Benson to Southampton

[CoolClaret]

Mauric, Zaroury and Benson are all fragile players and easily intimidated.
All three are in the shop window as a result.

Just b0llocks that though isn't it

[boatshed bill]

If we get relegated, many feel its a given we come straight back up. However last year Benson, Tella and Zarroury were sensational and between them scored lots of goals and ensured we won the large number of games we did. All three assisted and also knew where the net was. How do we know Redmond, Larson, Odobert, Koleosho, Tresor will be as effective

Because they are better players?

[Newcastleclaret93]

Because they are better players?

Really?

[boatshed bill]

Really?

Well yes, which is why they are getting game time. With the possible exceptions, Redmond and JBL.

[Nonayforever]

Good move if we use him as a sweetener to lure Adams.

[Newcastleclaret93]

Well yes, which is why they are getting game time. With the possible exceptions, Redmond and JBL.

Collectively the 5 players you have mentioned have 8 goal contributions in 67 Apps.

None of them really been particularly impressive or shown anything to suggest there better than better than benson

[boatshed bill]

Collectively the 5 players you have mentioned have 8 goal contributions in 67 Apps.

None of them really been particularly impressive or shown anything to suggest there better than better than benson

I didn't mention them, it was Warksclaret.
But if you really believe that Benson is being left out arbitrarily hen that's fine with me.

[JohnMcGreal]

He’s obviously not ‘injured’ then. I used to know what players were available but everything is so secretive now. Wouldn’t be surprised if Benson and Zaroury’s noses have be put out of joint by being binned off after the efforts they put in last season.

Which probably means they won't be as useful in the Championship if we do go down. Would they have the same mentality as last season knowing full well they'll be cast aside after getting promoted? Somehow I doubt it.

It kind of begs the question why we didn't just sell them in the summer when their stock was higher.

[Hedontplayforyou]

Zaroury for me has the ability to play in the prem. maybe a few adjustments required I don’t want to see hik go . As much as I’d love Benny to stay and show us his capabilities, I think if you couple his fitness problems, age and lack of strength together this will be the deciding factor in any decision made.

[Nonayforever]

Which probably means they won't be as useful in the Championship if we do go down. Would they have the same mentality as last season knowing full well they'll be cast aside after getting promoted? Somehow I doubt it.

It kind of begs the question why we didn't just sell them in the summer when their stock was higher.

I think VK was nieve and thought Benson would cope in the PL until he saw him brushed aside in the Villa match ( 2nd game)

[Hipper]

Benson. Last season was his best ever at age 27.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manuel_Benson

Can he get better? Doubtful. Can he play at Premier League level. Unlikely. If we can get good money for him now is the time to sell.

Zaroury. Impressive start last season but post World Cup I thought he was poor by the standards he set. He's only 23 though. Perhaps he would be good enough in The Championship but we haven't seen enough of him this year to know how he'll do at Premier League level. I'm doubtful and feel if we get a good offer we should sell.

We also have to consider Twine and McNally. Clearly promotion was too early for them. Both are playing regularly in The Championship. I don't know if Twine is up to our current standard but we could probably use McNally with our current crop of injuries. I think he might be a bit ponderous for The Prem though.

Then there's Cullen. A key player last season but doesn't seem up to Prem levels. We've improved since he hasn't played. If he can't be re-coached in some way I see no point in keeping him. It might be said that he will be useful back in The Championship but I see no point in building another team around him when he can't perform at the highest level.

There are other players that seem to be a waste of space: Churlinov and loanees like Bastien, Peacock-Farrell and Weghorst.

And what's with Obafemi. I wondered why he never got much game time last season and was told 'he was bought for the Premier League'. Well, where is he?

And I've not mentioned the old guard - Cork and Rodriguez. Or Roberts for that matter. None of them really good enough now.

There we are. Sort that lot out!

[Vegas Claret]

Collectively the 5 players you have mentioned have 8 goal contributions in 67 Apps.

None of them really been particularly impressive or shown anything to suggest there better than better than benson

the guy with 4 Premier League titles, 2 FA Cups, 4 League Cups and 89 international caps thinks they are. Pretty sure he knows more about it than every single one of us on here

[boatshed bill]

Benson. Last season was his best ever at age 27.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manuel_Benson

Can he get better? Doubtful. Can he play at Premier League level. Unlikely. If we can get good money for him now is the time to sell.

Zaroury. Impressive start last season but post World Cup I thought he was poor by the standards he set. He's only 23 though. Perhaps he would be good enough in The Championship but we haven't seen enough of him this year to know how he'll do at Premier League level. I'm doubtful and feel if we get a good offer we should sell.

