Matthew Pennington

[Simon baker]

Given that Koeman doesn't seem to tolerate a game where a player gets roasted in (see Holgate being bombed out for weeks after the Stoke game), don't think we will see Pennington again this season mate, and be surprised if we see him play for us again in all honesty.

Would have loved for the lad to have done brilliantly - but goal aside he was given one of the worst run arounds i've seen an everton player get and if he wasn't so young he would have been hiked off at half time at the latest (will give credit for Koeman realising how much damage it'd done to him and not doing that although ultimately it may have cost us in the match).

My biggest hope is that this doesn't colour his view on giving any other young lads a go, Kenny for me deserves to be given a shot - whether that is against United though is up for debate as the same thing could happen to him (although i doubt it as in my eyes he is a step above Pennington)

I think we should be able to get a couple million for Pennington from a championship side

 

[Bullet]

I thought Pennington cost us a goal a game under Martinez last season.
After coming back from injury he was receiving rave reviews from Unsworth so I hoped I'd see clear improvement.
I didn't. He was thrown in at the deep end so was never going to dominate but he showed nothing for me.
Like the Robles performance at Spurs it suggests only one thing unfortunately. He's just not good enough.
Still hope he gets another chance at home. RK'd have to be suicidal to put him in against Man U now.

 

[Real_madras]

Should we give him the benefit of doubt? That was a massive tough match for your first of the season. Against a fantastic player. There were three seasoned international defenders out there that should of been looking after him and Holgate. Poor performance throughout the team as usual.

 

[Bullet]

Kenny for me deserves to be given a shot

When Pennington was given a run late last season he looked just as out of his depth as he did yesterday.
Kenny however, in his brief appearance, looked a solid, strong tackling, Hibbo type defender.
Deserves a shot in a home game especially with Shamus out long term.

 

[bluestevon]

When Pennington was given a run late last season he looked just as out of his depth as he did yesterday.
Kenny however, in his brief appearance, looked a solid, strong tackling, Hibbo type defender.
Deserves a shot in a home game especially with Shamus out long term.

I liked the fact not only did he defend well, but he got involved on the overlaps as well, including a really nice drag back to Mirrallas for the third, the lads got talent, 8 games left now in the season, see absolutely no reason given our injuries we don't give him those games, lets see if we need to bring in a right back or if he can fill the spot until Coleman returns

 

[davek]

This lad is getting thrown to the wolves here for an all round no show derby performance.

Did he play great? No. Was he obviously at fault for two goals with glaring errors? No. We dont know what his manager told him to defend like. It looked to me like he may have been told "It's a big game, dont fly into challenges in your own 18 yard box, dont go to ground or get too close that they can give the ref a decision to make."

Oh, and he did something £70M man couldn't do and found the net.

 

[bluestevon]

This lad is getting thrown to the wolves here for an all round no show derby performance.

Did he play great? No. Was he obviously at fault for two goals with glaring errors? No. We dont know what his manager told him to defend like. It looked to me like he may have been told "It's a big game, dont fly into challenges in your own 18 yard box, dont go to ground or get too close that they can give the ref a decision to make."

Oh, and he did something £70M man couldn't do and found the net.

@Eggs who watches the under 23's a fair bit mate, did point out that he is slow on the turn so it kinda got showed against those lot really, learning experience or shows us he isn't good enough - who knows really, what the game did show is that our cb's who should be good enough are a mile away from what we want and need, Williams shocking today, and Jagielka although way better still looks finished at a decent level

 

[blue61]

He had a poor game and looked lost at times. It was his pairing with Holgate that looked so painfully week. Perhaps swapping him and Jags may have helped, probably not though.

 

[messymascot]

I feel sorry for him playing in a new system with 2 slow centre backs alongside and another centre back playing in front at wing back. The midfield was a man light it would be unfair to judge him on that performance although it was poor. Let's see him in a back 4 with a midfield in front and judge him then.

