Liverpool FC Forum

by **Fowler_E7** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 2:24 pm

john craig wrote:
Fowler_E7 wrote:Pennant is clearly low on confidence, this can be seen every time he gets the ball, he always wants to pass it or cross it as soon as possible, he's petrified of having a run or holding onto the ball for a while coz he's scared he will mess up. The guy obviously has got a lot of abilty, he just needs to apply himself more. Garcia makes loads of mistakes in games but his head never go's down, and he's not afraid to try another trick or dribble 2 mins later, Pennant should be the same.

On a side note i think it's hillarious that Pennant gets his own thread for his dissapointing performances when at least he has a few assists to his name, while Craig Bellamy who has quite frankly been abysmal since he has joined us gets away with it, at least Pennant has abilty i cant for the life of me see why people have so much faith in Bellamy, no touch, skill, passing, crossing or finishing ability! he has exceptional pace and workrate but is that enough to make you a Liverpool player, i dont think so IMO.

It's a fair point about Bellamy, if he'd have taken 2 of his chances last night we'd have been talking today about 2 great assists from Pennant and how we don't care if he doesn't score as long as he keeps setting them up. Unfortunately Bellamy scuffed both of them when he really should have burst the net.

But I think it's harsh to get on Bellamy's case too much as well, that was his first game back and he was clearly rusty. It's true he's not shown his best form yet for us, but while he keeps running himself into the ground for the team as he's been doing, I for one will give him time. Let's not forget this time last year half the forum wanted Crouch sold because he still hadn't scored and then look what happened, a couple of goals and Bellamy'll be up and running.

maybe im being a bit to harsh on Bellamy, and he may prove me wrong in time, but personally i doubt it, i just dont think he has enough about him to make it a top club.

You mention Crouch as example last year not scoring any goals at first, but at least he was contributing to the team, Steven Gerrard benifiting the most, half his goals must of come from Crouch assists . The same can not be said for Bellamy who rarely creates for others, scores or even wins a free kick!

by **7_Kewell** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 2:26 pm

Bellamy hasn't hit form yet. I think he's a better player than Sinima and will prove himself. 6 million was hardly a gamble for him and if it doesn't work (i think Rafa will give him 2 seasons) we'll get our cash back

by **EddieC** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 2:28 pm

john craig wrote:Part of Pennant's problem has been that he's been in and out of the team, but I agree he's been disappointing.

Maybe now with Sissoko out for a while and Gerrard likely to move into a central position, Pennant will get 4 or 5 gamnes in a row on the right. Then we'll be better placed to judge him.

Last night and indeed in other games he seems too keen to get rid of the ball rather than demanding it himself and getting to the byline - this screams of a player lacking confidence, which will come if he gets an extended run in the side, I don't doubt the lad's quality and I hope he comes good.

Agreed.

I'll make my judgement in another month, as he's surely gonna get a run in the team now.

If he doesn't, and Rafa goes for Zenden in the middle, or puts LG out right, then Rafa obviously doesn't think he's up to it & he will probably be on his way out soon enough anyway.

As for the Arsenal match, I'm not too sure. Pennant may well be fired up due to the circumstances of his exit, but personally I'd go for LG on the right, and give Pennant his chance afterwards, we can't afford to be carrying any passengers in this one.

by **woof woof !** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 2:39 pm

Watching Pennant last night I kept wishing someone would give him a boot up the a'rse . He hardly got out of third gear . failed to anticipate passes, gave up countless times in a chase for the ball . No drive,no enthusiasm,no bottle . He was never my favourite but I was prepared to give the fella a chance ,another performce like last nights and as far as I'm concerned the Jan window can't come to soon and Rafa can get rid . :angry:

by **JC_81** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 2:49 pm

woof woof ! wrote:Watching Pennant last night I kept wishing someone would give him a boot up the a'rse . He hardly got out of third gear . failed to anticipate passes, gave up countless times in a chase for the ball . No drive,no enthusiasm,no bottle . He was never my favourite but I was prepared to give the fella a chance ,another performce like last nights and as far as I'm concerned the Jan window can't come to soon and Rafa can get rid .

I hear ya woof, he was frustrating as hell last night, but I think people forget the pressure that must be on he and Bellamy at the moment.

Both have fu.cked up at big clubs in the past and this is likely to be their last shot at making it at the top, both have big price tags hanging over them (7 million was inflated for Pennant no doubt and I still consider 6 million a lot of money even if it was considered a bargain at the time for Bellamy) and both claim to have grown up as LFC fans, which probably means they're putting even more pressure on themselves to be successful.

