Pennant...

[Paul]

I didn't want him before and I don't want him now. He's a twice-convicted drink-driving arsehole. He came across as very cocky in that interview when he didn't really have all that great a game. From what I've seen so far, I don't rate him as a Liverpool player at all: no bottle, no aggression, no pace (where did that urban myth come from?), no goals. Of course I hope he comes good, but I can't help but think he'll only ever be a squad player here. He's got no heart. Carra's shows more in his warm-ups than Pennant does in his best performances.

[Brownie]

I didn't want him before and I don't want him now. He's a twice-convicted drink-driving arsehole. He came across as very cocky in that interview when he didn't really have all that great a game. From what I've seen so far, I don't rate him as a Liverpool player at all: no bottle, no aggression, no pace (where did that urban myth come from?), no goals. Of course I hope he comes good, but I can't help but think he'll only ever be a squad player here. He's got no heart. Carra's shows more in his warm-ups than Pennant does in his best performances.

 

I wish I didn't agree with you, I really do.

 

I was watching him in the warm-up for one of the games the other week, and he just has this half-hearted look about him which makes it very difficult to give him any rope when he's not performing very well.

 

I just don't know what to think about him. One thing that I find curious is the way Gerrard stuck up for him the other week after the Bolton game, and also how he celebrated the goal on Saturday with him.

 

I'm not usually one for analysing body language and that, but it seems that Gerrard really rates him and wants him to do well - or is that just me?

[Mr Moustache]

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/tm_headline=exclusive%2D-i-used-to-be-like-a-dog-on-heat%2D%2D-now-all-i-want-is-to-win-back-girl-i-love%26method=full%26objectid=18516310%26siteid=94762-name_page.html

[ali]

23 January 2007 - Daily Mail

EXCLUSIVE: I USED TO BE LIKE A DOG ON HEAT.. NOW ALL I WANT IS TO WIN BACK GIRL I LOVE

By Sarah Tetteh

 

HE was once a regular fixture in London's glitziest clubs, where he lapped up the booze and the attention of gold-digging women keen to bed a Premiership footballer.

 

But Jermaine Pennant's world came crashing down when he was jailed for drink-driving and ditched by his long-term girlfriend.

 

Now, the Liverpool midfielder has got his career back on track - he scored a wonder goal against Chelsea on Saturday - and he's determined to win back the love of his life, Laura Wallis.

 

In a candid interview with the Daily Mirror, the 24-year-old, who grew up on one of Britain's toughest council estates, gives a graphic insight into the wild life of a young, minted Premiership star.

 

"I was always out partying," he reveals, "and, because of who I was, the girls flocked to me - they didn't make it hard. Being a footballer, they throw themselves at you and I lapped it up.

 

"When we were all single, Ashley Cole, Jermaine Jenas and my other friends would pull most nights. It would be hard to say no if they came in packs.

 

"But not all the kiss-and-tells are true. Except the five-times-a-night bit and outdoors! I was like a dog on heat but now I've changed my ways."

 

Pennant, whose parents split up when he was three, grew up on the notorious Meadows estate in Nottingham.

 

He began his career at Notts County before moving to Arsenal for £2million at 15. It was here that his clubbing went into overdrive. He eventually went to Birmingham in 2005 and last summer he was sold to Liverpool for £6.7million.

 

These days, the older and wiser star shuns bars and clubs, preferring to stay home with his puppy Snoop, have a takeaway and play on his Xbox 360.

 

As we sink into his chocolate-brown chaise longue, which curls around the perimeter of the living room of his Cheshire pile, Pennant can't help showing off his incredible home.

 

His latest investment in the £1million, six-bedroom pad is an outdoor hot-tub, which seats six and has a saucy electric-blue light. Outside is a pool, lake and tennis courts, while inside workmen are creating a sunken bath for his master bedroom.

 

BUT Pennant has no one to share it all with. The one person he wants to be with - ex-girlfriend Laura, who he met when he was 20 - left him after three years because she couldn't put up with stories of his womanising.

 

He admits the reason he bought the house was to win Laura back but perhaps, I suggest, she just needs to know he's serious.

 

"I'd like to set the record straight. I did not cheat on Laura with Candy or that other kiss-and-tell girl," he says. "Laura and I weren't dating at the time. I've definitely got it in me to be faithful. I've got a lot out of my system. It happened because I did too much, too young.

