AS the New Year approached mid-way through last season, Liverpool’s form was up and down.
It was hard to know from one week to the next whether we’d win, lose or draw. More often than not, we tended to do all three in the course of a week!
This only meant that there was a fair bit of rotation, particularly in Europe and the early rounds of the cups and that meant the Reds’ small, young squad being stretched to its limits.
None of the youngsters (save possibly Sterling) saw more action in the first-team than Jonjo Shelvey.
The highlight of Shelvey’s season came against Young Boys, when he came off the bench to score a brace. His game-changing performance in the second-half was reminiscent of the Steven Gerrard of a few years ago, when he had a bit of extra pace and stamina.
Undoubtedly the low of his season though came barely a few days later, against Manchester United, when he lost his head and effectively, many would claim, the game. Funny though, how much he once again reminded me of a younger Steven Gerrard in his hot-headedness.
A tall, strapping young lad, Shelvey has always looked much older than his years and I believe that that is why he has always been held to higher standards than is perhaps fair. Many people still seem to forget that he is barely 21.
Sadly, Shelvey is currently being strongly linked with several smaller Premier League clubs and should he leave it would be a crying shame.
I’m not for a moment saying he’ll ever replace Gerrard, or what our captain gives us but in terms of stature, physicality and for ability to change the game with his drive and tenacity, Shelvey is the closest thing we have to a ‘new’ Gerrard.
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I don’t believe he’ll ever be as good but how many of us ever believed Gerrard would be as good as he became when he was just 21? I seem to remember him spending a fair bit of time at right back, on the right of midfield and battling with Danny Murphy around that age.
Not only that but the touted £5 million offers we’ve received for Jonjo are frankly offensive. If a full England international, with his whole career still ahead of him – not to mention quite a bit of Premier League experience – is worth so little then how can the £8.5 million mentioned for the likes of Tom Ince be anywhere near justified?
If we sell him, I’ll be very disappointed, but if we accept bids that low then I can only assume that we thoroughly enjoy being screwed because Shelvey should be worth more than that both to other clubs but more so ourselves.
Should he stay, then next season will prove to be a pivotal one for Shelvey, but selling him would be a mistake. If the issue is that he just won’t get enough games, then loan him out but this is a transfer that would very much bite us on the backside in a few years time.
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I couldn’t agree less. He is tall and athletic looking but he isn’t quick enough, he’s always trying Hollywood passes instead of the right ones but most of all he misses important chances and that I believe separates the good from the great
If he is the ‘new Gerrard’ then can we have the old one back. I am glad he is being sold, I am not a fan of his at all. 7 goals in 69 games in three seasons? What is he? A ‘keeper?
I won’t lose any sleep over this, I am so glad someone wants him. But I do agree with your comments about his transfer fee. Liverpool always seem to pay over the odds for English players but we just seem to give our ones away. That’s a joke. We bought Allen for £15m from Swansea. I put Allen and Shelvey in the same talent pool. Talent used in the loosest sense of the word!
He’s an average player at best. Insulting to even quote him as the ‘new Gerrard’….
Allen is a better player than pundits & others give him credit for. He player the majority of games with a shoulder that quote by his specialist, “a child could push his shoulder out of its socket with ONE finger”. That’s how fragile his shoulder was….
No he is not . Not fit to wear the shirt. Welsh wimp !
Shelvey was bright when he arrived but has failed to live up to his early promise. he has rarely looked worth his place in the side and looked less and less like a Liverpool player, anyone with a pulse gets a game for England these days and I think 6 million is good profit given his indifferent quality
By that thinking, what is Downing still doing here, or Allen? and 6 million is a disgrace and just shows how clueless the people running the club actually are.
JS is a good player, just not a great player nor has the potential to be a great player which is what LFC needs. He’s too slow (physically and mentally) to make it to the top level. Let’s hope L.Alberto is an upgrade to Shelvey for roughly the same price.
