20 minutes. We saw energy, fluidity, creativity, purpose and dynamism. It was fantastic! And it was only denied being given more credit because of some poor finishing – yet this can improve - as confidence grows and players grow into the tournament you hope they can show even more.  

Tactically we looked fluid; Kane was dropping deep – playing not just the ‘classic 9’ role and players were breaking lines beyond him. It was how we hoped we could see an England team play. More fluid, less rigid. More speed and skill, less functional and predictable. And yet Lingard, Alli and Sterling were all criticised for their performances – how much we enjoy knocking players down! And who else suffered most? Jordan Henderson. And this is where we will focus now. 

The Henderson role 

Let’s talk about his role for England. The team make up was effectively; three centre backs, two wing backs playing wide, a holding midfielder, three attacking midfielders in front and a roaming No.9 who drops deeper to allow for runners beyond. Effectively a 3-3-3-1. It is a very attacking formation and one which allows fluidity in attack, movement and interchange and licence for the four attackers to go forward. It then leaves effectively one central midfielder to marshall the midfield. And that was Jordan Henderson. 

Now you can argue that against better teams this approach could more susceptible to being exploited – however you can see Southgate employing a Guardiola type wing backs playing inside to bolster the central areas. Yet there was that 3-1 set up which many would argue is a strong defensive base for transitons. His role also allowed players like Maguire to drive forward. It was very pleasing to see. And compared to Germany’s very open fluid system England looked secure, while Germany left themselves very susceptible to counter attacks, England didn’t look vulnerable in these situations. And the reason was Henderson. 

England looked balance and comfortable – granted against an average side – but they only looked vulnerable due to mistakes and errors made by themselves in their build up. They should not change how they seek to build up and control possession, they will only improve in these situations and we must embrace the process of this philosophy to keep improving. Quitting due to some errors is folly, yet a mentality many seem to possess at the first sign of concern. No wonder we don't make the progress - we hit the restart button too often. Trust the process, provide more options and support, let the players develop more intelligence and poise, and it will develop and improve. 

What is he? What does he do?

Henderson is a key part of this build up philosophy. The issue however seems to be the criticism aimed at him as to what his role really is. Those who have seen Henderson at Liverpool have seen a player who has found his place in the team under Klopp as a deep lying midfielder who retains and recycles possession – a continuity player. It seems people aren’t happy with this role. Henderson is seen as negative, a sideways/backwards player, a wasted option or just scared of taking risks. 

Ok, there are times when Henderson looks to take the safe option, when he could turn and play/drive forward, where he could take more ‘risks’. Yes he could play forward more, perhaps. But his role is pretty clear to me, and that is not to take too many risks, to not try to spread ‘Hollywood’ balls around the pitch, but to be more of a short passer who looks to switch play to create space by moving the opposition with switching play and opening passing lanes for others. However in an analysis of him after the game ITV showed some excellent forward passes - which created chances. But the haters will tell you he never played a forward pass!

The role Henderson plays is actually a role which requires discipline and intelligence, a strictness in play where the risk/reward option needs to be weighed up quickly. Retention and ball circulation is key. Ironically compare him to Gerrard in this role, Gerrard saw it as the playmaker role – the Alonso/Veron role – and to be honest he was wasteful and poor in this position. Too many losses of possession, which means turnovers and transitions. This is not what England want. They have learnt that too many turnovers is not good for tournament football. Controlling the game is better. And Henderson controls the game. Is it flash? No. But he is doing his part for the team, not for him. He is showing maturity in his play, and yet many criticise him and say he’s not good enough. 

He may well continue to improve in this role and show more ability to turn and play forward to break lines – like Toni Kroos, probably the best player at breaking lines with passes in the game - but if it’s not broke don’t fix it (yet). Henderson has just helped his team reach the Champions League final as captain. He is showing a quality in his play now which warrants his place in the England team – and while we can talk about his ‘in possession’ play, which can be criticised due to your beliefs or bias, then why not look at what Henderson brings to the teams he plays for. 

