RELATED
Joe Allen: Liverpool Have Pulled Off A Coup By Landing The Tiki-Taka Welshmen
Joe Allen has told Swansea he wants to leave for Liverpool. Here's why it's a great deal for the new look Anfield outfit.
Joe Allen has told Swansea he wants to leave for Liverpool. Here’s why it’s a great deal for the new look Anfield outfit.
Swansea’s Joe Allen lined up for Team GB against the much-fancied Brazil side in the holding role for Stuart Pearce’s men. But Allen is no tough-tackling destroyer, with the number eight more of a pass-master of a midfielder.
Allen has impressed hugely for Swansea City over the past few seasons, shooting to prominence last season in the Premier League as one half of Brendan Rodger’s infamous ‘Xavi and Iniesta’ central midfield partnership.
Playing the starring roles of the World Cup and European Championship holding Spanish duo was Joe Allen and Leon Britton. Standing at 5 ft 6 and 5 ft 5 respectively, Allen and Britton certainly mirror their illustrious midfield companions for size. But the comparison is not a lazy fallacy. They are Barca in style too.
Allen is the more coveted of the two, at 22 years of age with a long career with Wales waiting and set for a starring role at London 2012 this summer. In the first 20 minutes of GB’s game against Brazil, Allen was neat and tidy in possession, confident on the ball and smart with his movement off it.
The second half was a quiet affair, as Brazil basically settled for their 2-0 victory. But what impressed me about Allen was how he didn’t get overawed in the middle of the park against the highly rated Brazilians Oscar, Hulk and Neymar pressing him intensely.
Looking towards next season, and it is apparent that new Liverpool boss Rodgers has been keen to be re-united with Allen, who he praised almost on a weekly basis at the Liberty Stadium last season. The Northern Irish manager is currently conducting a complete overhaul of the playing style seen at the club, shifting focus from counter-attack to the possession-based mantra he is known for. It will be no easy feat, but it’s a task made that much easier when you have assured ball-playing central midfielders such as Joe Allen.
Allen is the more coveted of the two, at 22 years of age with a long career with Wales waiting and set for a starring role at London 2012 this summer
Whilst £13.5m might seem a steep price to pay for Allen, it doesn’t seem drastic to me. Liverpool shelled far more for the athletic but technically limited Jordan Henderson last summer, and Allen represents a substantial upgrade on the Englishman.
With Lucas Leiva set to make his comeback from a horrible cruciate ligament injury that obliterated his playing time last term, Allen could slot in neatly alongside the Euro 2012-refreshed Steven Gerrard.
With most agreeing that Rodgers will adopt the 4-3-3 formation this season with Liverpool that served him so well at Swansea; Lucas, Allen and Gerrard would be an impressive midfield trio. Henderson has yet to prove he is worthy of a starting spot, Jay Spearing is workman-like but unpolished and Charlie Adam, Alberto Aquilani and Joe Cole would be capable reserves.
Therefore it seems that Liverpool have little to lose (well, £15m, but they haven’t been afraid of splashing the cash recently – see Henderson, Downing, Carroll as evidence) and all to gain with the signature of the tiki-taka schooled Welshman.
Whilst last summer’s transfer philosophy at Anfield was supposed to revolve around signing young, hungry and talented rising British stars – Kenny Daglish didn’t quite carry out the Moneyball-style approach to the letter.
Liverpool have been looking for a technically gifted, mentally sure, dynamic and young central midfielder and Allen ticks all those boxes. It may not be the most glamorous signing of the summer, but the Swansea man could prove exactly what is needed to kick-start Rodgers’ revolution.
Follow James on Twitter
Other great articles on Liverpool
Liverpool: £10m For Dempsey? Here’s 5 Reasons It’s Money Well Spent
Liverpool’s Luis Suarez And 4 Other Reasons Why Uruguay Can Win Gold
West Ham? AC Milan? Who Cares? Liverpool Just Need To Shift Andy Carroll
Click here for more stories on Football and Sport
Click here to follow Sabotage Times on Twitter
Click here to follow Sabotage Times on Facebook
If you like it, Pass it on
COMMENTS
I thought you knew what you were talking about until you mentioned Aquilani isn't technically gifted.
