Liverpool’s Left Sided Masterstroke; England’s Left Sided Void
By: ed | September 4th, 2007On Saturday, 20 mins into Liverpool’s mauling of a truly shocking Derby County side, Rafa Benitez made a decision that could save Steve McLaren’s job for a few more months. Rafa swapped the ever-improving Jermaine Pennant from the right wing to the left wing where Ryan Babel had been.
It was a masterstroke. Pennant terrorised Derby, skinning his man on the outside at will or cutting inside whenever the mood struck him. Sure, it was only Derby but it was an utterly dominant performance from a man who, for the first time, is looking like reaching the potential he showed as an Arsenal youngster.
His name has been mentioned before as a possible England squad member but, with England desperate for pace, creativity and direction on the left side of mid-field, the criminal who once played with an ankle tag, could be the answer to a nation’s prayers.
Ever since Sven-Goran Eriksson took charge, and probably a little before, England has had a large hole on the left side of midfield. Various players have come and gone. Some were square-pegs awkwardly thrust into round holes (in Frank Lampard’s case, it was a fat peg stuck in an embarrassingly svelte hole); some were eager to play anywhere as long as they played (I’m looking at you Danny Murphy and Joe Cole); some, like Steven Gerrard, were so versatile managers knew they would be an embarrassment and some were simply the manager’s class favourites. Stuart Downing, put your hand down now.
But Pennant looked a class above Derby and, with all due respect to Israel, could be exactly what an unimaginative England needs against tough, uncompromising opposition who have nothing to lose against a prized scalp.
Fortunately for Liverpool, McLaren is just too incompetent to realise it and that may mean one of Liverpool’s key players will be rested and fresh when it comes to the business end of the season.
Liverpool Football Club has always meant more to her fans than the England team but for once, England could be doing us a favour.
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Category: Jermaine Pennant
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Comments
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Pennant for England? Get a life. His crosses are not like David Beckham’s to find exact target. His speed is not like Aaron Lennon or SWP to get past some defenders. And on Left side Joe Cole is doing extremely well. I dont think Pennant can even fir into 25-26 squad with the likes of SWP, Lennon, Bentley etc. He is just some overrated liverpool player like Carra or Muppet Gerrard.
And as far as Frank Lampard is concerned, I can sense your jealousy over here. I dont know where do you guys see him fat. He was best English player in 2004 and 2005 (see FA’s site). Even though he had poor WC by his standards he was highest goal scorer in WC qualification even though scousers Gerrard, Owen and Rooney were omnipresent in the same team. He was best midfield player in Euro 2004 and you same muppet gerrard gave back pass to some star and spoiled the England party.
And Gerrard being versatile…ha ha…he was complaining because he was played as holding player few years back and shitted against france. He was played on right where always drifted from his place .He played in center in some matches and he was going everywhere in pith apart from center. You call him versatile. I will call him most indisciplined.
Posted from
India
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Adam stop being a hater!! Stevie is better than Lampard.I laugh when Chelsea fans try and compare the fat one with Stevie.If you was to poll managers in the prem and ask them which player they would prefer to have in their midfield.Do you honestly think that Lampard is getting more votes?
Posted from
United States -
Obviously yes!!
On what basis you guys are telling that muppet gerrard is better than Frank?
Goals… eehhh Lamps has more goals and if you are going to bring deflection debate then better look at this link
http://football.guardian.co.uk/theknowledge/story/0,,1924393,00.htmlTrophies… Both have equal number of trophies and Lamps has won coveted EPL trophy twice
Best player awards… Lamps was 2nd best player to Ronaldinho (both in Europe and World) where as Gerrard never made to top 3 players in his career..Even though he won most influential player for one year in CL 2005.
And stop that harping that football is not all about goals..Its only about goals…
Also, if you are going to bring the debate that Mourinho wanted gerrard in Chelsea then let me clarify gerrard would have played in role what Essien plays…second fiddle to Lamps who is given license to roam.
Posted from
India -
Adam, John - i think we’re getting a little off topic here. first off, everyone and his dog knows that gerrard >>> lampard. end of story.
but JP on the left wing for england is a great idea. he is more mobile than Beckham, his crosses are far more dangerous than SWP’s and, by all accounts he can give Torres a good race over 50m - so I’d expect him to be as fast, if not faster than, aaron lennon. plus he’s not injured. but becks, SWP and lennon are all on the right and i’m advocating having JP on the left.
so who’s his competition? joe cole, a central midfielder/second striker who’s only played 58 mins of premiership footy this season? stuart downing who possesses all the menace and threat of a damp paper bag? no, i think, if he keeps up his form and replicates the damage he did against derby on the left in the premiership or champions league, JP should be in serious contention for england’s left midfield berth.
cheers,
ed
Posted from
United States -
Adam, John - i think we’re getting a little off topic here. first off, everyone and his dog knows that gerrard >>> lampard. end of story.
