Dalglish's Dilemma - 'The Four Flops'
Stewart Downing, Jordan Henderson, Charlie Adam and Andy Carroll have cost Liverpool around £80m. Not one has had a successful full début season at Anfield. The idea of merely writing them off as a collective group of failures and moving them all on for huge financial loss would obviously be folly and will not happen but crucial decisions have to be made on all of them individually this summer. If all four players are still part of the Liverpool squad going in to next Premier League campaign it will be a surprise and a disappointment to most supporters.
Henderson: Technically sound but where is belief?
Of the four big money signings, Henderson is probably the safest bet to still be plying his trade at Anfield next season. He is still just 21 years old and has obvious technical ability. He has however, seemed to suffer from a chronic lack of confidence and people have questioned whether he has the mentality to make it on such a big stage as Liverpool. The confidence issue seems to have been compounded from being played on the right hand side of midfield, a role where he has looked at best uncomfortable and at worst totally lost. This is backed up by the fact that he has performed far better and looked far more at ease during the games where he has been moved into a more central position.
The problem that Henderson faces when it comes to winning over the supporters is that he simply doesn't stand out. 'What does he do?' is the oft asked question. He is neither a dominant ball winning defensive midfielder nor an attacking midfielder who looks like he will produce goals or assists on a regular basis. When you throw in the caveat that he is playing in a team that has severely lacked both of these qualities for much of the season his short comings have been made even more noticeable. In all fairness to Henderson though, he has never been and probably never will be a player that will prosper in such roles. His Liverpool career thus far seems to lend credence to the notion that he is a player who would thrive on being the middle man in a three man midfield. His energy and effective short passing would allow him to get up and down the pitch and link Liverpool's play together. Rather than being a player who will obviously excel to the masses, he seems destined to be one of the unsung midfielders that rarely receive praise in this country due to the understated role that they fill. It is a position that was perfected by Tiago at Chelsea during Jose Mourinho's first season in England. It is not a headline grabbing position, but in any variation of a 433 formation that all round midfielder is crucial and Henderson does seem to posses the required attributes and ability to do that job.
The question that Liverpool's manager must answer is whether he wants to play a system with 3 central midfielders because if that isn't the case then Henderson just doesn't serve much of a purpose to the side at the moment. If Dalglish wants his Liverpool team to play predominantly with just two players in central midfield then Henderson would have to try and alter his playing style and basically learn to play in a manner that does not come naturally to him. He can play centrally in a two man midfield right now but not effectively enough for a club like Liverpool. As suggested earlier, if Liverpool decide to play with just two central midfielders then Henderson would have to become either the overtly defensive or the more threatening attacking central midfielder that he has not yet looked like being. He could still play on the right of midfield as he has done predominantly this season of course, but he offers little attacking threat there also, due to his lack of any explosive pace or skill to beat opposing full backs. Sure, he'll keep the ball for you and maintain possession but he wont be looking to beat his man with any regularity and he doesn't posses the instincts of a player like Maxi Rodriguez who will start his runs from deep and end up in goals scoring positions.
Henderson has been somewhat of a victim of Liverpool's inconsistent tactical approach this season but that does not exempt him from criticism entirely. Whatever role Dalglish has asked him to fill, Henderson has rarely looked to impose himself on a game. He too often takes the easy option of a safe, short pass and rarely attempts to take the game by the scruff of the neck and drive his team forward. Perhaps this is down to his age and a lack of confidence on the big stage but it is a side to his game that badly needs to be improved upon. In comparison to Liverpool's other young midfielder Jonjo Shelvey (who has far less Premier League experience), Henderson is badly lacking an arrogant swagger in his game. Shelvey has much to prove still and may never make it at Anfield but he tries things and plays with a confidence and belief that belies his lack of top level footballing experience. When things don't come off for him he doesn't go into his shell, he simply tries again and again and this approach has impressed the Anfield faithful. If Henderson is to succeed at Liverpool it will not simply be a case of being played in a role or position that suits him but also because he eventually starts taking more responsibility.
