Can't believe that Liverpool want Allen..........and for £15m. That is ludicrous. Allen can only do two things - pass sideways and back. I couldn't say whether he has pace because he gets rid of the ball as soon as he receives it. Despite the earlier comment he is not a great tackler either. I would take Adam or even Henderson over Allen any day. I see Liverpool are also after DeVries another former Swansea player. He's good but will never replace Raina unless Raina is another one Rodgers is hoping to offload. What the h-ll is going on at Liverpool. The once great club is not in good shape. Old stadium, low revenues compared to other major clubs and a sense that the place is spirallng downwards season by season with a manager who seemingly is trying to buy substandard players . It's a great shame. The Premiership needs a strong Liverpool but it seems to my independent eye that things are getting worse.
Really not looking forward to the 'is he worth it, isn't he worth it' articles that will follow this. If we sign him just let him do his thing and decide whether it was worth it in May 2013. Can't understand why people cream themselves over Xavi and Iniesta's passing stats for the season but when someone like Joe Allen gets in that bracket no one seems to pay attention? He clearly has talent and is 22 years old, this won't be our last signing of the window either so just be patient.
stats mean **** all, A completed pass is a completed pass whether it be back, forward, left or right. Allen looks for the easy sideways pass and pulls it off = 1 completed pass for the stats, Iniesta splits defences with a cracker of a pass = 1 completed pass...
Grow up!! You think Iniesta splits the defence with every pass he makes? If they mean **** ALL then why doesn't everyone have 90+% pass completion? What a daft comment.
That got to me! Sorry, but Allen's job is to retain possession, always be available for a pass and always find a man with a pass and he does it pretty damn well. Same with Lucas, don't see people moaning about how little he opens up the defence with a pass - because that isn't his job.
Allen's stats are good for what we need, which is to keep possession of the ball. Alongside Lucas, I can see them two closing down players quickly,winning the ball back and then keeping it. It's a very simple game to play. Comparisons with the likes of Xavi and Iniesta are slighty over the top considering Xavi and Iniesta make a lot of their passes in the opposition half where they have less space to work with and more pressure on them. I don't see Allen being the creative playmaking midfielder, but he will compliment Lucas and give us a solid central midfield. Rodgers does however need to bring in more attacking players to support Suarez.
You both have points, stats are important. But not in all situations. As the famous business saying goes 73.6% Of All Statistics Are Made Up
I obviously understand Allen is not at the same level as these 2 complete world class players, but he was 21 whilst playing last season and matched their passing stats. Can you not see potential there?
You will see Joe doing far more than passing back if he goes to Liverpool, he has a great football vision, can work well with more attacking midfielders/strikers and really make a difference to a match. Plus he can get the odd goal.
Only Cabaye and Dembele made more tackles than Allen last season. Allen is quite a well rounded midfielder but probably lacks the attacking intent that would really earn him the plaudits. But as mentioned, it's not his job to start the attacks.
I saw potential in Carroll, Adam and Henderson, the first 2 have bombed and Hendo has one or two years left to fall back on the "he's got potential" excuse until he becomes just another average British midfielder. Young Brits always seem to bomb for us, maybe because there is more expectation or that in a ****ter club they simply look better? Allen does have potential but he's not exactly 18 and shining already (Gerrard) and at £15m we should be saving that for established talent (Arsenal buying Cazorla for £15m??) who can IMMEDIATELY hit the ground running and better our squad - we have enough youngsters/players with potential as it is!
Why is Cazorla automatically gonna hit the ground running with Arsenal? Today is the 09 August and BR said yesterday he is still looking to get 3 or 4 people through the door. Allen is one of them, we are strongly linked with Ramirez. I get that we have a lot of young players but we need to stop living in the past and plan for the future, the future is not buying 28 year olds who want one last big contract with no sell on fee, that would just mean we are back to here in 4 years time.
True but Cazorla is a highly rated player and Arsenal manage to get him for £15m. Great deal in my eyes. The purpose of buying youngsters is to get good use out of them for a few years and re-sell them for a high price. If we're buying them for a high price, then it defeats the purpose.
I would rather be back here in 4 years time having had a bit of success than back here next year with a new manager yet again and yet another clear out. Rodgers will not bring in 3/4 players, he's doing a redknapp and at the end of the window will probably site that they "tried but other teams weren't willing to negotiate" I reckon we will bring in Allen but shocked if anyone else comes.
Personally I think there will be at least another 2 players maybe even 3. Allen is looking more and more likely by the day & he quite clearly said Maxi & Kuyt will need to be replaced. If Allen, Dempsey & Ramierz/wideman come in, i´d be very happy. For that to happen maybe someone will have to be sold. Personally I´d prefer for Carroll to be sold for 10m using Morgan as back up than Agger going for a reported 22m.
Is this one of your tactics Bluff? Like the Barton and Caldwell suggestions because you know he wont get many points? ...because he's in my provisional squad.
What is success to you? Reaching 4th place? We want the title back. Every man and his dog knows that. If you think we have what it takes to buy that in the next 4 years you are hugely mistaken, therefore we need to try our best to make a team that will be able to challenge for that honour in a few years time.
