Jonjo Shelvey will square off against his former team-mates tonight when Liverpool take on Swansea City, and although the young midfielder is magnanimous about his Anfield exit, Reds legend Mark Lawrenson insists that the Londoner was never good enough to make it at LFC.
Speaking to the BBC over the weekend, Lawro delivered the following subtly scathing assessment of Shelvey, who cost Swansea €7m over the summer:
"It never really happened for him [Shelvey] at Anfield but I don't think he's really a top-six player.
"You can understand why he made the move - he will play regularly at Swansea and it's a good move for all three parties".
Shelvey has talent, but Brendan Rodgers clearly favours quick, skilful, technically gifted players, with excellent game intelligence, and lighting speed of mind. With the greatest respect to Shelvey, he is more of a classic rough-and-tumble English central midfielder, and such players are a dying breed in the modern game.
Whether that means Shelvey is not a 'top six player', however, is open to debate. It could be argued that he never had the chance to prosper at Liverpool. After all, with Steven Gerrard and Lucas automatic choices, and £35m worth of central midfield talent also in the squad (Allen and Henderson), it was always going to be difficult for Shelvey to get regular playing time.
Lawro is not the only ex-Red who doesn't rate Shelvey. Discussing the Swansea transfer during the 5-Times Podcast last month, Reds legend Robbie Fowler observed:
"On his day, he [Shelvey] was not a bad player, but he was top of pile for inconsistency. I’ve met him a few times and he’s okay, but I just thought he was bit of a liability. You’re waiting for him to get booked or sent off, and you can’t afford to do that".
Liability? That's a bit harsh. Shelvey is reckless in the tackle occasionally, and the red card against Man United last season is prime example of that. However, Steven Gerrard was similarly reckless exactly the same at the same age, and I don't recall too many people calling him a 'liability' for it.
In fact, with six red cards, Gerrard is the most sent-off player in LFC history (!), and every one of his dismissals came as a result of bad tackles. Granted, Shelvey is not in Gerrard's league when it comes to talent and quality, but 5 yellows and 1 red since arriving in 2010 doesn't make him a liability, surely?
Liability or not, let's hope Shelvey doesn't come back to haunt Liverpool this evening...
Jaimie Kanwar
NOTE: Please stick to the Comment Policy (Click to read)
Speaking to the BBC over the weekend, Lawro delivered the following subtly scathing assessment of Shelvey, who cost Swansea €7m over the summer:
"It never really happened for him [Shelvey] at Anfield but I don't think he's really a top-six player.
"You can understand why he made the move - he will play regularly at Swansea and it's a good move for all three parties".
Shelvey has talent, but Brendan Rodgers clearly favours quick, skilful, technically gifted players, with excellent game intelligence, and lighting speed of mind. With the greatest respect to Shelvey, he is more of a classic rough-and-tumble English central midfielder, and such players are a dying breed in the modern game.
Whether that means Shelvey is not a 'top six player', however, is open to debate. It could be argued that he never had the chance to prosper at Liverpool. After all, with Steven Gerrard and Lucas automatic choices, and £35m worth of central midfield talent also in the squad (Allen and Henderson), it was always going to be difficult for Shelvey to get regular playing time.
Lawro is not the only ex-Red who doesn't rate Shelvey. Discussing the Swansea transfer during the 5-Times Podcast last month, Reds legend Robbie Fowler observed:
"On his day, he [Shelvey] was not a bad player, but he was top of pile for inconsistency. I’ve met him a few times and he’s okay, but I just thought he was bit of a liability. You’re waiting for him to get booked or sent off, and you can’t afford to do that".
Liability? That's a bit harsh. Shelvey is reckless in the tackle occasionally, and the red card against Man United last season is prime example of that. However, Steven Gerrard was similarly reckless exactly the same at the same age, and I don't recall too many people calling him a 'liability' for it.
In fact, with six red cards, Gerrard is the most sent-off player in LFC history (!), and every one of his dismissals came as a result of bad tackles. Granted, Shelvey is not in Gerrard's league when it comes to talent and quality, but 5 yellows and 1 red since arriving in 2010 doesn't make him a liability, surely?
Liability or not, let's hope Shelvey doesn't come back to haunt Liverpool this evening...
Jaimie Kanwar
NOTE: Please stick to the Comment Policy (Click to read)
Can't wait for game against Swansea..Predicting 2-0 to Liverpool..
ReplyDeleteJOJO always gave 100% in a red shirt, left us to get more time on the playing field nothing but respect for the young man and I hope in every game he plays he does well except when he plays the redmen :) ggod luck lad
ReplyDeleteWas never a fan of shelvey, seemed to move around overly confident in his own ability but was too lazy when the hard work needed done, was very pleased we got shot of him and think we got good money for him
ReplyDeleteloads of people called Steven Gerrard a liability. a lot of people still consider him one. the least technically gifted of a technically bereft generation of footballers, but thank god he's picked up some ability in his later years (far more consistent passer now, and the rush-of-blood-to-the-head antics seem to have subsided). but then Shelvey doesn't quite have the less technical attributes Stevie had/has- eye for lacing a ball, eye for a good run off the ball, the energy to run the length of the pitch to make a tackle. plus Stevie was a little more consistent in the tackle because he started in defence.
ReplyDeletepeople are wrong to say he didn't put effort in though. probably the area where shelvey and stevie are most similar (if you imagine stevie is still 25) is their enthusiasm and energy in the game. think shelvey fancies himself the box to box marauder that stevie once was, before he had to settle and allow himself some breathing time.
ReplyDeleteLetting Shelvey go and not bringing in a proper attacking midfielder to replace him was the first mistake of last summer's window. The first of many. He is exactly the type of player Gerrard is and if you can make Gerrard work in this sytem, you can make Shelvey work. His bàllàcking of Carrol is a perfect example that he does have the vision and the quick mind but if you put donkeys in front of him or put him on as a striker, it's not difficult that he won't prosper.
