Sunday, October 19, 2014

AMAZING HOW MUCH BETTERTHEY ARE WHEN YOU PLAY THEM WHERE THEY BELONG...:

Jordan Henderson: The evolution of Liverpool FC's vice captain (Kristian Walsh, 10/16/14, Lierpool Echo)

[I]t is forgotten just how promising Henderson had been at Sunderland – and then how he played too often, and too much out of position, in his first season on Merseyside.

He arrived at Liverpool as a midfielder who had created 83 chances in 2010/11 for Sunderland, aged just 20. He contributed in seven of the Black Cats' 45 league goals, made 1,334 successful passes and won 62 tackles.

But then he became a young player stationed out wide, scared to open up defences with passing, and limited in what he could do in the final third.

Henderson didn't simply develop – he evolved. Here's the five stages of evolution he has underwent during his time under Rodgers and how, gradually, Henderson has become the player he has.

Henderson arrived at Liverpool with a reputation of being a player with good delivery with his right foot, and with the ability to run from deep and cause problems in the opposition's area. But in his first season at Anfield, he scored just twice, contributed one direct assist and created just 31 chances.

When he was given his chance under Rodgers, he was moved from his deeper, peripheral role on the right, to a more advanced role, either central or tucked inside off the wing. Of his five goals scored, three came from late runs from deep, with his intelligence undoing the high defensive lines. He also assisted four goals and made 33 chances.

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