The wingers question...

[Craig_H]

Why cant they beat a man?

Gonzalez especially, looks like it's against his religion to try. Always cutting inside and playing a ball square, or backwards. And with his fecking pace, too...

Pennant seems to have developed a kind of Beckham-esque abiility to put a cross in without beating the man, which i dont mind.

But neither of them wants to/tries to/can beat a man.

Can anyone possibly explain this to me?

[Redlife]

It's frustrating because Pennant has such quick feet and close control.

[Abro100]

They dont have the touch for one and the ball control, look at ronaldo he kills the ball and never looses control of it hardly when doing his trick, quaresa is the man.

[Johnny]

Why cant they beat a man?

Gonzalez especially, looks like it's against his religion to try. Always cutting inside and playing a ball square, or backwards. And with his fecking pace, too...

Pennant seems to have developed a kind of Beckham-esque abiility to put a cross in without beating the man, which i dont mind.

But neither of them wants to/tries to/can beat a man.

Can anyone possibly explain this to me?

If Pennant,like Beckham can whip in a cross early then we don`t need our wingers beating their man.Why is it so important.

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

The few times I saw Gonzalez play in Spain he never looked shy of taking on the full back.

Perhaps a run of games would change that.

Pennant has improved as the season has gone on, but I still think his final ball needs major improvement if he's to remain at the club let alone in the team.

And then of course there's Harry Kewell. The great enigma.

It says everything that the best winger at the club is still a certain Steven Gerrard.

[Abro100]

Because out strikers are usually out on the wng helping them or pennants crosses go on the other touchline.

[mikeg]

you are all just looking at ronaldo and thinking it is easy, who else is better than pennant wide right in the premiership other than ronaldo? i watch pennant very closely and he never loses the ball, he always gets a good cross in or plays a neat pass inside, he never loses possesion or plays a stray pass

[Johnny]

you are all just looking at ronaldo and thinking it is easy, who else is better than pennant wide right in the premiership other than ronaldo? i watch pennant very closely and he never loses the ball, he always gets a good cross in or plays a neat pass inside, he never loses possesion or plays a stray pass

Garcia???

[Craig_H]

If Pennant,like Beckham can whip in a cross early then we don`t need our wingers beating their man.Why is it so important.

What a ridiculous post.

What next? We dont need our strikers putting the chances away?

[Craig_H]

The few times I saw Gonzalez play in Spain he never looked shy of taking on the full back.

Perhaps a run of games would change that.

Pennant has improved as the season has gone on, but I still think his final ball needs major improvement if he's to remain at the club let alone in the team.

And then of course there's Harry Kewell. The great enigma.

It says everything that the best winger at the club is still a certain Steven Gerrard.

I know what you mean about Gonzalez in Spain. He looks a totally different player. He has the tools to do it, but seemingly, not the belief.

It has to be a confidence thing. FFS lad, just have a go and see what happens!

[Craig_H]

you are all just looking at ronaldo and thinking it is easy, who else is better than pennant wide right in the premiership other than ronaldo? i watch pennant very closely and he never loses the ball, he always gets a good cross in or plays a neat pass inside, he never loses possesion or plays a stray pass

Lennon, Robben, SWP. Walcott

[Abro100]

you are all just looking at ronaldo and thinking it is easy, who else is better than pennant wide right in the premiership other than ronaldo? i watch pennant very closely and he never loses the ball, he always gets a good cross in or plays a neat pass inside, he never loses possesion or plays a stray pass

Its not that he slows down play half the time and puts the ball inside he doest carry the ball aswell. Lennon is better, Arteta, even Bently to go as far

[Red Chilli]

We should sign Giles Barnes

[Craig_H]

Even a fit Keiron Dyer would be better. Pace and not afraid to have a go at a fullback.

[dww]

you are all just looking at ronaldo and thinking it is easy, who else is better than pennant wide right in the premiership other than ronaldo? i watch pennant very closely and he never loses the ball, he always gets a good cross in or plays a neat pass inside, he never loses possesion or plays a stray pass

What a ridiculous post.

What next? We dont need our strikers putting the chances away?

Slightly unnecessary that. It is clear that a wingers job is to create chances. mike is only suggesting that beating a man isn't the be all and end all to doing that.

I think that the way our team is set up we would be better if our wingers used the option to take people on, if for no other reason to mean that fullbacks will feel the need to watch them and they may then get doubled up on. Neither Pennant or Gonzalez have delivered the ball consistently enough to mean that they can afford to not pose the threat to the opposition in more than one way.