7 Sept 2012

Joe Allen: £30m duo are 'best midfielders in the Premier League'. Agree?

Wales face Belgium tonight in a vital 2014 World Cup qualifier, and Liverpool maestro Joe Allen will be pulling strings in midfield for Chris Coleman's side. The former Swansea star has settled in nicely at Anfield, but he's not relishing the physical battle with Tottenham Hotspur's Moussa Dembele, and Everton's Maroune Fellaini.

Speaking to Reporters earlier in the week, Allen - who's averaged 94% passing accuracy for Liverpool since arriving at the club - highlighted the Belgian duo and as a major threat to Wales' hopes:

"Fellaini and Dembele are the two best midfielders I came up against in the Premier League. Fellaini is a beast! Physically there are not many players who can get into a physical battle with him and come out on top. If I am playing, I will have my work cut out against the likes of them"

It's not just those two who'll be a problem for Wales; with players like Eden Hazard, Vincent Kompany, Thomas Vermaelen, Jan Vertonghen, and Romelu Lukaku, Belgium have great quality all over the pitch.

David Moyes' eye for a player is arguably on a par with the best managers in the Premier League. Fellaini - who had ever heard of him before he popped up at Everton? Other great signings including Nikica Jelavic, Steven Pienaar, Tim Cahill, and Kevin Mirallas, who looks like he will develop into a great signing.

Liverpool legend Jan Molby is a big fan of the Allen, and in an interview with the official LFC site yesterday, he described the Welshman as 'a bit like Xabi Alonso', and hailed his growing influence on the team:

"He [Allen] has been our best player, and for him to change clubs and come into a club like Liverpool and basically take the midfield by the scruff of the neck is very impressive.

Despite Allen's modesty, I'm sure he'll do fine against Fellaini and Dembele, who cost Everton and Spurs £15m apiece. Money well spent, I'd say.

Jaimie Kanwar


35 comments:

  1. Fellaini played very well against us in a Champion's League qualifier for Standard Liege. I think it was 2008?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Yeah I new about him before that aswell. Ruined us over the two legs...... Thank God for Dirk ;)!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hair.

    Enough said.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Liverpool fans I salute you. Bitter to the end hey. By suggesting Fellaini isn't very good, only reinforces your collective lack of football knowledge. Just going to have a look at the league table now... back in a bit.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Seriously, you need to learn to read. No one has suggested Fellaini 'isn't very good' - quite the opposite, actually. Get a grip.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Everton fan here, and erm, they said nothing of the sort. Try not to unnecessarily be a d!ck.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Great player, keeping him fit will be vital for EFC this season. Dembele is a player I would have loved at LFC. Having said that Joe Allen has been superb and Shelvey is growing into the player we thought he could be.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Judging by BR's latest comment it seems we will buy players in Jan but we will not hold our breath.
    My Prediction:

    1)Reina will stay, due to BR's arrogance of playing around the keeper.
    2)Cole will go. Considering Spartak offered 60k to Cole his future will be in serious doubt.
    3)We will buy a sigurdsson kid of CAM. Perdictions, Jamie?
    4)Walcott will not come. BR said he cant afford wingers on 5 or 6m an year.
    5)A striker will definitely come. Who it will be is in question. Sturridge maybe? My choice is Doumbia, as usual.
    6)Even after a CAM and STR we need a winger.

    ReplyDelete
  9. James Beatie. Lethal.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Future LFC:

    Ter Stegen
    Kelly Coates
    McLaughlin Robinson
    Coady

    Allen

    Shelvey
    Suso Sterling
    Morgan/Yesil

    Hooyah LFC youth we are gonna beat teams to the ground in the future. Still i would say we need to buy ter stegen. As well as a RW, and a CB. and A CAM

    ReplyDelete
  11. Don't rate Fellaini that much as a orthodox central midfielder but behind the striker, he is a menace. He is so awkward to play against in that role, with his strength, aerial ability and hold up play.


    More impressed with Dembele. Like the way he brings the forward through to the last third, whether it be from cutting inside or straight through the middle. Rarely loses the ball. Bit under the radar but slowly, he will build himself a good reputation in the years to come.


    Bigger loss to Fulham than Dempsey as I think they have the good alternatives for Dempsey (like Petric and Berbatov), whereas they haven't got anyone of solid quality and maturity (Kasami is a puppy and it showed, despite his promise) in the attacking midfield position, which is where Dembele shone. I like Dempsey but definitely like Dembele better.

