Joe Allen joined us in the summer from Swansea for £15m. He had a bright start to the season playing in midfield alongside Steven Gerrard whilst Lucas was injured. He showed he has great passing ability, movement and vision. Some times this season he has been placed further forward in a more attacking midfield role. He hasnt always imposed himself in this role, but in the recent game against Sunderland he did very well. He linked midfield to attack, helped us dominate possession in the opposition half, got in the box and had two goals disallowed. If he could do that in every game and add regular goals to his game he could be very good in that role. But unfortunately Sunderland did not challenge much in that game, and he was only a substitute. One concern I have is that Allen is not a very physical player and could struggle against a hard tackling defensive midfield. But if he could impose himself more physically and play quick into space this might not matter. A lot of creative attacking midfielders are not the biggest members of the team. Plus Suarez being Suarez and Gerrard moving forward from the deeper role will occupy the defensive midfielder more. Allen can certainly put a good ball in the box, pass and move very well, turn quickly on the ball and looks like he could be a very good finisher. So lets debate. Can Joe Allen become a decent or even top attacking midfielder.
Well he isn't at the moment and haven't seen any attacking qualities that would make me think he could be. How many shots has he had on target or direct assists? I understand that some of his attributes are great for the type of football we are playing but imo we need our midfielders to be more complete, and Allen is far from a complete mf.
I've seen enough to believe Allen will be a top player for us. He keeps the ball and moves the defenders in front of him creating space for the likes of Suarez, as the OP said he started well but has faded recently. He's a young lad and will learn and get better we need to back him and give him that confidence.
I cant see it to be honest, I really dont rate the lad. He does link the midfield and attack well, and his pass completion is good, but that is the least I would expect from any of our midfielders. I don’t think he has the pace or ability to beat players let alone the eye for goal to be a good attacking midfielder, and I don’t think he is anywhere near as good in tackling or reading the game as Lucas. I think we spent a lot of money on a player who is, for me, a younger (albeit slightly better) version of Scott Parker.
A poor man's Michael Carrick at least Carrick has vision that can split a defence in his forward passes Allen is along the floor 5-15 yards no defence splitting ball I have seen yet and yes I have watched loads of Liverpool' s games this season.
I disagree, I've watched him play a lot and have seen him dictate whole games in the Premiership (granted not for Liverpool). The problem is he is not the orthodox midfielder, not attacking and not defensive I hate to make the comparison because the levels are very different but he plays like Xavi. His job is to start controlling the play in the final 3rd of the pitch, pass it have it back and pass it again therefore moving the defenders in front of him and creating gaps. I don't have much to back him up with this season as he really hasn't settled well but I understand and like what he does only time will tell if I'm right.
I sure I saw one defence splitting pass to Hernandez against Newcastle to give them 3 points which is offering something to a team is it not. Age hasn't anything to do with it it gives you experience but if he hasn't got the vision now then he never will have.
oh well if you thought you saw him do a worthwhile pass once then he's definitely a better player than Allen.
He could become like Xavi but I think Xavi also is a creative player as well and I don't think Allen is a creative type, I watched a game about a month ago and Liverpool where on a counter attack and Allen was the one with the ball running past the half way line got to within 10 yards of the box and turned back and then passed to ball 10 yards to someone else inside. I thought there was 2 players making forward runs against 3 defenders and the guy turned back, by the time he had moved it on there was 6 or 7 defenders and the chance had gone.
I'm sure I can find others this season if you want me to. Plus you said he offers nothing to a team where I have just proved to you that he has.
I think Allen could play there but we have better options. IMO, that is also the case for the other two midfield spots too at the minute I think he can get better though, the lad is still young (22?) and passing gets better with age IMO
Think Joe has got a lot more in the tank than we have seen so far, future MASSIVE player for us, hes 22 give him time, it will happen
I think Allen is a nice tidy player and will keep the ball moving and make sure the possession % is high but to say that he will be a massive player means that do you think these type of players will be challenging for the Premiership soon or do you think you will you need better players to do that. As a club, that is what players Liverpool fans should have at the club, but like people have said, we will see if Allen is good enough in the next couple of years, good luck to the lad.
No doubt he has to up his goals and assists but the basic talent and know how of how to play like one of the best players in the world is there, can he improve is the big question. Imo yes he can but as I said only time will tell.
Allen is a ball shuffler nothing more and nothing less. If you want a fancy title then he is a Transition Player. He will keep things ticking over nicely. As an attacking midfielder he is way down the pecking order - even with the "thin" squad that we presently have. Add to that, that he appears to get a nose-bleed when in sight of goal!