Joe allen has all this in him why is rodgerz no acting fast. Branden plz sign joe allen dont waite after olympic
Joe would be making a bad decision if he left a place where he is suceeding to join a failing club.
Aquilani is better than Allen. Can everyone calm down about this guy? Liverpool don't need him, they don't really need anyone at this point. There is more of a need to shift players than sign new ones. The youngsters look impressive. If you want a technically gifted player who is young and dynamic, look no further than Suso, who will also be better than Allen.
@Sasy... you clearly didn't bother to read this article every closely.. as he didn't mention Aquilani's technical abilities at all... only that he would make a capable reserve..
Thanks Sgt Pilko, seems Sasy flew straight for the comments bar. Good point Jason, Suso set for big season under Rodgers but can he be relied upon every week in his breakthrough season, if that is what this season becomes? Can't agree that Acquilani is better than Allen, I'd sell Adam and Aquilani personally. Replace them in the squad with Allen and Suso. Would like to see Joe Cole given another chance at Liverpool after a great season in Lille.
If we are spending around over 13 mil for a player from smaller club then i would prefer to add a couple of mils more for gazton ramirez,the reason is player like ramirez have the mentality which i believe is far more stronger than joe allen, in fact i'm sure he is far more superior than allen.
On paper I don't think we need Allen as we do have some gifted midfielders which will suit the new style we are going to play. However, what Allen brings is a player who Rodgers does not need to change and can slot right in from the first day of the season (which starts extra early this year). So, personally, I believe he is worth the purchase. Also, I think Suso, and Sterling also will become first team players next year not this one - too soon. But I think all the midfielders in the squad will see playing time, like Joe Cole and Acquilani.
Sasy Never,not once in this article does it mention that aquallani isn't technically gifted?? it says he will be an able back up! read an article before you try to pull it appart mate! not a bad article mate!
going with stats, Allen is 6th in the all time passers of the game for last seaosn Europe. thats huge. his young and would not have been picked for the GB team if he did not have the talent. yes we have a bulged midfield but we also have the Europa league to contend with this season. some will play regularly in the league, in domestic cup competitons and in Europa. is he worth 13.5 . . . NO. tell you why; he has not won a league title and any cup competition. best price is 10 with add on's. Henderson proved that paying silly money for raw talent does not work. Suso, Sterling and Pacheco definitely need to make the bench. they are young and skillfull. frankly, i will let Spearing and Aquilani go. keep Carroll. im sure there a smart managers out there who have worked out how to nullify the 4-3-3 system. players like Suarez, Borini, Downing, Bellamy rely on pace . . . not strength. what happens when we come up against a East European team in the middle of winter who is willing to kick the hell out of us. enter ANDY CARROLL. smart managers, which Brendan proffesses to be have PLAN A up to Z.
he's not worth it now he's injured trolololol. rather buy forwards and gaston ramirez! allens injured so maybe we get him for ten yeh?
This is priceless; I'd nearly forgotten the EPL's group Swansea wank off of last season. Calling Joe Allen and Leon Britton Swansea's 'Xavi and Iniesta' partnership is like calling Ant and Dec the modern version of Moore and Cook, or (insert any shite group/team/company's shite version of x1,000,000 better group/team/company's x1,000,000 better version). Still, I needed a laugh this morning, what with the weather on the turn again, so I say encore, let's have part II ASAP please!
It's funny that you say Henderson isn't technically gifted, when he's probably the most technical player we've had in the past 10 years. Boy has skills.
tom i agree henderson is very technically gifted , its a shame he dosent show it on the pitch though !!!
Jordan Henderson is not technically limited???