    Belgium have got a really good group of players at the moment. If they can put aside the regional/cultural differences aside that was troubling the harmony of the squad so bad in previous years, than they can be a good dark horse on the international scene.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I cannot see any statement that Fellaini is not very good either. Quite the opposite except when he is rattled like he was last week against WBA, he is an excellent player.
    The key to play Fellaini is to get into his head then he starts stomping around and his game suffers, he gets booked for a succession of needless fouls and he then plays poorly and misses an absolute howler like he did on Saturday.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Football is a game of deception & Fellaini has that in spades.

    ReplyDelete
  14. He said he couldn't afford 5-6m per year wingers on the bench
    BIG difference.

    And using a sweeper keeper has nothing to do with arrogance, it's moving with the times, new tactics and formations in the modern game

    ReplyDelete
  15. love that comment ... fELLAINI = BEAST! fit into any side

    ReplyDelete
  16. I can appreciate allens honesty and I'm sure Wales will find the game very difficult and will be lucky to come away with a win. Molby describing Allen As a bit like Alonso isn't saying much. Anyone who can pass the ball you could say is a bit like Alonso ?so what unless molby is trying to say Allen is good enough to be in barca's team which from all the hype I've heard I think a lot of people believe he is.myself I believe what Allen has achieved so far has been blown completely out of proportion and been overrated . Ok Allen is a good player but he's not a barca standard player and if he was then I'm very surprised that only Rodgers made a bid for him which broke the welsh player fee record I might add.that means he was more expensive then Bale ? If people out there think that's good value then there as bad as Rodgers.All I bladdy here about is Allens amazing passing accuracy. 93% last year and 94 % this year so far or close to. So what ? If Allens passing accuracy coupled with Rodgers amazing Tika taka style was that special then how come Norwich and west brom finished on level points last season without having Allen the pass master in there sides or did they use Tika taka style yet finished LEVEL on points . Surely that must make what hodgson and lambert did even more special ?also if Rodgers tactics were so effective then how come Swansea didn't win there first away game till January ?I'd say Rodgers tactics away wernt that effective wouldn't you ?funny that Swansea have won there first 2 away games already this season lol. For all if Allens amazing passing accuracy he only managed 2 assists all last season. I wouldn't exactly say that was a great stat for a playmaker ?he likes to play plenty of safe passes back to defenders and I can't understand how so many of you think that's so great. Swansea made the mist passes in there own half last season but still finished 11 th level with the 2 Teams I mentioned earlier . His passing accuracy has been maintained this season buts it didn't stop us from losing 3-0 away to west brom( Rodgers terrible away record continues) and losing 2-0 to Arsensl even though we had 53 % ball possession . 2-2 against man city which makes this liverpools worst start in year since the 50 s or something. They might not be good ones but at least Rodgers has broken some records already lol. 1 good season I'm the prem and we get him as our new boss ? Hope I'm wrong but I think it's very unlickely Rodgers is going to get our team into a top 4 spot even if we give him 5 seasons.I'll have a bet with anyone.I think borrini was a poor buy and from what I've seen of him so far has not made me change my mind in the slightest . Ex Chelsea reserve player. Chelsea happy to sell him on, Parma happy to seek him on and Roma happy to sell him on. Inexperienced Rodger comes along and pays 11 mill for him which would make him 3 times the player of spurs Ada and fulhams berbatov since he cost 3 times the amount . You know how to get a bargain Rodgers lol.serie a is a lot weaker than the prem these days so when we look at borrini's scoring record last season for Roma 9 goals in 24 games and turn that into prem form we can probably take at least half those goals away. It all adds up to the fact Borrini is not going to score many goals for us if any lol.I should do what Rodgers did and send a 185 page tactic book to Henry Lol. I wander if Rodgers 185 pages mentioned that after the first 3 games we would have the worst start in at least 50 years lol.Rodgers fans won't like me but I'm just saying what I believe and what I see. I don't get caught up in all the hype.I'm afraid we have not had a very good manager since Benitez left and thats been our main problem.the best players out are not British and you need a good manager that has very good contacts in Europe and around the world but the last few managers we've had have just wasted our money on over priced British players and that's including Allen in afraid

    ReplyDelete
  17. Moneyball strategy is coming into effect this season- offloading kuyt, maxi, aurelio, Adam, Carroll at reduced fees is all part of it to start again. Expect a lot more- cole for definite. We will be using our youth players- well developing them and preparing them for first team. Prob buying low cost players that have good stats in particular areas etc. players whose contracts are low etc. It's how fsg run.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Well said he,Fellaini is a quality player. He was awesome against United. Everton are lucky to have him,cheers.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Got to admit as a blue. All he does is praise him.

