Sideways Sammy

A player who can often be lost in the shuffle at Coventry City, Jamie Allen continues to make key contributions for the team that justify his place in the squad. The midfielder has probably produced some of his best football in a Sky Blue shirt this season, from the spell around January where he stepped in as the team’s defensive midfielder and kicked-off the improved form under Frank Lampard to the recent win over Sunderland, where he completely dominated the midfield. Versatile, hard-working and with touches of quality to him, Jamie Allen is the kind of player no squad should really be without.

It has been this season where Jamie Allen has shown a greater level of quality than the ever has for Coventry City. While the work-rate could never be denied, Allen had often looked like someone who was there to do the running for other, better players. There have been a handful of really impressive performances this season where Allen has shown skill in his own right, particularly his ability to keep the ball moving forward quickly in tight areas in midfield that speeds up what can otherwise be slow, deliberate build-up play. However, the frustration with Allen is that his best level is not a consistent level, which can see him rendered completely anonymous.

In the final months of his contract at Coventry City, Jamie Allen has put in as strong a case as he possibly can recently to earn a new deal. The issue may well be that Matt Grimes is a better, more consistent, albeit less dogged, version of Jamie Allen. If he was to kept around, Allen could still play a valuable role of someone who can fill several midfield roles over the course of a long season. The question with Jamie Allen may well be whether he wants to be a bit-part player or go somewhere where his contributions will be greater valued.