Allen

[Modo]

My bad, not a "a few games," but only one game vs Everton.

But is displaced really the right word? Wasn't Reina injured/suspended?

 

[the_khl]

Allen has been getting himself into goalscoring positions throughout all pre-season and he scored a couple of important goals last season. I have no doubt he will create or score some goals if he gets an extended run in the team.

Coutinho of course offers more direct threat, but in the end it's about the balance in the team as a whole. Suppose you have Suarez back and he forms a good productive partnership with either Aspas or Moses. So with Sturridge cementing his place at #9, you now have 3 players with direct goal threat and enough skill and guile to make things happen - all they need is a consistent supply. In this case, Coutinho better stop giving the ball away like he does now - otherwise it will be very easy to make a case that a player like Allen is better suited to complement our attacking 3.

Look at last season, how many twists and turns there were in terms of personnel? Sterling and Suso were starting 11 players for a stretch, Wisdom played at RB and Johnson at LB, Downing was frozen out of the team and laughed at, then used as a LB and laughed at, then he became our starting RW for the rest of the season. Henderson looked completely devoid of confidence in the first half of the season and fans were giving him all kind of abuse (remember what people were saying when he missed that 1 on 1 chance in Europa league?), then he proved himself more useful than the ailing Allen and became a crowd favorite. Carra started on the bench and finished as an almost indispensable player, Enrique seemed like he was on the way out, then he was tried in midfield, now he is firmly established as a starter. Even Jones displaced Reina for a few starts.

The team is a living evolving organism and the only thing that's certain is that by the end of the season it will look very different than in the beginning. That Allen didn't play in the first 3 games means next to nothing. He is a good player, he is versatile and the manager knows his qualities. He will definitely have an important role to play this season and to think otherwise based on the first 3 games is just silly.

Good post.

I am however not in agreement with regards to Allen when you say he'll score and assist if used further upfield. I too think he started promising but my main gripe with him, apart from the fact he hasn't been used even a sub when we needed to make hold of the ball, is the fact he seems to lack attacking vision/creativity. At least when it comes to the forward pass, the final pass, setting the attackers in play.

One thing is what his stats shows from his time in Swansea another is what he has showed in around 40 games for us. A goal in EL and a goal in the FA Cup to show, and while I agree that certainly isn't what he should be judged upon from his positions mainly played I would be extremely surprised to see him being moved further forward.

He's the type of player that needs options all around him and he'll pass the ball around quickly, however early signs indicates that he's not capable of doing that further forward, where the gaps are narrow and the defenders aplenty.

I hope I am wrong if it comes to him being our 8/10 but I doubt it. From what I've seen so far.

 

[Red Mullet]

He won by default.

Actually he didn't. Maybe it was too early in his career but Sterling lost that position after starting so well.

I'm glad Downing moved to West Ham, he was no way good enough and definitely not worth the transfer fee but he did a job and that's about it. There's no need to revise history to fit your agenda, Modo.

 

[rurikbird]

But is displaced really the right word? Wasn't Reina injured/suspended?

I just looked it up, Everton was the only game when Reina was available to play but Jones started. I remember some fans wanted to stick with Jones after Reina came back from injury, but Rodgers decided otherwise and fortunately Reina's form improved.

 

[Modo]

Actually he didn't. Maybe it was too early in his career but Sterling lost that position after starting so well.

I'm glad Downing moved to West Ham, he was no way good enough and definitely not worth the transfer fee but he did a job and that's about it. There's no need to revise history to fit your agenda, Modo.

Do I need an agenda?

OK he displaced an 18 year old. Well done to him.

 

[Red Mullet]

Do I need an agenda?

OK he displaced an 18 year old. Well done to him.

No, you already have an agenda.

 

[TSD]

All good players become wank every now and then. It only becomes problematic when the wankness in form is looking anything but temporary. Thankfully, we've a manager who's above playing favourites and is able to bench his own £15m signing and send the other £11m striker off on loan when called for.

 

[StevieM]

Coutinho creates goals even scores now and then. Allen doesn't.

Henderson the easy choice but seriously we are looking so very thin in that dep. It's almost criminal.

Had the money for Alberto and Illori (both may turn great but not quite needed now) instead been used to buy Eriksen, Ljaljic etc. we would be looking at an amazing and balanced squad.

Can not believe Rodgers can't see this too...

I'm looking forward to your weekly updates on Eriksen's progress at Spurs and how much of a tragedy it was we didn't sign him. 🙂

 

[ILD]

I think we were mad not to sign him at the price. But this is an Allen thread. 😉

 

[the_khl]

I'm looking forward to your weekly updates on Eriksen's progress at Spurs and how much of a tragedy it was we didn't sign him. 🙂

As I've already said elsewhere, he's now out of our reach and as such of little interest to the general Liverpool-fan going forward.

I had however to comment on him in this thread as he was pretty much the player we should've gone for seeing as we are now talking about Allen in this position. It's not really an opinion, it's a fact, no matter how fat, slow whatever our scouts came up with, the amateurs.

Just for the record, as I know a LOT of posters can not wait for him to fail and tell me so - which I believe is only fair having had to put up with me talking about him for years - I expect to be offered a job as scout for our club in the near future if I was indeed right.

Again.

*BIGCHEESYGRINANDSLIGHTLYWORRIEDLOOKOVERTHESHOULDER*