on the other hand, completed only 85% of his passes, but he played just 12% of them backwards.Overall Allen has completed 93% of his 301 passes, playing 29% forward, 11% backwards and the rest to the left or the right. Gerrard has completed 82% of his 272 passes, but played 37% forward. And while Allen has created just two chances in open play in Liverpool's four games, Gerrard has created seven. Dont get me wrong; I like possession football, but there ought to be an end product. If you cant do it like the masters (Barca), then dont copy it. Why not evolve a hybrid? i would take Allen simply because he is playing the wrong position at the moment he should be playing the xavi position and hes playing the basquets position in Barcelona terms so the question to ask is would you prefer Alonso or Allen in the xavi position. The answer Allen all day due to of the ball movement, speed, mobility, quicker feet. But Allen is then passing to the wingers who pass to the attacking players? exactly the same end product in a way that keeps us possession, whats the bad point here, 60 yard pass is sweet and looks good but it usually just gets us to the same point wide on the wing or headed away by defense. Joe Allen is doing a brilliant job so far to the point where its hard to see Lucas is gone, when hes back Allen will