Yeah, Allen is brilliant at the high energy pressing, granted, and usually keeps the ball well. Henderson presses just as well and can keep the ball too...but also does other things. I know I repeat it time and time again, but to be a central midfielder at a big team (now in the CL ffs ) you need to be able to do more than just press and keep the ball. In my opinion, if you're playing Gerrard in this deep, playmaking role and you know he's not going to venture up field much at all, you need two all round midfielders in the team (box to box, if you will) to help with energy defending/pressing and to break forward and create/link up. Juventus do this with two of Vidal, Marchiso or Pogba ahead of Pirlo. This will be his third full season with us now and for me, he has to show something more this year. The settling in or finding his position excuse has gone. Of course he'll have lots of pressure on him now asking what he brings to the team but that's part of being a professional player these days. Btw, missed the friendly last night. How did Joe play?
My kind of post, agree completely. As for Mignolet, he made more mistakes last season than any other defensive player. Yet we think he will help us in Europe and fighting for the title? He costs us a lot of points.
He probably made a lot less mistakes, but goalkeepers' mistakes are hugely amplified because normally they result directly in a goal against. I still believe he's more reliable than Reina was in his last season and with Gerrard sitting inbetween our CBs, distribution isn't as important right now.
https://twitter.com/OptaJoe/status/494492898113884161 Reina made mistakes, but his play and pace at starting attacks is why I would have him.
Allen is a good tactical player who will always do a job. He clearly has a higher level he can (and has to) reach - he was electric for his first few matches under Rodgers. He seems to lack a bit of confidence but moments like yesterday will help. Worth keeping around.
Allen's a good "backup Hendo". He's not as good as Hendo- but he makes a decent fill in with many of the same attributes. If there is place in our squad I'm all for Allen staying... if we needed to sell players to make room- he would be expendable. Allen is Hendo's mini-me that looks a little different and isn't very mini.
There are other players who I'd rater see go than Allen. Lucas, Coady are 2 for example. Gerrard will be a bit part player and will retire in a season or 2 as well.
I'd agree with that whilst still saying that Allen is expendable if we needed to clear players. Or if we got a bid for more than he's worth. He can play a role- and is a decent backup but is not crucial for our future.
Disagree, think over the next few years he'll play an even more important role in the team and really start to develop. No one is going to offer us £20m for him so we're never going to sell him.
