KopTalk.com Forums Football Liverpool FC Forum Allen analysis wrong - Rodgers

Brendan Rodgers has launched a defence of Joe Allen against 'so-called pundits' who question his role in the Liverpool side.

The Reds boss does not mention Alan Shearer by name, but it was the BBC Match of the Day pundit who wondered about the value of a midfielder who does not take risks to create chances.

The £15million signing from Swansea has created just three chances for his teammates in seven Premier League appearances and yet Rodgers is comparing the Wales international with Paul Scholes.

"I saw someone recently 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," said Rodgers.

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

"Initially when I came in, we played with one holding midfielder and two advanced ones. I didn't feel that we had the guy that opened the door for everything so I played Joe in there because he knows how to control the game. He is courageous and will go and get the ball in any area. But our positioning ahead of that wasn't so good, because we were too open.

"We have switched the team to play with two holding midfielders and one further forward. That has been Steven more or less, because he is the one that can do everything."

Rodgers is promising more attacking intent from Allen when Lucas Leiva returns from injury.

"Joe, offensively, has more than what a lot of people have seen, just because he's had to play more of a sitting role. That comes when Lucas is back.

"Where we have been really pleased with Joe is with his tactical discipline. Maybe he's never going to score as many as Steven but he's certainly got quality going forward. But his tactical discipline to stay and keep the shape of the team, and offer the passing line, has been very good. 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. Over time, he will prove an absolute bargain."


Source: Allen analysis wrong


After reading some of the comments recently about Allen, I thought this was appropriate to post.

Read this earlier and agree with Rodgers. Shearer, as good as he was, relied on hoof ball as was the tradition in the English game. He wouldn't understand an Allen type midfielder. He's used to David Batty lets not forget.

Agree completely with BR on Allen.

Sometimes people forget that football is still ultimately a territorial game. Cover the territories well and half the battle is won. Allen is the right guy in the middle of the park to keep the shape of the team and the distribute balls. He's also damn good at keeping the ball and creating spaces in the middle of the park. It's rare to find a player like him.

But he doesn't tackle, head the ball or play the Hollywood pass so he's obviously [oops] in some people's eyes. I get the impression that most people on this country only understand hoof ball hence the lovin of Martin O'Neill.

I like Allen but do feel he is a luxury we could'nt afford, we are paying the price for that now as we still have far more urgent areas of the team which needed the money spent on them.

Shearer's (and other pundits) job is to give unbiased opinion based on their knowledge of the game. BR's role is to defend his signing to the Nth degree even when most people can see how limited joe allen is. I'll take the opinion of the unbiased man thank you very much - it would be foolish not to.

It would be even more silly not to take the view o them who agrees with your view

do you ever support any of our players?

Shearer might be unbiased but his knowledge of the game is as shallow as shebby singh.

Shearer is one of the highest ever scorers on the 'thick as pig sh1t' list of all time. He needs help to open a bag of crisps from the right end. The only reason its not more noticed is that he is invariably sat next to the talking corpse of mark lawrenson.

What he knows about football apart from timing a run and putting the ball in the net is extremely negligible.

Joe allen is one of the few good buys in last 3 years.
Lucas ' injury means he is probably either playing out of position or he has had to adopt a deeper role with shelvey or gerard to compensate