 

"I should have told Laura 'let's split up', so I could do my thing. But I wanted to have my cake and eat it." He shakes his head sadly. "Laura and I had some romantic holidays... We'd talk about going somewhere one minute and the next we were on the plane."

 

They flew to Mauritius one year - which cost about £6,000 - and when the weather was bad, they went on to Dubai and stayed in a seven-star hotel.

 

"We went to Nice and we were planning to go to America and Hawaii... If she comes back, we'll do that," he says.

 

Recalling how he went off the rails, the 5ft 8in star describes a typical night out. "We'd start with a couple of drinks around one of our houses, then go to a restaurant. We didn't care whether the food was posh.

 

"We'd then go to a bar like Sugar Reef and on to the old Emporium or Titanic. At the clubs, we were treated like royalty. We didn't queue and never had to pay. We'd do shots and play tricks on each other.

 

"One time we singled out someone else in the group and ignored them the entire night. The first one to break that had to do a forfeit. We had to go around the club on all fours barking like a dog or make chicken noises."

 

It was the realisation he wasn't above the law that finally made him come to his senses. In March 2005, he was sentenced to three months in jail for drink-driving while banned.

 

He was released after 30 days and became the first footballer to play wearing an electronic tag.

 

"Drink-driving is the worst thing I have done and having my freedom taken away was terrible," he explains. "When the judge told me I was going down, the first thing I thought of was my career. Then Laura, my family and the friends I'd let down. When they locked my cell door, it was horrible. I couldn't sleep.

 

I'd lay awake just thinking about what would happen when I got out.

 

"At the start of every night I'd long for the next day. That was the point I decided to turn my life around."

 

HIS spirits only lifted during visiting times, when he saw his agent Sky Andrews, pals Ashley Cole and Paolo Vernazza, Birmingham manager Steve Bruce and ex-girlfriend Laura.

 

Given his record for bad behaviour, he didn't blame people if they kept him at arms' length when he was released. Pals were shocked when he didn't attend best friend Ashley's wedding to Girls Aloud's Cheryl Tweedy last summer.

 

Although at the time he blamed pre-season training commitments, it seems there was a deeper issue.

 

"Cheryl wanted to keep Ashley to herself and not have him led astray," he admits. "And I wouldn't blame her. But we've all grown up now. I'm sure she wouldn't mind if I went out with Ash now.

 

"I'm so happy for him. Jenas has settled down, too. We've done a lot of messing around but we're 23, 24 now. We're moving on to next level."

 

Pennant's current manager, Rafa Benitez, is also delighted that his winger has finally seen the light.

 

"Rafa knows the bad days are gone," says Jermaine. "When I first joined Liverpool it was in Rafa's mind that I had been a bad boy. But we had a talk about it and squashed it at the beginning. Still, he does prefer it if you have a girlfriend - so you won't be led astray!

 

"But that won't happen again. Playing for Liverpool - the club I've always supported - is a dream come true."

 

All he needs now is for ex-love Laura to come back, so he can settle down with her and have children. Like the Beckhams, he believes they, too, can work it out.

 

"I never believed David cheated on Victoria. But people do make stupid mistakes and get over it," he says.

 

"I want kids and I've even picked out names. But I certainly won't be calling any of them Jermaine. With Defoe and Jenas, there's too many of us already!"

[Moschops II]

:whistle:

[Kopite]

I'd love to be a footballer.

[thechap]

If there was any truth at all in the stories that West Ham offered us 7 million for him and we knocked them back, then we're fucking nuts. One nicely taken goal in six months? And that's enough to have that smug little smirk on your face all the way through your TV interviews?

 

Never going to be good enough. How many millions are we going to end up losing on him?

 

 

Well, in his defence, he is from a lower class background. And I don't mean to be elitist - some of his family are quite well 'known'. If he weren't a footballer his list of possible careers would not take long to read. And I don't think he is the sharpest tool in the box. Therefore when suddenly finding himself on millions of tv screens and with millions in the bank, he is unlikely to be the one to conduct himself with the most humility out of the entire squad.

 

It doesn't make him a bad person and doesn't mean he's not a good footballer. I think he deserves a lot more time and, like others on here, think he will prove to be a very good signing. I hope.

[Mr Piechnik]

I dont think he shows anywhere near enough commitment in games, but you can see that there is ability its just a case of him seeing what the fans see and giving your all in every game. He probably thought he could just come to Liverpool and slot right into the team and the fans would take to him straight away, you definitely get the sense that hes a bit bewildered by the size of the club hes come to.

