Jermaine Pennant

[dww]

it was a bit of a wind-up. wasn't meant to be taken seriously.
as far as i remember pennant something like this himself though. does anyone remember that?

Fair enough.

[dww]

I think it's time for Rafa in the summer to get rid of all the players who are simply not good enough for us.

This includes Pennant, Momo, Riise, Voronin, Kuyt and Sami (wonderful player who's aged sadly ).

Aguero, Messi, Villa should do the trick.

The Sami situation is interesting as we really need 4 CBs in the squad so next season we will probably need to buy in two unless Sami can struggle on for another season. I don't think he has been bad this season - he has looked unable to play as much as he has an maintain top form but that would be acceptable as 4th choice. The other option would be a player who can be a leftback and cover CB as well (Heinze or the much talked of late Kaladze).

I think Riise has all but gone - having not been a favoured option either at fullback or midfield this season.

One of Kuyt or Voronin should go but I would definitely keep one. My major problem is that they are too similar. Kuyt works better with Torres so I would probably keep him.

[Exiled_red]

The Sami situation is interesting as we really need 4 CBs in the squad so next season we will probably need to buy in two unless Sami can struggle on for another season. I don't think he has been bad this season - he has looked unable to play as much as he has an maintain top form but that would be acceptable as 4th choice. The other option would be a player who can be a leftback and cover CB as well (Heinze or the much talked of late Kaladze).

I think Riise has all but gone - having not been a favoured option either at fullback or midfield this season.

One of Kuyt or Voronin should go but I would definitely keep one. My major problem is that they are too similar. Kuyt works better with Torres so I would probably keep him.

I would agree with that I was assuming that Rafa would be looking at one of the kids Hobbs?? possibly to step up into the 4th centre back position with someone else coming in ahead of him as Sami's replacement, as I can't see Sami having another season in him (if he does it would probably be like Robbie Fowler's last season)

I'm not sure what the situation will be with the forwards will be, it would seem quite ruthless to get rid so quickly and they seem to have been getting more games that Crouch, which for me is worrying as I really rate Crouch, but I still fear he could be the one to leave, but I hope I'm wrong!

[CAD]

To be honest the team is playing well and when that happens it is always easy to forget/ignore the contribution that players who are out can make.

Just like we haven't heard much from the "We must play Alonso at advanced CM" people and the "Gerrard at RM" fraction is very quite as well. Bless them...

[Gazzla]

He's definitely worth more than a fiver mate...

Ok how about a fiver and a bag of pork scratchings?

[Helios Creed]

Pennant is a good player he has been good for over a year now even though people don't like to admit it, he played bad in his last few games for us and I think that was cause he was playing through the pain.

[dww]

I would agree with that I was assuming that Rafa would be looking at one of the kids Hobbs?? possibly to step up into the 4th centre back position with someone else coming in ahead of him as Sami's replacement, as I can't see Sami having another season in him (if he does it would probably be like Robbie Fowler's last season)

I would like to see the same too but I think the fact that Rafa has not given much game time to Hobbs and that he was looking for CB cover in January would indicate that he feels he needs more experience. Maybe getting a CB in in Jan would allow him to be loaned out to get that - so that maybe a more ambiguous signal than I first read it as.

The thing is that as Rafa tends to rotate his CBs the elast of any position I think Sami could be the 4th choice next season as he would not be called upon very much in all likelyhood. It would put slightly more pressure on whoever came in at 3rd choice though - which could be a good or a bad thig depending on their temperament.

[Danish_Pastry]

Pennant is only arround until Anderson is back from the Swans - and then he is off

[IanTatt]

Jermaine Pennant...... is a useless litlle scumbag who needs to be sold....

[rage]

Jermaine Pennant...... is a useless litlle scumbag who needs to be sold....

**** i don't like him much but thats probably even a bit strong for me.

i'd be very pleased when he's sold in the summer for 7 million to whatever team is promoted!

pennant, momo, kuyt, voronin and riise - i'd happily sell all of em and replace them with 1 striker and 1 winger, the sooner the better imo

[Morph]

This talk of selling voronin is a bit odd to me, it's a toss up for me if he's 3rd or 4th choice in rafa's eyes, but if he were to stay as a 4th choice striker then I don't see the problem.

If we can keep crouch then it should be in order

Torres
New striker
Crouch
Voronin

Thus we should sell kuyt bring in a top quality 2nd striker, keep crouch to cover and come from the bench and voronin to play when needed. Lets not forget Voronin is 3rd in our assists table and 5th in the goal scoring table, and if you take kuyts 2 pens v everton off him, then voronin has done more than kuyt in both aspects with less games played

[Johnny]

Just like we haven't heard much from the "We must play Alonso at advanced CM" people and the "Gerrard at RM" fraction is very quite as well. Bless them...

With Alonso injured and Momo out of sorts Rafa has had no choice but to play SG in CM.When Xabi returns or Momo returns to form Sg will go back to RM in games Rafa thinks he can make an impact in from there.



But you`d rather ignore Xabi`s injury,Bless you...............

[Johnny]

This talk of selling voronin is a bit odd to me, it's a toss up for me if he's 3rd or 4th choice in rafa's eyes, but if he were to stay as a 4th choice striker then I don't see the problem.

If we can keep crouch then it should be in order

Torres
New striker
Crouch
Voronin

Thus we should sell kuyt bring in a top quality 2nd striker, keep crouch to cover and come from the bench and voronin to play when needed. Lets not forget Voronin is 3rd in our assists table and 5th in the goal scoring table, and if you take kuyts 2 pens v everton off him, then voronin has done more than kuyt in both aspects with less games played

Good point.