With reference to Pennant, I am not doubting his ability and I am sure if he played at White Shite Lane he would be in their team every week because their expectations are that much lower than ours, but as the song goes ?We are the Arsenal and we are the best?.? So we expect better.
I know on a personal note that his attitude is not what it should be for a top flight player in today?s game. It?s common knowledge in North London clubs that he acts like a Big Time Charlie Bananas, giving it the big ?I am?. He and Ashley are often seen out together and whereas Ashley will be standing near the DJ with an Orange Juice talking to friends and fans, Pennant will be seen walking around with a bottle of Champaign in one hand and a bird on the other (lucky git). It has been well publicized about his troubles whilst playing for England U-21?s and AW has given him more than a few chances to change his ways.
To be fair to the boy fame has been thrust upon him at a very early age, let’s not forget he was only 15 when Arsenal signed him so maybe he thought that he had ?made it? before he had. AW played a very clever game by sending him to Leeds last year because he showed him that it?s better to be part of a successful squad rather than playing regularly in a losing team and only time will tell if he has learnt anything from that experience.
Again I stand by my convictions and say that Pennant is a very good player and he will make it, but not at Arsenal because to be a truly great player you need four things 1) Ability 2) Dedication 3) Attitude and 4) A strong will to win. He definitely has the first but I am still not sure if he has the other three.
The one thing that he does have in his favor is that AW rates him and for that I will give him my full support, for this season anyway but only because I would never question the great man’s judgment.
So the question is open to you all, Mr. J. Pennant hit or miss?
16 Responses to “In the case against J.Pennant the jury finds in favor of?..”
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August 18th, 2004 at 7:03 am
I’m think he’ll be a good addition this season. Though not solely for the impact his play will have on the team, but also on Freddie. Last season Freddie’s place on the wing was never in doubt, whereas this year he’ll need to up his game he knows Pennants a capable replacement. He seems to have come back from Leeds a bit tougher in defence then before. This along with his speed and quality of crossing i think will see that he challenges Freddie for a starting place.
Up the Gunners!
August 18th, 2004 at 7:56 am
I remember at the end of last season some people were going on about how Freddy was the ?wickest link? and now J. Pennant.
I don’t get what you coming up with but hey the Kid is learning from his mistakes. As I said last week he needs to grow up but please you also have to understand where he is coming from and what he is going thru. At 17 he was the expensive player at his age, living in London but sorry from where am coming from the “Yard” sometimes as a kid you need someone to sit you down and talk to you and kids with lots money to spend have a tough time here.
Did you watch him yesterday for England U21?s? Well he was not just the man of the match but he played with 1) Ability 2) Dedication 3) Attitude and 4) A strong will to win.
Let give the kid a chance like most of these British kids whether they play for Arsenal or not. Most or some will mess up growing up but learn from their mistakes. I didn?t make the grade at the Old Dons but knows what most of these kids go thru
August 18th, 2004 at 8:56 am
Teabag, the attitude problem u mentioned about Pennant maybe the case at the past, but judging on the performance so far (preseason and Community Shield), I believe the boy has started to get his head turned to the right direction. I don’t know about his private life, and frankly i don’t really bother. I only care about how the players do on the pitch. Pennant has been tracking back a lot to help out the defence, that’s one sign i love to see. He works harder, physically getting stronger. And as we all known - he got game.
I stated in one of my early posts that both he and van Persie would be the players to watch this season. And i still stand firm on my point. Can Pennant make it at Arsenal? I wouldn’t bet against. He surely got the quality to make the team. Technically wise, he’s as good as any bright young thing in England. If we still haven’t seen him making an impact, that’s because he’s the traditional winger - an out and out winger who tend to operate along the frank, unlike Ljungberg, Pires who would cut inside. As we don’t really have a target man to get on to the end of his cross (he does have a very good crossing ability), so his effectively on the pitch has not been shown. But this can improve with time and experience. As long as his keep his head levelled, the boy has a big future.
August 18th, 2004 at 9:39 am
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/headlinenews?id=307427&cc=5901
He’s too young and I haven’t seen him on the pitch enough to be passing judgement. His actions this season will be my answer.
August 18th, 2004 at 10:36 am
Do some people watch football at all? I don’t know whether yesterday’s game was aired in America but you wrong about Pennant. He works his socks off all the time and remember is not easy as a kid to come in whiles AW still playing Freddie and Co.
Well Spurs is the last club any Arsenal fan can stand but please where did you get that idea from “their expectations are that much lower than ours” . Every club have expectations from Prem to conference.
