ARTICLE: Benson is the shining light at the Etihad

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Thu Dec 03, 2020 11:26 am

Man of the match & player ratings result v Man City, player of the month result and current player of the year table.

See link
https://www.uptheclarets.com/benson-is- ... the-etihad

FCBurnley · Post by **FCBurnley** » Thu Dec 03, 2020 12:19 pm

Says it all

jurek · Post by **jurek** » Thu Dec 03, 2020 11:28 pm

I'm a tad confused about where Benson stands
in terms of getting games for Burnley?
As far as I can recall he started against Millwall in the Cup
and came on as sub in the remaining two Cup games against
Sheff Utd and City. And then started on Saturday against City in the league.
Although I've only seen him in a full game against Milwall from what
I could see and, by all accounts (from others), especially in the last game
he certainly hasn't look out of place.
He clearly has the potential to break into the team and yet I read
somewhere that Stone wants him to go out on loan to help his development.
Can't help but think that him going out on loan again
might not be the best thing for him. Especially as we're light in midfield.
Cork is out for another few weeks at least and coming back from a serious injury.
Stephens hasn't really done much since his arrival.
Westwood might be running out of steam.

Doesn't it make more sense to keep him and try and give him a few more
games/time on the pitch?

tiger76 · Post by **tiger76** » Thu Dec 03, 2020 11:52 pm

jurek wrote: ↑
Thu Dec 03, 2020 11:28 pm
I'm a tad confused about where Benson stands
in terms of getting games for Burnley?
As far as I can recall he started against Millwall in the Cup
and came on as sub in the remaining two Cup games against
Sheff Utd and City. And then started on Saturday against City in the league.
Although I've only seen him in a full game against Milwall from what
I could see and, by all accounts (from others), especially in the last game
he certainly hasn't look out of place.
He clearly has the potential to break into the team and yet I read
somewhere that Stone wants him to go out on loan to help his development.
Can't help but think that him going out on loan again
might not be the best thing for him. Especially as we're light in midfield.
Cork is out for another few weeks at least and coming back from a serious injury.
Stephens hasn't really done much since his arrival.
Westwood might be running out of steam.

Doesn't it make more sense to keep him and try and give him a few more
games/time on the pitch?

Well! I certainly wouldn't be letting him go out on loan ATM, indeed there's even an argument for Benson playing in cm, and Brownhill when he returns playing on the right, if he's good enough then we need to get him on the park.

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Fri Dec 04, 2020 12:41 am

He can’t go out on loan at the moment because the window is closed.

His loan at Grimsby last season was of great benefit to him. Dyche has said as much again today. He could have gone to higher clubs in the last window but didn’t because of our injury problems. Come January we have a decision to make and if he’s not going to get regular game time in the Premier League then a loan is a good option.

Vegas Claret · Post by **Vegas Claret** » Fri Dec 04, 2020 2:25 am

I'm quite excited about Benson, has something we lack in terms of composure. A lot to learn no doubt but if I was going to loan him out it would be to a good Championship side

FactualFrank · Post by **FactualFrank** » Fri Dec 04, 2020 7:58 am

I read recently saying the plan is to give him another loan spell.

tiger76 · Post by **tiger76** » Fri Dec 04, 2020 10:43 am

ClaretTony wrote: ↑
Fri Dec 04, 2020 12:41 am
He can’t go out on loan at the moment because the window is closed.

His loan at Grimsby last season was of great benefit to him. Dyche has said as much again today. He could have gone to higher clubs in the last window but didn’t because of our injury problems. Come January we have a decision to make and if he’s not going to get regular game time in the Premier League then a loan is a good option.

No I understand the window's closed, by ATM I meant January, however if Brownhill, Cork, Stephens & Westwood are all fit by then, it might be worth considering a loan for the lad, he needs 1st team football at a good level, ideally at Championship level if he is too continue developing, he's shown in his brief appearances that he's capable of being successful at that level.

FactualFrank · Post by **FactualFrank** » Fri Dec 04, 2020 11:02 am

tiger76 wrote: ↑
Fri Dec 04, 2020 10:43 am
No I understand the window's closed, by ATM I meant January, however if Brownhill, Cork, Stephens & Westwood are all fit by then, it might be worth considering a loan for the lad, he needs 1st team football at a good level, ideally at Championship level if he is too continue developing, he's shown in his brief appearances that he's capable of being successful at that level.

