IT seems strange to say but, after nearly three years on Merseyside and 66 appearances for Liverpool FC, it appears that no one knows at this stage quite what Jonjo Shelvey is capable of.
Still aged just 21, he is currently a young player of promise but one who is incredibly frustrating.
His physique is impressive, his self-confidence and desire are obvious and seriously beneficial to his all round game.
The ability to ping a pass and unleash rockets from long distance are also obviously in his repertoire. Unfortunately, his deficiencies remain just as obvious. The rashness in the tackle, the erratic decision making, the lack of genuine pace to match his imposing frame and his inability to press consistently also stand out as much as his positive attributes.
In recent months Shelvey’s Liverpool career seems to have hit the skids somewhat. Early on in the campaign he was a regular in Brendan Rodgers’ team selections and his performances were generally impressive for one so young. However, with his sliding form, the improvement of Jordan Henderson and the re-emergence of Lucas, Shelvey’s game time has been restricted of late.
As a result we now see Shelvey often introduced from the bench or starting games of less importance. Naturally in a player so young and so desperate to make an impression, at times this is having a detrimental effect on his game.
The Kop’s frustrations with the fluctuating fortunes of Shelvey’s performances are becoming ever more audible and, as his appearances are becoming more infrequent at first team level, each time he actually manages to get on the pitch, the pressure on him is ratcheted up. He regularly looks as though he is trying too hard, attempting unnecessarily difficult things and desperately trying to make a positive impression.
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It is commendable at the age of just 21 that he is so overtly intent on making an impact each time he pulls on the red shirt but the mistakes that he makes in doing so merely serve to underline the notion that he is not yet ready to be playing regularly for Liverpool. Against Zenit in the Europa League he snatched at an excellent opportunity and dived into a ridiculous tackle that correctly earned him a yellow card. He failed to keep up the pressing that Joe Allen and Jordan Henderson had carried out in his absence and many fans think that Shelvey’s introduction cost Liverpool progress to the next round.
Perhaps that is harsh, but the reality of situation is that Shelvey needs games and time to improve and Liverpool and its fans don’t necessarily have to suffer through his growing pains with him.
Shelvey is at a crucial moment in his career. He has been capped for England and has performed for Liverpool 29 times this season but realistically he remains a peripheral figure at Anfield and will do so for a while yet at least. Come the beginning of next season, it would appear a natural decision to allow him to go out on loan and establish himself at a Championship club or smaller Premier League club.
Not only would he benefit from regular games, he would be able to hone a particular craft in midfield and return to Anfield with a firm understanding of what type of player he wants to be. Until then though, Brendan Rodgers must utilise his rough diamond and Shelvey must find a way of showing that he is a master of one trade rather than a jack of them all.
While he appears comfortable playing high up the pitch and has scored some goals from that position this season, Shelvey does posses the attributes to suggest that a deeper lying role in midfield would also suit him in the future. His lack of dynamism and speed when Liverpool attack could see him drop deeper to make use of his range of passing and everyone knows that he does so love a tackle. Whatever eventually happens to Shelvey it seems that the next year or so will be fundamental to how his career will pan out.
His performance against Manchester United Under 21’s recently provides optimism. He is clearly a long way above that level right now. He was the best outfield player on the pitch by a distance but perhaps more importantly, his attitude was outstanding. It would have been easy for Shelvey to feel disheartened by having to play in what was essentially a reserve game, but the ex Charlton man displayed a commendable attitude and no little versatility, playing both at left and right back when Liverpool went down to ten men. When you have an attitude like that you always have a chance.
It remains a lingering question whether or not Jonjo Shelvey will manage to step up and take that chance in the near future.
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Shelvey is discriminated against because he wasnt bought for 15 Million by Rodgers, he is played out of position and his true position is taken by Joe Allen who is not as effective or as dangerous going forward. Bad Management.
True . Good points . If fans are going to slay off someone it should be the totally inept and useless Allen.
Shelley will get better , he has the stature and ability to be great
any excuse to have a pop at the manager. you sound like a chelsea fan.
you’re right though, 12 goals in our last 3 games is not good enough – the manager should be immediately sacked. Then we can get a new manager in and sack him again 6 months down the line because he hasn’t performed a miracle and got us into the top four. Yes that is definitely what should happen – look how well that strategy has worked for Chelsea.
blah blah blah … look at the season overall , not just on the last few games … ooh we slaughtered Swansea reserves and Wigan – great , superb .
The season is over in february and we haven’t beaten ONE single decent team the whole season … so yeah , Sack the muppet . Still Liverpools worst season in living memory
ps ..yes Chelseas strategy is doing terribly isnt it ? … How many trophies have they won in last few years ? LOLL you are clueless
The fact is fergie’s curse is at work. Is it coincidence that after fergie comments ‘you blame me? U are young and u’ve a long way ahead we’ll see’ immediately after jonjo’s redcard he hasn’t return back 2 where he left with his awesome performances especially replacing lucas in mcfc game and he was unplayable. But in my opinion he needs 3 long season loans 2 an epl club 2 gain the experience as welbeck,wilshere,cleverley gain. Until then i dont expect 2 be selected ahead of even substitude suso. Who needs 2 be given those opportunity coz he’s been use out of position 4 quite 2 long. Is it bias 2wards jonjo? I may think so!