    Doubt he's been on meresyside long enough to be bitter

    ReplyDelete
  20. And what about the buck toothed Suarez. He's a nice honest boy isn't he.

    Tool

    ReplyDelete
  21. Sounds great. Cant wait wait to watch our side wallow in mid table mediocraty for the next 2-3 years. What i cant get my head round is why some of our fans are revelling in the rubbish fsg are spouting. They are scumbags with no idea of how how to run a football club.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Interesting system, have never seen it. How is it called? 2-2-1-1-1-2-1

    ReplyDelete
  23. Well after Kenny spending 100 mill and making the team mid table at least i suppose Brendan is going to do it on the cheap.
    The only good thing is the club will be on a firm financial footing which is something FSG have promised and we all want.

    ReplyDelete
  24. i think what paramount now in this team is to make sure that at least the nest 2 matches are won,otherwise,the will be a lot of problem in that team,i see fighting morale going rapidly down as oppose the initial aim of getting to the top 4,YES we can do it,let Yesil come in,and draft Suarex and Borini/Assaidi to play wide,Allen,Jonjo,Gerrald/Sahin at mid field surely go will come.Gerrald shld be subtituted if not fit.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Brilliant, so were the next Wigan. Financially sound. But, hey at least were not fighting relegation every season yet. Listen to yourself.

    ReplyDelete
  26. If we dont start picking up points and convincenly the fans will start chanting against the owners. Mark my words. This whole issue has split the fan base. Thought it was bad when Rafa was gaffa. Its nothing compared with the storm looming on the horizon if things dont start picking up.

    ReplyDelete
  27. What sort of numpty finds himself so entertaining he has to write lol at the end of half his sentences?

    ReplyDelete
  28. DILLBOY does, it says at the top LOL

    ReplyDelete
  29. just for those of you that get upset with spelling errors i know there are a few due to the fact i wrote this on my mobile .im not interested in an english lesson but feel free to agree or disagree with your own opinions on my post

    ReplyDelete
  30. are you talking about the same rafa that got us to 2 champions league finals 1 of which we won ? the same rafa that got us second spot in the premiership one season which is the highest we've ever finished in the premiership ? that same year we beat real madrid 5-0 , man u 4-1,aston villa 5-0 i believe.yeah he was rubbish that rafa cause he had 1 bad season where we finished 7th .funny thing is rafa left we've not been in the champions league.Rafa bought in quality from outside of britain and that makes a big difference .all of our managers since have spent most of our money on average overrated brittish players.I see the same thing all over again with Allen.look at Allen hes so amazing ,one of the best midfielders in the world.hes like xavi or alonso.94 % pass success rate wow.in fact with rodgers being such an amazing tactician coupled with the fact Allen is one of the best mids around im extremely surprised swansea only finished 11 th last season.they didnt win there first away game until january they were that good.we dont seem to do a very good job of picking up the best british talent out there.spurs get bale for less than what we pay for Allen ??? man u get rooney for less than what we payed for carrol ???.we need a class manager that has very good european contacts.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Hold on a sec. Im not having a pop at Rafa. I thought it was a monumental mistake sacking him when we did. The club had a great opportunity to remove some of the old and start building for the future. Which, having took control of the youth accademy. It appeared he was doing. I was using the way he polarised sections of the fans opinion as an example. This whole issue with the owners is worse.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Wigan mid table when was was that i thought they were lower table must be only 10 teams

    ReplyDelete
  33. Yes you were having a shot at Rafa if u thought it was bad under him what are u saying, i think before hitting keys put brain in gear .

    ReplyDelete
  34. I know what i was posting when I WROTE it. I was using how spilt the fan base was when he was in charge as an example of how split the fanbase are now over new owners. It couldnt have escaped your view how heated the debates have been on meassage boards the last few weeks. Grow up. I liked Rafa. Christ anyone who has read my previous posts would testify to that. Im guessing your one of these sad trolls who get kicks from winding others up. Pretty juvenile dont you think?

    ReplyDelete
  35. Allen the "Liverpool maestro"? Get a grip, JK. Allen is a vast improvement over JH, which is not saying a lot. Allen has made no contribution to the Liverpool offense in seven games. Plus, he is partially responsible for the WB and Arsenal goals for not keeping the defensive shape when we lose a ball upfront and the opponents break quickly. The jury is still out on Allen, let alone calling him a "maestro".

    ReplyDelete