Jermaine Pennant

[Milan_Milan]

Lets not be quite so fickle. Don't forget how he ripped Maldini a new one in Athens. The potential is there, always has been. Just needs to give the lifestyle a rest and buckle down IMO, forget about the money and remember what it is that he's paid to do.

JP can be as good as he wants to be (and I'm sure I remember someone or other coming out and saying something similar).

That said I doubt Rafa would want a player of his type in every game, even if he were on top of his game. He'll play a lot of games for us I'd wager and will play a decent part in our success, even if he's not present for some of the big games.

[bigfooty]

He may have used his pace playing against a guy 14 years older than him the quality of the final ball was, as always, very mixed.

When I think of a winger I envisage a guy who jinks past a couple of fellas through pace or skill before whipping a cross in that is put in the net by volley, toe poke, header or whatever. Pennant has been injured of late but the last time he did that kind of thing was the 21st April against Wigan. That's over 7 months ago.

Now with Torres around he may actually end up being the perfect foil for someone like Pennant due to his pace in the box and ability to attack the ball more than Crouch or Kuyt really does, but I think Hansen or whoever it was got it spot on when he did highlights of the Birmingham game on MoTD. Pennant was constantly free at the back post but rather than attacking anything he just kept his distance, hung back, never really wanted to get in there and gamble on the chance it might break to him and he could finish it off - like Yossi did against Besiktas so well.

He doesn't have an eye for goal and and he doesn't have enough quality in his delivery & other play to make up for it. He's a back-up at best and we need more than that.

[Milan_Milan]

He needs to improve, no doubt. His final ball and goalscoring need to improve, but he's only 24 (?) and I see no reason why he shouldn't. He could develop into a valuable squad member for us IMO, I can't see him ever being first choice, but he could easily play 30-40 games a season for the next 5 seasons for us if he works hard at his game and takes on board what Rafa has to say.

You can't have a squad full of superstars, football just doesn't work that way. Pennant can add a lot to a squad and contribute when he plays, limited though he may be in some areas.

[Nicey]

Pennant has been one of our best players of the season, hes injured.

[Johnny]

Bashing Pennant when he`s not even playing.



FFS!!!!

[thekop]

id rather have benny out of position on the right wing rather than pennant

[robbieredman]

never understood why rafa didnt save his pennies a get a real winger

[kewellnthegang]

never understood why rafa didnt save his pennies a get a real winger

[robbieredman]

[dww]

id rather have benny out of position on the right wing rather than pennant

I still think that that is Benayoun's position. He has certainly played nearly all his football in England there.

They play the role in different ways and some times Pennant is the better option in my opinion. last season he was developing into a very good player. He still needs to improve but has a lot going for him I believe.

[fred_plasticine]

I still think that that is Benayoun's position. He has certainly played nearly all his football in England there.

They play the role in different ways and some times Pennant is the better option in my opinion. last season he was developing into a very good player. He still needs to improve but has a lot going for him I believe.

it all depends on the game plan whether rafa plays babel, benni or pennant. the latter is the only out-and-out winger of this lot, the one who doesn't cut inside much, will always stay out wide and put crosses in.
the pennant debate has gone on too long imo. some rate him, some don't. end of story. he's not up there with the best wingers in the world but if you look at the much praised quaresma then he's not far away in terms of effiency.
and by the way - it's not his crossing that's bad, it's the heading of our strikers.

[dww]

and by the way - it's not his crossing that's bad, it's the heading of our strikers.

I'm not sure on this one - I think it has been a combination. Technically his crosses are often excellent but the timing is poor and he often puts them to the back of the box which with all the will in the world makes it hard to get a header on goal. My main problem with Pennant is that he has all the skill sin my opinion to be a very, very good player but his decision making has not been good enough.

[fred_plasticine]

I'm not sure on this one - I think it has been a combination. Technically his crosses are often excellent but the timing is poor and he often puts them to the back of the box which with all the will in the world makes it hard to get a header on goal. My main problem with Pennant is that he has all the skill sin my opinion to be a very, very good player but his decision making has not been good enough.

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?

[Maestro]

He's no more than a squad player in my eyes, and with Babel, Benayoun and Kewell ahead of him for the wings positions he'll struggle to play regularly.

If we can get a good price (i.e. £5+) then I'd want to sell him in the summer.

Simply not good, and clinical, enough for us if we have aims to challenge for the title. Doesn't score goals, his final ball lacks consistency and quality, and holds onto the ball too long when an early ball would be more effective.

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

[MascheredUp]

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.