A loan spell at a top 6 level Championship club would be excellent for him and Burnley.

boatshed bill · Post by **boatshed bill** » Fri Dec 04, 2020 11:21 am

FactualFrank wrote: ↑
Fri Dec 04, 2020 11:02 am
A loan spell at a top 6 level Championship club would be excellent for him and Burnley.

Or not, who can say.
If any player on the fringe of the first team needs some football i'd say it would be Goodridge.

FactualFrank · Post by **FactualFrank** » Fri Dec 04, 2020 11:23 am

boatshed bill wrote: ↑
Fri Dec 04, 2020 11:21 am
Or not, who can say.

You've lost me.

bfcjg · Post by **bfcjg** » Fri Dec 04, 2020 11:25 am

Good lad.

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Fri Dec 04, 2020 11:42 am

tiger76 wrote: ↑
Fri Dec 04, 2020 10:43 am
No I understand the window's closed, by ATM I meant January, however if Brownhill, Cork, Stephens & Westwood are all fit by then, it might be worth considering a loan for the lad, he needs 1st team football at a good level, ideally at Championship level if he is too continue developing, he's shown in his brief appearances that he's capable of being successful at that level.

I couldn't agree more - he got great benefit earlier this year from the Grimsby loan and hopefully we'll be able to get him to a club somewhat higher placed if a loan is thought to be the best move for him.

dibraidio · Post by **dibraidio** » Fri Dec 04, 2020 1:44 pm

FactualFrank wrote: ↑
Fri Dec 04, 2020 11:02 am
A loan spell at a top 6 level Championship club would be excellent for him and Burnley.

Is it just me who finds that expectation unrealistic?

I'd have thought we'd be lucky to get him out to the championship at all. Jay Rod went to Barnsley but he'd already had 28 games in the Championship for us. We've done OK getting players to clubs at the top end of league one and occasionally to the Scottish Premier but have we had a young player go out to the Championship since Jay? I'm not counting the likes of Gibson here.

claretandy · Post by **claretandy** » Fri Dec 04, 2020 2:21 pm

tiger76 wrote: ↑
Fri Dec 04, 2020 10:43 am
No I understand the window's closed, by ATM I meant January, however if Brownhill, Cork, Stephens & Westwood are all fit by then, it might be worth considering a loan for the lad, he needs 1st team football at a good level, ideally at Championship level if he is too continue developing, he's shown in his brief appearances that he's capable of being successful at that level.

Cork is only just back on the grass, could still be 2 months away from the first team, Sephens has just recently been injured, Benson is currently 3 choice.

Dark Cloud · Post by **Dark Cloud** » Fri Dec 04, 2020 2:30 pm

It strikes me the loan situation can be a difficult one, not just for the clubs involved, but for the players themselves. Take Phillips for example, he agrees to go on loan to Morecambe for the season, is playing every week, doing well and appears to be a linchpin of their team. Sounds like a win, win, but when injuries strike "back at base" and needs must, the players left there get their opportunities first. I'm not saying Benson didn't deserve it or even that Phillips does, I'm just siting that as an example and saying when you're out on loan and then suddenly look back and see others getting thrown in and getting a do due to a "crisis" it could be frustrating, especially if in your own mind you believe you are higher in the pecking order.By the same token Benson could agree a loan in January and then find he would probably have been playing PL football had he stayed, if injuries pile up again.

tiger76 · Post by **tiger76** » Fri Dec 04, 2020 2:33 pm

claretandy wrote: ↑
Fri Dec 04, 2020 2:21 pm
Cork is only just back on the grass, could still be 2 months away from the first team, Sephens has just recently been injured, Benson is currently 3 choice.

As it stands that is correct, hence why I stated if the 4 senior pros are fit we should consider Loaning Benson out, but if they aren't available by January then we absolutely need to keep Josh in the 1st team fold, I'm assuming we won't recruit any new cm's in the upcoming window, so we need to utilise the resources we do currently possess, and right now that includes the under 23's.

boatshed bill · Post by **boatshed bill** » Fri Dec 04, 2020 2:36 pm

tiger76 wrote: ↑
Fri Dec 04, 2020 2:33 pm
As it stands that is correct, hence why I stated if the 4 senior pros are fit we should consider Loaning Benson out, but if they aren't available by January then we absolutely need to keep Josh in the 1st team fold, I'm assuming we won't recruit any new cm's in the upcoming window, so we need to utilise the resources we do currently possess, and right now that includes the under 23's.

