mattylfc wrote:The reason i asked the question is because me and my mate couldnt really think of too many options to be honest.
You can put me in that category as well, mate. How many right midfielders are there out there who are: a) good enough, b) affordable given our budget constraints and c) interested in playing for us? Not many, I would wager. The grass is always greener when a player like Pennant is struggling but there aren't that many realistic replacements kicking about. We just don't have the kind of dosh to splash out on a truly big name, otherwise I think we might have done this summer: Rafa clearly rated Alves but we couldn't put the money together to make it happen. As such, I seriously doubt we'll be going out and buying a Joaquin, Ribery or even a SWP* in January.
So, replacing Pennant looks like it might require a similar pragmatic (i.e. bargain basement) approach. Trouble is, having been 'burned' with Pennant, I think most of us aren't that thrilled with the idea of settling for second best and/or taking another gamble. Personally, I think Zoltan Gera might be worth another look but, again, would he be able to make what is, in reality, a big step up? There's always the "aging veterans" who can do a job floating around the league (Stelios?) but those signings are hardly going to get the heart racing and constitute a signal of real intent, are they? And Gonzales is showing why promising youngsters plying their trade in other leagues aren't likely to be a short-term solution to our current midfield problems--getting acclimatized can take quite a long time.
So, unless the Board backs Rafa with a significant wedge of cash and unless there is a truly quality right-sided player out there desperate to make the move to Liverpool mid-season, I think we're stuck with Pennant until at least the summer.
*While talented, I think the hype surrounding Wright Phillips has far outstripped the actual ability. What, exactly, has he achieved in the game? A few good seasons as the stand-out player in a very pedestrian City side, a big money contract to sit on Chelsea's bench (maybe a deal done more to keep him out of the competition's reach anyway) and a few decent performances for England and suddenly he's the dog's bollox? Don't think so. I would have serious questions about his mental sharpness after all that time rotting in Chelsea's reserves and with all the pressure to perform after his 'flop' at the Bridge (much like Duff, at the moment). Plus, he was only a very raw talent when he made the move to Chelsea and he sure as hell hasn't had much of an opportunity to hone his skills there. I'll just say it: I don't think he'd offer us much more than Pennant does, TBH.
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