Rodgers’ take on Allen suggests Swans bid is all but a no-brainer
THE thought of seeing Joe Allen in a Swansea City shirt next season is a tantalising one. Swansea have brought players back to SA1 before, but this move would be up there with Leon Britton’s return from his ill-fated move to Sheffield United in 2010.
Having boyhood club players representing your team means that bit more to supporters, which is why figures such as Ben Davies, Joe Rodon and Connor Roberts are held in such high regard in these parts, despite moving on to pastures new. Allen falls into the same category.
He made his big breakthrough under Roberto Martinez, but it was perhaps his two seasons with Brendan Rodgers in SA1 that linger long in the memory.
He was then a near ever-present as Rodgers’ side won promotion to the Premier League in the 2010-11 season, playing 40 times during the regular campaign as well as starting both legs of the play-off semi-final against Nottingham Forest and the 4-2 victory over Reading in the final at Wembley. Quite simply, Allen was made for Rodgers’ brand of football.
In the top flight, he scored four times in 36 games as Swansea finished in a highly creditable 11th place. When Rodgers left, he took Allen with him to Anfield. The Welshman would stay on Merseyside longer than his manager but when Rodgers was linked with a return to SA1 during Francesco Guidolin’s tenure, Allen was a player he wanted back in the white of Swansea.
As we well know, that reunion didn’t transpire but Rodgers’ affection for the 32-year-old remained. Last year, before Stoke faced Rodgers’ Leicester City in the FA Cup, the Northern Irishman summed up Allen perfectly – as a player and as a person – hammering home the reasons why Swansea should bring him back to Swansea.
“Joe was an amazing player for me,” he said. “At Swansea he was a young player who’d just broken into the team and he was one of a really strong midfield I had. He was only young but his courage... he was small on the field but big in terms of talent and personality.
“He was a boy who came through the system, bright, well-spoken, a clever guy, very loyal and in my time there he was exceptional.
“I took him to Liverpool and he did a great job when he was there. I think he left there just to get regular football - and I think Stoke are very lucky to have him because he’s a Premier League player, Joe.
“He went there and when they got relegated he wanted to stay and help the club. I know all about him. He’s got great energy, a great football brain, he can put his foot in, make passes, he can get goals. He was unfortunate he was out for a period of time with an injury but he’s starting to come back and I know he’s a big talent.”
Rodgers’ words, although a year old, still ring true and echo Martin’s appraisal of the Wales international, who is now out of contract at Stoke.
“Brilliant player, brilliant character. I watched him for Wales recently,” explained Martin. “He was excellent, the way he spoke to other players as well. He loves this club, I love him as a player. I will say it. I would love to [sign him]. We’ll have to wait and see.
“It will depend on a lot of things. We have a lot of midfielders at the club. We have some midfielders that haven’t played very much.
“People are going to have to leave for people to come in. But Joe is someone who would fit here perfectly. He knows the club, the club knows him. I am sure he has got plenty of offers and I am sure at some point we will sit down and have a chat about him.”
For Rodgers’ “personality” statement, read Martin’s “character” point. Swansea need experience and while Allen may not be a bawler or shouter, he leads by example in the way he conducts himself on and off the pitch. He may not fit the profile of a typical Martin-style signing but his stats still show he is performing at the top-end of the Championship.
A no-brainer of a move? Not far off. Just ask Brendan.