The main saving grace for Henderson is that in today's cautious tactical climate the vast majority of teams play a variation of 433 these days (which often means that Liverpool must do the same, at least against high quality opposition and especially away from Anfield) and if a natural right sided player joins the club in the summer then Henderson will have more opportunities to play infield rather than out on the wing. Also, the fact is that despite the criticism of Henderson, Dalglish has more often than not found a place for him in his side regardless of the shape of the team or his form and that shows the huge confidence that his manager has in him. Henderson has the potential to forge out a successful career at Liverpool regardless of what his critics say but the next 12 months will be crucial for him. He needs to take more risks, become more assertive and step up to the plate. He has a lovely first touch, can see a pass and has a great engine but he needs regular games in a position and system that suits him in order to flourish. Only then will people to able to decide whether he has been an expensive flop or a shrewd investment.
Charlie Adam's form dipped dramatically after a decent start at Anfield Charlie Adam signed for £6m from Blackpool and after a bright start to his Liverpool career he faded badly before injury cut his season short several weeks ago. It is notable that early in the season when he was performing well he had the experienced and tactically astute Lucas alongside him in midfield. Following Lucas' enforced absence through injury, Adam suffered more than most and went off the boil dramatically. Without Lucas carrying out his defensive duties in his exemplary manner alongside the Scot, Adam's negative aspects came to the fore. He was unable to cover sufficient ground in midfield to compensate for the Brazilian's absence (Jay Spearing essentially took Lucas' place and just isn't on the same level as the Brazilian which means more work was required from Adam) and he seemed incapable of simply having a steady game, which is often what is required of a central midfielder.
Contrary to popular belief, when Xabi Alonso filled a similar role during his time at Anfield he wasn't scoring from the half way line or producing breath taking moments every five minutes. Of course, he did do a lot of amazing things in a red shirt but one of Alonso's main qualities was the ability to simply make the right decisions and do what was required during matches, even if it wasn't particularly noticeable or eye catching. Sure, his exemplary technique and passing ability still made him stand out but it is Alonso's tactical nous and intelligence that Adam lacks most. Alonso would seldom have a poor game. He would do the things he was good at; maintain possession, make the right decisions when on the ball and anchor the midfield from a deep position. Adam seems incapable of this and his lack of intelligence is the most disappointing part of his game.
He rarely has a consistent half hour let alone a consistent run of 9 or 10 games. He makes the wrong decisions when in possession of the ball far too often. He shoots when he should release the ball to a team mate, dribbles when he should shoot and attempts Hollywood balls when a simple pass will do. The raised arm of apology in acknowledgement of making a poor decision has been more of a common occurrence from Adam this season than anything else and he has frustrated the life out of the supporters.
Making comparisons with Xabi Alonso is slightly unfair on Adam of course. Alonso was (and remains) a world class operator and probably the best exponent of the deep lying play maker role in world football but Liverpool require players of comparable ability if they are to get back to where the were 4 years ago. They need consistent players and in midfield they need intelligence. Charlie Adam just doesn't appear to have the smarts to be a mainstay in a team aspiring to Champions League football.
It would be completely wrong to focus solely on Adam's short comings and it must be acknowledged that for a brief period of time he did have some relatively good games early in his Liverpool career. He has shown flashes of the ability that made him such a star for Blackpool and he does posses an extraordinary left foot that can pick out some sublime passes. The problem is that he doesn't do it on a regular basis. Adam is a mixed bag. Even when he plays well he will do 3 or 4 things in a match that will leave people shaking their heads and wondering what the hell he was attempting. Put simply, he is not a player that Liverpool can rely on at present. The return of Lucas and hopefully having Gerrard and Henderson available at the beginning of next season doesn't offer much hope for Adam's chances of cementing a regular birth in Dalglish's team and that is before you factor in the anticipated signing of another midfielder. If Adam is still a Liverpool player come the end of the summer transfer window then he is a likely to be a squad player at best. Whether he stays or goes probably depends on the player himself. If he is satisfied being a bit part player then he will stay and be a useful option for Dalglish when rotation of the squad is required, otherwise he will be quite easy for Liverpool to move on and the most likely of the four players to recoup their outlay on. It seems to me that unlike Henderson, Downing or Carroll, Charlie Adam must decide what his future holds rather than Liverpool FC or Kenny Dalglish.
