http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/latest-news/hamann-watch-him-get-better Former Reds midfielder Dietmar Hamann observed great potential in Joe Allen last season and expects the Welshman to improve at Anfield during the coming years. Brendan Rodgers recruited the 23-year-old from former club Swansea in the summer of 2012 and Allen's expert passing range won instant admirers among the Kop faithful. The midfielder's first campaign with the Reds was curtailed by a troublesome shoulder problem but Champions League winner Hamann is confident that Allen offers reason for optimism. "It's a big step up when you go from Swansea to Liverpool but he had a fantastic start," said Hamann. "He was absolutely outstanding for the first few months then he missed a couple of games, Lucas has come back in the team - who missed the early parts of the season through injury - and then he found it hard to get back into the team. "But I think for the first year he's done ever so well and you've got to give him time, he's only young. He showed his potential, if anything he'll only get better and I think there's a lot to look forward to. "If he adds skills to his game then I think he can play in various positions in the centre of midfield because he's a clever player, he's a very good passer of the ball, he spots danger and he's a team player. "Now he needs to crack on and take his game to the next level, not only for Liverpool but also for Wales. "He's at a top club now, he will have gained a lot of experience from that and I hope he can put that to good use for his club and country. "I think you will see a lot more from him in the future because he is a terrific player." ==================================== There is a split in fans when it comes to Joe Allen but he's a young lad who I rate, I agree with Didi there's more to come from Joe and he has time on his side.
Never impressed me, I can only hope he proves me wrong - but I won't be holding my breath. Hendo should start the next season anyway.
i agree, considering he seems to have had an injury for a while!! confused? why didn't he have the op earlier? hardly a vital component to our team, he looked promising to start with and we was all, or most quite happy to start with, then form went down hill ,hopefully that was as a result of him playing when he shouldn't have as not 100%, but definitely more to come, or at least hope there is. Gerrard injury at least made a bit more sense, as he is, and will always will be vital, but don't understand why Allen didn't have this sorted earlier, as he wasn't vital, maybe the problem is that Brendan realized that in the end, but hopefully next season he will prove every one who doubted him wrong, still unsure on what we paid for him, but we will see.
So far he's been a liability (yes apart from the first few games) and is a million miles off even a half decent standard. If Henderson loses his spot to Allen next season he will have to improve a hell of a lot to justify that. On current form it would be a disastrous decision. Will he improve? Well he can't get any worse. If he wants a career at Anfield he has a massive amount of work to do.
I think he will be given the opportunity to improve in cup games and as a sub, I agree he's got a lot of work to do if he is to get into the first team on a regular basis but at 22 he's got time and I think taking a more patient approach will do him good.
This will be massive season for Allens Liverpool future and the same could be said about Shelvey. Both of them need to show big improvements, I think Allen will be a lot better this season but the problem he will have is he needs to get back into the team and that wont be easy for him.
That was said for Shelvey (and Sterling, Suso, Pacheco (again), Kelly, Henderson, etc) last summer too
Even many Swans fans were pleased (and grinning all the way to the bank) when Liverpool paid so much for him. It was a lot of cash to splash on a player who can't run that fast or take players on, but who keeps the ball very well by passing it sideways and backwards over a distance of no more than twelve yards. For the cash you paid you expect more than a neat little footballer. By all who had seen Joe Allen over the past four to five years this was seen as very good busines by Swansea - and rather misguided of Brendan Rodgers.
in the end there is one truth that cannot be avoided. a short arse like him would want to be a hell of a lot more talented to play the role he's playing. sorry but its ture. 4 top? never.
No ex-player would ever come out and tell it like it is, media is all about being positive but the truth is Allen sucks. That Swansea didn't mind him leaving, especially for 15mill, says alot.
His positional sense this season was awful but he was out of position a lot so I can understand that. However, so far his tackling has been non existent, he's easily knocked off the ball, he's easy to run past, his touch has been poor and passing average at best. Oh and he can't head for **** and his shooting is dire.
wouldn't take too much notice of what Swansea think of what a player leaving means, we have all done it, it's not just Swansea, when a player plays for us he is going to be this, or he is great that, but as soon as he is gone, "well we don't really need him, and you paid too much" blah blah. i am in the undecided camp, it was a purchase that wasn't in my opinion needed, but players need time to adapt to new clubs, we gave Henderson time, and signs look promising, so we should give Allen the benefit of the doubt, esp as he seems to have played through an injury, although i appreciate that could just be a press release as he has been ****e and give him some confidence, but if it works, great. if he is no better next season then try and get rid, but dif clubs have dif levels of expectation and pressure put on them player wise, we just have to hope Allen can cope playing for us pressure wise and expectation wise, as it is certainly bigger than playing for Swansea.
Agree about Allen, I wasn't impressed with him this season but he was settling in initially and got injured, I'd say give him another season to show what he can do. I think he can only perform a very specific role though (*invites inevitable comment about giving the ball away each time he touches it*). Shelvey on the other hand should be driven out of Melwood by Lewis Hamilton.
In the first couple of months he was our best player, it was a downwards spiral from there on in. I agree with Didi, he'll only get better. With players like Suarez, Coutinho and Sturridge, Allen is going to find a lot more space in midfield and have much more options infront of him, he doesn't need to burst forward and smash in goals, that's what the players infront of him are there for, we need him as some one who will always be in the right position, on the ball and off the ball, he has a lot of quality, you can see that just from the first couple of months of the season. He seems like a down to earth lad who's willing to work hard, we just need to be patient and get behind him, especially if Lucas and Henderson are anything to go by.
Like all the players bought this year (not those to come this summer) he's had his bye ball getting to know ya year. Every player gets one in my book no matter their price tag. So he (like any other player in the squad) either fronts up & competes for a first 11 spot or sits on the bench. Sits on the bench too much (other than three guys being exceptional ahead of him) then he'll go in the sell column.
