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JORDAN HENDERSON’S early achievements at Brentford should not surprise anyone in the football community.
There were raised eyebrows when the club brought the 35-year-old back after his time in Saudi Arabia and Amsterdam.
Jordan Henderson is set to ensure Brentford remains in the Premier League despite the loss of glamour.
The star won everything during his tenure at Liverpool.
This is particularly true following a summer in which they lost their manager, captain, and two key strikers.
If I were looking to sign players over the past summer, he would have been at the top of my list as well.
Signing a veteran like him may not seem glamorous, but he will play a crucial role in keeping Brentford in the Premier League this year, which I believe they will achieve.
After all the changes over the summer, having someone dependable is essential.
With Jordan, you know exactly what you’re getting: an absolutely top-class professional.
He was the captain who led his team to win the title.
Just observe how he conducts himself.
He will be in training every day, maintaining high standards for everyone — both young and old.
Players like him are invaluable when things are going well and — as they inevitably do at times — when they are not.
The staff and squad will be able to leverage his experience and knowledge during challenging moments.
Henderson remains a key player for England despite his age.
You don't have a career like his, with so many appearances for England and numerous trophies with Liverpool, without being a good person, a devoted family man, and a dedicated athlete.
He will be a fantastic influence in the locker room and among the players. The dressing room can be quite challenging. As a manager, you aren’t always present.
You need someone inside who you can rely on to keep everyone in check.
I had a few older players during my time at Portsmouth, and it’s not always easy to convince fans or owners that you’re making the right decisions — but they truly make a difference.
During our final push for promotion, I signed Paul Merson (34), Steve Stone (31), and Tim Sherwood (33).
Once we reached the Premier League, I also brought in Teddy Sheringham, who was 37 at the time.
I sought players who were great professionals and could also contribute on the field.
PREM'S PRESSURE POINT
PREMIER LEAGUE managers are aware of what they sign up for, but the early sackings and noise this season have been astonishing.
We have already witnessed Nuno Espirito Santo being dismissed by Nottingham Forest, only to replace Graham Potter after he was let go at West Ham.
Ange Postecoglou, who took over Nuno’s position at Forest, is already facing fan backlash and calls for his dismissal.
It’s undeniable that he has had a poor start to his tenure. However, he cannot be expected to walk in and make an instant impact — he has had little time to influence the games.
There is no denying that Forest overachieved last season.
A few players have lost form, and one or two have departed.
He faces a significant task and must be evaluated over the entire season.
Enzo Maresca has also faced some scrutiny regarding his future at Chelsea.
The knee-jerk reactions to a few results are ludicrous. He has key players absent, even with a large squad. Even when fully fit, Chelsea has its own issues.
They have too many players. I could never tell you their best team — there are two players for every position, and not much separates them.
That sounds excellent, but it makes it very challenging to select a team and keep everyone satisfied.
If things remain unfavorable at some clubs and changes are made in January, that’s acceptable. However, it is quite unfair to place pressure on managers at this moment.
These were players who had been there and done it at the highest level.
Like Henderson, Sherwood had captained a team to the Premier League title during his time at Blackburn Rovers.
In tough situations, you need individuals you can rely on, whom players will respect and look up to immediately.
Henderson has also demonstrated that he is more than just an experienced player.
