Brendan Rodgers

[Bender]

Manager Brendan Rodgers believes Daniel Sturridge's return from injury will elevate Liverpool's game to "a new dimension", having seen evidence of a rapport in training between the England striker and summer signing Christian Benteke. (Guardian)

[Boogs]

2 up top

[Fan65]

Think if anyone he would be Mr Magoo that could be his only excuse for playing Lovren week in, Week out

Rodgers would be better suited as Sgt major "shut up" from "It ain't half hot mum" with Lovren playing Gunner Parkin

"Shoulders back lovely boy"

[Norbs]

He won't be needed this season then

[Slinky Skills]

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/277025/Brendan-Rodgers-Joe-Allen-is-a-Welsh-Xavi

Brendan Rodgers: Joe Allen is a Welsh Xavi

BRENDAN RORDERS has labelled £15million summer signing Joe Allen as the Welsh Xavi.

By Steve Millar / Published 14th October 2012

Brendan Rodgers says Joe Allen is a special talent

I would have paid many millions more for this kid. He’s unique in that he’s a British player who is incredible on the ball

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers

Liverpool boss Rodgers – who landed the midfielder from his old club Swansea – has likened Allen, 22, to the Spanish playmaker.

Rodgers may have rolled out the red carpet for the Welsh international – but he was in danger of pulling it from under his feet by comparing him to the Nou Camp superstar.

Xavi has made more than 600 appearances for Barcelona, winning six La Liga titles and three Champions League winners’ medals, as well as being capped 119 times for his country and starring in Spain’s double-European Championship and World Cup-winning teams.

That leaves a lot for Allen to live up to but Rogers insisted: “I would have paid many millions more for this kid. He’s unique in that he’s a British player who is incredible on the ball.

“His body work is very intelligent and for a 22-year-old it’s frightening. He’s incredible.”

That sort of praise would make many young stars crumble but Allen has so far lived up to his top billing and has never once been daunted by the lavish praise from the boss.

Allen said: “I know how he wants to go about getting this team playing, so that was only a good thing for me and it meant that I didn’t have to change too much.

“And settling into a new club it was ideal. There was no pressure on my shoulders at all.

“It was a new situation for me but I told myself not to let the comments affect me and to just play the way I had been playing.

“It can be difficult when you join a new club and move into a new environment but this is a football club which is full of fantastic people.

“And I have been made especially welcome and that’s helped a lot.”

Liverpool’s fans have taken quickly to the midfield pass-master.

Pass and move has been an Anfield obsession since the days of Bill Shankly and Allen’s ability to keep possession has helped vindicate his manager’s words.

“I think the Liverpool supporters enjoy watching this kid play football,” Rodgers added.

“He is 5ft 6ins but in terms of being a footballer he is 7ft 6ins. He’s absolutely immense. His courage in getting on the ball, how he reads the game and his football intelligence is outstanding.

“We paid £15m for him and I said that very quickly that price would double and people probably laughed at me.

“But he will play here for many years and the supporters will love this kid.”

Rodgers also hit back at pundits who have criticised Allen for playing too conservatively.

Match of the Day analyst Alan Shearer highlighted the newly-crowned Welsh Player of the Year’s reluctance to take chances but Rodgers rapped: “I saw something criticising Joe Allen for not playing risk passes.

“Unbelievable – so-called pundits who don’t know the dynamics of a team and how it functions.

“Joe’s role is to keep the ball. And that, in Britain, is a special talent. It is why Paul Scholes is still playing to his age. It is such a rare talent for a midfielder to rarely give the ball away.

“People have talked about him and his fee but in time he will be an absolute bargain.

“He will have a long career here. He’s a wonderful talent and over time people will see what facets he’s got in his game.

“Where we have been really pleased with Joe is with his tactical discipline. Maybe he’s never going to score as many as Steven Gerrard but he’s certainly got quality going forward.

“Offensively, he has far more than what a lot of people have seen, just because he’s having to play a more sitting role at the moment.

“I have played him in there because he knows how to control the game. He is courageous and will go and get the ball in any area.

“It is his tactical discipline to stay and keep the shape of the team and offer the passing line, which has been really good though.

“Because of that we haven’t seen everything he can do going forward – but we will.”

[RichC]

What was the point in that post ?

[Vermilion]

I thought that but didn't comment.

Slinky maybe just heard about the fact Brendan said it maybe ?

