‘Shouldn’t even be starting’ – Many Stoke fans react to performance of one man in Norwich loss

A number of Stoke City supporters have been bemoaning the performance of midfielder Joe Allen following the Potters’ 4-1 defeat at Norwich City on Saturday.

It was another frustrating game for the Potters, who were guilty of making far too many mistakes at the back and being uncharacteristically easy to break down at times. The defeat means that Michael O’Neill’s side have now gone eight matches in the Championship without a win as they have fallen away from the play-off places.

It was a difficult afternoon for Allen, in particular, with the experienced midfielder not able to help the Potters get a foothold in the game in the middle of the park. The Wales international was guilty of giving the ball away too often and was also not able to provide enough protection to the back four during his 83 minutes on the field.

The 30-year-old was only making his seventh league start of the campaign, and he gave the ball away 11 times and gave away the penalty for what turned out to be Norwich’s fourth goal of the game late on (Sofascore). That shows that Allen was not able to deliver the sort of performance that was required for the Potters to get anything form the game.

Many Stoke fans were left frustrated by Allen’s performance with some suggesting that the 30-year-old has been lacking in quality since returning to the side from injury.

Here then, we take a look at some of the best reactions on social media…

Joe Allen is finished

— rich goodwin (@richgoodwin_) February 13, 2021

Only realised Joe Allen was playing after he decided to show up in the 79th minute by making a ridiculous tackle in the box

Vital player 🙄

— Stace (@stokie_stace) February 13, 2021

Allen shouldn’t even be starting. Absolutely awful.

— Frosty (@FrostyFrosty_) February 13, 2021

Worse than awful today. Played for them.

— ElTeee (@teee_el) February 13, 2021

Joe Allen back to his wandering around / running around aimlessly routine. Wonder how many ‘fit’ games it will take For MON to realise he is done #SCFC

— Alex Lewis (@alexlewis1971) February 13, 2021

It baffles me why we persist with Joe Allen. There's only a certain amount of times you can say he's 'getting up to speed'. He's a shadow of the player he used to be.#SCFC

— Lewis Woolliscroft (@Lewisstokie2) February 13, 2021

Can this be the last time I see a midfield 3 of Mikel, Allen and Clucas please. #SCFC

— Danny James (@d_dean90) February 13, 2021

Allen is a CAM No two ways about it. Put him in the final third and he disrupts the opposition. Put him mainly in midfield and he will run around like a headless chicken because he is not naturally a controlling midfielder. 5 managers have somehow overlooked this#SCFC @stokecity

— The big cam (@The_Big_Cam) February 13, 2021

Joe Allen is the problem. Not the solution. The longer we play him, the longer we suffer.

— Tom Barker (@iamtbarks) February 13, 2021