Pennant

[Marvin]

I thought he did well well when he came on on Sunday. Yes I like him.

 

There I said it. I feel better now.

[slapnuts]

he did well hacking that bloke down.

[Guest anfieldanfield]

Pennant's not even close to being good enough for this football club, I personally doubt whether he's even a Premiership player, let alone a Liverpool player.

 

Maybe he was worth a (very) optimistic punt at two or three million, but seven million ? Rafa was robbed blind.

[Marvin]

He got to the byline and delivered a great cross. We need to see more of it. I think we will.

[CaptainXabi]

Never a 6M player. I said that the day he was bought and I still believe it. Anyway, let's hope for the best.

[Guz]

Looking like a bit of a panic buy at the moment but doesn't mean he won't make a contribution this season. He's the kind of player than relies on service and so far it's been pretty woeful. It was great when he set up Bellamy for the disallowed goal but he was able to because he got the ball high up the pitch and was able to isolate a defender. Too often he gets the ball where he can either pass it square or try and take on more than one defender. Same goes for Gonzalez.

[oojason]

Looking like a bit of a panic buy at the moment but doesn't mean he won't make a contribution this season. He's the kind of player than relies on service and so far it's been pretty woeful. It was great when he set up Bellamy for the disallowed goal but he was able to because he got the ball high up the pitch and was able to isolate a defender. Too often he gets the ball where he can either pass it square or try and take on more than one defender. Same goes for Gonzalez.

 

 

I wouldn't say he is a panic buy - Rafa was (or seemed to be) after him for most of the Summer. He's featured in 8 league games so far this season - hopefully he'll get a more regular place - start more matches, and then hopefully we'll see more of the player we know he can be

Edited November 15, 2006 by oojason

[floyd the barber]

suffers from all wingers we have bought since selling mcmanaman....a lack of confidence and pace to beat players..

 

give him time, he`ll come good.

[KD07]

Maybe we just haven't bought good-enough wingers.

It's the curse of Shabby.

[Rimbeux]

Having seen him for Brum and Leeds, I'm pretty clear on what the player is capable of, which is a hell of a lot. He CAN beat a man on the outside with feet and pace, he CAN deliver great balls into the middle, he did all this regularly.

 

What he's never done much of is come off the wing to join in play(dont mean cut inside with the ball), and be a goal threat.

 

What I see for us is a player clearly lacking confidence to play his natural game, and clearlly over thinking and bricking it, which results in him looking for safe options and trying not to lose the ball (retaining possession aint an issue you'll notice), rather than trying to cause havoc.

 

Maybe it's a mentality issue (it's never a talent one), and by that I dont mean he's a waster, just perhaps he's got stage fright here, just as a couple of others have at this time. Maybe it's fatal, maybe he mentally can't cut it, but I doubt it, I doubt it's any different to any attacking player off their game, the syptoms are the same if you're Gerrard, Robben or Ronaldinho.

 

If everyone else was fyling, I might be more pessamistic, but I dont buy this never good enough behaviour, especially when that could be tagged to several proven players if you'd only ever seen them in these dozen league games. What he needs is managing.

[Kite]

Having seen him for Brum and Leeds, I'm pretty clear on what the player is capable of, which is a hell of a lot. He CAN beat a man on the outside with feet and pace, he CAN deliver great balls into the middle, he did all this regularly.

 

What he's never done much of is come off the wing to join in play(dont mean cut inside with the ball), and be a goal threat.

 

What I see for us is a player clearly lacking confidence to play his natural game, and clearlly over thinking and bricking it, which results in him looking for safe options and trying not to lose the ball (retaining possession aint an issue you'll notice), rather than trying to cause havoc.

 

Maybe it's a mentality issue (it's never a talent one), and by that I dont mean he's a waster, just perhaps he's got stage fright here, just as a couple of others have at this time. Maybe it's fatal, maybe he mentally can't cut it, but I doubt it, I doubt it's any different to any attacking player off their game, the syptoms are the same if you're Gerrard, Robben or Ronaldinho.

 

If everyone else was fyling, I might be more pessamistic, but I dont buy this never good enough behaviour, especially when that could be tagged to several proven players if you'd only ever seen them in these dozen league games. What he needs is managing.

All makes sense that.

 

I hate this rush to write off players, maybe he'll turn out crap in the end but for f***'s sake he's only here a few months and anyone with any kind of observation skills can see he is not relaxed or playing his natural game. Likewise many of the other new players and, even more pointedly. Typically young players get a chance to build up confidence and get to know the setup and the scene - getting Agger in January for example has been of great benefit to him, no pressure for those first few months while he settled in. Pennant, and Gonzalez (Bellamy too) however have been right under the spotlight right from the word go and it's clear they are having difficulty coming to terms with that. And I think it is interesting that all three players came here with a huge desire to play for the club - perhaps had they been cynical professionals they would have settled in quicker - their own desire may be adding to their anxiety. But, certainly, having a load of your own fans call you rubbish and ignore the skills and abilities you've demonstrated in the past ain't going to make it any easier to improve.

[owenthomas]

Having seen him for Brum and Leeds, I'm pretty clear on what the player is capable of, which is a hell of a lot. He CAN beat a man on the outside with feet and pace, he CAN deliver great balls into the middle, he did all this regularly.

 

What he's never done much of is come off the wing to join in play(dont mean cut inside with the ball), and be a goal threat.

