Joe Allen to the dippers?

alastair said:
I don't understand where all the hype around Joe Allen comes from. He's OK, he's tidy-ish. Liverpool's problem over the years has been buying far too many squad players who aren't top quality, and this is another one in the making. It's Charlie Adam all over again.
Click to expand...

He's better than Adam. he's solid, a good passer and he plays to Rodgers style, its not hard to see why they're considering him. He's also young with the potential to get better over the next few years.

I'm sure he'd like to go out and buy the worlds best midfield players but clearly that's not going to happen. He clearly thinks he'll improve them.

Will be interesting to see how Rodgers does, because Swansea were arguably the best "footballing" side in the league last season. Big pressure on him.
 
alastair said:
I don't understand where all the hype around Joe Allen comes from. He's OK, he's tidy-ish. Liverpool's problem over the years has been buying far too many squad players who aren't top quality, and this is another one in the making. It's Charlie Adam all over again.
Click to expand...

I don't know, I get the impression Allen could go up a level if he moves to a bigger club. At least he's young. Charlie Adam's weaknesses were there for all to see at Blackpool and they bought him anyway. I'd expect Allen to do a fair bit better than him and Henderson at Liverpool.

The problem for them is, can they still attract quality, established players? Obviously their history and reputation count for something, but given that they look a million miles away from getting back in the CL any time soon, they're facing an uphill struggle.
 
Can't say I paid much attention to him at Swansea but I was impressed by him for Team GB last night. England had 61% possession while he was on the pitch but got completely dominated in midfield after he went off.

IMO him and Borini are good young players who will do well at Liverpool. Thankfully, the rest of their squad is still riddled with shite.
 
RedRover said:
He's better than Adam. he's solid, a good passer and he plays to Rodgers style, its not hard to see why they're considering him. He's also young with the potential to get better over the next few years.

I'm sure he'd like to go out and buy the worlds best midfield players but clearly that's not going to happen. He clearly thinks he'll improve them.

Will be interesting to see how Rodgers does, because Swansea were arguably the best "footballing" side in the league last season. Big pressure on him.
Click to expand...

He's better than Adam, but he's in that mould of players who won't get them into the CL again. Needless to say, I wouldn't fear them more if they got him, even though he will probably improve with greater responsibility.

Scrumpet said:
I don't know, I get the impression Allen could go up a level if he moves to a bigger club. At least he's young. Charlie Adam's weaknesses were there for all to see at Blackpool and they bought him anyway. I'd expect Allen to do a fair bit better than him and Henderson at Liverpool.

The problem for them is, can they still attract quality, established players? Obviously their history and reputation count for something, but given that they look a million miles away from getting back in the CL any time soon, they're facing an uphill struggle.
Click to expand...


It wouldn't be difficult to do better than Henderson. He's a complete nightmare footballer. My Sunderland mate couldn't stop laughing at how they got so much for him.

They can't attract quality players at their peak, but they can sniff around the young player market, which was what I thought their plan always was under Henry. And there's better young players out there than Allen if you actually look around Europe.
 
buckooo1978 said:
It's crazy to see the calibre of players Liverpool attract these days

Allen looked handy enough for Swansea but I don't think he's influential or talented enough to help them get back into the top 4


Will Liverpool be able attract another Torres/Alonso in the next few years?
Click to expand...

They are fecked. Their revenue is okay for a club not playing in the CL for three years running, but their wage bill is quite high and they can hardly attract world-beaters without being able to offer top wages and/or Champions League football. Add the little fact that City and Chelsea have an endless pot of cash (and much better squads) while Arsenal and us are also so far ahead of them it's not even funny (well, it actually is hehe), they finished miles behind Tottenham again who are looking to improve too and even Newcastle and Everton overtook them last year... well, you get it. They haven't got a freaking chance in hell to get back in the top four with their current team. No way.

Their stadium hinders them big time as well. Very little revenue, no money to build a new one and dare I say it I hope they choose to expand Anfield and stay there. It will cost them big time in medium and long-term. History is one thing, but unless Roman and Mansour decide to feck off (which isn't very likely, let's be honest), their place as being just above midtable will be cemented for years to come. They might win the odd cup, but that's it. Eclipsing our 26 years wait? Well, they need a Sheikh if they don't want it to happen...
 
Rodgers has revealed his true hand, what a cock he is.*



*if the written agreement is actually true.
 
It's not hard to be better than that shambolic, fat, waste of space, Adam.

I do rate Allen though. He keeps it simple and isn't a fan of ridiculous 'Hollywood' balls. I think he could add something to their team and he is young, too. I also rate Borini. Two good prospects.
 
Pogue Mahone said:
Can't say I paid much attention to him at Swansea but I was impressed by him for Team GB last night. England had 61% possession while he was on the pitch but got completely dominated in midfield after he went off.

IMO him and Borini are good young players who will do well at Liverpool. Thankfully, the rest of their squad is still riddled with shite.
Click to expand...

