Winning over the critics

May 18 2007 by Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo

THERE’S a fine line between self-confidence and misplaced arrogance and Jermaine Pennant hasn’t always found himself on the right side of it.

As his first season at Anfield threatens to reach a successful climax, however, the Liverpool winger is finally showing there’s more to him than brash statements.

The 24-year-old arrived from the relegated Birmingham last summer cockily vowing he had ‘nothing to prove’ at the highest level, but eight months on he concedes that wasn’t the case.

The demanding Anfield audience, as well as his own manager, begged to differ with his premature sense of certainty, but it’s to Pennant’s credit he now has more admirers than critics and recognises it was going to take time to win them over.

The second half of the campaign, culminating in an outstanding display against Chelsea in the semi-final second leg, suggests the step up in level isn’t beyond the naturally gifted midfielder.

And although his latest bold claim he could have the same impact at Anfield as Cristiano Ronaldo has at Old Trafford is sure to raise eyebrows, nowadays he’s more likely to get the benefit of the doubt he can back up the talk with match-winning performances.

“I feel I’ve got the platform now to push on and have a big impact at the club,” says Pennant.

“It’s always difficult to go to a new club and have a major impact immediately, no matter how hard you try. Not many players go into a big team and then in their first season get off to a flyer.

“If you look at Cristiano Ronaldo, I don’t think he got off to a flyer in his first season at Manchester United.

“It took him a season and a half to really show what he’s capable of.

“Now I’m here, I’ve got used to the pace, the players, the manager and how we’re set up and play.

“I feel it’s set me up to really explode at the club next season.”

Rather than sounding arrogant, there’s been a definite change in Pennant within the space of a year with a growing sense he feels humbled by recent experiences.