 

There seems to be a minority of supporters who would love nothing more than to see him fall on his arse and make it there mission to hound the shit out of him though.

 

Give him a bit of time to shape up, if hes still not cutting it by this time next season then the criticism will be justified.

[Strontium]

Well, in his defence, he is from a lower class background. And I don't mean to be elitist - some of his family are quite well 'known'.

You got that right. Pennant's family is a notoriously poor one. If he wasn't a footballer, he'd have probably become a career criminal. Hell, he ended up in prison for a bit anyway. So while I wouldn't want to condone his attitude or his misdemeanours in the past, it's important to put them in the context of his upbringing.

[Big Ig]

Pete (DT) and I were discussing this on Saturday night.

 

Pete was saying that after his goal on Saturday, Pennant should have been saying words to the effect of "I know I haven't been performing to the best of my abilty, but I hope this is a sign of things to come..."

 

Instead he came across as being incredibly self satisfied.

 

More worrying quotes from him today...

 

“I feel as though I am settled in at Anfield now.

 

“I feel far more comfortable, and I feel as though I am proving people wrong still.

 

“I’m getting more confidence and looking forward to every game. Perhaps I’ve proved a few more people wrong with this performance. But the manager has said he has always had belief in me, that’s why he signed me.”

 

No mate, it's not about proving people wrong, it's about producing your form, which you haven't been doing. People are justied in questioning why we laid out £7m for him, with little or no return up until Saturday morning, so people aren't wrong. He hasn't been unfairly criticised and he hasn't been wronged as he seems to think

 

And one swing of your right boot doesn't make a season either, so get the fuck on with it, and start thinking about earning your money rather than feeling sorry for yourself because a few people have been on your back for half a season of mediocrity (at best)

 

My immediate thoughts exactly after reading the quotes. Makes me rather wary of his mentality...

[RedAdmiral]

He's a major tit! I really dont like him and hope he is out the door by next season!

[africanherbsman]

23 January 2007 - Daily Mail

EXCLUSIVE: I USED TO BE LIKE A DOG ON HEAT.. NOW ALL I WANT IS TO WIN BACK GIRL I LOVE

By Sarah Tetteh

 

HE was once a regular fixture in London's glitziest clubs, where he lapped up the booze and the attention of gold-digging women keen to bed a Premiership footballer.

 

But Jermaine Pennant's world came crashing down when he was jailed for drink-driving and ditched by his long-term girlfriend.

 

Now, the Liverpool midfielder has got his career back on track - he scored a wonder goal against Chelsea on Saturday - and he's determined to win back the love of his life, Laura Wallis.

 

In a candid interview with the Daily Mirror, the 24-year-old, who grew up on one of Britain's toughest council estates, gives a graphic insight into the wild life of a young, minted Premiership star.

 

"I was always out partying," he reveals, "and, because of who I was, the girls flocked to me - they didn't make it hard. Being a footballer, they throw themselves at you and I lapped it up.

 

"When we were all single, Ashley Cole, Jermaine Jenas and my other friends would pull most nights. It would be hard to say no if they came in packs.

 

"But not all the kiss-and-tells are true. Except the five-times-a-night bit and outdoors! I was like a dog on heat but now I've changed my ways."

 

Pennant, whose parents split up when he was three, grew up on the notorious Meadows estate in Nottingham.

 

He began his career at Notts County before moving to Arsenal for £2million at 15. It was here that his clubbing went into overdrive. He eventually went to Birmingham in 2005 and last summer he was sold to Liverpool for £6.7million.

 

These days, the older and wiser star shuns bars and clubs, preferring to stay home with his puppy Snoop, have a takeaway and play on his Xbox 360.

 

As we sink into his chocolate-brown chaise longue, which curls around the perimeter of the living room of his Cheshire pile, Pennant can't help showing off his incredible home.

 

His latest investment in the £1million, six-bedroom pad is an outdoor hot-tub, which seats six and has a saucy electric-blue light. Outside is a pool, lake and tennis courts, while inside workmen are creating a sunken bath for his master bedroom.

 

BUT Pennant has no one to share it all with. The one person he wants to be with - ex-girlfriend Laura, who he met when he was 20 - left him after three years because she couldn't put up with stories of his womanising.

 

He admits the reason he bought the house was to win Laura back but perhaps, I suggest, she just needs to know he's serious.

 

"I'd like to set the record straight. I did not cheat on Laura with Candy or that other kiss-and-tell girl," he says. "Laura and I weren't dating at the time. I've definitely got it in me to be faithful. I've got a lot out of my system. It happened because I did too much, too young.

