Joe Allen [Sold]

[Mattshark]

hes a young lad and he's been overplayed.

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

How has he been overplayed? He is a professional footballer, playing 2 games a week is not being abnormal. All the teams in the CL cope with that fine.

[el matador]

Hes 22 and still developing physically.

Its not just the physical pressures but also the mental one of playing for liverpool fc. its a lot to expect a lad of that age to come in and consistently deliver exceptional performances in the toughest area of the pitch. Hes definitely up for it though. That one tackle he put into two of their players at once shows hes got a tough edge to that silkiness.

Last couple of games hes looked poor but hes been very good before that.

[The_weatherman]

Hes 22 and still developing physically.

Sorry, but no. He is not developing still physically. He is having a dip, but I think his problem may just as well be mental, Liverpool is not a easy team to be playing in now, being compared to a seven foot giant or Xavi doesnt help either.

[Shaggy]

Just a dip in form IMO. It happens. Doesn't have to be down to this or that, he's just not at his best. He's going to be a top player, I've no worries about him.

[Gibbo]

The couple of times I saw him for Swansea he played like he did against Chelsea which is why I was a bit apprehensive about signing him.

He's very good though. And I think having Lucas to partner him will do him good.

I want to see

-----Lucas Allen
--------Sahin
Gerrard Suarez Sterling

If I'm honest, Think that will get the best out of Sahin and Gerrard, while having a good solid bases in Allen and Lucas, who can just pass side to side to each other.

[Trippendicular]

As someone mentioned above, teams have cottoned on to the fact that he regulates our passing game and now crowd him out of the game, cutting off his options and his escape routes.

[James P]

As someone mentioned above, teams have cottoned on to the fact that he regulates our passing game and now crowd him out of the game, cutting off his options and his escape routes.

And unlike Xabi, he doesn't (yet) have the speed of thought to make space and time to find a pass. The one thing about Xabi that always struck me was that when he received the ball he never seemed to trap it and stop, rather his first action was to move it to one side or the other, giving him that bit more time to pick a pass.

[dww]

As someone mentioned above, teams have cottoned on to the fact that he regulates our passing game and now crowd him out of the game, cutting off his options and his escape routes.

I think a combination of factors are a problem for him - he's playing deeper than he's used to, we don't make enough angles for him yet and we don't have enough goal threats so teams concentrate on blocking the midfield. He's done well considering overall. Even his poor performances have shown good aspects to his game.

However, the trio of Sahin, Gerrard and Allen is pretty unbalanced and I hope we don't see it too many times (unless of course Sahin kicks on to the level people say he showed in Germany).

[Nicey]

Allen was up against a world class mid field last time out and think Sahin has been somewhat pedestrian last few games, and Gerrard is getting to grips with this system, leaving Joe exposed at times.

I read somewhere that Sahin actually is more of a DM than Joe, surprised we have not seen him in that role. I think Gerrard and Joe pushed on would be better. Either way Joe Allen is a cracking player

[el matador]

Sahin is like xabi was a deep lying playmaker.

Unlike xabi whos over six foot and can handle himself on the pitch sahin is small and wiry. Hes also really slow.

I thought he could have made a difference this season but the physicality of the epl is too much for him tohandle. henderson should be playing instead.

[Tee]

Sahin is like xabi was a deep lying playmaker.

Unlike xabi whos over six foot and can handle himself on the pitch sahin is small and wiry. Hes also really slow.

I thought he could have made a difference this season but the physicality of the epl is too much for him tohandle. henderson should be playing instead.

Seriously? Sahin has got what it takes and is still adjusting to this league. He has all the natural ability needed and makes some superb forward runs, and he actually can put the ball in the net rather than pass backwards with just the keeper to beat! Henderson ahead of Nuri? You are having a laugh right?

[BigChief]

As someone mentioned above, teams have cottoned on to the fact that he regulates our passing game and now crowd him out of the game, cutting off his options and his escape routes.

Good, that means he'll have totally committed one or two midfielders into stopping him passing. Should he get a clever pass away (even sideways) that will leave the oppo's exposed with Suarez hanging around in the space that's been created and Gerrard/Sterling not far away.

Allen just needs to get his confidence back and I can see this happening. Its Sahin that needs to start contributing and playing as well as Allen has so far.

[ronanm]

Good, that means he'll have totally committed one or two midfielders into stopping him passing. Should he get a clever pass away (even sideways) that will leave the oppo's exposed with Suarez hanging around in the space that's been created and Gerrard/Sterling not far away.

Allen just needs to get his confidence back and I can see this happening. Its Sahin that needs to start contributing and playing as well as Allen has so far.

[baitman]

Good, that means he'll have totally committed one or two midfielders into stopping him passing. Should he get a clever pass away (even sideways) that will leave the oppo's exposed with Suarez hanging around in the space that's been created and Gerrard/Sterling not far away.

Allen just needs to get his confidence back and I can see this happening. Its Sahin that needs to start contributing and playing as well as Allen has so far.

its a good point, but it means we need brains on the pitch who can take advantage of that space with a quick forward pass, and that isnt always happening

[Mostar]

Alarming drop off in form. With the whole possession thing, it's a bit of a problem when your midfield 3 isn't functioning as a unit and individually Allen, Sahin & Gerrard have all been well off their games.

I wouldn't say that.

Everybody is entitled to have a bad game from time to time.

He needs rest. He's been playing non-stop and it was only matter of time when that would affect his performance.

One of his strongest points is agility and against Chavs he was almost always one step behind and incredibly slow in his tackles and interceptions, which is very uncharacteristic of him.

That said vs Chelsea the entire midfield played poorly not just Allen and it would be unfair to single him out as neither Gerrard nor Sahin had good games.

That said, it is becoming more and more apparent that we need strong DM and even though that may not be priority for us as we badly need a striker I'd really try to improve that position in January as we don't know how much we can count on Lucas.