Stoke City: Pennant can be 'Jermaine' man for Potters again
JERMAINE Pennant is being tipped to bounce back from last season's woes to make headlines again for all the right reasons.
Pennant's very liberty was at stake after off-field issues culminated in a court case and a suspended prison sentence for drink-driving.
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Stoke City's Jermaine Pennant
His form inevitably suffered on the field, and he ended up starting just under half of Stoke's Premier League games.
But the 29-year-old winger has since spoken positively about the forthcoming campaign, his third at the Britannia Stadium, and City coach Mark O'Connor believes Pennant can rediscover his earlier scintillating form with the club.
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O'Connor, a former winger mentoring the club's wide men, asserted: "What's gone on in private has been dealt with and is in the past.
"Like everyone else, he starts afresh next season. No points and 38 cup finals to play.
"You have to look forward now. He's our player, and one of our best players, and let's hope he comes back with a positive frame of mind and shows us what a good player he is."
O'Connor even believes an on-form Pennant can be compared favourably with England's finest on the flanks.
"At his best," he argued, "there's no reason why he shouldn't be on the verges of the England squad.
"He's a better crosser of a ball than anybody who's out there at Euro 2012.
"Perhaps he doesn't beat people like a Theo Walcott, but the final ball is better. He can get out of tight situations, has good legs and knows how to play the position.
"He's got tremendous ability. You don't play for the clubs he's played for (Arsenal and Liverpool included) without having ability. And our supporters have seen that.
"They didn't see it enough last season, however, and we need him to get back to similar levels to the season before when we got to the FA Cup final."
By his own admission, Pennant's wing partner Matthew Etherington, pictured below, also failed to regularly hit the heights last season, but O'Connor is confident there is time for the 30-year-old former Stoke player-of-the-year to recapture his old form.
"He knows in his own mind that he fell below his high standards and wasn't on top form last season," O'Connor agreed, "but he continued to work hard and didn't hide.
"When people set a very high standard like Matty did, you, as coaches, are expecting them to play like that regularly and that is being a bit unrealistic.
"But hopefully, with the addition of one or two players to raise the standard like Peter Crouch did last season, we can get Matty back to his best form."
Comments
by camband
Monday, June 25 2012, 8:35AM
“The support for Pennant on here -based on the need for his 'crossing services' -suggests that even if his disgraceful attitude to responsible driving and total rejection of laws on road safety, had led to the maiming of a child, he would still be forgiven and treated with adulation and a 'MUST' re SCFC's progress in the BIG TIME.
He's a lout -and an irresponsible, callous one at that.”
by franker1955
Saturday, June 23 2012, 5:53PM
“comment by stokefin
"He obviously misunderstood pulis last year when he said " we need to pick up more points on the road " ......heres to a better season !"
Yes Pulis is a master at picking points up on the road and I dont mean away games!!”
by stokeitup
Saturday, June 23 2012, 3:34PM
“we all know what pennant is about and what problems he had,so im sure that next season we shall see what he is all about,he did it at the end of his loan period and that is why we acquired his services,i for one cant wait see pennant cross the balls in for crouchie n co.ive heard we r about to sign a tottenham defender ,possibly rose or nosworthy.id have a go for moses or sturridge depending if chelsea want either of them there,jarvis has got b a must ,poss hoilett too,come on tp get em in.”
by Latthink
Saturday, June 23 2012, 3:34PM
“Proof of the pudding etc, also actions speak etc, fingers crossed etc, so wait and see etc, what more can be said?”
by nelliebell
Saturday, June 23 2012, 3:12PM
“Lets hope he practices to cross to the far post,last year he was poor,& his assists were pityful,Jarvis is a better crosser,& likes one,on one situations,Pennant lacks confidence & for a player on his wages needs a big improvment for next season.”
by soccerfoot11
Saturday, June 23 2012, 2:51PM
“as long as he doesnt come on this site and read the vitriol and foul language aimed his way after his transgressions by certain posters that i refuse to name !! it might hurt his feelings. I hope he does return to form, he adds excitement to an otherwise vanilla team”
by stokefin
Saturday, June 23 2012, 1:29PM
“He obviously misunderstood pulis last year when he said " we need to pick up more points on the road " ......heres to a better season !”
by stokefin
Saturday, June 23 2012, 1:26PM
“He obviously misunderstood pulis last year when he said " we need to pick up more points on the road " ......heres to a better season !”
by bexhillpotter
Saturday, June 23 2012, 10:07AM
“Let's also get Matt Jarvis in as cover so that we can play two wide men on a more regular basis. It's no use having Crouch in the middle waiting for a good cross and then not using two wide men!”