Stewart Downing, Jordan Henderson, Charlie Adam and Andy Carroll have cost Liverpool around £80m. Not one has had a successful full début season at Anfield. The idea of merely writing them off as a collective group of failures and moving them all on for huge financial loss would obviously be folly and will not happen but crucial decisions have to be made on all of them individually this summer. If all four players are still part of the Liverpool squad going in to next Premier League campaign it will be a surprise and a disappointment to most supporters.
Henderson: Technically sound but where is belief?
Of the four big money signings, Henderson is probably the safest bet to still be plying his trade at Anfield next season. He is still just 21 years old and has obvious technical ability. He has however, seemed to suffer from a chronic lack of confidence and people have questioned whether he has the mentality to make it on such a big stage as Liverpool. The confidence issue seems to have been compounded from being played on the right hand side of midfield, a role where he has looked at best uncomfortable and at worst totally lost. This is backed up by the fact that he has performed far better and looked far more at ease during the games where he has been moved into a more central position.
The problem that Henderson faces when it comes to winning over the supporters is that he simply doesn't stand out. 'What does he do?' is the oft asked question. He is neither a dominant ball winning defensive midfielder nor an attacking midfielder who looks like he will produce goals or assists on a regular basis. When you throw in the caveat that he is playing in a team that has severely lacked both of these qualities for much of the season his short comings have been made even more noticeable. In all fairness to Henderson though, he has never been and probably never will be a player that will prosper in such roles. His Liverpool career thus far seems to lend credence to the notion that he is a player who would thrive on being the middle man in a three man midfield. His energy and effective short passing would allow him to get up and down the pitch and link Liverpool's play together. Rather than being a player who will obviously excel to the masses, he seems destined to be one of the unsung midfielders that rarely receive praise in this country due to the understated role that they fill. It is a position that was perfected by Tiago at Chelsea during Jose Mourinho's first season in England. It is not a headline grabbing position, but in any variation of a 433 formation that all round midfielder is crucial and Henderson does seem to posses the required attributes and ability to do that job.
The question that Liverpool's manager must answer is whether he wants to play a system with 3 central midfielders because if that isn't the case then Henderson just doesn't serve much of a purpose to the side at the moment. If Dalglish wants his Liverpool team to play predominantly with just two players in central midfield then Henderson would have to try and alter his playing style and basically learn to play in a manner that does not come naturally to him. He can play centrally in a two man midfield right now but not effectively enough for a club like Liverpool. As suggested earlier, if Liverpool decide to play with just two central midfielders then Henderson would have to become either the overtly defensive or the more threatening attacking central midfielder that he has not yet looked like being. He could still play on the right of midfield as he has done predominantly this season of course, but he offers little attacking threat there also, due to his lack of any explosive pace or skill to beat opposing full backs. Sure, he'll keep the ball for you and maintain possession but he wont be looking to beat his man with any regularity and he doesn't posses the instincts of a player like Maxi Rodriguez who will start his runs from deep and end up in goals scoring positions.
Henderson has been somewhat of a victim of Liverpool's inconsistent tactical approach this season but that does not exempt him from criticism entirely. Whatever role Dalglish has asked him to fill, Henderson has rarely looked to impose himself on a game. He too often takes the easy option of a safe, short pass and rarely attempts to take the game by the scruff of the neck and drive his team forward. Perhaps this is down to his age and a lack of confidence on the big stage but it is a side to his game that badly needs to be improved upon. In comparison to Liverpool's other young midfielder Jonjo Shelvey (who has far less Premier League experience), Henderson is badly lacking an arrogant swagger in his game. Shelvey has much to prove still and may never make it at Anfield but he tries things and plays with a confidence and belief that belies his lack of top level footballing experience. When things don't come off for him he doesn't go into his shell, he simply tries again and again and this approach has impressed the Anfield faithful. If Henderson is to succeed at Liverpool it will not simply be a case of being played in a role or position that suits him but also because he eventually starts taking more responsibility.
