Allsopp, the player his own fans love to hate
Roar Pro
By Paddy Higgs, 27 Jan 2009 Paddy Higgs is a Roar Pro
Around the 25 minute mark of Melbourne’s 2-0 win over Wellington on Friday night, Victory striker Danny Allsopp was presented with a half-chance to put his side in front. He failed to get full purchase on the ball, and the Phoenix was able to clear.
Midway up the third tier of the Telstra Dome, one articulate fan piped up. The man, curiously wearing a Liverpool shirt, was blunt in his assessment: “Allsopp, you’re s&%$!”
That sort of statement is one that is heard regularly around the aisles of the Dome during Victory games.
When you really think about it, it’s about as baffling as wearing a Liverpool shirt to a Victory game.
Allsopp is the Victory player his own fans love to can.
A foundation member of the club after returning from the UK – where he had stints with Manchester City and Hull City – Allsopp made a fairly inconspicuous start to his career in the A-League.
Season 2 was a far different story. He potted 12 goals to win the golden boot in the title-winning year as his partnership with Archie Thompson took off.
But his most telling contribution that season is one that those negative Melbourne supporters should think of before casting their vitriol in his direction.
1-0 down against Adelaide United in the semi-final and with his side looking increasing desperate, Allsopp powered into the box and, with his left foot, drilled the ball past a despairing Daniel Beltrame.
James Robinson popped up with the winner shortly before time, and we all know how the Grand Final turned out.
Allsopp’s stats are similarly impressive, having knocked in 33 goals in 80 appearances. Only partner-in-crime Thompson has scored more goals with him in the history of the A-League.
Their partnership is undoubtedly the most successful our domestic competition has seen.
He has struck eleven times this season, but is still the target for many Victory fans when things aren’t going the side’s way.
Granted, he can seem maddeningly short of concentration at times, and loves to stray into the odd off-side position.
But to question his commitment and work rate is unfair.
Still, while he cops short shrift from many of his own supporters, Allsopp seems to have at least one fan when it matters. Pim Verbeek is likely to select him and Thompson to lead the line in the Asian Cup qualifier with Indonesia on Wednesday.
It’s a true indication of Allsopp’s form this season. With eleven goals to his name, he has been among the more consistent performers in Melbourne’s squad.
He’s hardly likely to be a long-term fixture in the Socceroos side. But if selected on Wednesday, it can be said that, at the present, Verbeek rates him higher than Matt Simon, Dylan Macallister and Joel Griffiths.
For a bloke that can’t get that same recognition from his own fans, it’s an excellent achievement.
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Mick of Newie said | January 27th 2009 @ 6:32am | Report comment
the Jets would have him.
Mick of Newie said | January 27th 2009 @ 6:33am | Report comment
In fact if he had a one legged half brother we would have him.
Coach said | January 27th 2009 @ 11:51am | Report comment
I think people just think he sucks because when he runs he looks like he’s on a treadmill! But he knows his limitations there and scores his goals by running to the right positions which people may misconstrue as laziness
Pippinu said | January 27th 2009 @ 11:55am | Report comment
He runs to the right positions because of his limitations and laziness?
Mick said | January 27th 2009 @ 12:29pm | Report comment
I’m glad somebody has put this out there. I’m a big Danny fan and think is call-up to the Socceroos is well deserved – even if it’s the synergies with Thompson that get him into the starting line-up rather than him being the second-best striker in the A-League, which he’s not.
Nothing infuriates me more than the stick he cops from a surprisingly large number of Victory ‘fans’ with short memories and a lack of appreciation for the value Danny adds to the team. The statistics, as Paddy has mentioned, speak for themselves. The rebuttal to this that is often put to me is that it is all down to his partnership with Thompson, which is a pretty naive view. You don’t become the second top scoring striker over 4 seasons just because of a good strike partnership, there’s a tad more to it.
What will always win me over with Allsop is his work ethic. I find it hard to believe anyone could misconstrue him as lazy. His efforts in chasing back and making challenges in his own half are excellent and add huge value to a team that often leaves itself light on in the middle.
Agreed, he’s is not always the silkiest player going around and is at times frustrating to watch, but he does a job and does it very well. Anyone who needs reminding of that should go back and watch the tape of that semi final. I hope he silences a few critics on Wednesday.
Rooster said | January 27th 2009 @ 1:42pm | Report comment
I think what Coach is trying to say Pippinu, is that he thinks Allsopp is a smart runner who doesn’t run himself into the ground. I can understand the confusion though.
Interesting article Paddy, as Mebourne had struggled last season and a couple of time this season, it is clear that victory fans just need someone to point the finger at, and the front line can often cop the grunt of the fans disappointment.
Pippinu said | January 27th 2009 @ 2:39pm | Report comment
Rooster
Coach may have meant it, but it certainly didn’t read like it.
In any event, people underestimate the amount of running he does – it’s massive – certainly far, far more than the likes of Cristiano, Aloisi or Dadi would manage in a game.
So it’s beyond me how anyone could accuse him of laziness.
If the detractors (and I agree too many MV fans are amongst them) are still scratching their heads wondering why Danny is the 2nd most successful striker in the history of the comp, I give them two reasons (beyond his excellent striker’s instinct):
1. His long partnership with Arch is worth a lot. The understanding the two have is as good as anything you will find in the A-League (and has certainly attracted the interest of Pim, more so than the two as individuals); and
2. In AFL speak – Danny is a very difficult match up. He has considerable speed for a big man, yet can do the holding, bullocking work required of a good centre-forward.
NUFCMVFC said | January 27th 2009 @ 3:46pm | Report comment
The problem for Dan is that he has suffered from the “first impressions count” type scenario, he has very much proved himself since season 1, but people will always remember the initial impression of his poor season and some glaring misses etc from season 1 and will never be convinced
He has had two seasons now where he has got over 10 goals, a double digit Striker in a 21 round season is respectable and congratulations for his call up. He has scored many important goals for MVFC, but like I said people will always have the memory of season 1 and their first impressions at the back of their minds
Same thing applies to Ernie, a lot of people haven’t forgotton season 1′s efforts, and despite him leading MVFC to the double in emphatic style, and a very strong campaign this season, he has the most A League oriented Trophies and under his tenureship I think MVFC is now the biggest and most successful club in the early phase of A League history, however people are still generally unconvinced and we’ll continue to go round in cycles down here in Melbourne.
There are issues, but some of these can be attributed to the general state of the Coaching level in Australia
Pippinu said | January 27th 2009 @ 4:04pm | Report comment
Re Ernie, it should be added that he has twice bounced back from relatively poor seasons inside four years – that says volumes about him alone.
Dave said | January 27th 2009 @ 4:20pm | Report comment
Allsop runs his socks off, gives 100% effort and generally is asked to do too much IMO by the coach…some of his energy should be saved for the task he is in the team for, to score. Danny needs to take more of the chances he is presented with. He has 11 goals but missed some it appeared easier to score than miss. That said he is worth his place in the side but needs to continue working hard on his finishing.