 

[davek]

@Eggs who watches the under 23's a fair bit mate, did point out that he is slow on the turn so it kinda got showed against those lot really, learning experience or shows us he isn't good enough - who knows really, what the game did show is that our cb's who should be good enough are a mile away from what we want and need, Williams shocking today, and Jagielka although way better still looks finished at a decent level

It looked like the idea that he could play in a three man defence was fantasy. The kid didn't know what to do with overlapping players - whether to stick or twist.

But the answer was obvious and one you and Bullet spoke of above: you play players in their natural positions. Kenny at RB and go with a four man defence. It was a derby, but then again Browning got thrown in late on last season in this fixture and did well enough.

 

[JLW]

@Eggs who watches the under 23's a fair bit mate, did point out that he is slow on the turn so it kinda got showed against those lot really, learning experience or shows us he isn't good enough - who knows really, what the game did show is that our cb's who should be good enough are a mile away from what we want and need, Williams shocking today, and Jagielka although way better still looks finished at a decent level

Cant believe how much pace Jags has lost! CB overhaul is needed in the summer.

 

[bluestevon]

It looked like the idea that he could play in a three man defence was fantasy. The kid didn't know what to do with overlapping players - whether to stick or twist.

But the answer was obvious and one you and Bullet spoke of above: you play players in their natural positions. Kenny at RB and go with a four man defence. It was a derby, but then again Browning got thrown in late on last season in this fixture and did well enough.

Still think sometimes it's easier if you are thrown in during the game as a sub as a young lad mate, not got the time to get nervous, and Pennington just looked nervous (contrast that to Browning for example in the derby when he came on and no nerves)

IF we had to go with a 3 man defence, then you play the player who in all but one game has done well their this season in Holgate and play Kenny at rb -or go back four and play a natural right back in Kenny not Holgate.

Pennington DID make some bad errors on all three goals, second being the most obvious one when he allowed Coutinho to easily turn the way he always wants too - is that a lack of experience or just a lack of nouse - who knows, but he had absolutely zero help from Williams in that game and all three goals where easily preventable had williams played like he does for Wales for example.

Gueye also didn't have the best of games and missed tackles basically left Pennington in one on ones, but then again i said before he isn't a holding midfielder in the Barry or schneiderlin sense who will protect all game, he's someone who disrupts a team with his energy and pressing

 

[bluestevon]

Cant believe how much pace Jags has lost! CB overhaul is needed in the summer.

Can't remember who it was against (maybe Can) but that bit in the second half when he had 10 yards on him and ended up having to slide to reach it first was frightening, then again remember Costa absolutely leaving him for dead like he was Gareth Bale 2-3 times in the Chelsea game and he isn't a fast player, absolutely done at this level, once the pace goes to that extent your finished really

 

[macdog]

Give the young 'uns plenty of match time for the rest of the season. Top 6 is gone, so let's get into some squad development

 

[davek]

Still think sometimes it's easier if you are thrown in during the game as a sub as a young lad mate, not got the time to get nervous, and Pennington just looked nervous (contrast that to Browning for example in the derby when he came on and no nerves)

IF we had to go with a 3 man defence, then you play the player who in all but one game has done well their this season in Holgate and play Kenny at rb -or go back four and play a natural right back in Kenny not Holgate.

Pennington DID make some bad errors on all three goals, second being the most obvious one when he allowed Coutinho to easily turn the way he always wants too - is that a lack of experience or just a lack of nouse - who knows, but he had absolutely zero help from Williams in that game and all three goals where easily preventable had williams played like he does for Wales for example.

Gueye also didn't have the best of games and missed tackles basically left Pennington in one on ones, but then again i said before he isn't a holding midfielder in the Barry or schneiderlin sense who will protect all game, he's someone who disrupts a team with his energy and pressing

On that Coutinho goal: If I was the manager I wouldn't be too critical. He tried to show Coutinho the outside but didn't get close enough to force him that way, but when he did get turned he was still facing him up and I'd have expected the GK to do better than wave the ball into the net.

He wasn't impressive, dont get me wrong. But I have a feeling he;d been told he was up against tricky customers and to not get drawn into rash challenges.