ReplyDeleteI'm with Lawro, Shelvey was never going to be a world beater, if we're going for CL football and beyond we need better, but you never know, with regular football he could come good in a couple of years and I'm sure we have a buy back clause if that happens!!
ReplyDeleteWasnt a shelvey fan either, I thought he missed the most sitters in the past three years in the shirt, but how can these lfc so called legends just criticize and criticize the whole squad, people like lawro molby keegan hamann redknapp all they do is slate lfc players all the time they hardly ever talk something positive why is that, that is beyond reality I think, just too critical of everything and moaning non stop, even if we win the league some day they would probably say oh well its ages we havent won it, we were gonna win it again some day, is this jealousy or what?
ReplyDeleteLet's be honest about it - he's not top drawer. He was game, no question about that, and very athletic, but this isn't athletics. Henderson isn't top drawer either, but I'd put him in ahead of Shelvey.
ReplyDeleteHis biggest issue was always that he never looked overly comfortable on the ball. You always got the impression that he worked well when they team were going at a thousand miles an hour, but couldn't do much other than that.
Shame to see him go, he seemed like a top lad, but he wasn't what we need, and I doubt he'll turn into that player.
He was in my opinion never going to be anything other than a mid table team player. Able to contribute to a team? Yes, but stand out as an above average midfielder? No.
ReplyDeleteIf we are serious about CL this year, challenging for a title in the next 3 years, these are the kind of players we need to cut loose.
He obviously wouldnt get a sniff at Utd, City, Arsenal, Chelsea or Spurs now. Our standards are no different anymore.
So good luck to him after tonight, because he definately plays with passion for a team, but IMO that commitment is offset by a lack of talent.
I'll take another below average performance but coming out of this SWANSEA game with a 1-0 win.At this early stage the way we play isn't that important because as the season goes on we'll get stronger.
ReplyDeleteThe number one thing is picking up 3 points and if we have to grind out another win, i'll happily take it.Early on last season we played some good stuff and picked up draws and losses.Give me wins of whatever kind over outplaying teams and coming away with no points.
IMO Shelvey has the potential to be a good player. We saw glimpses of this but I think he's lack of speed and composure let's him down. I much rather had sent him on loan for a year than selling him outright.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone feel confident about today's match?
I am not confident at all.
Well Gerard has a knack for scoring clutch goals, you can't call a guy who scores clutch goals a liability. And to put things into context, he might be the most sent off player in Liverpool history (i trust you on the stats on this one JK) but then he has played many more minutes than most. Factor in that, have a rating of red card per minutes and the difference will be clear. Though that wouldn't exactly be fair to those who played few games and got sent off. I almost wanted to say Suarez is a liability, but he's not really in the game in progress sense - he is in the club sense where he isn't available for selection, but forcing the team to be played with 10 men - he's not that kind of liability (well again I don't have stats on hand for this one, how many reds has he got during his stint in Liverpool?) Also he got sent off during the World Cup - would take that sending off any day!
ReplyDeleteI would take him over Allen in a heartbeat.
ReplyDeleteIn a year or two hewill be sold for20 millions.
ReplyDeleteDraw
ReplyDeleteExactly the type of player Gerrard is? Jesus. Gerrard is the model template for all the modern midfielders out there. He can attack with prowess and equally good in defense. Tackle, speed, shoot, pass, killer pass, goals, etc etc. He can do anything and everything and can play anywhere.
ReplyDeleteTo even say Shelvey is 'exactly' the type of player Gerrard is, one has to be smoking something up. No one and I mean no one is as complete as Gerrard. Shelvey is good in attack, thats it.
I'm confident about tonight. And not just because of the great start we've made. but because i think the gloss will come off Swans this year. Wasnt a great transfer window for them, Michu i think will peter out this season, and the tension with Laudrop and the owners will come to the fore. Predicting a good win tonight, and a long stressfull deason for swans supporters.
ReplyDeleteI hope we see Victor Moses tonight from the start of the game. He adds a lot of potency to our attack, so the opposition will haVe more to focus on. Hope we see Sakho or Toure tonight as Michu and Bony are both quite quick as well as physical and Skrtel can't handle players with pace and skill in my opinion
ReplyDeleteShelvey Had A Good Game 1st Half For Liverpool With 2 Key Passes Trying To Impress Brendan Rodgers To Pick Him V Southamton wonder If Maybe Tonite He Thought His Teamates Had Red Or White Tops On
ReplyDeleteHe showed you tonight what type of player he is didn't he? It was stupid to sell him and that's the end of that.
ReplyDeleteyour kidding right, you can say what ever you like but mate if you think that Henderson played a good game and Shelvy played like a carthorse, then you have just proved you are a clown, if Hendo had half the fight that Shelvy has then he would have some hope, ive said it all along and will keep saying, you criticise Jonjo and we still have that useless waist, soft, sideways playing little week joke that is Hendo who cost 18 mill. take of the goggles mate.
ReplyDeleteJonjo had a very busy game but he played better than Hendo and all of our midfield even with the 2 shit passes.
Decent enough player, with a good work ethic. Very temperamental and hot-headed at times. Definitely not good enough for a 'top 6' team, hence why he couldn't get a look in over Gerrard and Lucas who are of that level.
ReplyDeleteI can't see him getting a game for any of the teams that finished in the top 6 last season. He was on it tonight though!!
Idiot.
ReplyDeleteGive me a break. . . Gerrard is beyond his days. . . We gotta do something with our midfield it ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteHe was tremendous in first few matches. He is still good but you are right, we need more midfielders and wingers.
ReplyDelete