So, my Joe Allen v Jay Spearing thread got an interesting response. So now lets do this one, Joe Allen v Charlie Adam. We signed Charlie Adam from Blackpool in 2011 for £6.75m. He became known for shockingly bad tackles, unwanted (and failed) Hollywood passes, and being Dalglish's teachers pet. In that time he got 2 goals for us, and his corners were worth £10m alone... He left for Stoke for £4m in August 2012. Adam had a rough time with us. But when he first arrived he was actually pretty decent, filling in for an injured Gerrard along side an impressive Lucas. But when Gerrard was fit, Lucas got injured and every thing changed for the worse for Adam. This summer we signed Joe Allen for £15m. Yesterday he scored his first goal for us (well, sort of...). He started his career here very impressively, showing great pass and move ability. But slowly his form declined and now he seems only a shadow of the Joe Allen we saw early in the season. Like Adam with Dalglish, Allen has a reputation for being Brenden Rodgers teachers pet. Of course over all Allen wins every contest against Adam. He has had some brilliant games for us, is only 22 and has his whole career ahead of him. But who would you rather have in our team right now? Neither can tackle. But at least when Adam tackles, the opposing player will not survive it enough to score.
Joe Allen will be a great player, he just shouldn't play every game for us. Hendo wasn't played much earlier in the season and that did him wonders. He needs to work hard on hs strength and game like Lucas did. The stick he is getting is much like Lucas got when he was 21, the good thing with personalities such as Lucas, Hendo and Allen is that they are down to earth and willing to wrk hard. It will pay off. Adam was lazy and at his peak.
Charlie Adam is an awful player in comparison to others in his position in the top half of the table. Joe Allen hasn't made a fantastic start jury is still out.
Allen is much better. He doesn't kick the ball out the stadium with 50% of his kicks. Adam just closed his eyes and randomly booted the ball with no aiming or thought process...
Ch'Adam any day of the week. Allen will come good but at the moment I'd rather have Poulsen in there than Allen.
Allen is ****ing useless, brings nothing to the team in a central position which doesn't need filling by someone standing there doing nothing. Bring back Spearo!
I thought yesterday was probably his worst game in an LFC shirt, came into life only in the last 10mins or so. He needs to be given a long run in the bench. That could probably do him much good than harm. Honestly i don't see him getting much better though, could be a decent player at best.
Joe Allen because,quite simply,he will be agood player. As others have said remember the stick Lucas got now he is one of the first on the team sheet and you wouldn't dream of leaving him out now. I thinkin a season or two Allen will be the player we want him to be. The problem at the moment is we want instant success but history tells us that we should give players time. None of us know the mental impact of moving to a club like Liverpool has on players and it will take some longer to settle. Allen for example was in a team of players where there was no superstar (no offence to Swansea so don't start) then all of a sudden he is in a squad with superstars like Gerrard and Suarez,legends like carragher. I imagine that may be a little daunting. So give him time,he has showed at start of season what he can do,so we know the talent is there. The same goes for Borini,he doesn't look great at the moment but he's hardly had time to settle,played very few games. Lets give these guys a bit more leeway before condemning them.
I hear this every time the Joe Allen debate turns up, and I still don't understand it; what did he show at the start of the season? His high completion of passing was raved about, but it never went forward. He sure didn't tackle. Didn't score or assist. Did he boss the midfield physically? Nope. What did he do? Hendo's criticism was unfair; I remember one of the first games where he blasted it from 30yards and narrowly missed scoring a beauty of a goal. That was promise of what he could do. I remember him being 2v1 on the right wing after we had a man sent off and he played fantastic, still managing to make forward runs, provide width and not slack defensively. More promise. What has Allen shown?
To be fair, he was deputising for Lucas so his role wasn't to venture forward and attack. His ability to always be in space, control the ball instantly and pass quickly and accurately was top notch. But then again, you could argue that all professional footballers should be to do that! But I see where you coming from - he doesn't seem to have an effect on the game. He doesn't contribute in terms of goals and assists, and he doesn't contribute defensively. I think he will improve though. I've said it before - players like Allen hit their peak in the late 20's/early 30's because it's a position that requires intelligence and experience which only comes with time. I think Allen has a good foundation and as with Lucas and Henderson, I can see potential in him and am willing to give him time.
I think Allen is a good player. Always wants the ball, passes with accuracy and he's finding it hard in a new team. Give the lad s break,
Looking at Allen at Swansea he looked a good player because of the way they played. They kept the ball well and always had options so he'd receive the ball anywhere and find a player to start attacks off. In the way we are playing at the moment, he gets the ball and often has no option on other than to go sidewards or backwards because he doesn't want to / can't play those 50 yard passes because you are more likely going to lose the ball. Once BR has the whole team playing the way he wants where every player always has 1 or 2 short options available by constant moving then Allen will sometimes look like a passanger who just gets it and passes it sidewards and backwards. Once the players in front of him are moving and finding space etc then he'll look a better player.
