Can't believe Pulis took Matty off ahead of Jermaine. Matty wasn't great at all but he was at least trying to be creative unlike Pennant who looked like he couldn't give a ****. Give him a kick early doors and you'll see nothing of him for the rest of the game. Need players in January or play Marshall more, he can't be any worse than Pennant.
Pennant was one of your most threatening players tonight. I don't think he played badly. We just nullified him really well. As soon as he got the ball two or three toon players swamped him and gave him absolutely no space. Even the best wingers in the league can't perform well when they're getting closed down like he was today. Jonas was tracking back a LOT today so it was basically him and Ryan Taylor making Pennant's life a misery.
Simple answer lads.. tonight Pennant was "showboating" but he isn't good enough to do that. He's best when he goes outside his man.. so WHY did he continue to try and beat a defender three times before losing it.. Agreed, whever said he was **** and Ether's could not be bothered either he hardly got into the game.
He was complete and totally awful and did the square root of **** all, all game. Pennant's been **** all season. At least Matty tries.
How can you expect him to do anything when both Ryan Taylor and Jonas (our joint-MOTM) were marking him and closing him down as soon as he got the ball? There was literally nothing the guy could have done tonight. We were on his arse every second he had posession. Nullifying him was just one of the many tactics Pardew got spot on to get us the win.
He could've looked like he gave a bloody toss? He could've tried something different now and then? But no he just gave up and sulked like a ****ing cry baby!!
Pennant would have put in some sweet crosses today, but luckily we never gave him the chance. Perhaps he didn't give 100%, I don't know, but we definitely had a tactic to nullify the guy tonight, and it worked wonders. He was hounded, tackled, pressured and blocked every second he had the ball, usually by at least 2 of our players.