I tink d should give d englishman an oppurturnity ones again coz i believe he is going to delieve next season or loan him out..if br sells shelvey it is going to be a great loss remember d issue of tom ince now he was a flop nd become a star now so they should let d englishman stay at d club or loan him out……
Too late my friend, he’s been sold! I think players like Ibe and Coady will step up next season.
Coady is not at the level of Shelvey. And Shelvey was not at the level we needed. I’d have preferred if he’d been Loaned out flat a Premier League team and seen how he’d done.
Another transfer error by Liverpool. Shelvey has great potential .
im a swan–im not a fan of shelvey hes a head down player-no vision,but hes a tryer and a presence in midfield–dont think he will get in our side on a regular basis–he has similarities to gerrard(good engine box to box.gets stuck in,hits long hopeful balls into the channel)–good luck to him he will be playing with very talented ball players under a superb manager so he can only improve–you will be above everton next season you played good stuff 2nd half of season–get rid of suarez -he lets down the great name of lfc
Yeh right, as if you wouldn’t welcome Suarez with open arms at your club. Can’t you take Rodgers back to Swansea?
“New Gerrard” – I seriously don’t think so. A good player at best, but one definitely suited to playing for a lower premier league team. I don’t think Swansea is a good fit for him being a London lad though!
I rate him above allen nd believe what he needs is a loan in the italian league or in an english side that would afford him more playing time. he cant play rodgers way cos he is more physical nd direct.
Kinda sad to see him go. I think it’s a bad piece of business. He’s only 21 and BR should have loaned him out instead of selling him, and for 6 mil which is too chep for a young English player. Just hope BR knows wht he’s doing. I mean there has to be a reason why shelvey was sold really early in the window. Wish you all the luck in the world man, go be a better footballer in Swansea
This is bad business
A decent player, but not quick enough to be any more than that I’m afraid. Don’t think Swansea will suit him either as I think he is more a Sam Allardyce type of player.
A ridiculous piece. Gerrard was brilliant at 21. He shouldn’t even be mentioned in the same breath as Gerrard. Too slow and hasn’t a football brain. A good piece of business. Stoke away last season finished him for me. He didn’t even try that night.
I never thought he was that promising because he lacks a lot of qualities, but then again he’s only 21 and players change. However, I think scouts from a CL team would have shown some interest if they saw anything. It’s the same with Tom Ince, everyone was critizing Liverpool for letting him go, but where has he ended up only at Cardiff. And no disrespect intended towards Swansea or Cardiff, but I think Swansea want him more for squad depth to cover the Europa League and Cardiff are just starting out in the PL.
Absolutely agree with the writer, Shelvey is the closest we have got to a S.G. and this move will definitely come back and bite us. All he needs is a decent run of games in his preferred midfield rols and not as a striker as he was so often asked to do by B. R. Are we forgetting our well he perforemed when on loan at BlackPool. i cannot believe that so many people, including the liverpool hierarchy are unable to see the talent this young man has. a loan move, yes, but an outright sale. That is unbelivably foolish on liverpools part. Just so no-one gets confused i am a lifelong lfc supporter but this move i do not support.
I am sad to see shelvey going, bt if we are in need of dat money and no other way then he has to leave…
Ibelieve BR just wanted to get him off the books and pay for Tom Ince as early as possible. Buh I’m just mourning right nowcause he had the right lfc attitude.
BR MADE A BIG MISTAKE BY ALLOW SHELVEY TO GO I REALLY LIKE HIS METHOD OF PLAYING AND HIS FABULOUS SHOT IT IS A MISTAKE TO ROGER FOR SELLING HIM.
Another mistake by Rodgers . This clown is making our squad more average all the time.
There is only one clown on this planet and that’s you.
No . He is correct . I am a total half-wit that couldn’t manage a McDonald’s. Only idiots like you Joe think otherwise.
The welsh Xavi ? Ha ha ha . Your sh*t !!!!