Or, he was only interested in this bit...
“He is 5ft 6ins but in terms of being a footballer he is 7ft 6ins.

But wanted to provide context.

[Slinky Skills]

What was the point in that post ?

Just the comment about him being 7ft 6", always stuck with me and everyone else is taking the piss out of the things he said so I thought I'd join in ha ha!

Only having a bit of light hearted fun.

[DannyMan2006]

Ferguson / Paul Hayward of the Guardian:

Cast into a world of mediocre players and minuscule budgets, he was drawn to people who reflected his own abrasive and indomitable nature. “It was at Aberdeen where I realised the strong characters in the dressing room were the backbone for the young players.” Manchester United have seen plenty of these warriors down the years and Ferguson mentions several: Bryan Robson, Brian McClair, Mark Hughes, Steve Bruce, Paul Ince, Roy Keane. His definition of a leader is clear: “A strong character can deal with issues they don’t enjoy. They do something about it. They have a determination about them, a purpose about them. They’re winners. Simply that.”

[Doc_Piptorious]

I think he'd be more likely to be found at Ashworth Prison with 2 pencils shoved up his nose and a pair of undies on his head

As a guest of Mr Bronson/Salvador?

[DannyMan2006]

I thought I should post the above as it shows what this team is missing. Having lost Carra / Gerrard / Suarez this does help explain why this squad has never gotten over the line in tough situations.

There are so many issues now with this Liverpool team, but whilst FSG have heavily backed us with cash, money on experienced players will always yield a greater reward in the short & long term if you buy the right ones.

[Mattshark]

Allen is actually a very good player who is cool under pressure. When our team worked in 13/14 he looked very good.

Now...... The problem is our whole team is screwed. We can put anyone in that midfield and it just doesn't work anymore. We can mix & match, drop & promote, makes no odds.

It will work with everyone or it will dork with none of them. We could put Pogba or Marchisio in our midfield and we'd still look rubbish. It's not player ability, it's the managers tactics.

I'm perplexed tbh because I think somewhere Rodgers has it in him. But he needs to get it right, and in a formation that has longevity as opposed to a few months and then collapse.

Sorry mate, but he isn't. He is a midtable quality player who is good when he has space and time (if limited). As soon as he has to play quickly he is completely shown up.

[DannyMan2006]

Sorry mate, but he isn't. He is a midtable quality player who is good when he has space and time (if limited). As soon as he has to play quickly he is completely shown up.

First off, I should clarify that I don't specially rate Joe Allen. If we sold him I'd lose no sleep. But........

In 13/14 he was perfectly able to fit into our fast passing system and looked very good. For Wales he is excellent when he sits in front of the back 4 and they really miss him when he's not available. Likely because players they have in reserve are championship level, but still

Rodgers bought him for a specific role he played at Swansea, which thanks to Rodgers and his spin the wheel formation selector, he's never actually played at Anfield.

It's more noticeable when Rodgers tries to shoehorn in more well known players, but he does the same with Allen. When Rodgers leaves this club you'd see a different Joe Allen IMO. If he wasn't sold that is.

[Mattshark]

First off, I should clarify that I don't specially rate Joe Allen. If we sold him I'd lose no sleep. But........

In 13/14 he was perfectly able to fit into our fast passing system and looked very good. For Wales he is excellent when he sits in front of the back 4 and they really miss him when he's not available. Likely because players they have in reserve are championship level, but still

Rodgers bought him for a specific role he played at Swansea, which thanks to Rodgers and his spin the wheel formation selector, he's never actually played at Anfield.

It's more noticeable when Rodgers tries to shoehorn in more well known players, but he does the same with Allen. When Rodgers leaves this club you'd see a different Joe Allen IMO. If he wasn't sold that is.

Yes, he is also really not good enough (like many of Rodger's signings) to perform that role for us.

International footaball tends to give more time and space and less pressure tbf. Swansea also tend(ed) to get pressured less than we do.

[DannyMan2006]

Yes, he is also really not good enough (like many of Rodger's signings) to perform that role for us.

International footaball tends to give more time and space and less pressure tbf. Swansea also tend(ed) to get pressured less than we do.

The best teams don't get pressured too much because they tear you apart. We get pressure so much because there's no real shape to us. Bizarre since in that first season with us Rodgers seemed obsessed with finding a bit of shape to us.