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Post by theteacher on Jan 22, 2017 13:43:30 GMT
In my opinion the midfield players which we have are all okay. Wouldn't really criticise them but the blend that we have just is not perfect.
For example Glen is good at what he does - discipined and knows his job. Charlie has ability but the pace and energy required of a central two isn't perfect. Imbula has ability but not the discipline. Allan has energy but probably needs a real mobile destroyer alongside him if he were to play in a central midfield two.
Allan is playing in the number 10 role because we do not have a mobile enough central two sitting midfield so energy in front of them is required. If the central sitting two midfielders had more pace and were disciplined then Bojan could be used in the number 10 role. If we had a more mobile sitting midfielder (upgrade on Glen) then it could be possible to play Allen alongside the new more mobile sitting midfielder? This in no way is a criticising of Glen but it highlights the issue. It's all about having a balance in midfield and I don't think we have that at present.
Getting that disciplined and mobile midfield destroyer who can passed forward is imo critical if we want to progress - the key signing with what we have already. This would not mean the end of Glen as he could partner the new player or would give us options.
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Post by mrcoke on Jan 22, 2017 13:50:31 GMT
Interesting thread. We are half way into the season and Allen seems to be dividing opinion with his none stop ubiquitous style of play in the same way Josh Mahoney used to, another Anglicized Welshman.
His Duracell battery type of play can seem futile if there is no apparent end product. I think we need to accept that there will matches where his is in the wrong place most of time and there will other games where he is in the right place at the right time and scores or creates goals.
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Post by baystokie on Jan 22, 2017 15:47:56 GMT
Interesting thread. We are half way into the season and Allen seems to be dividing opinion with his none stop ubiquitous style of play in the same way Josh Mahoney used to, another Anglicized Welshman. His Duracell battery type of play can seem futile if there is no apparent end product. I think we need to accept that there will matches where his is in the wrong place most of time and there will other games where he is in the right place at the right time and scores or creates goals. Alan Hudson used to rave about Josh as one of the unsung heroes he would not swap. Maybe we should ask the Stoke players what they think of Joe and save ourselves at least three pages of near unintelligible ramblings?
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Joe Allen
Jan 22, 2017 15:57:58 GMT
via mobile
Post by bayernoatcake on Jan 22, 2017 15:57:58 GMT
Interesting thread. We are half way into the season and Allen seems to be dividing opinion with his none stop ubiquitous style of play in the same way Josh Mahoney used to, another Anglicized Welshman. His Duracell battery type of play can seem futile if there is no apparent end product. I think we need to accept that there will matches where his is in the wrong place most of time and there will other games where he is in the right place at the right time and scores or creates goals. Alan Hudson used to rave about Josh as one of the unsung heroes he would not swap. Maybe we should ask the Stoke players what they think of Joe and save ourselves at least three pages of near unintelligible ramblings? It shouldn't be the job of the attacking midfielder to do that though. And when he plays deeper he doesn't protect those behind him.
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Post by davejohnno1 on Jan 22, 2017 16:07:11 GMT
If anything Allen works to hard and tries to cover too much ground.
Often by the time he's got the ball he's tear arsed around so much he's too fucked to do anything useful with it.
I'd rather he ran less and played more. I'm really not convinced he's very good.
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Post by daviddunn on Jan 22, 2017 16:22:10 GMT
I would play 2 defensive mid fielders Muniesa and Cameron and Allen in front of them then were solid , the wingers will be able to stay forward and wings backs will be covered with lots of energy in mid field love to start with them playing those roles ,
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Post by numpty40 on Jan 22, 2017 16:31:37 GMT
Disagree with you, and also, if he had 36DD tits I would be in love with him...... What do you think about Charlie?
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Joe Allen
Jan 22, 2017 16:51:23 GMT
via mobile
Post by heworksardtho on Jan 22, 2017 16:51:23 GMT
Joe's turn this week is it then?! Wow! Yes your right , Walters is sick of the stick he gets so went for a knee op 😀
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Post by CBUFAWKIPWH on Jan 22, 2017 17:06:52 GMT
I think the biggest problem yesterday in midfield was the difference in sheer physicality. Pogba and Fellaini are monsters - we were out muscled. The only midfielder we have on the books that could have done a better job for us would have been Cameron - or Imbula if someone can teach him how to make better use of his physical presence.
