Rafa admits

[IanTheRed]

From IcLiverpool:

[quote][b]RAFA BENITEZ today admitted he's taken 'a risk' splashing over

[IanTheRed]

And more on Pennant and his past, again from IcLiverpool:

[quote]THERE'S no escaping, Liverpool are turning into a home for reformed characters.

If Craig Bellamy is generously described as being 'misunderstood' at former clubs, there's less ambiguity on the CV of Jermaine Pennant, who arrives at Anfield requiring a level of positive PR even Saatchi and Saatchi might struggle to spin.

Pennant is one of those unique players who feels ashudder in his spine when asked what number he'd prefer.

It wasn't so long ago he was known as prisoner MX 7232, and for the second time this summer, Rafa Benitez is putting his faith in the powers of rehabilitation his recruit received at his former club.

Birmingham City offered Pennant a lifeline when it seemed a flourishing young career was on the verge of self-destruction.

Pennant joined Arsenal as the most expensive teenager in English football when he left Notts County for

[scully]

Good stuff - but why the hell did Diao postpone his Charlton trial? Bastard!

[Jack D Rips]

Lets hope he can walk the walk. I think he will

[Finnish_Red]

Good stuff - but why the hell did Diao postpone his Charlton trial? Bastard!

That caught my eye too, he can't even get a trial right can he... :rant:

Good read, above excluded.

[Shanks65]

So who's gonna get MX 7232 on the back of their shirt then?
:)

[Resu]

So who's gonna get MX 7232 on the back of their shirt then?
:)
Harsh, but very funny.

[Shanks65]

Harsh, but very funny.

:D

I'm glad he's signed though. I hope he means what he says, and he goes on to prove what he can do. He's clearly got talent and I reckon we'll get the best out of him over the coming years. If anyone can sort the lad out, it's our Rafa.

[scully]

I really don't see either Bellamy or Pennant getting into trouble while with us - it means too much to both of them. Plus they know that if they lapse they'll have the Wrath of Carra upon them, along with a few other sensible and committed heads.

[Shanks65]

I really don't see either Bellamy or Pennant getting into trouble while with us - it means too much to both of them. Plus they know that if they lapse they'll have the Wrath of Carra upon them, along with a few other sensible and committed heads.

Exactly. It's last chance saloon for both of them. They know if they bugger it up this time, their top flight careers are effectively over (by that I mean they'll go to Bolton)

[dww]

I think we would have to try Newcastle first. Bolton would never pay us any money.

[FowlerLeftFoot]

or Aston Villa. They seem to like to sign our players as well.

[univofchicago]

To be honest, I never regarded Pennant as a risk because he had already proven that he is a player of Premiership calibre and the initial estimates were that the transfer fee would be around the 3 million mark.

But now that the fee has more than doubled to 7 million, expectations are going to be that much higher. That is why more people are going to perceive the transfer as a real 'risk' simply because of the money involved.

Let's just hope that he does a 'Crouch' and proves the doubters wrong.

In Rafa we trust!

[musicalred]

i reckon Rafa will sort them out and if not then he wont be afraid to say harsh words - but they both are playing for their dream club so they should put the past behind -

and as a supporter i couldnt really care less what has gone before and the reputations they have - lets give them at least a season to bed in and sort themselves out before we make any harsh judgements on the pair of them

[univofchicago]

and as a supporter i couldnt really care less what has gone before and the reputations they have - lets give them at least a season to bed in and sort themselves out before we make any harsh judgements on the pair of them

I have to agree with you there. Couldn't care less myself about their bad-boy reputations...

[leftpeg]

Neither of them are of the ilk of Lee Bowyer, so we'll be fine.

[slartibartfast]

How does everyone here think that they would handle living in London and being the subject of a then record transfer for somebody your age at 15?

Who can honestly tell me that it wouldn't go to their head?

I couldn't.

[El Jefecito]

i reckon Rafa will sort them out and if not then he wont be afraid to say harsh words - but they both are playing for their dream club so they should put the past behind -

and as a supporter i couldnt really care less what has gone before and the reputations they have - lets give them at least a season to bed in and sort themselves out before we make any harsh judgements on the pair of them
I believe Rafa has got the squad to the point where we are ultra-professional. Just by a process of osmosis this will have a beneficial effect on CB&JP.

Fowler is both JP&CB's hero. Imagine seeing him drinking Orange Juice and busting a gut to get a game. That'd affect you!

Let's just say they have the best possible environment in which to succeed. I think they will, but if they dont. Rafa'll can their arse quicker than they can sneeze.

[AmsterRed]

How does everyone here think that they would handle living in London and being the subject of a then record transfer for somebody your age at 15?

Who can honestly tell me that it wouldn't go to their head?

I couldn't.
Another newbie :handshake:

[univofchicago]

How does everyone here think that they would handle living in London and being the subject of a then record transfer for somebody your age at 15?

Who can honestly tell me that it wouldn't go to their head?

I couldn't.

Agreed slartibartfast.

Welcome to est1892 btw!

[El Jefecito]

[QUOTE=AmsterRed]Another newbie :handshake:

[IanTheRed]

I have 0 impluse control, so If I was getting the kind of money he was, I'd be dead of alcholol poisioning/drug overdoes/veneral disease by now. He's done a damn sight better than I would have, so good luck to him.

Doesn't he come from a working class, below the poverty line, broken family type background? If so they are all factors.

I think he'll do good, it took GOD till 30 to grow up, I think we may just see JP grow up this year and next.

