Being optimistic about Allen would be like being optimistic that the plague outbreak rumoured to be travelling accross Europe to England a while back was in fact just a rumour
He needs to be given a chance when he's fully fit. He was statistically the best ball winning midfielder in the country for the 5 months when he was fit, that must count for something?
When you say a while back you mean just the other year in good ol 1411 right or did I miss a good Black Death since?
He started well, then had a drop in form - possibly due to his injury we'll never know. His first season though so need to lay off him a touch. Next season once BR has implemented his style more then Allen should flourish. BR obviously thinks Allen is the perfect midfielder for that style given he was influential for Swansea - just up to him if he can handle playing for LFC rather than Swansea (no disrespect intended but expectations are higher). See so many players perform well for teams in the Premiership before moving to a team with bigger expectations only to perform poorly. We saw with Downing that he's improved and been very consistent the last 10 games. If Allen is still this poor this time next year then questions need to be asked but I have high hopes for him next year once fully fit.
Honest question, would you like Morgan Schneiderlin in your team, and if so, how much would you be willing to pay for him if you were in charge?
I'm an Allen fan although his recent performances have been shocking. At the start of the season (already mentioned by the OP) he was winning the ball and passing efficiently. That was his job as the deep lying midfielder as he was playing in Lucas's position. He is only 23 years old and the best players in his position rely on their experience. Xavi, Pirlo etc are 30+ and only ever hit peak form once they approached their 30's and beyond. I will say that Allen has a very good foundation - same as Lucas and Henderson. Technically very good and has a good mentality and a desire to work hard and develop.
Allen's best performance was against Sunderland earlier this year and Zenit at home. Still a lot to add to his game. Spearing is doing averagely at a Championship club and I can't remember him contributing a positive performance in a Liverpool shirt apart from where Lucas made him look good.
Honest answer, no. He looks decent for Southampton but theese players tend to struggle when they move to big clubs so we would be willing to swap a couple of old mitre footballs for him at the most
But surely the way he bossed the midfield against a so called 'Big club' on several occasions this season suggests he's better than what you have. If we are speaking statistically, it is looking like he is going to become the first player in Premier League history to have the most interceptions, the most tackles and the most distance covered all in one season. Add in his 5 goals and i think you have a genuinely top class midfielder, who personally, although im biased, is miles ahead of Allen and Lucas.
Hes nowhere near as good as Lucas and Allen has been rank for most of the season, as I said he looks decent for a team thats only ambition is to stay in the league, whether or not he could play like that for a club with pressure to win every week is a different story.
We have been burned before on players having a good first season. Whole different game stepping up to the expectations.... ask henderson, Carroll, and Allen.
Typical arrogance of a top flight club. This guy has been our best player (Alongside Sir Rickie) for the last 4 years. He has recognition in the France set up and is the most complete midfielder I have seen in 21 years of supporting Saints. If im honest, I don't think Carroll ever had what you would call a 'good season' in the top flight, and the same could be said for Henderson.
Google too hard for you? It means, "the thing that is almost the thing that you want… but not quite" Germans have brilliant words for things we don't.
You could do but he may be sold in the Summer and you'd have to change again. Just don't change your name to Suarez as I'm starting to think you're a jinx.