We also have to consider Twine and McNally. Clearly promotion was too early for them. Both are playing regularly in The Championship. I don't know if Twine is up to our current standard but we could probably use McNally with our current crop of injuries. I think he might be a bit ponderous for The Prem though.

Then there's Cullen. A key player last season but doesn't seem up to Prem levels. We've improved since he hasn't played. If he can't be re-coached in some way I see no point in keeping him. It might be said that he will be useful back in The Championship but I see no point in building another team around him when he can't perform at the highest level.

There are other players that seem to be a waste of space: Churlinov and loanees like Bastien, Peacock-Farrell and Weghorst.

And what's with Obafemi. I wondered why he never got much game time last season and was told 'he was bought for the Premier League'. Well, where is he?

And I've not mentioned the old guard - Cork and Rodriguez. Or Roberts for that matter. None of them really good enough now.

There we are. Sort that lot out!

This is a fair appraisal.
In a way we (our squad from last season) are victims of their own success.

[Newcastleclaret93]

the guy with 4 Premier League titles, 2 FA Cups, 4 League Cups and 89 international caps thinks they are. Pretty sure he knows more about it than every single one of us on here

If that’s the barometer than Alex Ferguson must have been **** at picking a player

[CoolClaret]

the guy with 4 Premier League titles, 2 FA Cups, 4 League Cups and 89 international caps thinks they are. Pretty sure he knows more about it than every single one of us on here

Are we really still trotting this tired line out

How’s that working out for Rooney at Birmingham?

[Jakubs Tash]

Probably also worth commenting that there are actually better wingers than Manuel Benson out there. Same style of play, younger, better fitness and more ability - it’s up to the recruitment team to identify them.

[Vegas Claret]

MOD: Attack on another poster which also included unaccaptable language. The poster has been issued with a warning.

[ksrclaret]

ok, let's hear your vast football experience that makes you more qualified than Kompany ? 10 seasons on football manager ?. I know it's a message board so encourages conversation but anyone on here suggesting they know more about football than Kompany is a ******* plank

Nobody has suggested that, but just calm it down a bit eh?

Absolutely no need for the swearing and personal abuse.

[Vegas Claret]

Nobody has suggested that, but just calm it down a bit eh?

Absolutely no need for the swearing and personal abuse.

So you are suggesting that someone who thinks they know more about football on a message board than a professional manager isn't a plank ? Your classification of 'abuse' is pathetic. I suggest you add me to your foe list

[Newcastleclaret93]

So you are suggesting that someone who thinks they know more about football on a message board than a professional manager isn't a plank ? Your classification of 'abuse' is pathetic. I suggest you add me to your foe list

Literally not one person has suggested that haha

[ksrclaret]

So you are suggesting that someone who thinks they know more about football on a message board than a professional manager isn't a plank ? Your classification of 'abuse' is pathetic. I suggest you add me to your foe list

As I've said to my students lots of times over the years, try to disagree with people without calling them names.

I don't have a foe list as I'm happy to keep seeing yours and everyone else's posts.

Happy New Year Vegas. Try to make it a peaceful one.

[Vegas Claret]

Literally not one person has suggested that haha

google what 'inference' means

[burnmark]

Nixon reporting we have turned down the bid, aren’t keen on selling and reluctant to do business with Southampton after the dealings over Tella in the summer.

[Vegas Claret]

As I've said to my students lots of times over the years, try to disagree with people without calling them names.

I don't have a foe list as I'm happy to keep seeing yours and everyone else's posts.

Happy New Year Vegas. Try to make it a peaceful one.

I thought I was being kind by using the word plank You are right of course though, I've called people out for doing the same to others. Apologies lads

[kentonclaret]

Nixon reporting we have turned down the bid, aren’t keen on selling and reluctant to do business with Southampton after the dealings over Tella in the summer.

That would also rule out any prospect of a bid for Che Adams which is another rumour doing the rounds on here.

Two birds (bids) killed off with one stone.

[Nori1958]

Nixon reporting we have turned down the bid, aren’t keen on selling and reluctant to do business with Southampton after the dealings over Tella in the summer.

Shows its best to know the facts before going off on one

[jojomk1]

Whilst he had an excellent first season in the Championship I believe he would have struggled in the Prem
Show him down the line onto his right foot and he is nowhere near as effective - just like JBG
Teams would no doubt also suss him out next season in the Championship
We have to get rid of some of this herd of wingers we have, so we might as well maximise some income from selling a few of them whilst they have value

[Goliath]

Nixon reporting we have turned down the bid, aren’t keen on selling and reluctant to do business with Southampton after the dealings over Tella in the summer.