What if any or all of the senior midfielders loses for.?

tiger76 · Post by **tiger76** » Fri Dec 04, 2020 2:51 pm

boatshed bill wrote: ↑
Fri Dec 04, 2020 2:36 pm
What if any or all of the senior midfielders loses for.?

Then we're screwed, we shouldn't be expecting to rely on an untried 20 year old to keep us in the PL.

Pstotto · Post by **Pstotto** » Fri Dec 04, 2020 2:55 pm

Of course Benson wasn't of the class of Man. City according to the BBC report... 20 years old making his debut against THAT...

bobinho · Post by **bobinho** » Fri Dec 04, 2020 3:02 pm

tiger76 wrote: ↑
Fri Dec 04, 2020 2:51 pm
Then we're screwed, we shouldn't be expecting to rely on an untried 20 year old to keep us in the PL.

We wouldn't be relying on him to keep us in the PL though would we?

He would only be a small cog in the wheel that has ten other elements in it.

He's gaining experience with every single minute he spends on the pitch, and from what i have seen of him so far, he is by no means a make-weight, especially when you measure his contribution next to others alongside him. Of course if you are judging his ability by the level of others - lets say Foden - then he will come up wanting.

Dwight had hardly any PL experience when he was thrust into the breech. That worked out ok, maybe this will too...we will see.

boatshed bill · Post by **boatshed bill** » Fri Dec 04, 2020 3:08 pm

boatshed bill wrote: ↑
Fri Dec 04, 2020 2:36 pm
What if any or all of the senior midfielders loses for.?

Sorry, I meant loses form.
One of our problems is lack of back up and little or no rotation

superdimitri · Post by **superdimitri** » Fri Dec 04, 2020 3:11 pm

Benson has some great experience to learn from in our squad. Should bode him well. I hope he can get some game time and comes into fruition.

tiger76 · Post by **tiger76** » Fri Dec 04, 2020 5:26 pm

superdimitri wrote: ↑
Fri Dec 04, 2020 3:11 pm
Benson has some great experience to learn from in our squad. Should bode him well. I hope he can get some game time and comes into fruition.

Well if Josh is going to be a major part of our squad in future we'd better get him tied to a longer contract, if my info's right he's out of contract next June, certainly one that needs sorting ASAP.

Pstotto · Post by **Pstotto** » Fri Dec 04, 2020 5:47 pm

I remember when Beckham scored against us at Preston. I've haven't forgotten the rage and thought 'you cheats'. Ban all loans.

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Fri Dec 04, 2020 5:49 pm

Pstotto wrote: ↑
Fri Dec 04, 2020 5:47 pm
I remember when Beckham scored against us at Preston. I've haven't forgotten the rage and thought 'you cheats'. Ban all loans.

Apart from the fact that we weren't in the same league as Preston when they had Beckham

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Fri Dec 04, 2020 5:50 pm

superdimitri wrote: ↑
Fri Dec 04, 2020 3:11 pm
Benson has some great experience to learn from in our squad. Should bode him well. I hope he can get some game time and comes into fruition.

He will learn a lot training with the first team squad, he'll also learn a lot playing first team football so it is a balancing act on when or if it is is time to send him out on loan.

Pstotto · Post by **Pstotto** » Fri Dec 04, 2020 5:51 pm

F.A. Cup then...

boatshed bill · Post by **boatshed bill** » Fri Dec 04, 2020 5:54 pm

ClaretTony wrote: ↑
Fri Dec 04, 2020 5:50 pm
He will learn a lot training with the first team squad, he'll also learn a lot playing first team football so it is a balancing act on when or if it is is time to send him out on loan.

In the current situation, CT, do you not think that the squad is a bit low on fit midfielders?
We can't be sure that Cork will be match fit, and 2 of our wide players are so fragile that they cannot be relied upon to see the season out.

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Fri Dec 04, 2020 5:58 pm

boatshed bill wrote: ↑
Fri Dec 04, 2020 5:54 pm
In the current situation, CT, do you not think that the squad is a bit low on fit midfielders?
We can't be sure that Cork will be match fit, and 2 of our wide players are so fragile that they cannot be relied upon to see the season out.