Allen has been played as the free midfielder - too deep for a proper number 10 - and needs 1 or ideally 2 disciplined midfielders to give him licence to roam. His best performances came when he was playing front of Cameron and Whelan.
The other option is to play him as one of the two in front of a back five - the Kante role at Chelsea. The problem for him personally is that everybody who plays that role doesn't get the appreciation they deserve (as per John Mahoney). Its the players around them who recognise their worth rather then the fans.
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Joe Allen
Jan 22, 2017 17:07:31 GMT
via mobile
Post by Royal Donut on Jan 22, 2017 17:07:31 GMT
Not the same player when playing further back, needs play the number 10 position
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Post by CBUFAWKIPWH on Jan 22, 2017 17:21:39 GMT
Not the same player when playing further back, needs play the number 10 position That's sort of my point - he isn't the same player if he plays deeper and he won't get the same recognition. However that doesn't mean he's contributing less.
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Post by crownmeking on Jan 22, 2017 17:48:05 GMT
If anything Allen works to hard and tries to cover too much ground. Often by the time he's got the ball he's tear arsed around so much he's too fucked to do anything useful with it. I'd rather he ran less and played more. I'm really not convinced he's very good. 5 goals and 2 assists so far this season. What would it take to convince you?
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Joe Allen
Jan 22, 2017 18:00:58 GMT
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Post by A-teen_six_T3 on Jan 22, 2017 18:00:58 GMT
The best thing abut Allen is yes he loses the ball a lot but when he does, he's fighting and running to get it back. I was never of his biggest critics and I still am to be fair. You can't knock his work rate.
He's more than one off game btw. It's been 4 or 5 plus
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Joe Allen
Jan 22, 2017 23:32:06 GMT
via mobile
Post by Groundhog Day on Jan 22, 2017 23:32:06 GMT
Only just brought myself to watch MOTD and I have to say if anyone else had done what Allen did in the very last minute they would be absolutely fuckin' slated. He deliberately gave them that free kick, it wasn't an accident, it was totally deliberate. He's been great this season but in my opinion Joe Allen cost us 2 points yesterday.
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Post by baystokie on Jan 22, 2017 23:42:14 GMT
Only just brought myself to watch MOTD and I have to say if anyone else had done what Allen did in the very last minute they would be absolutely fuckin' slated. He deliberately gave them that free kick, it wasn't an accident, it was totally deliberate. He's been great this season but in my opinion Joe Allen cost us 2 points yesterday. Ignoring the 'deliberate' reference which is ludicrous - he has won us more points than he 'cost' yesterday so he's still in credit.
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Joe Allen
Jan 22, 2017 23:55:03 GMT
via mobile
Post by Groundhog Day on Jan 22, 2017 23:55:03 GMT
Only just brought myself to watch MOTD and I have to say if anyone else had done what Allen did in the very last minute they would be absolutely fuckin' slated. He deliberately gave them that free kick, it wasn't an accident, it was totally deliberate. He's been great this season but in my opinion Joe Allen cost us 2 points yesterday. Ignoring the 'deliberate' reference which is ludicrous - he has won us more points than he 'cost' yesterday so he's still in credit. Why is that ludicrous? It was probably the most deliberate foul I've ever seen. He knew exactly what he was doing and gave Rooney the opportunity to do what he did. As I said if that was Whelan, Adam, Imbula, Johnson, Pieters or anyone else they would be absolutely fuckin' slated but Allen's got credit as you say so it's ok.
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Post by Gods on Jan 23, 2017 0:08:41 GMT
I think the biggest problem yesterday in midfield was the difference in sheer physicality. Pogba and Fellaini are monsters - we were out muscled. The only midfielder we have on the books that could have done a better job for us would have been Cameron - or Imbula if someone can teach him how to make better use of his physical presence. Allen has been played as the free midfielder - too deep for a proper number 10 - and needs 1 or ideally 2 disciplined midfielders to give him licence to roam. His best performances came when he was playing front of Cameron and Whelan. The other option is to play him as one of the two in front of a back five - the Kante role at Chelsea. The problem for him personally is that everybody who plays that role doesn't get the appreciation they deserve (as per John Mahoney). Its the players around them who recognise their worth rather then the fans. I agree with this. Our midfield players are not without ability but simply don't have the raw physicality to compete with the likes of Pogba and Kante.
