Joe Allen [Sold]

[Norbs]

Yeah was alright. Small pub in Marylebone, there was a scouser in there actually.

Did you have a long chat with him during the second half?

[Fredo]

Did you have a long chat with him during the second half?

No as we wouldn't understand each other.

[BigChief]

[Norbs]

No as we wouldn't understand each other.

So what occurred to take your eye off the game then?

[Fredo]

So what occurred to take your eye off the game then?

[Norbs]

Finally

[Lee]

I think he needs a break, his form has definately dipped in recent weeks I thought he should have been left out of more of the cup games earlier in the season.

I'm not sure about a midfield three of Suso, Gerrard and Shelvey, they all want to get forward too much I think you need someone with disipline in there and with out Lucas or Allen, we lack options in there which is why we are in this position. I would probably put Henderson in there if Allen were to be rested.

Allen started the season well but I think he needs a rest. Has he played more minutes than any of our players this season? I don't know but I would guess that he has.

Thing is, Gerrard and Sahin imo aren't doing enough to warrant a place in the team at the moment either. We can swap Allen for Henderson until Lucas is back, but I do think Allen is the least of our midfield worries at the moment.

The sooner Lucas comes back the better, and Suso is also much better in the middle than in the front three.

[Norbs]

Lucas, Allen, Suso. The midgets have it!

That three is a bit static, Suso included. We need a driving force in there too, I see Shelvey providing this, Allen or Lucas providing the defensive element and Suso providing the creative element. I don't think Lucas and Allen will work together unless we're going to play with wing-backs

[Exiled_red]

Allen started the season well but I think he needs a rest. Has he played more minutes than any of our players this season? I don't know but I would guess that he has.

Thing is, Gerrard and Sahin imo aren't doing enough to warrant a place in the team at the moment either. We can swap Allen for Henderson until Lucas is back, but I do think Allen is the least of our midfield worries at the moment.

The sooner Lucas comes back the better, and Suso is also much better in the middle than in the front three.

Looking at or other central midfielders available at the moment:

I have always maintained that Gerrard isn't a 'regular' central midfielder, he has played his best games in more advanced or wide roles, I just don't think he has it in him to be an effective central midfielder on a regular basis.

Sahin I started slow and I thought picked up for a few games but has dropped off again, I'm now unsure about him.

Shelvey is very rough around the edges I don't think he can perform at an appropriate level consistently.

Suso hasn't really been played in a midfield role in the first team, I don't think he would offer much defensively so needs defensivly strong players along side him.

Henderson doesn't seem to be rated by Rodgers, and despite being here for 18 months I'm still not sure what he offers.

Cole doesn't even deserve mentioning.

I can't really construct a midfield from that lot that I think would perform well consistently

[danperkins]

Did you have a long chat with him during the second half?

[baitman]

your playing a blinder here, Norbs

we need more beef in the middle of the pitch, somone who can put the foot in and square up to some of the roughness that allen gets.

dont laugh, but after seeing the way he controlled the play i would suggest enrique could easily cover the DM slot to either rest allen or allow him to play a more advanced role. he isnt the most skilful, but as a midfield beast to win the ball and break up play, similar to the way Momo did, i think he could cut it.

maybe

[MrMichael]

Enrique at DM?

Sorry but I have to.

I might be reading too much into it, just the look of frustration every time he looks to make the forward run but Allen chooses to pass side ways.

Pfffffft. Don't buy that at all. If Gerrard is making a good run and is open to receiving the ball forward, Allen will play it there. We've seen tons of stats in the last few months about how often Allen actually plays a forward ball rather than a sideways one, but he looks to retain possession first and foremost and if Gerrard is off running into traffic then he does the right thing looking for another pass.

Allen is blatantly struggling a bit playing as the DM in this formation, and playing with Sahin who is offering very little currently, but Gerrard is not the player he was 4 or 5 years ago and if everyone is on form, imo it will be him, not Allen, who really will be having to work hard to justify his place in the team. What was it Rafa used to allude to, Gerrard not having the "tactical discipline" to be a traditional center mid player (and hence him putting him out on the right when he could). Stevie G has been one of our greatest ever, but he is not perfect and going on form showed over this season so far, if he's getting frustrated at Allen there is a fair chance it is him at fault, not Joe.

Allen needs to be dropped until Sahin and Gerrard learn how to play football properly.

Errr, say what?

Suso's getting closer to being in the middle three. Edit: He needs to be dropped to get his mojo back. A couple of games rest, we're not exactly fighting for CL spots.

I don't think Suso is. He's a wonderful talent who will hopefully grace our team for many years to come, but remember games like the one v Everton? Suso was completely run out of that game just by the pace and physicality of it, and wasn't contributing to tackling back etc. Slightly less of a problem if he plays in the front 3, but in the midfield 3, with the others we have available right now, it might leave us very lightweight in the middle in some games.

In a couple of seasons, maybe, but cameos from the bench, however impressive, are not the same as starting games. I know he's not a forward, but it makes sense to keep him in that front 3 when starting imo as things are right now.

And as for Allen, yeah he does need a rest but I can't see him getting that much until Lucas is back. I suppose Rodgers might try something else for the Young Boys game and give him that one off, Henderson perhaps, but I doubt he'll drop him for many league games

[Fernandinho]

The problem with not resting him till lucas is back, is that once Lucas is back Joe may well have had his confidence shattered, he needs a break now I think so that by the time Lucas is back they are ready to start building on the midfield axis of our club for the next 10 years

[DannyMan2006]

Rest him in the cup games. Allen needs to play our league games. He struggled against Fellaini & Mikel in midfield but they are beastly players. Not many teams have giant players in midfield who are also capable on the ball.

Everton & Chelsea also played with high intensity, most teams are not capable of combining that with strength.

He'll be fine against Wigan. I don't think he's been off form, I think he just struggles against certain types of players and systems. He's still raw around the edges and has a lot to learn.

[el matador]

hes a young lad and he's been overplayed.

he needs to be rested and given back his energy levels.