We need to talk about Joe Allen...

[Red Astaire]

He has to be one of the most 'meh' players I've seen in years. That's not to say I think he is shit. He can do stuff. He can for example pass it sideways to someone 3 yards away. He can also close people down without really winning the ball. He doesn't score and he's not exactly a dynamic defense splitting passer. He's not a defensive midfield enforcer. So really what the fuck is the point of Joe Allen? Rolls Royce? Pffffffft!

Please someone with footy nous tell me he's one of those unsung heroes that does loads of work that goes unnoticed. Because I for one don't notice him at all.

 

[Mamma Mia]

He has to be one of the most 'meh' players I've seen in years. That's not to say I think he is shit. He can do stuff. He can for example pass it sideways to someone 3 yards away. He can also close people down without really winning the ball. He doesn't score and he's not exactly a dynamic defense splitting passer. He's not a defensive midfield enforcer. So really what the fuck is the point of Joe Allen? Rolls Royce? Pffffffft!

Please someone with footy nous tell me he's one of those unsung heroes that does loads of work that goes unnoticed. Because I for one don't notice him at all.

Remember when Mr Rodgers was all about Death by Football? Joe Allen works in a team set up like that.

 

[Red Astaire]

Are you a fan MM?

 

[Mamma Mia]

Are you a fan MM?

I have this weird condition which leads me to be a fan of all our players. I'm happy to keep him in the squad.

 

[red_maradona]

How is he for Wales out of curiosity?

 

[tony]

I have this weird condition which leads me to be a fan of all our players. I'm happy to keep him in the squad.

Even the crap ones?

 

[Hansern]

He's a good player but he's one of those players who cant start every type of game imho.
Shame he's been unlucky with injuries as they've come when he's been about to find some decent form.

Struggles with concistency and dont offer enough to be a regular starter. Brilliant against City and then just nowhere to be seen against Utd. Totally dominated by Fellaini.
I'd keep him as a squad player but we need better to replace Gerrard and play next to Hendo/Can.

 

[davud graham]

He wouldn't get in any our our rivals teams or even on their benches probably and i don't think he going to get any stronger or faster. We could have gotten much better players for 15 million than him.

 

[Mamma Mia]

Even the crap ones?

Pretty much. Borini and Balotelli test my limits.

 

[Squiggles]

I do think he's got talent and I saw enough of him at Swansea to think he could develop into a very good player. The problem is you can count the number of games he has made a big impact on one hand and he doesn't have the level of talent to be pushing this club forward.

He's not one that needs to be forced out the door, but we should be welcoming good offers for him and reinvesting the cash.

 

[gkmacca]

I've always liked him, but he's never going to be a widely appreciated player. At his best he's a team's metronome. Or Metro Gnome. He's brilliant at making the machine hum. But next season is make or break. He was reduced to doing bits and pieces in his first year. He was left to cope with filling in around a deep-playing Gerrard and Lucas last season. This season he's been given his proper role in a few games and reverted back to bits and pieces in other games. Next season he needs to be given his head and pushed on to prove himself. But, quietly and unobtrusively, he can make a classy team coherent.

 

[FoxForceFive]

That last few words macca sums up what I was going to write.

I think in a team playing well & playing good passing football he will be able to make it all tick.

I doubt he will ever be the type of player to change a game dramatically though.

 

[gkmacca]

Yes. One thing I think he'd end is the mindless faffing around at the back. Mignolet can give it to a defender, the defender can give it to Allen, and Allen will actually pick a simple but sensible pass to get the team moving. He weaves things together really well.

 

[mr_moo]

He's shite Astaire, there you go. Another terrible Rogers signing. 15 fucking million!!!

 

[gkmacca]

We overpaid for him, I don't think there's any debate about that. But that's not his fault. Ignore the fee and look at the player next season and I think he'll impress.

 

[Ryan]

Only Joe Allen could get criticised after a game he didn't play in.

This site sucks shite sometimes.

 

[mark1975]

He can turn on a six pence, which is invaluable in the middle of the park, when we're in free flow it's a great asset to have, I also thought he got a bit of unfair stick against Hull, he broke up alot of attacks and distributed it well, he also tried to support which is a big ask when protecting the backline. But these games don't come enough, you get two games out of him and a run of games where he's anonymous and fruitless, but if you look at the way Lucas has matured into a really useful asset, he could grow into that role.