Do I think we are a bit low on fit midfielders? No, I know we are a bit low and that's why we didn't allow Benson to go out in October. By the time the window opens things could be different. Assuming Westwood, Brownhill & Stephens are fit, they could be joined by Cork and maybe even a new signing. I think the management team have a decision to make in January but I do think Josh would be as well going to a club on loan rather than not playing in our first team.

boatshed bill · Post by **boatshed bill** » Fri Dec 04, 2020 6:03 pm

ClaretTony wrote: ↑
Fri Dec 04, 2020 5:58 pm
Do I think we are a bit low on fit midfielders? No, I know we are a bit low and that's why we didn't allow Benson to go out in October. By the time the window opens things could be different. Assuming Westwood, Brownhill & Stephens are fit, they could be joined by Cork and maybe even a new signing. I think the management team have a decision to make in January but I do think Josh would be as well going to a club on loan rather than not playing in our first team.

Are we sure Stephens is better?
As I said further up, Goodridge is the first one they need to get playing.

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Fri Dec 04, 2020 6:16 pm

boatshed bill wrote: ↑
Fri Dec 04, 2020 6:03 pm
Are we sure Stephens is better?
As I said further up, Goodridge is the first one they need to get playing.

Stephens is a good, experienced Premier League footballer.

boatshed bill · Post by **boatshed bill** » Fri Dec 04, 2020 6:23 pm

ClaretTony wrote: ↑
Fri Dec 04, 2020 6:16 pm
Stephens is a good, experienced Premier League footballer.

Or was?

Blackburn_Claret · Post by **Blackburn_Claret** » Fri Dec 04, 2020 6:24 pm

Stephens was a terrible signing. Offers nothing. Should be behind Benson in the pecking order.

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Fri Dec 04, 2020 6:26 pm

boatshed bill wrote: ↑
Fri Dec 04, 2020 6:23 pm
Or was?

Amazing if people are going to judge him on the back of two games. He's a good player and I think he can do a good job for us.

FactualFrank · Post by **FactualFrank** » Fri Dec 04, 2020 6:26 pm

For me, Stephens adds depth, just in case. He may prove useful in the odd game, nobody knows.

Blackburn_Claret · Post by **Blackburn_Claret** » Fri Dec 04, 2020 6:40 pm

Not good enough for Brighton, its amazing people think he's good enough for us.

boatshed bill · Post by **boatshed bill** » Fri Dec 04, 2020 6:42 pm

ClaretTony wrote: ↑
Fri Dec 04, 2020 6:26 pm
Amazing if people are going to judge him on the back of two games. He's a good player and I think he can do a good job for us.

Surplus to requirements at Brighton?

FactualFrank · Post by **FactualFrank** » Fri Dec 04, 2020 6:44 pm

boatshed bill wrote: ↑
Fri Dec 04, 2020 6:42 pm
Surplus to requirements at Brighton?

To be fair, as things stand, Brighton are better than us.

boatshed bill · Post by **boatshed bill** » Fri Dec 04, 2020 6:50 pm

FactualFrank wrote: ↑
Fri Dec 04, 2020 6:44 pm
To be fair, as things stand, Brighton are better than us.

Yes, and us signing their cast-offs will ensure that we remain in that position

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Fri Dec 04, 2020 7:30 pm

boatshed bill wrote: ↑
Fri Dec 04, 2020 6:42 pm
Surplus to requirements at Brighton?

But played regularly last season - last year of contract, unable to be offered another. But he's been a good player for Brighton in three Premier League seasons. We signed him, he has a couple of disappointing games and people jump on his back and even think a 20-year-old kid with no real experience is better. I still believe Stephens can be a good signing for us and I don't really care whether Brighton wanted him or not.

JarrowClaret · Post by **JarrowClaret** » Sat Dec 05, 2020 8:47 am

I do wonder if Stephens was thrown into the first team sooner than he or we would have liked due to our injuries. He was injured just before coming to us and injured 2 games later for me he wasn’t fully recovered from his injury at Brighton and he was laboured when playing because of it. When he comes back he will be better for us and will turn out to be a decent signing I think.

Bordeauxclaret · Post by **Bordeauxclaret** » Sat Dec 05, 2020 2:26 pm

Only a few minutes today but some very nice play.

cricketfieldclarets · Post by **cricketfieldclarets** » Sat Dec 05, 2020 2:30 pm

Bordeauxclaret wrote: ↑
Sat Dec 05, 2020 2:26 pm
Only a few minutes today but some very nice play.

Was very calm on edge of our box with a nice drop of the shoulder.

Guller Bull · Post by **Guller Bull** » Sat Dec 05, 2020 4:28 pm

He's not far off a more regular starting slot for me. Shows bite and creativity in the cameos that I have seen. Nice to see his development.

FactualFrank · Post by **FactualFrank** » