Pennant for England

[Montse]

Pennant makes a play for Beckham's role in McClaren's new England

 

The Liverpool winger's impressive form was a bonus in the Champions League draw in Kiev

 

Dominic Fifield

Thursday August 24, 2006

The Guardian

 

 

Jermaine Pennant believes he can be the man to replace David Beckham on the right side of England's midfield as the Liverpool winger seeks to build on an encouraging start to his Anfield career since his £6.7m move from Birmingham and complete a remarkable turnaround in his personal fortunes.

 

The 23-year-old was pickpocketed at Kiev airport in the small hours of yesterday morning, Robbie Fowler slipping away with his passport to spark brief panic and then much merriment, yet it is the winger who is already threatening to prove a steal. Fresh from setting up the decisive goal to edge his side into the Champions League proper, Pennant can consider a future with Liverpool and England with the trauma of the prison spell he endured for a drink-driving offence fading and his career in apparent renaissance.

 

Steve McClaren watched Pennant in the first leg of Liverpool's Champions League qualifier against Maccabi Haifa and must have been encouraged again by the composure and potency in Ukraine as Pennant set up Peter Crouch's opening goal. "It is nice that he [McClaren] was at the first leg and if I can help the team do well and provide assists like I did against Maccabi then that can only help me," said the former Arsenal midfielder. "I came to Liverpool to play in a great team and to play among the best and against the best, and playing in the Champions League can only improve my England chances.

"If you are proving yourself in the Champions League and playing well it is going to be at the back of the England manager's mind to pick you. The more I can play in big games, the better it is going to be. One of my ambitions is to play for my country, that's the only thing left for me. If that could happen it would be a great turnaround for me and my career.

 

"It is an incentive to know the England manager is watching you but my manager puts me under pressure every time I play and that makes me determined to do my best for the team. The team comes before anything but if you can continue to play well for the side then, sooner or later, hopefully the England coach will take notice. With Becks out of the team it is there for the taking. England have already got two players in Shaun Wright-Phillips and Aaron Lennon, while Steven Gerrard showed he could play there too. So it is going to be difficult but I can offer something different and, if the manager gives me the chance, I know I can take it."

 

He has yet to be capped by his country although he retains hopes of forcing his way into McClaren's squad for the Euro 2008 qualifiers. Pennant's signing had been something of a gamble given the player's chequered past, though there have been enough flashes of encouragement in his four senior appearances to date to suggest he will make a significant impact, with officials within the England set-up understood to be impressed by his form. He has offered width, pace and, on Tuesday night, delivery which has helped Liverpool counter an early-season injury crisis exacerbated by events in Kiev.

 

Mohamed Sissoko was yesterday ruled out for at least two weeks after tearing the medial ligament in his left knee and Stephen Warnock is out for a similar period after tearing the lateral ligaments in his left ankle. Liverpool hope they can be fit for the Merseyside derby on September 9, though doubts remain whether Jamie Carragher and John-Arne Riise will be ready as they have ankle injuries.

 

Pennant's form is some consolation for those potential absentees as the guarantee of at least £12m from qualification for the group stage of the Champions League has justified a summer transfer outlay which amounted to some £25m. "It was clearly very important we got through," said the chief executive Rick Parry, who will await confirmation of Liverpool's group opponents in today's draw.

 

http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/...=rss&feed=5

 

Good to see Robbie taking the new boys under his wing and showing how not to get caught!

[Ronnie Whelan]

 

 

The 23-year-old was pickpocketed at Kiev airport in the small hours of yesterday morning, Robbie Fowler slipping away with his passport to spark brief panic and then much merriment, yet it is the winger who is already threatening to prove a steal.

 

 

Quality stuff.

[So Cal Red]

ingenius!

[Poolfrog]

Pennant makes a play for Beckham's role in McClaren's new England

 

The Liverpool winger's impressive form was a bonus in the Champions League draw in Kiev

 

Dominic Fifield

Thursday August 24, 2006

The Guardian

Jermaine Pennant believes he can be the man to replace David Beckham on the right side of England's midfield as the Liverpool winger seeks to build on an encouraging start to his Anfield career since his £6.7m move from Birmingham and complete a remarkable turnaround in his personal fortunes.