 

What I see for us is a player clearly lacking confidence to play his natural game, and clearlly over thinking and bricking it, which results in him looking for safe options and trying not to lose the ball (retaining possession aint an issue you'll notice), rather than trying to cause havoc.

 

Maybe it's a mentality issue (it's never a talent one), and by that I dont mean he's a waster, just perhaps he's got stage fright here, just as a couple of others have at this time. Maybe it's fatal, maybe he mentally can't cut it, but I doubt it, I doubt it's any different to any attacking player off their game, the syptoms are the same if you're Gerrard, Robben or Ronaldinho.

 

If everyone else was fyling, I might be more pessamistic, but I dont buy this never good enough behaviour, especially when that could be tagged to several proven players if you'd only ever seen them in these dozen league games. What he needs is managing.

excellent - i'm quoting the full post here because i hope that anyone who may have skipped to the bottom of the thread to this point will read it (if they haven't already) because that's very well said.. having seen quite a bit of him and openly wanting him to sign for us i was made up he did - i think your assessment is spot on though and i don't think it's a coincidence that both he and Bellamy have struggled slightly since they arrived.. coming to Liverpool was a massive step up for both players and, considering they're both fans, i think they're trying too hard to impress instead of relaxing into their 'normal' game..

 

we've all seen flashes of Pennant skinning a man and putting a wonderful ball into the box but he's generally not doing that as much as he should - he's taking the safe option and stopping and playing the ball back/square or cutting in to try and find a man.. has he been told to do this or is he just 'scared' of making a mistake? likewise Bellamy's game is all about getting the ball played in front of him to run onto and he's not getting that but is putting a lot of work in in other areas of the pitch - so again, he goes searching for the ball and then isn't in the area he'd normally be in to take advantage of a ball put through..

 

unfortunately some plums are going to write them off straight away - and they have done.. i thought the fans backing of Crouch last season when he was struggling helped him enormously to come to terms with being a Liverpool player and i wish that people would afford the newer players such as Pennant and Bellamy similar support to help them in their very early Liverpool careers.. i can't believe some of the s*** that's been posted on here lately - if it was constructive and to the point you could probably get your head round it but in the main it's just nonsensical, knee-jerk reactions.. get behind the lads and you might just see what they can actually do..

[floyd]

Lennon should be at Liverpool. Scout's missed one their.

[mally]

Lennon's dead baby, Lennon's dead.

[crisps]

Lennon should be at Liverpool. Scout's missed one their.

 

I'd be happy if Pennant looked half as good

[Dan]

Some good points written here.

 

I think the biggest problem is the fact that the team as a whole is struggling. When questions are asked why, people compare us to last season and the spotlight then falls on new signings.

 

If players like Gerrard, Carra and Alonso are struggling with confidence then thats gonna rub off on everyone else especially new players who have an emotional attachment with the club.

 

If i remember correctly both Bellamy and Pennant had a decent pre season/start to the season but have lost confidence, along with everyone else, as the season has gone on.

 

There will come a time sooner or later when it will begin to click for them and the team i'm sure.

 

Kuyt is an exception to the rule by the way. He's f*ckin ace.

[Maldini]

Lennon should be at Liverpool. Scout's missed one their.

Scouts didn't, Rafa did, said he was too small.

[Bootle Buck]

I think Bellamy and Pennant have felt the pressure of signing for a big club. They have to prove themselves evry opportunity they get or they are yanked off or dropped for the next game. It doesn't give them a chance to build up any confidence. Whenever I saw Pennant play for Brum I thought he was good in small doses but spent large parts of the game doing very little. I think that has shown already at Liverpool. I would just love to see him go at people a la Ryan Giggs more often. He has the pace and the skill to beat people.

[nashman]

Typically young players get a chance to build up confidence and get to know the setup and the scene - getting Agger in January for example has been of great benefit to him, no pressure for those first few months while he settled in.

 

Agger is different from Pennant in the sense that he knows that he is special. You could see it from the very first interview he gave.He knew he had something to offer to the club. He looked very happy to have signed for LFC but deep inside he knew that it was just a matter of time before which he signed for a club of such stature.He has that bit of cockiness, the pizzaz associated with great players. You can see that confidence in his game,ball skills, passing etc.If some of that rubs onto Gonzo/Pennant/Bellamy we have 3 very good players in our hand.

[Molby]

puts paid to the myth that Rafa doesn't overpay for players

 

Rafa gets the best available with the money he has

 

or do people still think that if he was given £50mil he wouldn't spend it all?

[Leo No.8]

I've actually thought Pennant has just started to look a bit sharper in his last few games following a poor run of form.

 

Him, Bellamy and Gonzalez need some of our famous vocal support in my opinion. It's fairly obvious they are all feeling the pressure and I think knowing we're behind them would help.

 

I think, as Rafa did in the summer, that they all have a lot to offer. They are talented players, but a lack of confidence means they aren't doing themselves justice at present. I think the supporters can play a part in turning that round at this crucial early stage of their Liverpool careers.

Edited November 15, 2006 by Leo No.8

[Kite]

puts paid to the myth that Rafa doesn't overpay for players

 

Rafa gets the best available with the money he has

 

or do people still think that if he was given £50mil he wouldn't spend it all?

What's that got to do with Pennant needing a bit of fan's support?