:nono:
 
It's become very fashionable to claim that keeping it simple is a great attribute to have. It's great as long as you have the ability to do the not-simple as well, but this seems to have been completely lost.
 
GlastonSpur said:
His point? He didn't have one worthy of the title.

Originally, I simply said that it's premature to call Allen "over-priced" at 15m compared to Kawaga at 13m. And obviously it IS premature, since for all anybody knows right now Kawaga might flop in the Prem, whilst we already know that Allen has shown very decent Prem quality ... and indeed might shine further if/when playing for a better team.

Then KM comes weighing in with some ludicrous "analogy" involving Messi .... as if Messi might not be a big success in the Prem simply because he's never played in it.

To put it another way, Kawaga might or might not succeed in the Prem (we don't yet know), but that question mark does not apply to Messi.
Click to expand...

Isn't one of the fundamental problems with your view on the matter down to you having not watched Kagawa play any football? Why are you constantly talking about how good he might or might not be, and comparing him to players, when you've never seen him play before?
 
IrishLegend said:
I think he'd be a really decent signing for the dippers, despite the fact they have like a million CM's none of them are really content / any good at sitting back controlling the tempo of the game.
Click to expand...

The problem they have is that the fans hold Lucas in such talismanic esteem that if/when he automatically takes the field the team HAS to be X-1-X-X. You're always playing with an anchor DM when he is in the team.

With Gerrard and Adam last year playing different zones in front of Lucas there was just no ball playing creativity at all. Adam has a 60min engine and is a hollywood passer who does not have good enough movement. Lucas played 5 games and was promptly banned for a match for 5 yellows because he wa constantly running around fouling players cleaning up after Gerrard and Adam.

Unless they are going to play diamond 4-4-2 or Gerrard in the attacking hole and Lucas as anchor man their squad is a mess.
 
alastair said:
It's become very fashionable to claim that keeping it simple is a great attribute to have. It's great as long as you have the ability to do the not-simple as well, but this seems to have been completely lost.
Click to expand...

Well even if that was true, which it isn't, it's still an upgrade on Henderson and Spearing who can't even perform the simplest of footballing tasks. I think Rodgers will give him more freedom than he had last night for GB. He's less retarded than Pearce and has the benefit of Lucas to play with him.
 
alastair said:
He's better than Adam, but he's in that mould of players who won't get them into the CL again. Needless to say, I wouldn't fear them more if they got him, even though he will probably improve with greater responsibility.




It wouldn't be difficult to do better than Henderson. He's a complete nightmare footballer. My Sunderland mate couldn't stop laughing at how they got so much for him.

They can't attract quality players at their peak, but they can sniff around the young player market, which was what I thought their plan always was under Henry. And there's better young players out there than Allen if you actually look around Europe.
Click to expand...

The question is who is in that mould and available to them? Difficult, if not impossible for sides outside the top 4 to attract top 4 players. Tough place to be.

They'll be hoping that he can build a team greater than the sum of its parts.
 
cesc's_mullet said:
Rodgers has revealed his true hand, what a cock he is.*



*if the written agreement is actually true.
Click to expand...

I don't get this at all. It's not as if he's trying to take the player for free. Even if there is an agreement he is offering them 15m quid (for talk's sake) to ignore it. If they still don't want to sell him then fair enough.

Look at M'Villa. Rennes turned down an offer of £18m from Arsenal last summer sayign they wanted £25m. His stock has fallen and now they're tryign to flog him for £15m.

feck the so called agreement. Money talks. If we'd offered £100m do you think there would be this discussion?
 
M'n'M said:
I don't get this at all. It's not as if he's trying to take the player for free. Even if there is an agreement he is offering them 15m quid (for talk's sake) to ignore it. If they still don't want to sell him then fair enough.
Click to expand...

I think this is the issue:

The club is extremely disappointed that speculation regarding certain aspects of his contract have been released to the media by parties outside the club.
Click to expand...

If he's released information about a release clause then obviously he's in the wrong.
 
This might prove to be a smart move for Rodgers as Allen could well end up being their version of Carrick though he's not in the same level but in terms of bringing that cohesion. It's also easier to pick out a similar player from continent for half the price but they could well end up with another Aquilani. I can see why he may be willing to pay a bit over the odds for a player that's already proven in the league.
 
Brwned said:
If he's released information about a release clause then obviously he's in the wrong.
Click to expand...

Very true but I've yet to see anything where Brendan has released this info. I'm not even sure the £15m quoted is a release clause or just the rumoured amount it would take to get him.
 
RedRover said:
The question is who is in that mould and available to them? Difficult, if not impossible for sides outside the top 4 to attract top 4 players. Tough place to be.

They'll be hoping that he can build a team greater than the sum of its parts.
Click to expand...