 

The 23-year-old was pickpocketed at Kiev airport in the small hours of yesterday morning, Robbie Fowler slipping away with his passport to spark brief panic and then much merriment, yet it is the winger who is already threatening to prove a steal. Fresh from setting up the decisive goal to edge his side into the Champions League proper, Pennant can consider a future with Liverpool and England with the trauma of the prison spell he endured for a drink-driving offence fading and his career in apparent renaissance.

 

Steve McClaren watched Pennant in the first leg of Liverpool's Champions League qualifier against Maccabi Haifa and must have been encouraged again by the composure and potency in Ukraine as Pennant set up Peter Crouch's opening goal. "It is nice that he [McClaren] was at the first leg and if I can help the team do well and provide assists like I did against Maccabi then that can only help me," said the former Arsenal midfielder. "I came to Liverpool to play in a great team and to play among the best and against the best, and playing in the Champions League can only improve my England chances.

"If you are proving yourself in the Champions League and playing well it is going to be at the back of the England manager's mind to pick you. The more I can play in big games, the better it is going to be. One of my ambitions is to play for my country, that's the only thing left for me. If that could happen it would be a great turnaround for me and my career.

 

"It is an incentive to know the England manager is watching you but my manager puts me under pressure every time I play and that makes me determined to do my best for the team. The team comes before anything but if you can continue to play well for the side then, sooner or later, hopefully the England coach will take notice. With Becks out of the team it is there for the taking. England have already got two players in Shaun Wright-Phillips and Aaron Lennon, while Steven Gerrard showed he could play there too. So it is going to be difficult but I can offer something different and, if the manager gives me the chance, I know I can take it."

 

He has yet to be capped by his country although he retains hopes of forcing his way into McClaren's squad for the Euro 2008 qualifiers. Pennant's signing had been something of a gamble given the player's chequered past, though there have been enough flashes of encouragement in his four senior appearances to date to suggest he will make a significant impact, with officials within the England set-up understood to be impressed by his form. He has offered width, pace and, on Tuesday night, delivery which has helped Liverpool counter an early-season injury crisis exacerbated by events in Kiev.

 

Mohamed Sissoko was yesterday ruled out for at least two weeks after tearing the medial ligament in his left knee and Stephen Warnock is out for a similar period after tearing the lateral ligaments in his left ankle. Liverpool hope they can be fit for the Merseyside derby on September 9, though doubts remain whether Jamie Carragher and John-Arne Riise will be ready as they have ankle injuries.

 

Pennant's form is some consolation for those potential absentees as the guarantee of at least £12m from qualification for the group stage of the Champions League has justified a summer transfer outlay which amounted to some £25m. "It was clearly very important we got through," said the chief executive Rick Parry, who will await confirmation of Liverpool's group opponents in today's draw.

 

http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/...=rss&feed=5

 

Good to see Robbie taking the new boys under his wing and showing how not to get caught!

 

That Robbie's a right old card!

 

I think Pennant's as good as any of the likely candidate's for the England right wing slot, so let's hope he continues to progress, although I have to say that, apart from the excellent run for Crouch's goal, he didn't have the best of games on Tuesday

[Ronnie Whelan]

That Robbie's a right old card!

 

I think Pennant's as good as any of the likely candidate's for the England right wing slot, so let's hope he continues to progress, although I have to say that, apart from the excellent run for Crouch's goal, he didn't have the best of games on Tuesday

 

 

If he can set up a goal a game without really performing then i will be relatively happy....

[realtarragona]

I think Pennant's as good as any of the likely candidate's for the England right wing slot, so let's hope he continues to progress, although I have to say that, apart from the excellent run for Crouch's goal, he didn't have the best of games on Tuesday

 

He'll get in the squad later this year probably, maybe ahead of Wright-Phillips who isn't meant to be playing well. He won't start ahead of Lennon though nor should he.

[Sion]

He should easily get in above SWP, who isn't all that good even when fully fit. I'm not so sure about Lennon as well, think he's been over-hyped.

