Joe Allen [Sold]

[yamiedo]

Went quietly about his business yesterday. In a similar way to Lucas you will notice just how much difference he makes when he is not in the team.

[el matador]

anyone read gerrards times interview today with jonathon norcroft.

It comes across really well but a couple of times it looks like he was having a dig at players like Joe Allen. Here's the quotes.

"the past few games ive played beside joe allen and joe's naturally going to play slightly deeper and keep the passes safe and build attacks. But if I get in the final third and I see a ball... you know, if I keep playing balls safe and nice and keep the ball and I'm thinking, 'Shall I get a 90% pass success so Brendan Rodgers likes me?, the Liverpool fans wont be happy with my performances. I'm judged on something else."

Here's the other one...

"At liverpool, the way it is with myself - and i've noticed its a bit the same with [Luis] Suarez - if we dont score or set goals up then we havent played well. Whereas, other players can pass the ball and have a normal game and they're 'sensational'. But thats just fine," he shrugs.

[Gibbo]

I think thats more of a judgement of his own game than anyone else's.

[el matador]

i hope so but it seems a little 'steered' in the way of allen or players of that type.

[Robbie-9-Fowler]

To be fair I think he's actually wrong in a sense.

I can think of the home game against United a season or 2 ago where he was just back from injury and played a deep role and just kept things ticking. Many on here sang his praises, me included.

He's been given stick this year because he's been ****. Giving the ball away and letting players walk past him which has lead to a goal.

Last 2 games he's been much better, the fact he's scored while playing well doesn't mean we only praise when he scores. If he never scored in either game I think many would have said he's been much, much better.

Tracking back, keeping the ball and generally looking like he can be arsed. 3 things he's lacked up until the United game I'd say.. Hope he carries on improving (scoring or not).

[Neil Young]

Out of context those quotes read to me like someone who wants to be Billy Big Bolleaux and doesn't like sharing the limelight with people who he feels don't deserve it. Let's face it, that wouldn't be totally out of character.

But things can be twisted in interviews, we all know that. The "he shrugs" description is a classic case of the reporter subtly using language to create a particular impression. "He says" would have been neutral, "he shrugs" very clearly to me implies a negative. Of course maybe he did shrug, so it might not be inaccurate reporting.

[Muddled]

I think thats more of a judgement of his own game than anyone else's.

[red evil kenevil]

What a great player



Joe Allen vs Norwich - YouTube

Thanks Mostar love watching these clps when I've missed the match

[kris90210]

anyone read gerrards times interview today with jonathon norcroft.

It comes across really well but a couple of times it looks like he was having a dig at players like Joe Allen. Here's the quotes.

"the past few games ive played beside joe allen and joe's naturally going to play slightly deeper and keep the passes safe and build attacks. But if I get in the final third and I see a ball... you know, if I keep playing balls safe and nice and keep the ball and I'm thinking, 'Shall I get a 90% pass success so Brendan Rodgers likes me?, the Liverpool fans wont be happy with my performances. I'm judged on something else."

Here's the other one...

"At liverpool, the way it is with myself - and i've noticed its a bit the same with [Luis] Suarez - if we dont score or set goals up then we havent played well. Whereas, other players can pass the ball and have a normal game and they're 'sensational'. But thats just fine," he shrugs.

I'd be massively disappointed in our captain if those quotes are accurate. Seems very out of character for him to be openly critical of a team mate like that.

[rudedog]

I'd be massively disappointed in our captain if those quotes are accurate. Seems very out of character for him to be openly critical of a team mate like that.

I think it would be very harsh to judge those quotes without seeing what context they were said in.

[DannyMan2006]

He hasn't criticised a team mate. If he's criticising anyone it's the people who make the judgements.

But as he said, he's aware he gets judged in more than his passing and that's the way it goes. He's not complaining.

And if he is, he should compare the pay check of his and Suarezs to the rest of the squad. If he doesn't get twice the wage if Allen I'd be surprised.

People who get paid top money should perform to a top level. Simple as really.

[yamiedo]

Allen deserves all the praise. He has been sensational lately whether Gerrard thinks so or not.

[Norbs]

He hasn't criticised a team mate. If he's criticising anyone it's the people who make the judgements.

But as he said, he's aware he gets judged in more than his passing and that's the way it goes. He's not complaining.

And if he is, he should compare the pay check of his and Suarezs to the rest of the squad. If he doesn't get twice the wage if Allen I'd be surprised.

People who get paid top money should perform to a top level. Simple as really.

It's difficult not to read it that way, but I see it more a dig at what he believes the manager considers to be the criteria for a good performance instead of a dig at Allen. It's clear that he's implying BR looks at the pass completion percentage. Gerrard's style of play requires more adventurous passes in the final third which wont alway be completed and it looks like he feels neglected due to the stats.

He should stop thinking about it too much and get on with what he does best.

[dww]

I think you can read it as a 'dig' at whoever you want really. Not clear that it is aimed at anyone in particular though. There has been a general conversation that seems to value purely passing stats and undervalue the fact that this is supposed to be a means to an ends - i.e. scoring more goals than the opposition.

Normally the coverage is much more loaded towards the goals so it seems more of a corrective than a problem. I guess it must feel different to a player used to praise. In fact you could argue that Gerrard has come in for unfair criticism whilst he has been trying to add more cutting edge/creativity to the passing we have.

[Kenneth]

I think you can read it as a 'dig' at whoever you want really. Not clear that it is aimed at anyone in particular though. There has been a general conversation that seems to value purely passing stats and undervalue the fact that this is supposed to be a means to an ends - i.e. scoring more goals than the opposition.

Normally the coverage is much more loaded towards the goals so it seems more of a corrective than a problem. I guess it must feel different to a player used to praise. In fact you could argue that Gerrard has come in for unfair criticism whilst he has been trying to add more cutting edge/creativity to the passing we have.

Are you arguing that?