"pulled off a coup" - what world are you scousers living in......another manager, this time totally over his head...brings in one of his ex players who no other club really went for and he's a "coup"..... Joke manager and club....you really have plumbed the depths....Fenway not willing to splash the cash....and you are now basically in the chasing pack a la Villa, Everton, Newcastle, Stoke... Enjoy
Dave clearly knows nothing about football. What players are Liverpool going to attract without Champions League football? We were lucky to get Suarez, any players we do try and get we're just going to have to pay over the odds for, therefore waste FSG's money. This "joke manager" you speak of, had one hell of a great season for his first in the Premier League, playing some of the best football people had seen. As for Joe Allen, his pass succession rate last season was incredible, and considering he knows Brendan's philosophy from working with him, he's the perfect player to bring in and quicken the transition. You're a typical know-nothing loud mouth who thinks the world is better for hearing your opinion. Got news for you; it's not.
I hope I'm wrong but my honest opinion is while most of you think Allen is going to be an amazing signing j disagree I'm afraid. I think your well over rating him.Swansea did so amazing last season with this special Tika taka style didn't they. Ok yeah they had 1 very good season but Norwich didn't use those special tactics that are so great yet Norwich finished on level points with Rodgers side . Why are fans not saying what lambert did was also great ?his tactics were also successful surely since Norwich we're also a newly promoted side not expected to do much . I think what Swansea did last season is slightly over rated and as for Allen being so great at his pass success rate Swansea completed the highest amount of passes in there own half by a long way out of any other team in the prem. 51 % in fact. Allen is good at playing safe passes back to his defence that probably had something to do with his high pass success rate I would of thought.Allen managed 3 assists last season so obviously were not buying him to create goals even though he's a deep lying playmaker apparently. Were buying him just to keep the ball in our own half ? Maybe that was why Swansea were the 5 th lowest scorers in the league last season also
While were paying paying 15 mill for a player that's had 1 season in the prem teams above like spurs , man u arsenal are paying less than that for proven internationals . For those of you out there who say we can't attract quality because were not in champ league obviously don't rate saurez then ? Also Newcastle were not in champ league last season yet they managed to bring in better players than we dud . How dud they manage that since there not in champ league? We supposedly bought newcastles 2 best players at start of last season yet they finished above us.never mind were about to get Allen along side Borrini so thats goner easy make us good enough now to overtake spurs, everton, Newcastle and Chelsea lol
I find it amazing that Newcastle get new manager, buy a couple of good UNKNOWN players and have a reasonably good season finishing an embarrassing 13pts ahead of Liverpool! Liverpool have got a new manager,have bought a couple of really good young players (Allen is quality) with more to come. and the know it all, know nothing heads are out chatting utter rubbish. The negative void counter attacking tactics last year cost Liverpool. Forget hitting the post, forget the alleged porosity of the signings it was the tactics or lack of. I'm very confident normal services will be resumed this season. For me we have better players than the Newcastle of the world. A great up and coming British manager, Fantastic youth which will get a chance this season and I'd be amazed if the same comments will be levelled at us at the end of next season. Talk is cheap
I feel that poor tactics did play a big part as well as 1 or 2 poor signings for a terrible season but weather Rodgers tactics will improve us immensely enough to be in amongst a top 4 by end of season or not remains to be seen. I'm not si sure. I hope it does work but I will say that some fans overate what Rodgers did last season. Surely lambert with Norwich also completed his first season in the prem also being Newly premoted and not expected to do much same as Swansea yet Norwich finished on level points with Swansea. That was amazing lambert welldone .I rate that higher than what Rodgers did because lambert didn't use that really successful Tika taka style nor did west brom yet they both finish on same points. West brom and norwich also didn't have that amazing Allen in there midfield? Surely you Rodgers and Allen fans must be impressed with what Norwich and west brom did also ?Allen didn't impress me in the Olympics . He's a good player for a mid table team but I was hoping we were going to bring some top 4 standard quality in but instead we end up with Borrini and Allen . I hope I'm wrong and they turn out to be great signings . I can't see it though .
James, now your article on Allen makes you look like a muppet.
SABOTAGE