Evidence of growth mindset

The idea of ‘growth mindset’ is used too often and frequenltly these days and is attributed to many things. I believe that Jordan Henderson is a great example of what growth mindset actually looks like. 

When he moved to Liverpool he was a right midfielder brought for a lot of money (very inflated fee at the time) because of his analytics – him and Downing were the players who created the most chances for their teams. However it didn’t really work out well for Henderson at Liverpool. The Andy Carroll experiment didn’t work and Henderson became the scapegoat. There was talk of him being sold, that he wasn’t good enough etc. And yet he worked hard, developed his game and eventually grew into a leader of the team. What a journey! 

People laughed when Gerrard left and Henderson said he could step into Gerrard’s shoes and lead the team. And yet he did it. He proved many people wrong. What I like about Henderson is that he has found a way to fit in and be relevant. Many players want to be the star, the individual, but Henderson has embraced the role of team player. He plays for the team. Does what the team needs. In terms of his football ability he has developed his game from a right midfielder, to a box to box midfielder to this deep lying, holding midfielder. And he is improving each season. His game intelligence is improving, his range of passing is enhanced and his decision making is becoming much better - an essential requirement for top level players. 

As a person he has developed his leadership skills, he shows maturity in his play as well as his communication. He has become an important player for his respective teams and coaches trust him to do the job they need from him. A role without ego. A role for the team. He works extremely hard for the team, runs and covers for others, does the little things which other players appreciate and which coaches see – which perhaps others watching on TV, behind their bias, don’t wish to see. He is a grafter, a worker, he is the engine room, providing the base for others to express and play. 

The role of the holding midfielder has become so important for the game, with players dropping between units, with deep lying forwards, with the importance of counter attacks – and stopping them – that without a defensive midfielder to cover the defence, to cover the holes in those central areas, you could leave yourself very open and vulnerable – eg. Germany versus Mexico.

The need to see flaws and not strengths

For some reason there’s a bias against Henderson, a sense of arrogance that he doesn’t do what ‘they’ want him to do. That he should be better, that he should pass forward more, that he is negative etc. But they fail to appreciate what he actually DOES! They don’t want to see him for what he brings to the team. Just like Michael Carrick – a player so deeply under-appreciated by the majority of people – that he wasn’t even really considered to be good enough to be an England player. And yet this was a player who was integral part of the best team in England. How ignorant and naïve we are as a football nation. 

It’s why our Golden Generation failed so often – if only we had understood and appreciated the need for a holding midfielder – perhaps Lampard and Gerrard could have actually worked! But no, we stuck to our concepts of 4-4-2, left ourselves unbalanced, open and exposed. Henderson shows how important the role is, but it is not flash, it doesn’t need to be. It’s a selfless role. One which requires discipline, focus, intelligence and work rate. Henderson shows all this in his play. I actually believe that Henderson is preferred to Eric Dier because of the energy and leadership which Henderson provides. Dier has shown lapses of concentration and a lack of dynamism at times this season. Based on which can be trusted and relied on, Henderson wins.

I expect Henderson to develop further, to embrace this role more, to learn and master it more in the coming months and years, because he shows this growth mindset – this willingness to improve. That mentality to develop. He is a great lesson to young players; to overcome adversity, to keep learning and getting better, and to always give your best. 

It’s hard to criticise Henderson because you can’t fault someone who gives their all, who works tirelessly and who works for the team. I believe he will get better in possession in the coming seasons, as he grows into the position more and develops more awareness, confidence and precision to become even better. But let’s appreciate what he offers now. 

We all have our opinions and bias, sometimes fed from the media narrative or from our own cultural bias/experiences, but I hope that whenever England finish this tournament (hopefully at the very end – as winners of course) that we start to see the appreciation of Jordan Henderson. 

I’d like us to change how we judge before praise, how we look at what players can’t do, and not what they can do. Perhaps if we were more positive and less judgemental and critical we may actually be a more positive place – which may actually allow our players to develop into great players. Environment after all is key. And pleasingly for Henderson he has an environment at club and country which appreciates him for what HE offers.

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