That's the key, regardless of who we sign, or how much we pay for a particular player. Rodgers first priority is to get whatever players he has at his disposal to play the way he wants them to. If he's successful, & we manage to get ourselves back into the top 4, then we become a more attractive proposition for the bigger names - It's a big gamble by our owners. He could become a new Fergie or Mourninho. Alternatively, he might simply be a flash in the pan like George Burley.
 
retardman5 said:
That's the key, regardless of who we sign, or how much we pay for a particular player. Rodgers first priority is to get whatever players he has at his disposal to play the way he wants them to. If he's successful, & we manage to get ourselves back into the top 4, then we become a more attractive proposition for the bigger names - It's a big gamble by our owners. He could become a new Fergie or Mourninho. Alternatively, he might simply be a flash in the pan like George Burley.
Click to expand...

I think its a gamble worth taking. Who else would come in? Van Gaal at the likes will want mega millions to spend.

All top managers start somewhere and Rodgers got an average side playing beaturiful football - that will win him a lot of friends even if it doesn't mean instant success.
 
M'n'M said:
Very true but I've yet to see anything where Brendan has released this info. I'm not even sure the £15m quoted is a release clause or just the rumoured amount it would take to get him.
Click to expand...

I think they're talking about him 'releasing' this info. to those in charge of transfers at Liverpool, not to other clubs (why would he do that?!). It could all just be an easy way out for Swansea though - the fans won't want to lose him so blaming Rodgers is better than blaming the money men at Swansea.
 
That's exactly what's happening. Why on earth would Brendan not divulge that info to those in charge of transfers. Better still, if he is in charge of transfers like he has indicated does he have to have it wiped from his memory?

Jenkins is just pretending to play hard ball to appease the fans.
 
It's confidential information, it's not meant to be used to give his employer an advantage. That's the way it'd be seen in any normal job, it's how it should be seen here. Out of respect for the club he could quite easily have just not mentioned it. If it existed, of course.
 
Eyepopper said:
A Swansea spokesman said: "Swansea City can confirm that Liverpool have expressed an interest in Joe Allen, despite a written agreement with Liverpool not to approach any players within the 12-month period of former manager Brendan Rodgers leaving for Anfield.

http://m.skysports.com/article/football//7931842

What do people make of this?

I haven't really noticed him.

Good move?
Click to expand...
Chalie Adams with speed. Pointless signing IMO.
 
From what I've seen of Allen he's a player who likes to keep possession, lots of short, simple passing.

So he's the complete opposite of Adam who tries to do something flashy whenever he has the ball. I'm sure if you look at the pass completion rate of the two players there's a huge difference between them. Different players with different styles, weird comparison.
 
Red Indian Chief Torn Rubber said:
Yes. But in terms of having been big fish in a very small pond they are identical. I will be surprised if he proves an upgrade on any of the current Liverpool midfield starters or Aquilani even.
Click to expand...

I don't really think Allen was a big fish at Swansea. Any time I watched them he didn't stand out over the likes of Vorm, Brittain, Sinclair, Graham, Williams, Taylor etc

He was just a decent component in a decent mid-table team.
 
Red Indian Chief Torn Rubber said:
Chalie Adams with speed. Pointless signing IMO.
Click to expand...

Rubbish.

They are completely different players -and by all accounts - it looks as though they are completely different, in terms of attitude.

Adam was an egotistical twat while at Blackpool, he clearly fancies himself as a-bit of a superstar. He is rather useless and I remember you saying that he would be a good signing for Liverpool - while I lambasted the signing. Seems odd that you don't rate Allen, who is a far better player than Charlie poxy Adam :wenger:

It remains to be seen whether or not Allen will improve Liverpool, I feel he will be a good signing, but who knows? I think they should be focusing on other areas, personally, and I would give Aquilini a decent chance, too.
 
Robbie Boy said:
Rubbish.

They are completely different players -and by all accounts - it looks as though they are completely different, in terms of attitude.

Adam was an egotistical twat while at Blackpool, he clearly fancies himself as a-bit of a superstar.
Click to expand...
No. That was a fiction of your imagination. I never get why people equate lack of natural work rate with egotism. If Adam was egotistical it would have showed at Liverpool too. It's not a character trait one can switch off at will.

Robbie Boy said:
He is rather useless and I remember you saying that he would be a good signing for Liverpool - while I lambasted the signing. Seems odd that you don't rate Allen, who is a far better player than Charlie poxy Adam :wenger:
Click to expand...
It's not that I don't rate him. I just don't don't believe he is anywhere near as good as many think. It's that simple. Also, I don't have to rate the players everyone else rates.

Robbie Boy said:
It remains to be seen whether or not Allen will improve Liverpool, I feel he will be a good signing, but who knows? I think they should be focusing on other areas, personally, and I would give Aquilini a decent chance, too.
Click to expand...
That I agree with
 
Coca Cola said:
From what I've seen of Allen he's a player who likes to keep possession, lots of short, simple passing.

So he's the complete opposite of Adam who tries to do something flashy whenever he has the ball. I'm sure if you look at the pass completion rate of the two players there's a huge difference between them. Different players with different styles, weird comparison.
Click to expand...
The comparison was about them being big fish in a small pond.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.