J Pennant Appreciation

[Nicey]

All the comments and sentiments on here about him are fair enough, but cant help feel there is an element of people had their minds made up about him before he even kicked a ball for Liverpool. I took him a few games to settle in, but he is a good player for us right now and if he can play like this week in week out he could turn out to be a very important player. Ok so perhaps he cannot make it to WC level but some of our most important players in recent years were hardly world class. He is putting good service in from the flanks that all I want him or any winger to do

[PLY]

Not good enough

I concur. Generally brainless , doesn't track back or doesn't know what he's doing when he does and is very erratic going forward.

He's improved from where he was when he started but that was a very low base from which to climb

[Parm]

I agree.... almost have to give Crouch man of the match ....... But halfway through the first half I was saying that Pennant was the star man!

that's what I thought as well. Thought in all he had a decent game, some really good moments and consistent effort, although there were times he did go missing. Not an earth shatteringly brilliant performance, but a solid 7/10. There is room for improvement but I'm not sure how much more we will see from him.

He has got better as the season has got on and I would like us to keep him for next year, but if we could get a top quality RW in then JP would make a good squad player for us. Trouble is, who would we get in?

[rage]

Squad player at best. No way is he starting 11 in a pemiership winning team. There just isn't any pressure on any of our league games anymore hence why we see players like pennant and crouch putting in good performances. When expectations are high once again come the new season (and if either of them are still here) their shortcomings will be exposed once more.

[Diego]

he was good against arsenal, for the most part, few things he needs to work out before he can become a top player. he gives up to easily and gets to frustrated, he sometimes just stops defending and we get all buggered up...

the other thing about arsenal that i'm pissed of at him is the arsenal goal, his fault. you don't leave the post just to watch two players attack the far post, if he had been where he should have been we would have kept another clean sheet. he lacks discipline but if he works that out he'll be very good...

[Johnny]

He has improved immensely in the last 2 months and can only get better.

[redblood]

ive been the first to slag him all year but all credit for yesterday. the problem is now instead of building on the back of a great performance like yesterday the **** is gonna make us suffer another 10 games of being mediocre and who gives a **** about maclaren and england

Hey Kidda how you doing mate. Everything go OK.
Anyway I think he's steadily improved since around Christmas, he has put in more decent displays then not.
I think he'll be a fairly decent player for us.

[SB]

Funny that. Earlier in the season he was getting slaughtered for cutting inside and not getting enough crosses in.

I think that he's simply following Rafa's instructions. He's not a great goal threat and his strength is his crossing so why would we try to change him?

[keniget]

I think that he's simply following Rafa's instructions. He's not a great goal threat and his strength is his crossing so why would we try to change him?

I'm pretty sure he came out and said that Rafa challenged him to score more goals at the start of the season.

[cannotmakeit]

he has improved but he has not done enough yet to warrent his place in the side. IMO he will be a squad player next season.

[Maestro]

All the comments and sentiments on here about him are fair enough, but cant help feel there is an element of people had their minds made up about him before he even kicked a ball for Liverpool. I took him a few games to settle in, but he is a good player for us right now and if he can play like this week in week out he could turn out to be a very important player. Ok so perhaps he cannot make it to WC level but some of our most important players in recent years were hardly world class. He is putting good service in from the flanks that all I want him or any winger to do

I can only speak for myself, but I hadn't made my mind up about him at all.
I really hope the guy proves all the doubters wrong but I don't believe he has the strength of character or the discipline to make the most of his talents.
The step he needs to take to become what you term "a very important player" for us is, in my mind, a psychological one. I think he has the talent, but judging by all the interviews I've read with him, he's too much of a "nu skool" footballer to count on when the chips are really down.
I'm happy with his form at present.
He's still got a hell of a lot to prove, but he has to realise this himself, and to work his ass off on a regular, consistant basis to kick on.

[SB]

I'm pretty sure he came out and said that Rafa challenged him to score more goals at the start of the season.

He's hardly playing like he's going to score goals with the amount of chalk on his boots. Gonzo on the other hand mixes it up alot and comes inside looking to shoot and at times sticks to the touch line and pings in crosses, but JP's conversion rate would be superior IMO.

[The Glove]

Count me out of this one.................squad/carling cup player at best

Not good enough

im not convinced, reserve team player at best

I concur. Generally brainless , doesn't track back or doesn't know what he's doing when he does and is very erratic going forward.

He's improved from where he was when he started but that was a very low base from which to climb

Squad player at best. No way is he starting 11 in a pemiership winning team. There just isn't any pressure on any of our league games anymore hence why we see players like pennant putting in good performances. When expectations are high once again come the new season their shortcomings will be exposed once more.

These people speak sense.

Pennant is woeful. On Saturday he would do the hard part then give the ball away.

[SB]

.

On Saturday he would do the hard part then give the ball away.

Like the back heeler to Arbeloa which led to the first goal, is that what you mean?

[The Glove]

Like the back heeler to Arbeloa which led to the first goal, is that what you mean?

Can you pick out anything else of note? or is he now a world beater after that pass and his goal against Chelsea?