Not sure about Jermaine's unbringing, but I can't see any association with Robbie Ryder. God was brought up in a single parent enviroment in the toughest part of Liverpool, and has become the (according to most reports) richest football in Britain. He has never been in jail, never been in trouble with the police (to any great degree I believe) and the worst that he has done is cut up a few trainers, got punched by Razor, showed his arse to Le Saux and pretended to snort a line in retailiation to MANY snide remarks from bitter blues, the very fans he was part of.

Let me point this out - Jermaine Pennant willingly drove a (most probably high powered at a nice speed) car whilst under the influence. I don't give a fuck if he had of killed himself, its the innocent people he is risking. Hence the jail sentence. He also was already banned and had no insurance...and had been done before. This 'stupid kid' was worse than Rio or Mutu, or anyone else taking drugs - they are merely harming themselves - Jermaine could easily have killed someone.

Robbie showed his arse, supported dockers and sat in a dentist's chair while some people threw cocktails down his neck - there is no comparision. Regardless of what Jermaine Pennant achieves in his career, his record will always be there. Rightly so. Robbie however was a 'scamp' who was always int he wrong place at the wrong time - but not behind a wheel.

[Shaggy]

Not sure about Jermaine's unbringing, but I can't see any association with Robbie Ryder. God was brought up in a single parent enviroment in the toughest part of Liverpool, and has become the (according to most reports) richest football in Britain. He has never been in jail, never been in trouble with the police (to any great degree I believe) and the worst that he has done is cut up a few trainers, got punched by Razor, showed his arse to Le Saux and pretended to snort a line in retailiation to MANY snide remarks from bitter blues, the very fans he was part of.

Let me point this out - Jermaine Pennant willingly drove a (most probably high powered at a nice speed) car whilst under the influence. I don't give a fuck if he had of killed himself, its the innocent people he is risking. Hence the jail sentence. He also was already banned and had no insurance...and had been done before. This 'stupid kid' was worse than Rio or Mutu, or anyone else taking drugs - they are merely harming themselves - Jermaine could easily have killed someone.

Robbie showed his arse, supported dockers and sat in a dentist's chair while some people threw cocktails down his neck - there is no comparision. Regardless of what Jermaine Pennant achieves in his career, his record will always be there. Rightly so. Robbie however was a 'scamp' who was always int he wrong place at the wrong time - but not behind a wheel.

There's no "round of applause" smiley. It's needed here. Well said man.

[kopdan]

I dont think Pennant is anymore a gamble than any other signing we make. I for one am very excited about the prospect of LFC playing with TWO out and out wingers.

[El Jefecito]

Not sure about Jermaine's unbringing, but I can't see any association with Robbie Ryder. God was brought up in a single parent enviroment in the toughest part of Liverpool, and has become the (according to most reports) richest football in Britain. He has never been in jail, never been in trouble with the police (to any great degree I believe) and the worst that he has done is cut up a few trainers, got punched by Razor, showed his arse to Le Saux and pretended to snort a line in retailiation to MANY snide remarks from bitter blues, the very fans he was part of.

Let me point this out - Jermaine Pennant willingly drove a (most probably high powered at a nice speed) car whilst under the influence. I don't give a fuck if he had of killed himself, its the innocent people he is risking. Hence the jail sentence. He also was already banned and had no insurance...and had been done before. This 'stupid kid' was worse than Rio or Mutu, or anyone else taking drugs - they are merely harming themselves - Jermaine could easily have killed someone.

Robbie showed his arse, supported dockers and sat in a dentist's chair while some people threw cocktails down his neck - there is no comparision. Regardless of what Jermaine Pennant achieves in his career, his record will always be there. Rightly so. Robbie however was a 'scamp' who was always int he wrong place at the wrong time - but not behind a wheel.
Sorry mate, see where you are coming from but I think you are reading far more into what I said than I intended. I was just contrasting the ultra-professional Robbie of today with the one that sniffed the goal-line. That's all, no slight on Robbie, he is after all GOD. :handshake:

[Cisseshairdresser]

Good stuff - but why the hell did Diao postpone his Charlton trial? Bastard!

:haha: FLMAO!!:handshake:

[IanTheRed]

Sorry mate, see where you are coming from but I think you are reading far more into what I said than I intended. I was just contrasting the ultra-professional Robbie of today with the one that sniffed the goal-line. That's all, no slight on Robbie, he is after all GOD. :handshake:

No problem Speedy, I was merely defining the difference between pranks (however stupid) and someone who has, in the distant past hopefully, done things that could endanger others.

I personally hope that Pennant is an absolute star for us and he leaves it all behind, a Lee Hughes he isn't as yet.

I think this heat is getting to everyone, myself included! :handshake:

[El Jefecito]

No problem Speedy, I was merely defining the difference between pranks (however stupid) and someone who has, in the distant past hopefully, done things that could endanger others.

I personally hope that Pennant is an absolute star for us and he leaves it all behind, a Lee Hughes he isn't as yet.

I think this heat is getting to everyone, myself included! :handshake:
But I have no excuse, I'm in South Florida and my whole house AC is set @ 75. Aaah, Lovely :)

[IanTheRed]

Twat! :D

[anfieldanfield]

Twat! :D

Another valuable late night offering to the forums Ian ?!

[IanTheRed]

Another valuable late night offering to the forums Ian ?!

:D

Actually Jamo, last night was just a night off the ale...for once.

I'm just trying to take the DJ Syd way of improving my post count, one word posts are the future...."I've got 20,000 posts don't you know"

[FowlerLeftFoot]

Carrick to join manure for 18M......now that makes the pennant deal a bargain!!