This puts a different twist on it. I wonder if its been leaked from Benson's end. It might be a smart move for him, they possibly have a better chance of playing PL football than us next season and i'm guessing he'd get a hell of a lot more minutes for them than he is doing for us at the moment.

[Hedontplayforyou]

Benson. Last season was his best ever at age 27.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manuel_Benson

Can he get better? Doubtful. Can he play at Premier League level. Unlikely. If we can get good money for him now is the time to sell.

Zaroury. Impressive start last season but post World Cup I thought he was poor by the standards he set. He's only 23 though. Perhaps he would be good enough in The Championship but we haven't seen enough of him this year to know how he'll do at Premier League level. I'm doubtful and feel if we get a good offer we should sell.

We also have to consider Twine and McNally. Clearly promotion was too early for them. Both are playing regularly in The Championship. I don't know if Twine is up to our current standard but we could probably use McNally with our current crop of injuries. I think he might be a bit ponderous for The Prem though.

Then there's Cullen. A key player last season but doesn't seem up to Prem levels. We've improved since he hasn't played. If he can't be re-coached in some way I see no point in keeping him. It might be said that he will be useful back in The Championship but I see no point in building another team around him when he can't perform at the highest level.

There are other players that seem to be a waste of space: Churlinov and loanees like Bastien, Peacock-Farrell and Weghorst.

And what's with Obafemi. I wondered why he never got much game time last season and was told 'he was bought for the Premier League'. Well, where is he?

And I've not mentioned the old guard - Cork and Rodriguez. Or Roberts for that matter. None of them really good enough now.

There we are. Sort that lot out!

Got to remember last year we were at the very beginning of building a new squad. We were low on numbers and needed a fresh start. Did we expect to go up first time of asking, apparently not. This then meant we had to then try and find another level of player just one summer later. Not every signing is a success, for varying reasons.

We also have in mind a process to sell players on for profits to try and become more sustainable , and we have clearly attacked that this summer with various signings.

With lots of young players this struggle was clearly expected by VK with comments he made early season. We do deserve a few more points on the board and it has been very frustrating to see .

Would I have like to see Benson and Zaroury given a fair shot at it? Yes of course, but if they aren’t up to standard st the moment then a solution has to be found.

We are still building but currently find ourselves at the top table, for how much longer remains to be seen but we still don’t have that settled squad feel which may take a little longer into the process.

[ksrclaret]

Strange as that Sacha bloke is usually the most reliable journalist when it comes to the futures of Belgian players.

[Vegas Claret]

Strange as that Sacha bloke is usually the most reliable journalist when it comes to the futures of Belgian players.

he is excellent BUT he was wrong on a few in the summer (not just for us), impossible to be right all of the time with transfers though.

[Goliath]

Strange as that Sacha bloke is usually the most reliable journalist when it comes to the futures of Belgian players.

I get the feeling he has a strong link to Benson's agent

[Nori1958]

he is excellent BUT he was wrong on a few in the summer (not just for us), impossible to be right all of the time with transfers though.

Sounds like Southampton have put a bid in, so wasn't all wrong

[CoolClaret]

ok, let's hear your vast football experience that makes you more qualified than Kompany ? 10 seasons on football manager ?. I know it's a message board so encourages conversation but anyone on here suggesting they know more about football than Kompany is a ******* plank

Just making things up now?

Half don’t know if you’re on the windup at times Vegas or at least a bit hypocritical.

Seems like it’s absolutely fair game for you to criticise certain aspects about the club but anyone else with a differing critical views, then it’s ’a f***ing plank who thinks they know more than the manager’.

C’mon now….

HNY

[CoolClaret]

I thought I was being kind by using the word plank You are right of course though, I've called people out for doing the same to others. Apologies lads

Didn’t see this before my retort -

No hard feelings of course!

[Vegas Claret]

Didn’t see this before my retort -

No hard feelings of course!

never mate, not worth holding on to stuff posted on here

[alwaysaclaret]

Because they are better players?

Why not give it a rest !

[boatshed bill]

Why not give it a rest !

Why not use a question mark?
Happy New Year to you.

[ClaretAL]

Guys just for 1 night please

[alwaysaclaret]

Why not use a question mark?
Happy New Year to you.

Mmmmmmmm....... ?

[jedi_master]

Loan him? No problem. Sell? Only if we stay up. Clearly the club feel similarly if Nixon is correct.

We know where we’re likely to be next season - here’s to another 30 odd sub appearances from Benny after Tresor, Koleosho and Zaroury have tired our opponents out (I reckon we’ll sell Odobert).

[Lowbankclaret]

Benson. Last season was his best ever at age 27.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manuel_Benson

Can he get better? Doubtful. Can he play at Premier League level. Unlikely. If we can get good money for him now is the time to sell.

