With a few days to kill before the next match, let's talk about a player who hasn't been involved much recently – Joe Allen. Many of the players signed by Rodgers are still a work in progress and it will take some time to really get to know what they are capable of. Allen is not one of them – this is his 3rd season here and it's fairly clear by now what he is and what he is not. First, some stats:
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Season 2012/13:
According to transfermarkt website, out of 38 league games, Allen started 21 games (55%), came on as a sub in 6, was left on the bench in 3, and missed 8 though injury (21%). He scored 0 goals and contributed 0 assists.
Season 2013/14:
Out of 38 league games, Allen started 15 games (39%), came on as a sub in 9, was left on the bench in 6, and again missed 8 though injury (21%). He got 1 goal and 1 assist that season.
Current season:
Out of 21 league games so far, Allen started 7 games (33%), came on as a sub in 4, was left on the bench in 1, and already missed 9 through injury. He has contributed 1 assist.
Overall in his LFC career, Allen has started 44% of our league games and missed 26% of the league fixtures through injury. He has contributed 1 goal and 2 assists in the league in those 2 and a half seasons.
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Allow me to post some conclusions:
1. I think we need to retire the stupid "Welsh Xavi" moniker. Allen has nowhere near Xavi's playmaking ability, his ability to pick apart defenses with deft flicks and though-balls, his ability to get on the end of attacking moves when necessary. Allen is a safe passer, not a creative one. And his attacking numbers are a lot closer to those of Lucas than of Xavi.
2. Allen is a hard-working player with good technique, particularly useful for controlling possession in away games or home games against opponents who are not afraid to fight for possession at Anfield. Last season I remember a few games where I thought he was key to our midfield being able to subdue the opposition.
3. He almost always needs to be used in a system with 3 CMs. Most experiments with him in a two-prong midfield have failed. He can thrive only when someone else in midfield provides the physicality AND the creativity and goals. So in essence Allen is a player for a specific tactic and a specific situation – not somebody you build the team around.
4. He is somewhat injury-prone and definitely long recovery prone. He didn't have many injuries in his time here, but every time he was out it resulted in a longer layoff than originally projected. This is another reason why it's hard to build the team around him.
5. In hindsight £15M was above his real value. Both Allen and Borini purchases in the first transfer window showed Rodger's lack of experience as a buyer. He went for the familiar even though at LFC he was given the resources to attract the best talent from around the world.
Let me know your thoughts, whether you agree on all 5 points and what do you think the future holds for Allen at LFC.
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Season 2012/13:
According to transfermarkt website, out of 38 league games, Allen started 21 games (55%), came on as a sub in 6, was left on the bench in 3, and missed 8 though injury (21%). He scored 0 goals and contributed 0 assists.
Season 2013/14:
Out of 38 league games, Allen started 15 games (39%), came on as a sub in 9, was left on the bench in 6, and again missed 8 though injury (21%). He got 1 goal and 1 assist that season.
Current season:
Out of 21 league games so far, Allen started 7 games (33%), came on as a sub in 4, was left on the bench in 1, and already missed 9 through injury. He has contributed 1 assist.
Overall in his LFC career, Allen has started 44% of our league games and missed 26% of the league fixtures through injury. He has contributed 1 goal and 2 assists in the league in those 2 and a half seasons.
===============
Allow me to post some conclusions:
1. I think we need to retire the stupid "Welsh Xavi" moniker. Allen has nowhere near Xavi's playmaking ability, his ability to pick apart defenses with deft flicks and though-balls, his ability to get on the end of attacking moves when necessary. Allen is a safe passer, not a creative one. And his attacking numbers are a lot closer to those of Lucas than of Xavi.
2. Allen is a hard-working player with good technique, particularly useful for controlling possession in away games or home games against opponents who are not afraid to fight for possession at Anfield. Last season I remember a few games where I thought he was key to our midfield being able to subdue the opposition.
3. He almost always needs to be used in a system with 3 CMs. Most experiments with him in a two-prong midfield have failed. He can thrive only when someone else in midfield provides the physicality AND the creativity and goals. So in essence Allen is a player for a specific tactic and a specific situation – not somebody you build the team around.
4. He is somewhat injury-prone and definitely long recovery prone. He didn't have many injuries in his time here, but every time he was out it resulted in a longer layoff than originally projected. This is another reason why it's hard to build the team around him.
5. In hindsight £15M was above his real value. Both Allen and Borini purchases in the first transfer window showed Rodger's lack of experience as a buyer. He went for the familiar even though at LFC he was given the resources to attract the best talent from around the world.
Let me know your thoughts, whether you agree on all 5 points and what do you think the future holds for Allen at LFC.