Honestly, Jonjo has a better chance of growing some pubic hairs then to make it as a decent footballer, of which he certainly is not!
I still have faith in Jonjo. He needs time and BR needs to give him the confidence he has lost. Jonjo might benefit by a loan to a prem team. I think this Rafa signing will come good!
Liked the piece Dave. Cheers, V
Shelvey is better than Suso and Allen -TEXIERA IS BETTER THAN Henderson, Allen and Suso put together. The idiots in charge are just beginning to see it – boy it takes a long time for the penny to drop with some so called coaches.
Sell shelvey and get 7m for him whilst we still can! As for suso send him out on loan for a season. Allen will come good next year and Henderson has settled in to the team and is turning in to a major player for us. He is doing a lot of work for Steve allowing him to play his own game, Rodgers is starting to get things right and a top 6 spot would be nice considering where we was after 10 games. We are playing good football and the goals are now coming to.
Really excellent assessment of Jonjo so far. Agree with everything. He should play more often than he does but he isn’t good at the pressing game and can’t be relied on defensively. A loan to a Premier League club would be great but it’s a waste sending him to a championship club as he’s so much better than that.
Not of LFC standard – ball skill,retention,and passing under pressure are all weak.Does not press continually and revealed poor character v Stoke and WBA with little effort or application to the cause.He does not have anything like the qualities that Henderson, Allen, Suso, Texeira have as midfielders,and certainly is not of the calibre of PC,OA,FB,SS,LS,RS,SD,AM,JI.All have much greater telent/potential.
Stoke are interested in summer signing,great deal for us ,get rid, and join C Adam.
Allen has qualities ?????? I don’t think so
Yes where ? … Oh , I forgot… Yes , he can pass the ball 5 yards sideways or backward . … Yes he can do that
Yes Shelvey is twice the footballer Allen will ever be , but Shelvey is getting pushed out because of Rodgers favouritism towards the welsh wally .
Everthing you said in your post sounds to me like he is a young frank lampard in the making. I think he is a very good player for the future and given time i hope he will prove me wright. As for Joe Allen he must also be given time he is also a young lad learning what it is like to wear the red of liverpool what happend to the fans that believed in ynwa come on support ower team #lfc #ynwa
Allen time ? Why he is 23 . He doesn’t need time , he needs getting rid of .
Never in all my years supporting Liverpool have I seen a player as out of his depth as Allen. And he won’t improve at his age. Sheer rubbish
spot on
i bet you said the same about lucas.
blah .. blah blah …Lucas was totally different from Allen , you dope . No similarities at all . Allen is sh*t – get over it
Very good article Dave. I do believe Jonjo has a bright future at LFC but he needs consistent game time and a loan would be the perfect option and in agreence with Taintless Red it needs to be a premier league club, sending him to a championship side is not worth while he’s much talented than that.
Come in you Reds. YNWA
The boy’s definitely got talent, I hope he can eventually realise it in a Red shirt.
jonjo is far better than Allen…he had a better prospect than henderson and downing…About suso, he will be like mata after few years if given more play time…i am sorry about Allen,he s not good enough… Poor tackle,poor control…
All I can say is that if we sell Shelvey we will regret it in years to come. It is obvious to see that he is a talented player. His performances have taken a dip because he has been forced to play out of position. If he is played in the attacking midfield position then you will get the best out of him. i cannot believe that this is not obvious to the managing staff. I contrary to many on here, have always thought Jonjo would be the one to succeed Steven Gerrard. He is a similar type of player and all he needs is decent run of games in the correct position. A loan move to a prem team would be suitable not a sale. We should learn from the whole Tom Ince saga.
I agree but I don’t think jonjo will ever get a fair chance when BR continues to pick his pet Allen when others are way more deserving of a place
Good article. This is spot on, regarding going out on loan:
“Not only would he benefit from regular games, he would be able to hone a particular craft in midfield and return to Anfield with a firm understanding of what type of player he wants to be.”
It’s absolutely vital for him to go out on loan for a season or two, to find out what type of player he wants to become. If he doesn’t, he’ll just end up being the jack of all trades, as the title says.
Right now he’s sort of a mix between Gerrard and Lampard, but without Gerrard’s athleticism or Lampard’s intelligence.
If he can go somewhere and play week in week out for a year or two – and learn one or two roles properly – we could have a very good player on our hands; but if he’s just used as the ‘box-to-box’ type of midfielder I think he’ll end up having a fairly average career, even though his natural talent will carry him a fair bit.
Shelvey is no where near good enough for Liverpool. Nothing more to say other than that.
Stop slagging me off, I’ve been practicing running aimlessly about for years to get this good.