 

"I should have told Laura 'let's split up', so I could do my thing. But I wanted to have my cake and eat it." He shakes his head sadly. "Laura and I had some romantic holidays... We'd talk about going somewhere one minute and the next we were on the plane."

 

They flew to Mauritius one year - which cost about £6,000 - and when the weather was bad, they went on to Dubai and stayed in a seven-star hotel.

 

"We went to Nice and we were planning to go to America and Hawaii... If she comes back, we'll do that," he says.

 

Recalling how he went off the rails, the 5ft 8in star describes a typical night out. "We'd start with a couple of drinks around one of our houses, then go to a restaurant. We didn't care whether the food was posh.

 

"We'd then go to a bar like Sugar Reef and on to the old Emporium or Titanic. At the clubs, we were treated like royalty. We didn't queue and never had to pay. We'd do shots and play tricks on each other.

 

"One time we singled out someone else in the group and ignored them the entire night. The first one to break that had to do a forfeit. We had to go around the club on all fours barking like a dog or make chicken noises."

 

It was the realisation he wasn't above the law that finally made him come to his senses. In March 2005, he was sentenced to three months in jail for drink-driving while banned.

 

He was released after 30 days and became the first footballer to play wearing an electronic tag.

 

"Drink-driving is the worst thing I have done and having my freedom taken away was terrible," he explains. "When the judge told me I was going down, the first thing I thought of was my career. Then Laura, my family and the friends I'd let down. When they locked my cell door, it was horrible. I couldn't sleep.

 

I'd lay awake just thinking about what would happen when I got out.

 

"At the start of every night I'd long for the next day. That was the point I decided to turn my life around."

 

HIS spirits only lifted during visiting times, when he saw his agent Sky Andrews, pals Ashley Cole and Paolo Vernazza, Birmingham manager Steve Bruce and ex-girlfriend Laura.

 

Given his record for bad behaviour, he didn't blame people if they kept him at arms' length when he was released. Pals were shocked when he didn't attend best friend Ashley's wedding to Girls Aloud's Cheryl Tweedy last summer.

 

Although at the time he blamed pre-season training commitments, it seems there was a deeper issue.

 

"Cheryl wanted to keep Ashley to herself and not have him led astray," he admits. "And I wouldn't blame her. But we've all grown up now. I'm sure she wouldn't mind if I went out with Ash now.

 

"I'm so happy for him. Jenas has settled down, too. We've done a lot of messing around but we're 23, 24 now. We're moving on to next level."

 

Pennant's current manager, Rafa Benitez, is also delighted that his winger has finally seen the light.

 

"Rafa knows the bad days are gone," says Jermaine. "When I first joined Liverpool it was in Rafa's mind that I had been a bad boy. But we had a talk about it and squashed it at the beginning. Still, he does prefer it if you have a girlfriend - so you won't be led astray!

 

"But that won't happen again. Playing for Liverpool - the club I've always supported - is a dream come true."

 

All he needs now is for ex-love Laura to come back, so he can settle down with her and have children. Like the Beckhams, he believes they, too, can work it out.

 

"I never believed David cheated on Victoria. But people do make stupid mistakes and get over it," he says.

 

"I want kids and I've even picked out names. But I certainly won't be calling any of them Jermaine. With Defoe and Jenas, there's too many of us already!"

 

That interview made me cringe.

[aws]

I used to want to win back the girl I loved but now I just want to be like a dog on heat.

 

Life is tough sometimes.

[Guest Ulysses Everett McGill]

These are his friends http://www.leehotti.com/

 

What the fuck is that all about?

 

I Guarantee every one of those beauts still lives with thier ma.

 

And as far as Mr Pennant is concerned, he has the brains of a 12 year old, but, apparently is a nice enough lad, if a little bit thick.

[Karl_b]

What the fuck is that all about?

 

I Guarantee every one of those beauts still lives with thier ma.

 

And as far as Mr Pennant is concerned, he has the brains of a 12 year old, but, apparently is a nice enough lad, if a little bit thick.

 

That is an ace website. Its like what we did to Monty but a thousand times worse.

 

I have a plan.

[Maldini]

What the fuck is that all about?

 

I Guarantee every one of those beauts still lives with thier ma.

 

And as far as Mr Pennant is concerned, he has the brains of a 12 year old, but, apparently is a nice enough lad, if a little bit thick.

