jermaine pennant

[Kenneth]

Pennants a good player. The last 10 games of last season, and the first few games of this one, he been right up there with the best in the league. He's not always going to play at that level, but he's worthy of the shirt at the moment.

[Pacman]

Pennants a good player. The last 10 games of last season, and the first few games of this one, he been right up there with the best in the league. He's not always going to play at that level, but he's worthy of the shirt at the moment.

He's know worse than any of the other **** wearing the shirt at the min.

[Taffy]

Yep, but the problem is he's virtually an automatic pick for RM. Not ideal.

I'd prefer to see Babel given a run there but really he's no winger. Benayoun is probably best as an impact sub for us, at the moment (and it's not his preferred position anyway) - which leaves us with one other option.

Steven Gerrard.

He ain't doing it in the middle of midfield and if I were Rafa, I'd stick him on the right when Xabi comes back.


------ -Mascherano-----Alonso---------

Gerrard-------------------------Babel-----


I know it's a tired old debate, but STILL it would be best for the team if we went that way, IMO.

That said, it would be completely ****ing pointless if poor ickle Steven decides he doesn't like it and almost refuses to perform - as happened last season, most notably at Old Trafford.

I agree with that midfield line-up mate as when Xabi's back he simply must be our star central midfielder. Mascherano also deserves a start so Gerrard on the right is the best option to us in the circumstances.

Listen to what Shaggy says Rafa!

[kewellnthegang]

And you rate Kewell?

no

[kewellnthegang]

Thought him and Voronin were our best players yesterday until they were taken off. Mascher had a good game too.

feck me fella ya wanna stop w ankin yer eyes lids will grow over

he was terrible

[Red_hot]

what he said

Thirded.

**** with the wrong temprament.

[kewellnthegang]

Thirded.

**** with the wrong temprament.

i knew you would come round to my way lovely

[thesilverfoxlfc]

Handy squad player.

He sure is

....but Quaresma and Silva would be two great wingers and would add so much to our game, while having Babel and JP as cover

I think by not having great wingers it kills us and takes away from our game.

[Michael]

I think he is a great little player ...... he does his job as a right winger very well indeed!

[Matt]

He's an easy target for too many people looking for someone to slag off.

[kewellnthegang]

He's an easy target for too many people looking for someone to slag off.

cos he,s crap ya mean ?

[Matt]

cos he,s crap ya mean ?

He obviously isn't crap.

Before we started playing like a pub team he was having as decent a season as anyone. He was one of the best players on the pitch in the CL final and he ended last season well.

ffs people were saying he should get a chance in the England squad, i know Lampards in there but generally you arent crap if you're being talked about in those terms.

So he's not the most likeable fella and he's got hair like a microphone but he's by no means a bad player and he's not doing any worse than anyone else at the moment.

[kewellnthegang]

He obviously isn't crap.

Before we started playing like a pub team he was having as decent a season as anyone. He was one of the best players on the pitch in the CL final and he ended last season well.

ffs people were saying he should get a chance in the England squad, i know Lampards in there but generally you arent crap if you're being talked about in those terms.

So he's not the most likeable fella and he's got hair like a microphone but he's by no means a bad player and he's not doing any worse than anyone else at the moment.

ok fella

he is not crap but he is not very good and yeah he was opk in the cl final

but with respect an england call up is not my criteria for bigging him up

[Fubar]

JP is one of those players that really can piss you off when he has a bad game but i give him credit, he very rarely dissappears these days. even when things arent going well for him he still tries these days which is a big improvement.

however, the formation i would love to see against teams that are going to put loads of players behind the ball would be


-------------------reina------------------
finnan-----carra----------agger----arbeloa
------------mascher----xabi--------------
gerrard--------------------------benayoun
------------babel-------------------------
------------------torres------------------

although people will bring up the stevie on the right issue, i think this would be the best formation as it would be so versatile. gerrard, yossi and babel can all do jobs at LM, RM and supporting striker so when we are struggling to break teams down, all 3 of these players can keep switching which would make it difficult for teams who still dont really understand the concept of zonal marking.

also, having mascher and xabi in the middle would allow xabi to be the forward moving CM whislt still giving solid defensive cover.

[JohnDoe]

Pennant is a very good player and his form, just like the rest of the team, has dropped since the last international break.

He certainly has a place in the squad and I don't see what Babel has done to merit a starting place ahead of him, not yet anyway. Pennant doesn't hide from matches, not our problem right now. I think he suffered big time from Alonso's injury, who knew how to work with him efficiently.