[Guest Jodus]

There are 5 candidates for that position for England - Gerrard, Beckham (not gone just yet), SWP, Lennon and Pennant. The player that is most likely to get in the way is Gerrard, given the emergence of Hargreaves as a McLaren favourite. After him, Lennon is likely to play the most league games, but hopefully he will continue to disappear in Spurs away games and fall from favour. SWP won't play much when Ballack is in the side, and Beckham will only be drafted in when form/injuries strike.

[Maldini]

He'll get in the squad later this year probably, maybe ahead of Wright-Phillips who isn't meant to be playing well. He won't start ahead of Lennon though nor should he.

He's better than Lennon IMO

[Kahnee]

If he can set up a goal a game without really performing then i will be relatively happy....

 

Why only relatively? Seems like a good return to me

[Cunny]

lets see the lad put in some consistent performances for us before worrying about him playing the The Stone Island Burberry s*** Tattoo Xenophobes XI.

[jimmylibel]

I'm in no rush to see him play for England, it'll probably trigger another payment to Birmingham.

[Ronnie Whelan]

Why only relatively? Seems like a good return to me

 

I expect us to win every game by at least three goals.

[Tosh]

I expect us to win every game by at least three goals.

 

You should support Man Utd

[Guest JV]

Robbie's class

[Stevie H]

He's better than Lennon IMO

 

more consistent and more of a team player at present, definitely. lennon's decent off the bench as an impact player but i'm not sure about him as a starter yet. pennant's really impressed me his first few games, plays wide midfield with a discipline we've missed for a long time. hugs the touchline, puts the ball in at the right time, tracks back to help his full-back out and knows when and when not to be involved inside. really chuffed with him so far.

[Alonso]

more consistent and more of a team player at present, definitely. lennon's decent off the bench as an impact player but i'm not sure about him as a starter yet. pennant's really impressed me his first few games, plays wide midfield with a discipline we've missed for a long time. hugs the touchline, puts the ball in at the right time, tracks back to help his full-back out and knows when and when not to be involved inside. really chuffed with him so far.

Pennant's delivery is also superior and can just as easily whip it round a defender as going past them and then putting a cross in.

[jimmylibel]

more consistent and more of a team player at present, definitely. lennon's decent off the bench as an impact player but i'm not sure about him as a starter yet. pennant's really impressed me his first few games, plays wide midfield with a discipline we've missed for a long time. hugs the touchline, puts the ball in at the right time, tracks back to help his full-back out and knows when and when not to be involved inside. really chuffed with him so far.

 

Thought he over did the dribbling a bit (particularly infield) on Tuesday but other than that been very happy with him so far.

[Guz]

Lennon was fantastic again on Tuesday night. He and Gerrard are definitley above Pennant in the pecking order at the moment but i'd be surprised if he didn't have a good chance of making the squad by the end of the season.

[monkey puzzle]

There are 5 candidates for that position for England - Gerrard, Beckham (not gone just yet), SWP, Lennon and Pennant. The player that is most likely to get in the way is Gerrard, given the emergence of Hargreaves as a McLaren favourite. After him, Lennon is likely to play the most league games, but hopefully he will continue to disappear in Spurs away games and fall from favour. SWP won't play much when Ballack is in the side, and Beckham will only be drafted in when form/injuries strike.

 

 

Love that Hargreaves is a McLaren favourite after one match.

[Florist Cinema Pond Goal]

Whereas Lennon and SWP have deficiencies in their play Pennant essentially has it all to be a top right winger - strength, pace, work rate and crossing. I'd definitely back him to oust both by 08. Articles like this certainly won't hurt his cause. Whether any of the 3 will oust Gerrard by the Euros is another matter.

[StevieC]

lets see the lad put in some consistent performances for us before worrying about him playing the The Stone Island Burberry s*** Tattoo Xenophobes XI.

 

 

But he's left Birmingham City???

[Owen1978]

The thing that pennent has that all the other genuine right wingers dont have is end product, he is guranteed to get a good cross in.

Edited August 24, 2006 by Owen1978

[Poolfrog]

The thing that pennent has that all the other genuine right wingers dont have is end product, he is guranteed to get a good cross in.

 

He's also physically robust, whereas Lennon - although a decent prospect - is very lightweight. Wright Phillips is also easily knocked off the ball - and also couldn't cross if his life depended on it