Zaroury. Impressive start last season but post World Cup I thought he was poor by the standards he set. He's only 23 though. Perhaps he would be good enough in The Championship but we haven't seen enough of him this year to know how he'll do at Premier League level. I'm doubtful and feel if we get a good offer we should sell.

We also have to consider Twine and McNally. Clearly promotion was too early for them. Both are playing regularly in The Championship. I don't know if Twine is up to our current standard but we could probably use McNally with our current crop of injuries. I think he might be a bit ponderous for The Prem though.

Then there's Cullen. A key player last season but doesn't seem up to Prem levels. We've improved since he hasn't played. If he can't be re-coached in some way I see no point in keeping him. It might be said that he will be useful back in The Championship but I see no point in building another team around him when he can't perform at the highest level.

There are other players that seem to be a waste of space: Churlinov and loanees like Bastien, Peacock-Farrell and Weghorst.

And what's with Obafemi. I wondered why he never got much game time last season and was told 'he was bought for the Premier League'. Well, where is he?

And I've not mentioned the old guard - Cork and Rodriguez. Or Roberts for that matter. None of them really good enough now.

There we are. Sort that lot out!

About sums it it correctly.

[morpheus2]

Just making things up now?

Half don’t know if you’re on the windup at times Vegas or at least a bit hypocritical.

Seems like it’s absolutely fair game for you to criticise certain aspects about the club but anyone else with a differing critical views, then it’s ’a f***ing plank who thinks they know more than the manager’.

C’mon now….

HNY

I'm definitely not going to complain about the atrocious cold/burned/overpriced/nomealdeals catering in the concourse because I'm not a catering manager, I couldn't do better (I did however play on Fast Food 4 on PC for a year or two)

[Vegas Claret]

I think Obafemi was a relatively cheap punt for us

[Westleigh]

This puts a different twist on it. I wonder if its been leaked from Benson's end. It might be a smart move for him, they possibly have a better chance of playing PL football than us next season and i'm guessing he'd get a hell of a lot more minutes for them than he is doing for us at the moment.

If The Saints didn’t rate Tella before he came to us I can’t image Benson would be on their radar.

[thelifeofbrian]

No need to Keep Benson, we have Ramsey and Tresor who clearly are miles ahead in ability .

[Westleigh]

No need to Keep Benson, we have Ramsey and Tresor who clearly are miles ahead in ability .

Hope you were being sarcastic there.

[StayingDown4Ever]

Are we finally collecting that £40,000,000 everyone was saying we’d get for him?

Throw in Zaroury as well and let’s collect £80,000,000

[TsarBomba]

Not sure that I'm a fan of 'this model'.

Don't want to be a club that moves players on every other year - hard to get behind a new team every 12-24 month.

Really hammers home that we're commercial first, football second.. not for me

Exactly where I’m at.

I’ve always taken a rather dim view of clubs that discarded players that helped them get promoted. I heavily disliked the Watford multi club approach with Udinese, and the back alley deals, but really, we’re no better now.

I’ve always felt, as a club, we had a bit of class. We never hired and fired managers, and we always had a pretty stable squad year on year.

We have a connection to the club, in part, because of the players that pull on the shirt. We all have our greats down the years. I can be driving to work and I’ll suddenly think about Glen slaloming through the Bristol Rovers defence or Gnohere playing a delightful 1-2 to score a late winner at Deepdale. I probably cheered that little bit harder too, because it was scored by a player that I had built a connection with.

This ‘moneyball’ approach will put an end to all that. We’re nothing more than a glorified cattle market.

I may be going slightly OTT on this, but it’s a strength of feeling I have, and I know one a lot of others share too.

[elwaclaret]

Exactly where I’m at.

I’ve always taken a rather dim view of clubs that discarded players that helped them get promoted. I heavily disliked the Watford multi club approach with Udinese, and the back alley deals, but really, we’re no better now.

I’ve always felt, as a club, we had a bit of class. We never hired and fired managers, and we always had a pretty stable squad year on year.

We have a connection to the club, in part, because of the players that pull on the shirt. We all have our greats down the years. I can be driving to work and I’ll suddenly think about Glen slaloming through the Bristol Rovers defence or Gnohere playing a delightful 1-2 to score a late winner at Deepdale. I probably cheered that little bit harder too, because it was scored by a player that I had built a connection with.

This ‘moneyball’ approach will put an end to all that. We’re nothing more than a glorified cattle market.

I may be going slightly OTT on this, but it’s a strength of feeling I have, and I know one a lot of others share too.

It was the Bob Lord model. Bring ‘em in, bring them on and accept any decent bids, with their replacement ready. He’d have a grin like a Cheshire Cat given a season with today’s transfer market, in his day.