Joe Allen [Sold]

[saj]

Mirallas was their stand out player in teh first half no doubt and we were lucky that he went off.

For me Fellaini played the enforcer role, he hassled,harried,kicked and battered his way through our team. Poor Allen was bounced around by him. How he didn't get booked was beyond me but i thought he was superb, guy is a handful no matter what position he plays. He wasn't pretty for them but bloody hell he was effective.

According to the stats somebody posted, Allen won 6/6 of his duels and despite being kicked around the whole game he still managed a pass completion rate of 86%. I wonder how many of those duels were against Fellaini.

[ashey]

I thought Fuzzyhead just ran into our players, didn't get pulled for a myriad of obvious fouls, & collected the loose ball. I wouldn't really call it "bossing" the midfield.

[saj]

I thought Fuzzyhead just ran into our players, didn't get pulled for a myriad of obvious fouls, & collected the loose ball. I wouldn't really call it "bossing" the midfield.

I'd have to agree with you there

Mirallas on the other hand was outstanding

[ashey]

Yeah, was glad Mirallas didn't come out for the 2nd half. Definitely their danger man.

[kris90210]

Fellaini dominated the entire midfield. I'm a massive Allen fan and he worked his arse off but he and no other LFC player got anywhere near Fellaini.... he bossed that game. Dirty ******* but a quality player.

Not how I saw it at all. Did well first half, but tired very early in the second. He couldn't use his physicality against Allen without fouling him and he was lucky he wasn't booked quite frankly. There were a couple of occasions when Allen 'bounced' off him, but he's 5'6 - the laws of physics will apply. But Allen got up and was straight back at him. Physically it was a total mismatch, but for me Allen came out on top. I thought it was a great performance, I really did.

[Gibbo]

Fellaini should have brushed Allen off every time.

His performance was very Mascherano like, he knew he wasn't as strong but he knew he had enough strength to put Fellaini off his game.

He won every tackle he attempted. Best player we've signed since Suarez.

[yamiedo]

I think Fellaini is perhaps overrated and uses his physicality to bully players but when he comes up against intelligent players like Allen he just looks like a brute giving away a bunch of free-kicks. If he is dealt with effectively he gets frustrated and lashes out.

[dww]

Fellaini should have brushed Allen off every time.

His performance was very Mascherano like, he knew he wasn't as strong but he knew he had enough strength to put Fellaini off his game.

He won every tackle he attempted. Best player we've signed since Suarez.

It is an odd thing he does all the things that he gets involved in well. Somehow though our midfield always seems open to counter attacks. Not sure I know what it is that good DMs do to prevent that, but Allen doesn't have that quality.

[yamiedo]

It is an odd thing he does all the things that he gets involved in well. Somehow though our midfield always seems open to counter attacks. Not sure I know what it is that good DMs do to prevent that, but Allen doesn't have that quality.

Allen is not naturally a DM, also if a counter attack slows up you can guarantee Allen will be zoned in on nicking the ball off someone.

[McDermotX]

It is an odd thing he does all the things that he gets involved in well. Somehow though our midfield always seems open to counter attacks. Not sure I know what it is that good DMs do to prevent that, but Allen doesn't have that quality.

There were plenty of instances where Allen found himself having to close distances of 15-20yds whenever Everton broke through the middle.
Didn't take too much effort to instigate attacks through that vital area, and probably Allen's lack of expertise in that area meant he had taken up a 'safe' defensive position, too far back, too often.
That said, there was absolutely zero help coming from the rest of the midfield at those times. Very little ball retention up top, too much hoofing, too little of what Rodger's wants in a possession-dominant side.
Personally thought Allen had an OK game, not great, but certainly not a bad one.

[dww]

There were plenty of instances where Allen found himself having to close distances of 15-20yds whenever Everton broke through the middle.
Didn't take too much effort to instigate attacks through that vital area, and probably Allen's lack of expertise in that area meant he had taken up a 'safe' defensive position, too far back, too often.
That said, there was absolutely zero help coming from the rest of the midfield at those times. Very little ball retention up top, too much hoofing, too little of what Rodger's wants in a possession-dominant side.
Personally thought Allen had an OK game, not great, but certainly not a bad one.

It wasn't meant to be critical of Allen in that sense. Just that he is clearly filling in and not ideal for the deepest/most defensive midfield role in the long run. He's a really good player and is doing a decent job as a backup DM but I think we need to get someone else in so we can use him where he would be more effective.

[McDermotX]

It wasn't meant to be critical of Allen in that sense. Just that he is clearly filling in and not ideal for the deepest/most defensive midfield role in the long run. He's a really good player and is doing a decent job as a backup DM but I think we need to get someone else in so we can use him where he would be more effective.

[yamiedo]

He will be most effective playing like Xavi or Iniesta.

[danperkins]

It wasn't meant to be critical of Allen in that sense. Just that he is clearly filling in and not ideal for the deepest/most defensive midfield role in the long run. He's a really good player and is doing a decent job as a backup DM but I think we need to get someone else in so we can use him where he would be more effective.

[el matador]

hes too mobile to be a defensive midfield player.

I am so surprised by this player because he can do absolutely everything. He can sit and hold infront of the back 4 but its not really his game. He sits off the play offering an option for the pass but his key role is in regaining possession of the ball once we;ve lost it. he covers ground so quickly and without fuss.

Once lucas is back, we will see what this lad is really about. Excellent in possession, keeps things simple but stops the opposition from playing.

i love him.