I just think the pressures are affecting them in different ways. Bellamy is trying too hard if that's possible - too fired up most of the time, chasing lost causes and not saving some of his energy and thinking about his runs and his game like he used to do for previous clubs. Pennant on the other hand has crawled into his shell, seemingly petrified of making a mistake in a game and is subsequently rendered ineffective.

At the end of the day both of them still have to prove themselves and I suspect Bellamy will get more time to do this than Pennant because some fans are impressed by his attitude/workrate. Neither of them will be binned as soon as January though, that's for sure.

by **7_Kewell** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 2:54 pm

Pennant won't be sold in Jan and nether will Bellamy. Both will come good and if they don't, Rafa will give them a fair crack.

which is more than can be said from some on here. :no

by **Ola Mr Benitez** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 3:19 pm

everytime I see Pennant he just looks like he can't be ar$ed. He strolls around, doesn't get a tackle in, doesn't take players on, he just passes it sideways.

He does occasionally get great crosses in the box, but just not enough times.

As lots of people have said it could be a confidence thing, but he needs to at least look like he is trying. I have been very dissapointed with him so far. i think he does have the attributes to make a good winger, but Im not sure his heart or his head is quite in the right place.

by **woof woof !** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 3:22 pm

john craig wrote:At the end of the day both of them still have to prove themselves and I suspect Bellamy will get more time to do this than Pennant because some fans are impressed by his attitude/workrate. Neither of them will be binned as soon as January though, that's for sure.

Your probably right about Pennant not being binned in January , "that was just my wishful thinking" . You're also right about Bellamy getting a bit more time from the fans because of his effort and work rate for example his penalty attempt was laughable but the fella kept giving as much as he could this you can respect .I don't want to come down on Pennant, I'd rather be eating humble pie and saying how wrong I was about him and what a gtreat signing he's been, but lack of effort is not something I can stomach from any Liverpool player and last nights non performance from Pennant sickend me, players can have a poor game ,fair enough but imo there's no room at LFC for a player that doesn't at least try .

by **alessandromagno** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 3:25 pm

Let's hope he improves.

by **jkop** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 3:57 pm

Lets give them both a fair chance, because of the rotation policy Rafa has they need a run of games to really find their feet.

by **Pedro O'Maradona** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 7:46 pm

s@int wrote:I think Pennant is just as good as John Barnes maybe slightly better!

Barnes is unfit and in his mid forties after all

LOL brilliant .....Id still pick digger!...and bring back Jan Molby in the holding role!

by **weringo** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 7:59 pm

I remember last season when there were rumours around about us signing Pennant, everyone who wanted him here was talking about how he had made the most crosses in the Premiership all year. Well this just shows how statistics cant be used to prove how good a player is, you can get in all the crosses in you want but if 99% of them dont get past the first defender or goes 5 yards behind the strikers they are useless. I hope he improves and I dont think we should sell him unless we get TWO new right midfielders.

Early last season Rafa was playing a 4-2-3-1 formation as Im sure everyone remembers, if we bought a decent right midfielder then imagine a midfield of Kewell, Alonso, Gerrard, Sissoko and a new right midfielder with Kuyt up front. Im surprised Rafa hasnt already experimented with this formation already this season with Pennant as the right winger

by **kazza** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 8:04 pm

I thought that we should have paid extra for Alves but we did not and we bought Pennant. I now think we should support the player as I want the best from him.

I think with Momo being injured he will get a good run of games and he will come good. He looks quick and last year he crossed more balls than any other player. Players do not forget how to play but he does not look confident and afterall confidence is everything in football.

With a good game against the team that rejected him (he must have something to prove to Arsenal) the season may finally start for him. Let's hope!

by **66-1120597113** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 9:22 pm

Pennants failure to impress should be solely put down to lack of starting games! All last year we cried for a R winger.Jermaine Pennant must have been delighted when LFC came looking for him.

Im sure he felt that he would be given regular starts or maybe the RM position would be his as he's a nutural in that position.Im sure we can all imagine how deflating for him it is to try and compete with in my opinion the best all round midfielder in football today..Steven Gerrad for his position on the right!

Id say his main problem is that,followed by low confidence.
In saying this he should be working his balls off to impress the manager and fans given the chance.Last night he had a chance and done pretty much nothing..then again it was a pretty dull match and a very robotlike performance from the whole team!

Im sure given the chance Pennant will impress...i think its only fair that fans should give all new players time to settle and gell into a new team

by **eds** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 11:05 pm

I think Pennant will come good, no matter how :censored:

he is playing at the moment, we all know what type of player he can be.

It is becoming apparent that he is facing the same problems when he was at the Gooners. Big Club, No staring line-up guarantee, no longer a big fish in a small pond, etc. How Rafa gets the best out of him will be a test for both him and the club.

We can only hope he improves now that he will surely get a run with Momo out.

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