Post match thread v Wigan

[MrMichael]

Hmmmmm. I have to say, in the first half especially, I wasn't impressed with Pennant's performance at all. Admittedly it was his first league game of the season, and he improved in the second half, but I just don't think he's quite good enough overall, and an assist is not going to convince me otherwise. What's more, I think the only important person in this debate, Benitez, thinks that himself, as has been obvious from his usage of Pennant this season and towards the end of the last one.

He's not a bad player, but I don't think he generally utilises his own strengths consistently enough, and he quite obviously suffers in comparisson with the likes of Riera. He's a decent option to have in the squad perhaps, but personally I'd prefer to see El Zhar given a start or two in that position if Kuyt is needed elsewhere.

Supporting the players is all well and good, but that does not mean that people have to think every single player in the squad is a world beater, as Pennant quite obviously is not. That's not an unncessary criticism, its simply my opinion formed over watching him play for us for several seasons, and is no more or no less valid than anyone else's.

[Harv]

He was good as he provided the assist for the winner. He had a solid game but did nothing out of the extraordinary. He was important late on when Rafa wanted to make full use of the pitch and he constantly hugged the touchline to provide that width.

In the end it was worthwhile persevering with him for this match.

He was ****ing **** Fredo The cross for the goal was played behind the strikers, hence Dirk having to scissor kick the bloody thing. He jumped out of tackles, and minced around the pitch like he usually does.

Get rid of the bloke, El Zhar is a better option, and deserves a chance ahead of wasters like Jerm Pennant.

[Harv]

Really? Pennant had an assist + created another glorious chance for Riera. That's a bit far fetched to say he was poor.

Thats his job mate. He gets loads of opportunities to deliver good balls in our side....yet only does it twice a game. Not good enough sorry.

The fact he prances around the pitch thinking he's king dick also pisses me off. If he got stuck in like Dirk or Riera i could give him some praise. But he doesnt. Riera is a flair player, yet look at the tracking back and tackling he did. He's quality.

Little El Zhar made an immediate impact when he came on also. Pennant is ****e

[Fierce]

Pennant. I've never been harsh on players for no reason, but I have to say he was anger inducingly bad. Looked like he couldn't be arsed, genuinely so.

I have no problem with his ability, whilst he's clearly not good enough to warrant a starting place in this team, he does have talent and plays the winger role to decent effect.

But, on Sat he was lazy, sloppy, and arrogant. The assist for the goal was a high point in an otherwise dreadful performance. I dont expect him to be here in January and I was absolutely mystified as to why he remained on the pitch when he was head and shoulders our weakest player

Speaks volumes that when Rafa went mad with the 2-5-3 formation, Pennant was the one shuffled back into the wing back position. Mind you, he's probably the obvious candidate

[Elvoz]

Thats his job mate. He gets loads of opportunities to deliver good balls in our side....yet only does it twice a game. Not good enough sorry.

The fact he prances around the pitch thinking he's king dick also pisses me off. If he got stuck in like Dirk or Riera i could give him some praise. But he doesnt. Riera is a flair player, yet look at the tracking back and tackling he did. He's quality.

Little El Zhar made an immediate impact when he came on also. Pennant is ****e

[Elvoz]

fredo i'm sorry to disappoint u but where i come from after we win i tend to go out and stuff and not sit at home playing with myself typing away on the laptop.

as i've said a million times at least i have my own opinion unlike you.

i support the team and if i think rafa's got something wrong i'll be man enough to voice my opinions and if he's done well i'll say likewise.

but then after two world wars i don't think the french will ever know what it means to be a man eh?

i think the turning point since stoke has been the balance riera gives, a man who can carry the ball and doesn't need to pass it sideways all the time, someone who adds width and because of that provides space for alonso and gerrard.

i still think dossena, regardless of whether he takes time to bed in, has been really poor and imo is actually overweight.

keane has been a poor signing whilst alonso is far far far better than any other player in his position in the premiership this season.

kuyt is making his own luck and i'm pleased for him but i'd like to see babel play more often seeing as he actually cost us more than kuyt and has more natural ability. i don't go for babel being called lazy etc this season, he's hardly played.

i was crying out for agger to play and now he is i can see him going from strength to strength upto xmas.