Has he been a success? I think by and large for the fee, you have to say no. Same with Lallana, both elegant footballers and fairly technical for British players, but the end product doesn't really justify the £40m outlay, so it's difficult to not be underwhelmed. Both are fine technicians as I've said, they get the tags of the "thinking mans footballer", but it's all tosh really when ultimately statistically we expect more. Coutinho gets some stick for the games where he tries to force the play but constantly concedes possession, so I guess it's down to what side of the fence you're on. Personally I like to see players brave it and try things, even if they don't come off, we've suffered for decades now having loads of nice guys who play within themselves.

 

[mark1975]

Only Joe Allen could get criticised after a game he didn't play in.

This site sucks shite sometimes.

Yes Ryan, he's getting stick for yesterday. Maybe someone decided to review his career with us, as opposed to say, coming on here and telling everyone they're really stupid when he strings two decent performances together.

 

[Ryan]

Yes Ryan, he's getting stick for yesterday. Maybe someone decided to review his career with us, as opposed to say, coming on here and telling everyone they're really stupid when he strings to decent performances together.

Kinda like the way you got all high and mighty after Rodgers strung 3 wins togethor in the middle of the season Mark?

Get fucked.

 

[Tinto]

He can turn on a six pence, which is invaluable in the middle of the park, when we're in free flow it's a great asset to have, I also thought he got a bit of unfair stick against Hull, he broke up alot of attacks and distributed it well, he also tried to support which is a big ask when protecting the backline. But these games don't come enough, you get two games out of him and a run of games where he's anonymous and fruitless, but if you look at the way Lucas has matured into a really useful asset, he could grow into that role.

Has he been a success? I think by and large for the fee, you have to say no. Same with Lallana, both elegant footballers and fairly technical for British players, but the end product doesn't really justify the £40m outlay, so it's difficult to not be underwhelmed. Both are fine technicians as I've said, they get the tags of the "thinking mans footballer", but it's all tosh really when ultimately statistically we expect more. Coutinho gets some stick for the games where he tries to force the play but constantly concedes possession, so I guess it's down to what side of the fence you're on. Personally I like to see players brave it and try things, even if they don't come off, we've suffered for decades now having loads of nice guys who play within themselves.

I think that's a fair summary of Allen's (and Lallana's) career with us so far.

Both are decent squad players. We've had far worse players cluttering up the squad in the past.

 

[mark1975]

Kinda like the way you got all high and mighty after Rodgers strung 3 wins togethor in the middle of the season Mark?

Get fucked.

Haha. That's a run that lasts about a game longer than Joe Allen's good form, so as you were.

 

[Dahuge]

He is definitely a meh player, he just lacks too many of the qualities for a top class midfielder.

A top class midfielder needs to have :

Power
Pace
Technique
Vision
Goals
Strength
Assists

Out of them he has maybe one. So a waste of money, there would have been better for 15 million.

Who, out of the other top four teams is he better than, none...

 

[Red Astaire]

Only Joe Allen could get criticised after a game he didn't play in.

This site sucks shite sometimes.

I wasn't commenting on yesterday lad. I was merely pointing out a pertinent fact. I know (having had the 'pleasure' of sitting next to you during a game) that you think you know a thing or two about the tactical side of the game. He seems so anonymous - What the hell am I missing? As far I'm concerned he acts as a passing lynchpin between the defence and the midfield. He does an ok job there but surely we can do better? Some have pointed out that he would be nowhere near any of our rivals first team and I have to agree. Seems a decent enough guy and competent but squad player at best right?

 

[Rosco]

Only Joe Allen could get criticised after a game he didn't play in.

This site sucks shite sometimes.

If he'd played shite yesterday and this thread had arisen you'd call it reactionary bollocks.

Allen is barely Premiership standard. Barely.

If we were to make him available tomorrow it would be a very short queue of interested parties trying to get him

 

[Buddha]

If he'd played shite yesterday and this thread had arisen you'd call it reactionary bollocks.

Allen is barely Premiership standard. Barely.

If we were to make him available tomorrow it would be a very short queue of interested parties trying to get him

Back to Swansea for 5m...

 

[Glen C]

He really is a bang average player. Its not like if he left he'd be missed. So many players could quite easily play his role and offer more.

 

[Red Astaire]

I have this weird condition which leads me to be a fan of all our players. I'm happy to keep him in the squad.

Annoyingly I'm the same. At least 95% of the time anyway. I'm even worse with new signings. I guess that's part of being a massive football fan right?.

 

[Cerberus]

He's a little manc gayer. A fucking sideways little manc gayer to be exact.

 

[Insignificance]

Are we still discussimg the "Welsh Xavi"? By saying this Our socalled Manager shows he doesnt know what Footie at this Level is all about!!!

 

[juniormember]

We should have gone all out and brought back the Spanish Xabi last year.