da prosport bet： Joe Allen’s transfer to Stoke City was an odd one in many ways.
da pixbet： The Potters were in need of a defensive midfielder, Allen had just finished an excellent European Championship, the deal looked a little like a team drawn in by some good form rather than one addressing their weaknesses. Allen has never been, and will never be, the deep-lying midfielder that Stoke need to balance their side. Instead, he has been used in an advanced role and kept the supremely talented Bojan out of the side.
As the team has looked short of ideas creatively-speaking and lacklustre defensively, Allen has been the outlier. His performances have largely been a standout in the early games of this season. Allen’s 1.3 key passes-per-game is hardly phenomenal compared to the rest of the league, but only Xherdan Shaqiri has been able to create more than the Welshman. While Allen has completed more tackles-per-game than any of his team-mates and is second to only Geoff Cameron when it comes to interceptions.
For all of his failings at Anfield, particularly in his early days, Allen is an integral cog in the Stoke side and it has taken only a handful of Premier League games. Mark Hughes is already under severe pressure, but Allen has repaid his manager’s faith. His late equaliser at Old Trafford was a result of good fortune and wise positioning from the former Liverpool man and might just have earned his manager a little longer at the helm.
The importance of Allen to Hughes’ team is clear, it is emphasised by the fact that he has recently pushed club-record signing, Giannelli Imbula, to the bench. Like so many managers in the early part of the season, Hughes is manipulating his squad to find the best combination of his immensely talented midfielders. Allen is unlikely to remain in the same attacking midfield role throughout this season, although his versatility and good form should allow him to retain a starting berth.
Allen is not the type of player that Jurgen Klopp felt he could fit into his side, but he certainly is an excellent acquisition for Stoke City. While Hughes continues to search for his best combination in the middle third, Allen’s early performances in the red and white of the Potters has nailed him down as one of the player’s to build the side around. A deal that was part of an underwhelming summer for Stoke, Allen could yet prove to be a key difference as they strive to turn their season around. Giving Hughes an array of additional options in midfield and upgrading the quality of the squad, Allen might yet prove to be one of the summer’s smartest signings.