Today was the game when Allen started showing what he brings to the team. I don't think his performance was particularly exceptional - he didn't directly contribute to any of the goals and yet again got caught in possession in our own half (only once, as opposed to 3 times in the last game – and he should thank Sakho for bailing him out with a brilliant interception). I think Allen can and will play even better. But what he did today is that for the first time since the beginning of last season he really put his stamp on the game. Or rather, he made the team play his way.
I need to look at the stats, but I'm pretty sure today we had one of the highest % of possession all season, possibly the highest. There was a period at 2:0 when our pressure was Barca-like, just wave after relentless wave of attacks, not allowing West Ham any counterplay whatsoever (unfortunately as soon as they got the ball for a couple of minutes, they scored - our old defensive problem rearing its ugly head again. But that's topic for another discussion). Do you remember how midway through the last season the team has switched to a more counter-attacking mode and how Allen just couldn't find his place in that team? Well, today I think was the first game since last year when this team went back to the possession-based, dominating mode.
Rodgers has made this switch at the exactly right time, because with Sturridge out for an extended period of time, we lost the main fulcrum of our counter-attack based game. We had to change the way we play in attack. Suarez is a great player who will find his chances in any system – this is what ultimately makes him a better player than "pure" finishers like Van Persie or Torres; if the team doesn't play to his strengths he still will try and claw and fight until he makes it work. But still, it's better to play to his strengths and we all know that he doesn't have great pace over distance, but is deadly around the penalty area, particularly if he is allowed to touch the ball a lot.
This is what "Allen's game" does for Suarez; he can try one outrageous skill after another and if it doesn't work this time, he knows that in a minute he will have the ball at his feet again and he can run at the defender again and again until something works. The combination of methodically effective recycling of possession and world-class attacking talent is the most potent weapon in football. After being subjected to this kind of treatment for a period of time, most defenders just get mentally and physically drained, their reaction time slows down and all kinds of mistakes pop up – exactly what we saw by the end of today's game. Their brains just turn off, as if to say: "fuck it, I can't take this anymore. If you can't score I'll even help you myself. Here, I'll put the ball in the net, just make it stop." This kind of football not just wins games, but demoralizes opponents as well.
In the last 2 games Suarez has scored (sometimes with the assistance of an opposing defender) 7 goals. This barrage of goals coincided with Allen's return in the starting lineup and I don't think this is just by chance. Who knows, maybe Suarez can approach Messi-like numbers if we build the game around him the same way. Now this was just two games at home and it remains very much an open question whether we've come far enough as a team compared to last season to sustain this style of play on the road and against stronger opponents. The Spurs game, with their abundance of riches in midfield, will certainly be a huge test for Allen and for all of our midfield. But at least for now, let's enjoy the fact that Allen's resurrection (© KHL) seems to be finally underway.
I need to look at the stats, but I'm pretty sure today we had one of the highest % of possession all season, possibly the highest. There was a period at 2:0 when our pressure was Barca-like, just wave after relentless wave of attacks, not allowing West Ham any counterplay whatsoever (unfortunately as soon as they got the ball for a couple of minutes, they scored - our old defensive problem rearing its ugly head again. But that's topic for another discussion). Do you remember how midway through the last season the team has switched to a more counter-attacking mode and how Allen just couldn't find his place in that team? Well, today I think was the first game since last year when this team went back to the possession-based, dominating mode.
Rodgers has made this switch at the exactly right time, because with Sturridge out for an extended period of time, we lost the main fulcrum of our counter-attack based game. We had to change the way we play in attack. Suarez is a great player who will find his chances in any system – this is what ultimately makes him a better player than "pure" finishers like Van Persie or Torres; if the team doesn't play to his strengths he still will try and claw and fight until he makes it work. But still, it's better to play to his strengths and we all know that he doesn't have great pace over distance, but is deadly around the penalty area, particularly if he is allowed to touch the ball a lot.
This is what "Allen's game" does for Suarez; he can try one outrageous skill after another and if it doesn't work this time, he knows that in a minute he will have the ball at his feet again and he can run at the defender again and again until something works. The combination of methodically effective recycling of possession and world-class attacking talent is the most potent weapon in football. After being subjected to this kind of treatment for a period of time, most defenders just get mentally and physically drained, their reaction time slows down and all kinds of mistakes pop up – exactly what we saw by the end of today's game. Their brains just turn off, as if to say: "fuck it, I can't take this anymore. If you can't score I'll even help you myself. Here, I'll put the ball in the net, just make it stop." This kind of football not just wins games, but demoralizes opponents as well.
In the last 2 games Suarez has scored (sometimes with the assistance of an opposing defender) 7 goals. This barrage of goals coincided with Allen's return in the starting lineup and I don't think this is just by chance. Who knows, maybe Suarez can approach Messi-like numbers if we build the game around him the same way. Now this was just two games at home and it remains very much an open question whether we've come far enough as a team compared to last season to sustain this style of play on the road and against stronger opponents. The Spurs game, with their abundance of riches in midfield, will certainly be a huge test for Allen and for all of our midfield. But at least for now, let's enjoy the fact that Allen's resurrection (© KHL) seems to be finally underway.
