Joe Allen has become the main man at the Potters in recent weeks. He is relishing the freedom to roam further up the pitch in Stoke City’s midfield after previously playing in a deeper position. Allen also represents a fantastic value-buy, given his current form. His play has been excellent and Stoke look to be a team that is really finding form with the Welshman at the heart of this renaissance.

Summer Transfer

Things looked bleak at the end of last season for the Welshman. He was surplus to requirements at Anfield as Jurgen Klopp opted to turn his team into a full-out gegenpressing machine. There wasn’t a queue of top clubs waiting to sign him. He ended the campaign in decent form.

However, Euro 2016 proved a massive turning point to his average season. Allen looked at home among Europe’s top players as he played a crucial role helping Wales exceed expectations to reach the semi-finals.  Those performances persuaded Stoke to pay £13.5million – a significant sum considering he only had 12 months left on his contract and his below par performance at Liverpool.

What a bargain of a deal it has proved. In his new guise as a No 10, Stoke could expect a tidy profit if they ever decided to sell. As you would expect, Allen has become a far more vital piece of this Stoke team than he was at Liverpool. The scousers surplus has been effective at Stoke.

He has already played more Premier League minutes this season than he did for the entirety of last season at Anfield. Joe Allen, who was a laughing-stock at Liverpool has found him to be burdened as “Xavi-like” for Stoke..

Playing Postions/Style

Joe Allen has always been more of a holding midfielder. Maybe a box to box player as well. He has never played in an advanced creative play-maker role, and that brings the question why didn’t he? After all he has been phenomenal in the position at this stage.

Stoke struggled to begin the season with Allen playing in a deeper role. Mark Hughes made some adjustments which included playing two holding midfielders from the group of Charlie Adam, Glenn Whelan and Geoff Cameron and moving Allen further up the pitch, almost into a No.10 sort of a role.

Ever since Mark Hughes pushed the Welshman into a No 10 role, Stoke has gone on a 5 game unbeaten run and have won 3 on the bounce. In that period, Allen has scored four and assisted twice.

Transformation and new-found license and freedom

Joe Allen is an intelligent footballer and almost accurately anticipates where the ball is going to land or where moves are going to be created. He is always on the front foot and is a major reason, the Stoke attack is ticking at the moment. The Stoke midfielder has found a previously unseen goal-scoring touch as well.

Joe Allen loves the freedom in this new attacking midfield position and is somewhat running the show for Stoke. Who also have a few Champions League winners in its midst. Allen continued his fine form as Stoke City beat Swansea City 3-1 in the Premier League. The 26-year-old set up two goals for team-mate Wilfried Bony and looked dangerous working behind the striker.

Perhaps the most encouraging sign of things to come for Allen was that Wilfired Bony finally got himself on the score-sheet. The big Ivorian has struggled to recapture his best form since arriving at the Britannia Stadium.

While Xherdan Shaqiri is missing for the Potters, that could mean more of the creative burden falls on Allen which may help his chances of continuing his run in new-found role. His play has been key to Stoke’s attack finally clicking into gear. Given his current form and shape, he is likely to build a formidable partnership with  Marko Arnautovic and Xherdan Shaqiri on the wing and Bony up-front.

Joe Allen in the Premier League

Having netted four times in 91 Premier League matches at Anfield, Allen has reached that tally in just 11 games with Stoke. A lot of credit goes to manager Mark Hughes for pushing him further up the pitch and transforming him from a holding midfielder into an attacking force.

The 26-year-old has bought into his new role and already has more goals, assists, shots, tackles, interceptions and minutes on the pitch this season than his previous campaigns. This isn’t surprising given that he is being asked to play a more attacking role and he is also playing with greater efficiency.

The range of passing remains but there is also a greater opportunity to effect games. He has shown he is capable of contributing to attacking phases of play, but is a long way in proving his mantle.

If Joe Allen can continue to perform in a similar manner, then that certainly makes Allen an attractive proposition given his recent propensity for scoring goals, apart from assisting. From being a squad player at Liverpool, he is revelling in being the main man in the Potteries.

All stats from Premier League 2016/17.

Image Courtesy: Stoke City