Liverpool Transfer Update : Joe Allen Under The Microscope

Waking up to the news of Liverpool paying a hefty sum for another British player (which is, by the way, becoming quite a clichAi?? nowadays) doesnai??i??t really get one all excited, isnai??i??t it? It doesnai??i??t give you that pseudo kick from the coffee that you are drinking. It doesnai??i??t really make your day and you are left in a limbo over the purchase. Well, for Liverpool, Joe Allen has signed for the exact opposite reasons. To become the engine of the team, to be the definitive link between defense and attack, to be the one who dictates the game from the middle of the park.

Rodgers on Allen: ai???This boy, when you see him play, you would think he was a European player.

ai???I would have paid millions for this kid. He is a unique player in that he is a British player who doesnai??i??t give the ball away.

ai???You will see when he comes into this team the difference he can make.

ai???Heai??i??s incredible on the ball. His body work and intelligence for a 22-year-old is frightening.

ai???His game understanding is very good, and he is in love with the football.

ai???He wants the ball all the time, and he has so much courage to get on the ball and play.

ai???I think he will fit in really well with all the other clever players we have at the club.ai???

Joe Allen ai??i?? The Early Years

Liverpoolai??i??s 29th Welshman signing comes from a small Welsh town called Carmarthen. Just like his predecessors Ian Rush and John Toshack, football grew onto him at a very early age and the midfielder joined Swanseaai??i??s youth setup right at the age of nine (1999). Unfortunately, he made just one appearance that season ai??i?? in the last game against Blackpool which Swansea lost, missing out on a play-off spot.len

Joe Allen_Liverpool — Joe Allen – Early Years

Joe Allen received more game time the following season under new manager Roberto Martinez. It was under Martinez that Allen starting honing his skills as the midfielder we see today. It is logical to then infer that Martinez is the reason Allen developed the attacking side to his play given the managerai??i??s penchant for attacking football.

His performances were soon becoming the talking point in Welsh footballing circles and Joe Allen was awarded a contract extension to stay at Swansea till 2010. However, due to stiff competition stemming from a more experienced midfield forced Allen to join Wrexham on loan in 2008. But it wasnai??i??t going to be in the best interest of the midfielder as he suffered ankle injuries throughout his stint ai??i?? forcing his stay at Wrexham to last just for a month.

The next two seasons didnai??i??t pan out too well for Joe Allen. He suffered with injuries even during the 2009/10 season during Martinezai??i?? reign and it was only at the start of the 2010/11 campaign that his injury woes had ebbed away ai??i?? giving him a new start under Brendan Rodgers, a partnership that has reaped several benefits for club, player and manager till today.

Playing Style

They say everything happens for a reason. First, Joe Allen was coached on taking the ball forward by Roberto Martinez. Next, Brendan Rodgers comes in and teaches him to be patient and choose the right moment to make that dash. It may not be the best of two worlds but Joe Allen surely has scored some points on the all-round-midfielder’s test, one could say.

Everybody remembers the vitality of Xabi Alonsoai??i??s role in the squad ever since his arrival from Real Sociedad. At first, the midfielder was still unknown and in the shadows as far as impact and presence on the pitch were concerned but with time, the Spaniard became part of Liverpoolai??i??s spine.

The main difference between Alonso and Allen, letai??i??s not forget, we are comparing a club legend to a rookie but both have started from the same point on the track, is that Alonso was a little slow in getting off his feet during defense. Although this changed a lot towards the fag end of his time at Liverpool, it was probably the only flaw you could think about when it comes to the exquisite Xabi Alonso.

With Joe Allen, this is more of an improvement because it is in his style to make those runs up and down the pitch when the ball isnai??i??t in the teamai??i??s possession. The eventual output is more tackles and this is clearly reflected with 110 ai??i?? the number of tackles Allen made in the 2011/12 season, the third highest in the Premier League.

Allen, to put it in the conventional sense, is a box-to-box midfielder whose genesis is the zone in midfield a little ahead of the defensive midfielder. It must be noted that a player like Allen coming under the tutelage of Brendan Rodgers will accumulate a huge chunk of passes against his name; the reason being that, they are responsible for rewarding other players with a pass who have broken into space and are waiting for one.

Rodgers preaches the style of tiki-taka/total football and the core of this philosophy is space and how it is utilized. Formations change dynamically and players switch from the comfort zones in order to weave a move that leaves the opponents in awe. Joe Allen plays a vital role here because he can move across the entire midfield and doesnai??i??t restrict himself to one zone of play.

Comfortable with both feet, Joe Allen is sure to prove himself to be an asset to the Liverpool squad. At 5ai??i??6ai???, he can easily get around and past opponents and has quick release which makes it more difficult for it to catch him.

Impact on Liverpool

So what does Joe Allen bring to the table in a Liverpool shirt? Well, to be honest, at the moment, the biggest contribution will be the freedom that Allenai??i??s presence gives to Gerrard. Ever since Torresai??i?? departure, Gerrard has been pushed to a space behind your genuine attacking midfielder, a zone which renders him not as effective as when playing around the front-men.

Joe Allenai??i??s arrival means that in a 4-3-3 or a 4-2-3-1 starting formation, Gerrard will most likely stay ahead on the pitch, supporting the likes of Suarez, Carroll and Borini. While the captainai??i??s contributions to the club form an endless list, it is no secret that he is now at the climax of his career.Joe Allen

Liverpool_Steven Gerrard — Will he fire with Allen’s backing?Joe Allen

The flair and class remain, just the fatigue kicks in. Playing him in a more advanced role will mean he can continue to have a deep impact on the game. This could also lead to aiding Suarez in scoring more goals. Even with a low scoring campaign last year, Suarez was instrumental in setting up goals for others while taking his chances too.

In addition, Joe Allen, with his ability to be present at any point across the midfield, makes it possible to set up attacks/counter-attacks from any point. Also, his Alonso-esque style of switching play makes him more dangerous than one might think so.

His composure with the ball is very vital while the team is in defense or in attack. In defense, it gives time for the rest of the players to take up positions and be prepared for a pass given that they have occupied a space whereas in attack, it gives the strikers/attackers more confidence when they receive that penultimate pass that is as right as rain.

Joe Allenai??i??s arrival may not have raised all eyebrows but in foresight, this signing is surely one that sticks into the Kop and the rest of the Liverpool folklore. Brendan Rodgers might have breached the gentlemanai??i??s agreement but what he has got in return is a diamond that is waiting to be polished and shine.

Ai??***

Tags: Liverpool FC