Like most Liverpool fans I was nervous when I saw the team sheet at 2.45 on Saturday and saw Joe Allen's name amongst the starters. By 3.20 those doubts were justified. I like everyone else was crying out for Lucas to come and save us from getting hammered. All that said I think a lot of fans are starting to write Allen off prematurely. A lot of people have forgotten about how important he was to us early on this season. As of December 18th Joe Allen had won possession of ball 147 times, more than any other player in the league, most of which came in the middle third of the pitch, this coupled with his high pass completion rate (albeit mostly simple ones) made him a very useful addition to the squad. As we've recently discovered he has been nursing a shoulder injury since November last year. The injury seems to coincide with his drop in form(and the return of Lucas which could also have been a factor). I'm optimistic that post surgery we might see Allen start to turn in some more positive performances.
I like Joe, he needs work but I think he has a future with LFC and I am not alone in that. I remember not so long ago people crying for Lucas go off
I backed Lucas when others were knocking him, same with Kuyt and more recently Henderson, but I just don't see it with Allen. Hope he proves me wrong mind
Pretty much this. All the above players showed something, Allen has shown me **** all. Find me a game where he actually controlled the play. I don't mean passed aimlessly around our halfway/18yard line, I mean controlled. I would love to be proven wrong, would save us embarrassment and money - but I don't see it. I'm optimistic that we'll start being more consistant now that we don't have Allen lurking around waiting to play and contribute nothing. Might actually be more direct again and score goals whilst being defensively solid.
I think you could find a couple of games from the first couple of games of the season. He started very well and drastically fell away. I think this is the reason people believe he could come good, its certainly where the slight bit of hope I have for him comes from but the rest of the games tell me he's not good enough. As I said above, I hope I'm wrong though That possibly counters the early season point I like this but one or two attributes isn't enough
I saw an average player who looks ok in a team who are playing well, but is abysmal when the cards are down and the team is playing bad. I want ball players, not ball shufflers. Pirlo, Alonso, Xavi, Modric or the regenerated Scholes. They control a game, know when to keep it simple and when to launch a quick attack or through ball...Allen keeps on shuffling it nowhere. The fact that alot of posters here would consider Spearing over Allen after the ****storm of abuse/negativity that Jay got when playing for us, says it all. Allen's useless, Spearing showed something. Anyway, I'm bored of being negative about him. He's **** average in my opinion and won't improve for us - but I hope I can eat my hat at some point. That's my 2p.
But it's fun, right! I won't rest until every member of this board basks in the might, power and glory of Jay Spearo; until the terraces call out his name and herald his arrival on the pitch with the captains armband with an earshattering cheer. TThis may require some Allen flaming...
To be fair, I think even you would have won that vote against Charlie Adam We should have a Spearing V someone every day...eventually we'll have him in our top 5 all time Kop players
Think there's two possible issues. Saw a piece in This is Anfield arguing that Allen is perfect for the team BR envisioned 3 years from now when he joined us in the summer. Issue #1: I honestly think BR has started revising his "dream" of the pure tikka plan for want of a better phrase. I think its dawning on him that any system too rigidly held becomes predictable & thus easily countered eventually (see even Barca). I think he's now looking at a passing game yes but with a direct/counter attack thrown in. Issue#2: stems from the reality of issue 1. Allen doesn't fit in the present team & if we don't end up with BR's original vision would he fit in the hybrid we end up with? If not, can Allen adapt his game to something else? Develop physically? I'll stay optimistic about any young player & BR seems to try and adapt players if their original position/purpose isn't working out but only as long as it doesn't hinder bringing in a player that can play well in the reality team we actually have/end up with.
Liverpool have confirmed Joe Allen will undergo surgery on his left shoulder on Thursday and will miss the remainder of the 2012-13 season. The midfielder will be ready to return in time for the start of next campaign. Liverpool first-team doctor Zaf Iqbal said: "Joe Allen is due to have a left shoulder operation tomorrow morning in Liverpool and will be ready to return to football at the beginning of next season."
