This season's new signings

[Rich]

My biggest problem with Pennant (other than this "I've made it" bollocks) is his total inability to be a goalscoring threat, he hasn't once been in a goalscoring position (from what I remember) and even his superb goal at the weekend was all about the finish and nothing about the positioning.

[Shaggy]

Final thought :

http://www.est1892.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=11043

I realise a poll like this doesn't capture his mediocre games, but you've painted Pennant as spending the first 15-20 games hoofing the ball into Stanley Park, which is a little unfair

Misleading though.

Pennant had a genuinely excellent game against Reading in the Carling Cup, a game in which he won MOM, rightly, by a distance. There was another minor game in which he shone (can't remember which) and he won MOM for that too. Almost all of his points came by virtue of those two games.

[dww]

My biggest problem with Pennant (other than this "I've made it" bollocks) is his total inability to be a goalscoring threat, he hasn't once been in a goalscoring position (from what I remember) and even his superb goal at the weekend was all about the finish and nothing about the positioning.

I feel a bit sorry for Pennant. He said once as far as I know that the goal against Chelsea "proved the doubters wrong". Which came after he had played well in a run of a few games and had influenced the results in at least the Bolton and Chelsea games. Before that he took a hell of a lot of stick. He deserves to feel a level of vindication. I don't think coming off the pitch feeling like that is indicative of a bad attitude at all.

I want him to push on from his performances of late, but his improvement as the season has gone on is indicative to me of him having very much the right attitude and that he has responded to criticism from the fans and faith from Rafa in just the right way.

[red g]

Kuyt
Bellers
Pennant
Gonzales
Aurelio
Paletta

Reasoning:

Kuyt - Works his nuts off, still think he needs his shot radar sorted, but it will come once he comes to grips with the league. Top scorer next year.

Bellamy - Again works his nuts off, gets caught offside to much, but half of them he is on!! looked overawed and nervous tostart with, think he is gettting better all the time.

Pennant - Has gone from a startled bunny in headlights to someone who has done reasonable in the last few games. Think his crosses hang up in the air to much, looks clueless a lot of the time and not convinced of his work ethic. Rare flashes of brilliance......too rare for LFC and as for having the most amount of crosses last yr....wish we had seen the quality of some of them

Gonzales- Not the world beater we were expecting andpeople saw last year in la liga, although will grow into the premiership i am sure, an eye for goal and pace, genuine width also. The lad deserves time, jury out at the moment

Aurelio - Always has confidence, assured on the ball - has an eye for a pass and another one who i think will effortlessly fit into Rafa's first team as long as he stays injury free!! Big ask though. Want to see a free kick fly in to.

Paletta - the only positive is he looks hard as **** and hasnt had a chance to play with our first team defenders so hence looking so bad. Again young and hopefully will improve.

[Rich]

I feel a bit sorry for Pennant. He said once as far as I know that the goal against Chelsea "proved the doubters wrong". Which came after he had played well in a run of a few games and had influenced the results in at least the Bolton and Chelsea games. Before that he took a hell of a lot of stick. He deserves to feel a level of vindication. I don't think coming off the pitch feeling like that is indicative of a bad attitude at all.

I want him to push on from his performances of late, but his improvement as the season has gone on is indicative to me of him having very much the right attitude and that he has responded to criticism from the fans and faith from Rafa in just the right way.

It's not the first time that Pennant has come out with the doubters/I've made it rubbish, there are plenty of quotes from him from when he first joined. I just don't like his attitude and I don't think he can be counted on when the chips are down.

[disco]

As a slight aside, do you think wingers have a hard time impressing people?

Macca used to be anonymous a lot, even Gerrard on the right could be anonymous.

Elsewhere, only Ronaldo is frequently brilliant - Robben/SWP/Duff have all had as many **** games to go with their good ones.

[simey85]

My biggest problem with Pennant (other than this "I've made it" bollocks) is his total inability to be a goalscoring threat, he hasn't once been in a goalscoring position (from what I remember) and even his superb goal at the weekend was all about the finish and nothing about the positioning.

i can't actually remember when he's got himself into a goal scoring position either thats another thing he'd need to start doin!

[Shaggy]

He said it was a "great achievement to play for Liverpool", which sent out all the wrong signals IMO.

For what it's worth, I find his post-match interviews quite encouraging - he seems a nice kid really, who's done well not to let the (rightful) criticism get to him. I really want him to succeed....I just don't think he will.

[dww]

It's not the first time that Pennant has come out with the doubters/I've made it rubbish, there are plenty of quotes from him from when he first joined. I just don't like his attitude and I don't think he can be counted on when the chips are down.

I can see what why you say that but I think people have taken those quotes from when he first came very badly. Basically he said he was very proud to be at a big prestigious club, which also happened to be the team he supported. It was pretty much the sort of thing Kuyt said. Pennants reputation and then his early poor form have really coloured peoples view of them imo.

[Shaggy]

As a slight aside, do you think wingers have a hard time impressing people?

Macca used to be anonymous a lot, even Gerrard on the right could be anonymous.

Elsewhere, only Ronaldo is frequently brilliant - Robben/SWP/Duff have all had as many **** games to go with their good ones.

Absolutely.

Every winger there’s ever been has been inconsistent. All wingers are, even the very best ones. It’s a strange phenomenon.

[disco]

It's not the first time that Pennant has come out with the doubters/I've made it rubbish, there are plenty of quotes from him from when he first joined. I just don't like his attitude and I don't think he can be counted on when the chips are down.

The main thing is is that he's reacting to the criticism from fans and Rafa and his work rate is to be commended.

Still couldn't believe it was Pennant and not Finnan clearing from Right back in the 80th odd minute vs Chelsea, and I rewound the play and he'd ran Gerrard like from the other penalty area.

[simey85]

As a slight aside, do you think wingers have a hard time impressing people?

Macca used to be anonymous a lot, even Gerrard on the right could be anonymous.

Elsewhere, only Ronaldo is frequently brilliant - Robben/SWP/Duff have all had as many **** games to go with their good ones.

probably do they are usually the ones responsible for delivering the final ball so if they don't deliver the killer ball we just call them ****e. also they are expected to always be able to beat their man, maybe we can be to harsh on them, but **** it thats their job!

[Rich]

I do think (at least I hope so) that everybody on here desperately wants him to make it, I know I'd love to be proved wrong however, I don't think he'll do it for us - not consistently anyhow, he doesn't have enough in his locker.

[disco]

probably do they are usually the ones responsible for delivering the final ball so if they don't deliver the killer ball we just call them ****e. also they are expected to always be able to beat their man, maybe we can be to harsh on them, but **** it thats their job!

I think people confuse taking on the man (which only Gerrard and Bellamy seem to do consistently for Liverpool), and 'beating' the man by the touchline to get a pass or cross in.

I'm sure Pennant is capable of taking on men, but arguably you don't need to if you can pass it around as well as Liverpool can (why risk losing the ball)

[simey85]

I'm sure Pennant is capable of taking on men, but arguably you don't need to if you can pass it around as well as Liverpool can (why risk losing the ball)

i agree about keeping possession its the best way to break down teams though against top well organised opposition it can be hard to break them down that way and it often takes a bit of magic by someone going by the full back then the defence opens up and defenders are committed!