Pennant (and other deadwood)

[Shaggy]

He has been playing okay recently, but three decent games doesn't wipe out an age of garbage.

[Johnny]

*bemused*

You'll have to show me the "slagging off" and "blame" in this thread that you're referring to. I must've missed it.

I take it, therefore, you won't be contributing to any thread in future that discusses outgoing transfers.

I`m not just talking about this thread,look at the bigger picture.we`re not close to winning the Pl title because Rafa couldn`t compete against manure and chelski for 4 yrs,now we`re able to buy the likes of Torres and Mascher Rafa`s record should be judged starting next season.his 1st four yrs all he could do was find 2nd choice players to replace the dross Houllier bought.
Slagging off Pennant etc is a waste of time when he wasn`t Rafa`s 1st choice.If we had Ronaldo(ManUre)Alves,Simao,Figo,Duff,Malouda and a host of other of Rafa`s 1st choice players and were doing worse than our current 5th place with a game in hand while still being in the CL then I`d agree with you.



Pennant or Rafa are not the problem.
Our under financing under Moores was the problem.A problem the Yanks seem to have addressed.

[Shaggy]

I`m not just talking about this thread,look at the bigger picture.we`re not close to winning the Pl title because Rafa couldn`t compete against manure and chelski for 4 yrs,now we`re able to buy the likes of Torres and Mascher Rafa`s record should be judged starting next season.his 1st four yrs all he could do was find 2nd choice players to replace the dross Houllier bought.
Slagging off Pennant etc is a waste of time when he wasn`t Rafa`s 1st choice.If we had Ronaldo(ManUre)Alves,Simao,Figo,Duff,Malouda and a host of other of Rafa`s 1st choice players and were doing worse than our current 5th place with a game in hand while still being in the CL then I`d agree with you.



Pennant or Rafa are not the problem.
Our under financing under Moores was the problem.A problem the Yanks seem to have addressed.

All this is for another thread. A totally different topic.

[Johnny]

All this is for another thread. A totally different topic.

I don`t agree.


"Pennant and the other deadwood" should also be covered in "We couldn`t afford better"
It`s all relative.

[AFII]

It's all about what players that are available and at what price. If the right right winger is available at a fair price then Pennant will be gone, the same can be said about all the players.

It's all about making the team better.

[Parm]

Aurelio is better then headless Riise (another one of GH's athletes), Finnan should stay as a squad member and i'd keep Crouch as he offers a different option to a normal striker.

Pennant, Riise, Kewell, Itanje, Voronin ,Kuyt are the ones that need shipping asap. This list shows us how the squad is devoid of attacking threats. No pace, no goal scoring threat, little guile.

I'd add Carson to that list, not doubting his talent but he is wasting away if he stays with us as Pepe is a much better keeper.

As for Pennant, well he just hasnt kicked on has he. He has shown some promise here and there but this season his crossing has been hit and miss and not offered a sniff of a goal threat either. A talented lad but one who looks like he will never fullfil that potential.

[Shaggy]

I don`t agree.


"Pennant and the other deadwood" should also be covered in "We couldn`t afford better"
It`s all relative.

Every single thing discussed in the LFC forum is relative. Might as well not bother with specific threads then eh - just have one big **** off one, cos hey, it's all relative!!!11

[The Erectile Banana]

If we're talking about whether Kuyt or Pennant are the best player for our RW position I don't think either of them should be there.

Benayoun is by far the best option in our squad to fill that role, he scores goals (more than Kuyt this season) and creates goals (more than Pennant this season). Surely he is the ideal candidate.

The only thing he is lacking is the industriousness of Kuyt which Rafa seems to favour.

Must admit I'm surprised Pennant has fallen from favour so quickly since his return from injury. He was first choice at the start of the season when we played 4-4-2, but as others have said he's probably a better player in that more traditional formation than a 4-2-3-1.

[tomasjj]

Pennant might not be tops, but he did change the game against Inter when he came on....

Useful option as he is the only pure winger we got.

[Neil Young]

I think we need more of a goal threat there, Rafa seems to like the wingers in 4231 to cut inside, Kuyt and Babel do that well, effectively we have 4 attackers and Pennant though he can be used is not a goal threat. I'm just debating this by the way, I'm not saying this is the case.

If we have wingers in this system who can score we don't need two strikers and it's harder to defend against, not to mention the attacking midfielder running off the striker.

I agree with your analysis and I would argue this is the case.

Pennant is more use when we play 4-4-2.

I also think Kuyt does a good enough job there...as seemingly does Rafa which is why he was still on the pitch in the 85th minute against Inter.

I don't really think Pennant is good enough - a quick player who can offer more of a goal threat would obviously be better since he could be effective in both systems.

[dww]

If we're talking about whether Kuyt or Pennant are the best player for our RW position I don't think either of them should be there.

Benayoun is by far the best option in our squad to fill that role, he scores goals (more than Kuyt this season) and creates goals (more than Pennant this season). Surely he is the ideal candidate.

The only thing he is lacking is the industriousness of Kuyt which Rafa seems to favour.

Must admit I'm surprised Pennant has fallen from favour so quickly since his return from injury. He was first choice at the start of the season when we played 4-4-2, but as others have said he's probably a better player in that more traditional formation than a 4-2-3-1.

I think the thing about Kuyt in the last few games is that he has switched into the middle which makes up for the wandering of Gerrard and provides a good link between midfield and Torres. His balance of the two positions has been what I would ideally want to see from Benayoun but seen in only a few.

I would also point out that Kuyts industriousness has been key to our recent ability to offer some quick counter attacks.

Like NY I think we need a quick player who offers a goal threat to replace Pennant/Kuyt in the first team but I would say that it is key to get the most out of the rest of out players that they also offer a threat in the box and are willing to put in a lot of running.

[Gingawaria]

People seem to be forgetting how highly rated Riise is outside of Liverpool...I'd be looking closer to £7-8m for him.

I'm not a big fan of his but some of the prices people have mentioned here are a joke...£3m?!!?

[RedProf]

Like NY I think we need a quick player who offers a goal threat to replace Pennant/Kuyt in the first team but I would say that it is key to get the most out of the rest of out players that they also offer a threat in the box and are willing to put in a lot of running.

Agree with this. I think we need a Petrov type of player. Or dare I say it, but a Lee Sharpe or Andrei Kanchelskis in their prime, would make a huge difference to our attack. Fast, direct, pacy, decent crossers, can beat players and know where the goal is. I remember how they turned defence into attack for the mancs in an instant.........without making 10 passes to get up the field.......as sometimes we do dally in making counters.