No Pennant

[El Jefecito]

But then playing players who are only ever going to be 90% capable (i.e. not good enough is OK, then - e.g. Pennant?) or in the wrong position is against that ambition. Perfection is about the best team and not about one which can beat another when only 75%, then putting another out which operates at 80% - because what happens is when you need the extra 10-20% it's much harder to achieve, because the palyers get used to operating at at a certain level. how many time shave we seen it. 0ur record against top 4 sides in the league is appalling in the last few years. Granted in the Cups it's OK, which means we can lift in in a one-off scenario bt not consistenly so.

To achieve perfection you have to at least strive for it - not 80% of it.

Perfection, in terms of results, requires that you put out a team that is better and more fit.

[Zapater]

I doubt that Pennant and Benayoun will be in the same squad that often. It will be one of them because they are similar type of players.

I don't agree, I see Benayoun as a great option off the bench. He can play as an attacking mid too. He's a game changer. He'll be on the bench a lot I think, regardless of Pennant being in the squad or not.

[Fubar]

has anyone got a squad listing for this game

[Shaggy]

Obviously Rafa sees that Kuyt has more to offer the side.Crouch can be lazy and very annoying at times.I thought he would have left this summer.

Wrong.

Crouch isn't lazy - in fact he's one of the hardest working players in the squad. Sissoko is regularly the man who covers the most ground in a game (by miles) but a few times Crouch has outrun even Sissoko.

[Taffy]

Did you check the # of assists? He's not perfect, but then again he's not a bad squad player.

For me, that is it, Pennant is ONLY a squad player at best. Yes he does produce the odd bit of class every now and then, but not often enough for my liking. He has improved recently but he needs to show that consistency that we need from a right winger, and more importantly, score goals.

This is Pennant's major weakness, a lack of goals, and unless he changes his ways he'll continue to only be a squad player. These days teams look for goals from all over the pitch, especially from the midfielders, and Pennant doesn't provide us with that - therefore he must start scoring!

When we signed Pennant I said then he'd never be more than a squad player, and I stick by my comments. He's improved of late but needs to show more and perform in the big games consistently, and score goals. I wish he'd prove me wrong but I just can't see him providing us with the goals we need from him.

[Zapater]

This is Pennant's major weakness, a lack of goals, and unless he changes his ways he'll continue to only be a squad player. These days teams look for goals from all over the pitch, especially from the midfielders, and Pennant doesn't provide us with that - therefore he must start scoring!

If he scored goals it would be nice but for me this isn't the reason he's not so good. The reason why I don't like him is because he fails to beat players, he'll actually go past one player a game if he's lucky, probably less. Then on the rare occasion he gets free on the right and he has time/space to deliver a ball into the box it'll always be a mile away from when it's supposed to be. The number of his crosses which our players don't get onto is ridiculous.

I know some other people think he's improving but I don't really think he gives us much of an edge on that right hand side. We either need to play someone more direct there like Babel to give us a bigger threat, hope Yossi can weave some magic or if we get a new right winger make sure the guy can atleast cross and if he can dribble past players it'll be a bonus.

[Skillz]

Wrong.

Crouch isn't lazy - in fact he's one of the hardest working players in the squad. Sissoko is regularly the man who covers the most ground in a game (by miles) but a few times Crouch has outrun even Sissoko.

Is the right answer.

[calvoboy]

In the squad for tomorrow. Strange or just rotation rotation rotation?

Just means he's a dead-cert to start against Chelsea, so he's been told to stay at home. No point travelling if he's going to be rested anyway ahead of the big game.

[JPK]

Wrong.

Crouch isn't lazy - in fact he's one of the hardest working players in the squad. Sissoko is regularly the man who covers the most ground in a game (by miles) but a few times Crouch has outrun even Sissoko.

Do you have stats to back that up?Doubt it very much.
I have seen Crouch subbed a few times and Rafa has had a furious look on his face.It's because he did'nt put in a shift like Kuyt does

[Woobus]

Do you have stats to back that up?Doubt it very much.
I have seen Crouch subbed a few times and Rafa has had a furious look on his face.It's because he did'nt put in a shift like Kuyt does

I remember Rafa going on about his work rate after a match, saying how it was surprising how much he actually runs. He did mention about running further than Sissoko.

[Shaggy]

Do you have stats to back that up?Doubt it very much.
I have seen Crouch subbed a few times and Rafa has had a furious look on his face.It's because he did'nt put in a shift like Kuyt does

I can't find the article but Rafa spoke out about it on the offal site. He revealed (what we all knew) that Sissoko is miles out on his own in terms of distance covered in a game but occasionally he comes 2nd to Crouch.