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Post by kustokie on Jan 23, 2017 1:23:23 GMT
Interesting thread. We are half way into the season and Allen seems to be dividing opinion with his none stop ubiquitous style of play in the same way Josh Mahoney used to, another Anglicized Welshman. His Duracell battery type of play can seem futile if there is no apparent end product. I think we need to accept that there will matches where his is in the wrong place most of time and there will other games where he is in the right place at the right time and scores or creates goals. Alan Hudson used to rave about Josh as one of the unsung heroes he would not swap. Maybe we should ask the Stoke players what they think of Joe and save ourselves at least three pages of near unintelligible ramblings? Because they won't tell you as long as they are team-mates.
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Post by riccyfuller93 on Jan 23, 2017 2:53:38 GMT
Joe Allen isn't a number 10. Bojan is. Strange signing, but I like him as a player.
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Joe Allen
Jan 23, 2017 9:19:22 GMT
via mobile
Post by cobhamstokey on Jan 23, 2017 9:19:22 GMT
In my opinion the midfield players which we have are all okay. Wouldn't really criticise them but the blend that we have just is not perfect. For example Glen is good at what he does - discipined and knows his job. Charlie has ability but the pace and energy required of a central two isn't perfect. Imbula has ability but not the discipline. Allan has energy but probably needs a real mobile destroyer alongside him if he were to play in a central midfield two. Allan is playing in the number 10 role because we do not have a mobile enough central two sitting midfield so energy in front of them is required. If the central sitting two midfielders had more pace and were disciplined then Bojan could be used in the number 10 role. If we had a more mobile sitting midfielder (upgrade on Glen) then it could be possible to play Allen alongside the new more mobile sitting midfielder? This in no way is a criticising of Glen but it highlights the issue. It's all about having a balance in midfield and I don't think we have that at present. Getting that disciplined and mobile midfield destroyer who can passed forward is imo critical if we want to progress - the key signing with what we have already. This would not mean the end of Glen as he could partner the new player or would give us options. Spot on. Now I'm not saying he's the answer but it'd be interesting to see a Allen / Cameron pairing. Think that could work better on the ball and quicker than Glenn with more defensive responsibility than Imbula
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Post by Jimm on Feb 1, 2017 22:26:17 GMT
Is absolute gash and has been for some time.
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Joe Allen
Feb 1, 2017 22:26:36 GMT
via mobile
Post by Deleted on Feb 1, 2017 22:26:36 GMT
Needs a rest!
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Joe Allen
Feb 1, 2017 22:27:05 GMT
via mobile
Post by Deleted on Feb 1, 2017 22:27:05 GMT
Needs resting on Saturday
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Post by pavel on Feb 1, 2017 22:29:27 GMT
He's not a number 10 but...... we've just let one go!
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Post by dutchstokie on Feb 1, 2017 22:31:08 GMT
Seconded..... he ran his knackers off tonight. 62nd minute there was a close up of him looking back to the midfield with the look of" where the fuck are you - BACK ME UP", and then proceeded to tear arse off after Davies - AGAIN as the midfield dropped well off him
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Post by GeneralFaye on Feb 1, 2017 22:32:02 GMT
First half he did a good job but second half he tired. There was a point when Afellay pinged a pass into him which could've got Allen running at the Everton defence and it just bounced off him. Hughes subbed him off immediately after that and rightly so.
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Post by crapslinger on Feb 1, 2017 22:34:39 GMT
He's not a number 10 but...... we've just let one go! Yet another strange decision by Hughes.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 1, 2017 22:39:02 GMT
Won the ball lost the ball won the ball lost the ball ..... and repeat...
He's not playing well enough to dislodge Adam or whelan so the bench it has to be for him. Problem is who then to play in the number 10 role
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Joe Allen
Feb 1, 2017 22:39:35 GMT
via mobile
Post by cobhamstokey on Feb 1, 2017 22:39:35 GMT
Like him a lot but very poor today needs a rest. Other than Adam who trys to go forward at every opportunity the other 3 just arent positive enough. It's nice though when we're not getting it right to put in a decent performance. I still think our best formation is a 4123 with Whelan protecting the back 4. I have no idea who the 2 in front of him should be especially when you can throw Cameron and Ireland into the pot too.
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Post by Bojan Mackey on Feb 1, 2017 22:39:47 GMT
Won the ball lost the ball won the ball lost the ball ..... and repeat... He's not playing well enough to dislodge Adam or whelan so the bench it has to be for him. Problem is who then to play in the number 10 role Bojan. Oh no wait....
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