Well, that's how it feels. Lets look at his rap sheet.
Can't pass
Can't tackle
Can't shoot
Not quick enough to get onto otherwise excellent passes
Mentally challenged
Half of this is nonsense.
He's had a funny run here in the Championship years. First season it was decided he was useless, and he was indeed often anonymous. That was often because we couldn't impose ourselves on games, and he's not a midfielder to take the game by the scruff of the neck. The following season it was decided around here he was good, and then this season (despite often being one of our more effective players) he's now responsible for Brexit, Covid, the cost of living crisis, and the revival of Donald Trump. It's odd because we've actually had incremental progression where he settles more.
This is by no means to suggest he's a footballing God - he has flaws like any player at this level, but he's by no means a waste of space, and has shown himself deserving of a regular place in our midfield.
The can't pass? if we like stats then the last game, where supposedly he was awful, he had the highest pass accuracy rate of the starting 11. He can pass, he often makes lovely through balls to Gyokeres in particular. What he does do however is try and increase the tempo - it's often said we look pondorous and only look better when we speed up our passing, this is true. Often, it's Allen who's trying the first time plays to get us moving. That increases the likelihood of it not looking so assured. It should also be noted his role in the team, which is clearly to keep the midfield ticking, play simply, allow Hamer to be the creative force (which, incidentally, excuses Hamer's low pass completion rate as he's trying the ambitious much of the time. it's worth noting if Allen had that percentage he'd be slaughtered). Robins himself has also noted that Allen is a good technician. Add in the corner challenge they did years ago and, while none of them excelled particularly, beyond Hamer Allen was a notable runner up in his ability to bend the ball towards goal. He *can* pass, but his role isn't given to be stood on the ball and dictate and it would be silly for it to be so, because Hamer does that bloody well.
Can't tackle? More of a case on the surface as he certainly doesn't dove in. However, it also looks obvious that's not his role. his role is to harry, be a barrier in front of the opposition player, and slow them up so the team as a whole can get into position. he does that effectively. That also means that the team is more ready to knock back opposition attacks. Defending from the front is as much why we had that great defensive record before Christmas as the role of the defenders - the reason the defenders could be in a difficult to break down block is as much because of this tactic. Without O'Hare, that's solely down to Allen, and it's a role he does well - don't look to the lack of tackling in isolation.
Can't shoot? Undoubtedly times he scuffs shots, but who doesn't? What he does have is five goals already this season. There have been a couple of bludgeoned shots charged down. It's fair to say shooting could be better, but... he has taken to scoring goals this season, and is currently at about par of what you'd expect for a midfielder.Also worth noting his role is to break the lines, run beyond the striker, which he often does but isn't picked up by our players either... or we have the ludicrous suggestion there are brilliant passes, but it's Allen's fault for not being quick enough to get onto them. Much as with us, the solid defensive line of the opposition can be difficult to break down - going beyond the forwards is something few of our players do, and even if the ball doesn't get to Allen it can stretch the opposition back line, throw them out of shape a little.
It is however true that he has been responsible for genocides in both Rwanda and Cambodia, and was also Hitler's chauffeur.