August 18th, 2004 at 11:17 am
When I said that Spurs expectations are less then ours I did not mean that they did not want the best, I meant that at the end of any season what they regard a success is not necessarily what we do.
For example if we only won the FA Cup this year would we be happy, to an extend yes but not greatly because Arsenal have always measured success in winning the league. Now if Spurs won the FA Cup this year, they and their fans would be more then happy. A team in the Conference is happy to get into the football league, a team in the 2nd division wants promotion and maybe a good cup run, we want to win the Champions League and the Premiership that is called ambition. The greater you raise your heights the higher you want to climb.
August 18th, 2004 at 11:46 am
You’ve got to remember that he’s still only played a handful of games for Arsenal so it’s far to early to make any judgement. In my opinion he did ok in the Manu and Everton games. Not outstanding but ok. I hope he gets plenty of opportunities this season to show what he can do and I’m optimistic he has a good future at Arsenal. Let’s wait to the end of the season before passing judgement.
August 18th, 2004 at 12:52 pm
I doubt that FL with be available for every game because some time during the season he will probably pick up a slight knock( I do not want to jinx him). We will need a capable backup since RP is gone.
August 18th, 2004 at 1:10 pm
I really believe he can play… last year helped him alot… He has the skills to compete at this level, and I believe he will be VERY important when and if Freddie needs a spell… or gets injured (which happens every year)… Hopefully he will have his chances. He has SPEED to burn, and that fits very well with our current Arsenal Racing Team!
If Wenger didn’t think he would step up, we wouldn’t have allowed Parlour to go…
GO GETTEM JP!
August 18th, 2004 at 2:03 pm
Completely agree, you almost can’t have enough quality speedy wingers. That sort of velocity just lends to injury, which is why Pires will fall so easily now rather than trying to catch himself and sustain an injury.
Marc Overmars is one of my all time favorites, and basically his speed ended his legs.
August 19th, 2004 at 12:43 am
I believe Wenger should have sold off Pennant when Athletico Madrid were interested 1 month ago. I do not think Pennant’s style of play is what Arsenal needs - he is really more of an old fashion English winger who hangs out mostly in the wings, beat opponents with speed and cross the ball. Arsenal strikers are not exactly great headers of the ball (OK Reyes did score a rare header against Everton) and Pennant should know that; and tailor his game accordingly.
Ljundberg can do all that and more - runs into the penalty box, cut in from the wings to play 1-2 on the edge of the box, switch wings when needed and scores goals. Against Everton, Pennant did not do anything of significance compared to Ljundberg who created so much problems for Everton with his runs and speed.
I do not see Pennant trying to model his game on Ljundberg’s. That is a mistake on his part and will be his undoing.
I say sell him off before he becomes eligible for a Bosman and use that money to invest in a right-sided player with the potential to take over from Ljundberg.
August 19th, 2004 at 12:17 pm
we all know Pennant;s love of the alcohol and it was encouraged by a player named Jody Morris.
However, he is a changed man.
He has not had a drink or a smoke (apparently) since his Leeds days. He is also first to training and last to leave training. Wenger has said this about him.
If your reservations about him are personal then him changing his personal lifestyle should please you
August 20th, 2004 at 2:11 am
He’s got too much pace too not make it at the Arsenal. And as far as not fitting our system as he is a classic winger, well I could counter that by saying that a good low cross has worked for Arsenal for the last couple seasons. In the U-21 game, his pace and low crossing ability, made him the star. God knows he can shoot, just look at the Soton game of 2 seasons ago.
I didn’t get to watch Arsenal when he played, but didn’t Marc Overmars do a pretty good job or was he just a classic winger that was sold off because he didn’t fit the system? ? ?
August 20th, 2004 at 12:17 pm
No Overmars was sold because he wanted to leave, he thought the grass was greener and all that. I was very upset when he left but when he went AW bought RP7 and he has been a better player for us.
August 20th, 2004 at 12:31 pm
I knew why he left, I was just making a point that he was a classic winger and did a pretty good job. Of course Pires has done better, but I still think that means Pennant has a chance to impress.
August 20th, 2004 at 5:06 pm
Pennant has the skill and at many other clubs would be in the starting line-up. It’s going to be difficult for him to break into the starting 11, but don’t forget that Freddie is injury prone and Pennant will more than likely fill his position when he’s out. I see him getting some second half playing time along with FA and Carling Cup time this year. Originally I felt they should send him out on loan again, but now I think he should be there as he will see the time this year.
He played well fir the U-21’s and showed he can move into other positions as he was all over the field. I hope he gets some time this year, but if Freddie stays healthy and plays like he did last Sunday it will be difficult.