Ed,
Better replace “everyone” with “every Liverpool fan”.And I’m sure u dont have any counter arguments for which I have stated in my above comment. Hence you thought to end the story there itself.
Posted from
India -
And as far JP and left midfield is concerned, if Joey is not complaining for Left sided midfield then why will anyone replace Joey who is class apart by right minded player.
At the moment SWP is better than JP. And even Beckham subject to his fitness. He has to fight with Beckham, Lennon, SWP for his right side midfield place. Even though he can be brought as substitute to Joe Colde on left side. Ohh…wait Ashley Young is better on left side than JP too. Unfortunately I dont see JP playing in English side for atleast year (may be another Carra in making). And obviously scousers (players) cant be trusted for English cause. Carra shown us just now. muppet Gerrard is also becoming the same. I dont think JP will be any different to it…
Posted from
India -
*Joey who is class apart for left minded player
Posted from
India -
Ed I agree with what you said Pennant does deserve to be on the team.Unfortunately it seems he will be black balled because of his history.
Adam look at it this way.20 years from now Gerrard will be known as a LEGEND!! While Lampard will be known as a pretty good player in his era.
Posted from
United States -
how about we agree on “every chelsea fan believes lampard is better than gerrard”?
the fact is that lampard is incapable of playing in a team that isn’t built to allow him 20 plus blasts a game. he’s an excellent penalty taker and has a great shot either from set pieces or long range but he can’t dominate a game in the way gerrard can.
in comparison to gerrard, and i hope we can all admit this, lampard is a very limited player. there’s no shame in it - just about all players are limited in comparison to gerrard.
but back to pennant. i’m not sure why you’re comparing JP to beckham, lennon and SWP, even though he compares very favourably to anyone - especially if they’re out of form (SWP) or injured (Beckham). in fact, on current form, he’s playing better than SWP - who is incisive and on his day can be a devastating attacking force. but right now, SWP has no final product. sure he can skin his man but what good is that when the ball sails out of play for another goal kick? pennant has the pace to get to the byline, the control to cut inside and the composure to pick out his man. lennon is still unproven at both the national and club level with much the same problems as SWP has.
out on the left wing (which is, i believe, where this conversation is taking place), his main competition is someone who is patently lacking match fitness (cole), someone who spends more time diving than playing (did I say Joe Cole yet?) and someone who is, at best, going through a period of lackluster form (stuart downing). ashley young has had a good first four games, and looked very dangerous against liverpool, but he needs a season to mature. pennant is ready now.
cheers,
ed
Posted from
Canada -
Ed,
As from a neutral point of view I will post.Lamps: I dont agree that he blasts 20 goals only when team is built around him. WC as well last particular year was poor by his standards for England. But just look little before that. Lampard was star of Euro 2004 where Gerrard miserably failed (even any die hard Gerrard supporter will agree). Also in WC qualification he was at his best both at scoring goals and creating chances (he was highest goal scorer in qual). At that time team was certainly not build around him still he blasted good number of goals and created too. I would like to ask what is “limited player” according to you. Gerrard fares slightly than Lampard in pace. And I’m sure no midfielder in this world is as good as Lamps when it comes to his runs in box. Especially his late runs which are nothing but top class.
Gerrard: He is more expressive. Even it is more clear in his goal scoring celebration. Lamps just calmly goes to fans corner where as Gerrard runs like a whirlwind showing every bit of emotion. And that is what needed in ideal captain (even JT is similar in those regards). But he is inconsistence. And he is little indisciplined too when it comes to sticking to his position in formation.
Rest other things are similar. Both are extremely good in creating chances. Both are powerhouses in their respective clubs.
John Doe,
No doubt Gerrard will be Liverpool legend after 20 years. And as far as Lamps is concerned he is already legend for Chelsea fans. As far as England goes both need to win major trophies like WC or Euro to be called as Legends.Posted from
India -
*inconsistent.
Please forgive me for my spelling mistakes. I typed in hurry.
Posted from
India
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