 

It originates from a forum on Sherdog.com an MMA(mixed martial arts site)/UFC site. A guy posted a pic of him and his mates at of one of the UFCs and it became internet legend

[KopOut]

Pete (DT) and I were discussing this on Saturday night.

 

Pete was saying that after his goal on Saturday, Pennant should have been saying words to the effect of "I know I haven't been performing to the best of my abilty, but I hope this is a sign of things to come..."

 

Instead he came across as being incredibly self satisfied.

 

More worrying quotes from him today...

 

“I feel as though I am settled in at Anfield now.

 

“I feel far more comfortable, and I feel as though I am proving people wrong still.

 

“I’m getting more confidence and looking forward to every game. Perhaps I’ve proved a few more people wrong with this performance. But the manager has said he has always had belief in me, that’s why he signed me.”

 

No mate, it's not about proving people wrong, it's about producing your form, which you haven't been doing. People are justied in questioning why we laid out £7m for him, with little or no return up until Saturday morning, so people aren't wrong. He hasn't been unfairly criticised and he hasn't been wronged as he seems to think

 

And one swing of your right boot doesn't make a season either, so get the fuck on with it, and start thinking about earning your money rather than feeling sorry for yourself because a few people have been on your back for half a season of mediocrity (at best)

 

Yes, he can be very satisfied with himself now. Wonderful goal and some great battling performances of late, not to mention real skill on the ball.

 

Not to mention Ol' Spanish Grumpy Pants keeps picking him.

 

Not to mention Gerrard and Alonso not exactly worth their weight this season, or Carragher being mistake free ( a certain henry goal.)

 

"Jermaine, Jermaine,

He really plays the game for

Liverpoooooool, Liverpoooooooool.

 

He's good, you bet,

he sticks it in the net for

Liverpooool, Liverpoooooool"

 

Oi Loike 'im

[Guest Ulysses Everett McGill]

I didn't want him before and I don't want him now. He's a twice-convicted drink-driving arsehole. He came across as very cocky in that interview when he didn't really have all that great a game. From what I've seen so far, I don't rate him as a Liverpool player at all: no bottle, no aggression, no pace (where did that urban myth come from?), no goals. Of course I hope he comes good, but I can't help but think he'll only ever be a squad player here. He's got no heart. Carra's shows more in his warm-ups than Pennant does in his best performances.

 

He is actually lightning quick, but not with the ball at his feet, kind of like Djib.

 

Probably also being hindered by the fact that Rafa likes him to come inside, which means he has to have a much higher degree of control on the ball, as opposed to when he was at Brum and he could hug the line and just knock the ball into the space ahead and chase it.

[Paul]

He is actually lightning quick, but not with the ball at his feet, kind of like Djib.

 

Probably also being hindered by the fact that Rafa likes him to come inside, which means he has to have a much higher degree of control on the ball, as opposed to when he was at Brum and he could hug the line and just knock the ball into the space ahead and chase it.

 

I'll have to take your word for that as I've never seen it, but what's the point of being fast without the ball anyway (especially if you're not a defender and you're a bit of a shithouse, to boot)?

[Moschops II]

Yes, he can be very satisfied with himself now. Wonderful goal and some great battling performances of late, not to mention real skill on the ball.

 

Not to mention Ol' Spanish Grumpy Pants keeps picking him.

 

Not to mention Gerrard and Alonso not exactly worth their weight this season, or Carragher being mistake free ( a certain henry goal.)

 

"Jermaine, Jermaine,

He really plays the game for

Liverpoooooool, Liverpoooooooool.

 

He's good, you bet,

he sticks it in the net for

Liverpooool, Liverpoooooool"

 

Oi Loike 'im

 

Where to start...?

[Moschops II]

I'll have to take your word for that as I've never seen it, but what's the point of being fast without the ball anyway (especially if you're not a defender and you're a bit of a shithouse, to boot)?

 

I thought that was hilarious - all I could think of was the entire game going on around him while he just randomly and obliviously ran up and down the right wing, you know, dead fast.

[Brownie]

Pennant is NOT 'lightning quick'. I'm sorry like, but he's just not.

[RedKnight]

He's 'White Lightning' quick, no.

[dave u]

I've been told that Rafa has definitely not been telling him to come inside when he has the ball. Rafa was getting really pissed off with that, and kept trying to drum it into him to stay wide and get his crosses in.

[RedKnight]

How dare you ignore my white lighning gag by offering insight into Rafa's thinking.