above all i reckon rafa knows he's job is on the line if he fails to mount a challenge this year, you meanwhile would be lining up sucking up to him even if we were in spurs' position today. because of the criticisms rafa faced after aston villa and stoke this season and the likes of wigan, spurs' and reading last he has changed his attitude. these criticisms voiced by people like me are the opinions of fans that want us to achieve and compete and actually provide the impetus for people like rafa to change.

i'm happy to be proved wrong yet its far too early for me to sell everything i own and put it on liverpool for he title this year, inspite of everything i still don't think we've clicked and i still think we're a fullback and right sided midfielder short. i also think on present form alonso will have a queue of teams wanting to sign him in january if rafa isn't man enough to put his arm around the lad and apologise that he got it wrong there.

some very good and accurate points made fella

keep it up

[BG1973]

Pretty poor in my opinion. Yes he got the cross in for the winner but that's his job, and he must only have got two or three crosses in in the whole game. He didn't seem to want to show for the ball, took the easy option every time. Maybe he was playing with fear and thought 'percentages' would be better than taking risks, but he did **** all really and El Zhar showed him how it's done within seconds of coming on.

He also stuck one on riera's head that should have taken us in front in the first half.

He did ok.

[BG1973]

No doubt he created those two chances but for the other 89 minutes his contribution was negligible IMO. He must do more.

that's like chastising torres when he has a quiet game but then pops up with a couple of goals when it counts. thats a sign of a grat player apparently..


pennant aint great, but he isn't that bad. he does have an end product. I just wish he could be more of a goal threat but he's just not powerful enough.

[rage]

He also stuck one on riera's head that should have taken us in front in the first half.

He did ok.

that's like chastising torres when he has a quiet game but then pops up with a couple of goals when it counts. thats a sign of a grat player apparently..


pennant aint great, but he isn't that bad. he does have an end product. I just wish he could be more of a goal threat but he's just not powerful enough.

i'm not a pennant fan but he did have one of his better games - still not of the standard we require though imo.

his crossing on saturday was no the usual one dimensional chipped floater that he always seems to use. but saying that his short corners were really getting on my nerves.

[wiw]

i'm not a pennant fan but he did have one of his better games - still not of the standard we require though imo.

his crossing on saturday was no the usual one dimensional chipped floater that he always seems to use. but saying that his short corners were really getting on my nerves.

everyone there gets so ****ed off when we take short corners we always end up either back to Reina or ****ing defending! At one point yesterday we took a corner, only to end up conceding a corner literally seconds later.. ****ing madness

[Fierce]

i'm not a pennant fan but he did have one of his better games - still not of the standard we require though imo.

his crossing on saturday was no the usual one dimensional chipped floater that he always seems to use. but saying that his short corners were really getting on my nerves.

I actually thought it was one of his worst. Like I said, ability wise he was as he's always been, good but not good enough.

But his laziness was infuriating, especially when compared to Riera, who was excellent

[dww]

I actually thought it was one of his worst. Like I said, ability wise he was as he's always been, good but not good enough.

But his laziness was infuriating, especially when compared to Riera, who was excellent

The thing is that I have a suspicion that he is good enough talent wise and the problem is twofold and largely mental. He needs to work harder defensively and he needs to make better decisions. A large part of what makes Riera more effective is the positions he stands in and his choices to go inside or stay wide.

Were you at the game btw?

[Fierce]

The thing is that I have a suspicion that he is good enough talent wise and the problem is twofold and largely mental. He needs to work harder defensively and he needs to make better decisions. A large part of what makes Riera more effective is the positions he stands in and his choices to go inside or stay wide.

Were you at the game btw?

Totally agree mate. When he put the effort in, he was effective. He just didnt put much effort in. At all!

So annoying!!

Yeah was at the game

As infuriating, is that MOTD made us look brilliant, and we were shocking for the most part!

[Shaggy]

that's like chastising torres when he has a quiet game but then pops up with a couple of goals when it counts. thats a sign of a grat player apparently..

It isn't because the jobs of a striker and a midfielder are very different.

He got two or three crosses into the box during the entire game. Not good enough. As Fierce mentioned, he didn't even look arsed.

[lfc1394]

If he worked hard he would be a top player. He comes out with all this bull**** about wanting to stay and fight for his place, well fight the son!! After his lack of effort on Saturday he can't have any complaints about being dropped to the reserves.

BTW Torres works his nuts off every game I've seen him play.