Joe Allen

{Profile Updated 27/08/2012}





Date of Birth: - 14/3/1990

Height: - 5 ft 6 inches

Position: - Central Midfield

Nationality: - Welsh

Current Club: - Liverpool

Estimated Market Value: - £20 Million

Linked with: - Just moved









Club Statistics







Swansea:



2007/2008 season - 9 matches, no goals and no assists.

2008/2009 season - 26 matches, 1 goal and 1 assist.

2009/2010 season - 22 matches, no goals and 1 assist.

2010/2011 season - 48 matches, 2 goals and 5 assists.

2011/2012 season - 39 matches, 4 goals and 4 assists.



TOTAL - 144 matches, 7 goals and 11 assists.







Wrexham (Loan)



2008/2009 season - 2 matches, 1 goal and no assists.





Liverpool



2012/2013 season - 3 matches, no goals and no assists.









International Statistics







Wales U21



2009/2010 season - 5 matches, 1 goal and 1 assist.









Wales



2010/2011 season - 2 matches, no goals and no assists.

2011/2012 season - 4 matches, no goals and no assists.



TOTAL - 6 matches, no goals and no assists.











General Comments:



As you will soon find out, I am totally in awe of Allen. People may call Swansea, Swans-elona, and Allen the Welsh Xavi, but he is far better than that. He will be the new Xavi. He is amazing. Also, he has a bit of Iniesta in him also, the way he goes forward and beats men so easily. Imagine a blend of those two player, and that's Allen. Obviously, he will never quite reach those player's standard's, but he is that type of player. By the way, he is in the Olympics team for GB this year, so please do watch him at the Olympics - he will shine, he really will.



Anyway, the strenghts of the player. He has many of the same characteristics of Xavi. Obviously not up to the same high standard, but he will not be far off. Anyway, his touch is really good. He can bring the ball into him, or shift it straight away past a player. He therefore has amazing close control, and incredibly fast and quick feet. In the flicker of an eyelid, he can move the ball in a totally different direction, take it past a player, or lay it off. Also, going forward, he lose's none of this skill, and his control at pace, and his dribbling skills are also very high. He never seems to have a heavy touch, and always seems to be able to catch up with the ball. His pace is incredible. That initial burst over 20 meteres is spectacular. You suddenly think that Usain Bolt has become a footballer.



When he plays further back, and with-holds from going forward, he can help the game tick over very well. His short passing is sharp, crisp and perfectly weighted. I saw a stat, suggesting, if true, that he had the highest pass completion rate in Europe by January. When he goes futher forward however, he is more prone to losing the ball, but as he is so quick, he does tend to run away from all his team-mates, thus getting isolated! Futhermore, when holding, he always looks forward, has his head up, and can play exquisite through balls upto the front men. He plays with his head up. How can you be a good player is you dont look where you are passing? You can't, it is as simple as that. Therefore, by playing with his head up, it makes his passing accuracy even higher.



Finally, when he does stray forward, his long shots can be spectacular. 50% of the time he will be on target, the rest he wont be. He can definately work on his long shots, but when he does catch the ball perfectly, the power he gets on the ball, the fizz and spin is amazing. It is beautiful to watch.



Also, he is quality, playing futher forward. I would like to see him play further up more often, but he's so good further back, its hard to decide! Anyway, when he moves up more, he looks for delicate through balls; and with his pace can literally dance past 5 or 6 players so easily. Anyway, he doesn't just rely on pace. He can glide past player, but also he has true skills. He doesn't over use them, but he most certainly has tricks and flicks in his locker if he needs them. His strength is also truly incredible. He's short for a player, at only 5ft 6, but he can bully players off the ball, and barge them out the way. Tall beasts of players certainly know he is there!! I guess his height really helps him with his dribbling, as he is lower to the ground, so has a better balance, like Messi.



To finish his attacking qualities, his finishing is stunning. He just seems to find the bottom corner all the time, left and right footed. He get's to tap in, so reads the game well, and from awkward angles can smash the ball into the corners. It really is impressive for a 22 year old!



To finish the advantages of the player, I would like to comment on his mind-set. If you read or listen to interviews with him, you can really relate to him. He talks about how he is thankful for people who have helped him - his parents, family, and previous coaches.



He also never gets big headed, E.G. ''well I've made it now''. You never see that from him. He always comments on how he wants to work harder, and to improve more. He is so level headed. For someone so young, to be that sensible, and have a huge spotlight put on him. The way he can run matches from midfield has won him plaudits, but he hasnt changed from a normal human being. He has his common sense, and is friendly and respectful. You have to love him just for thast, even if you are a Cardiff fan!!



Anyway, I seen to have spent years summing up his strengths, but obviously he has things to work on, otherwise he would be playing for Barcelona already!! I breifly mentioned it earlier, that his shooting from range could be improved. As I say, when he catches them well, they are little missles, but he can be a bit unpredictable, so improving his reliability would help him in that department massively.



Also, I have noticed, when he is on the ball, or passing, he always seems to get the ball onto his right foot. I would love to see him use his left foot more. When he is finishing with his left foot, there seems to be no nerves about it. Therefore, it suprises me he doesnt use that foot more - as it is a quality weaker foot (if you get what I mean). I think he could maybe work on it a bit more, and try to use his left more. It could help to speed up his passes and touch up even more. I think you could say that is what the difference between high quality players and him is: Xavi, Iniesta etc. can use both feet easily, and you carn't tell which foot they favour, but you can tell with Allen.



Moreover, I would like to see Allen better in the tackling department. He often uses his strength and pace to muscle and beat people to the ball, but I would like to see a little bit more technique there. I haven't seem much to say he is a quality tackler, even though im sure he is. He definately needs to work on that aspect of the game. Finally, I have bowed down to his short pasing ability, but I believe his longer range passing is a bit weak. His longer range passes can be a littler weak.





Would Allen cut it at a 'top team'? - Boy o boy yes he would. However, he does need to be playing week in, week out in order to progress himself further as a player, so if he cannot be guaranteed.











Summary of Allen:



Strengths: Passing, finishing, strength, pace, getting his head up, long range shooting, dribbling, close control, skills, touch, quick feet, level headed.



Weaknesses: One footed, tackling, long range shooting, passing range.





This added video sums up everything Joe Allen is about, enjoy;















The Business End Of The Profile



Liverpool signed the young Welsh Midfielder for a mere £15 million - which, has already gone up, mainly due to an incredible display vs City. Soon, he will be worth £40 Million +











Thanks all,



Ed052.