The main saving grace for Henderson is that in today's cautious tactical climate the vast majority of teams play a variation of 433 these days (which often means that Liverpool must do the same, at least against high quality opposition and especially away from Anfield) and if a natural right sided player joins the club in the summer then Henderson will have more opportunities to play infield rather than out on the wing. Also, the fact is that despite the criticism of Henderson, Dalglish has more often than not found a place for him in his side regardless of the shape of the team or his form and that shows the huge confidence that his manager has in him. Henderson has the potential to forge out a successful career at Liverpool regardless of what his critics say but the next 12 months will be crucial for him. He needs to take more risks, become more assertive and step up to the plate. He has a lovely first touch, can see a pass and has a great engine but he needs regular games in a position and system that suits him in order to flourish. Only then will people to able to decide whether he has been an expensive flop or a shrewd investment.
Charlie Adam's form dipped dramatically after a decent start at Anfield
Contrary to popular belief, when Xabi Alonso filled a similar role during his time at Anfield he wasn't scoring from the half way line or producing breath taking moments every five minutes. Of course, he did do a lot of amazing things in a red shirt but one of Alonso's main qualities was the ability to simply make the right decisions and do what was required during matches, even if it wasn't particularly noticeable or eye catching. Sure, his exemplary technique and passing ability still made him stand out but it is Alonso's tactical nous and intelligence that Adam lacks most. Alonso would seldom have a poor game. He would do the things he was good at; maintain possession, make the right decisions when on the ball and anchor the midfield from a deep position. Adam seems incapable of this and his lack of intelligence is the most disappointing part of his game.
He rarely has a consistent half hour let alone a consistent run of 9 or 10 games. He makes the wrong decisions when in possession of the ball far too often. He shoots when he should release the ball to a team mate, dribbles when he should shoot and attempts Hollywood balls when a simple pass will do. The raised arm of apology in acknowledgement of making a poor decision has been more of a common occurrence from Adam this season than anything else and he has frustrated the life out of the supporters.
Making comparisons with Xabi Alonso is slightly unfair on Adam of course. Alonso was (and remains) a world class operator and probably the best exponent of the deep lying play maker role in world football but Liverpool require players of comparable ability if they are to get back to where the were 4 years ago. They need consistent players and in midfield they need intelligence. Charlie Adam just doesn't appear to have the smarts to be a mainstay in a team aspiring to Champions League football.
It would be completely wrong to focus solely on Adam's short comings and it must be acknowledged that for a brief period of time he did have some relatively good games early in his Liverpool career. He has shown flashes of the ability that made him such a star for Blackpool and he does posses an extraordinary left foot that can pick out some sublime passes. The problem is that he doesn't do it on a regular basis. Adam is a mixed bag. Even when he plays well he will do 3 or 4 things in a match that will leave people shaking their heads and wondering what the hell he was attempting. Put simply, he is not a player that Liverpool can rely on at present. The return of Lucas and hopefully having Gerrard and Henderson available at the beginning of next season doesn't offer much hope for Adam's chances of cementing a regular birth in Dalglish's team and that is before you factor in the anticipated signing of another midfielder. If Adam is still a Liverpool player come the end of the summer transfer window then he is a likely to be a squad player at best. Whether he stays or goes probably depends on the player himself. If he is satisfied being a bit part player then he will stay and be a useful option for Dalglish when rotation of the squad is required, otherwise he will be quite easy for Liverpool to move on and the most likely of the four players to recoup their outlay on. It seems to me that unlike Henderson, Downing or Carroll, Charlie Adam must decide what his future holds rather than Liverpool FC or Kenny Dalglish.
.jpg)
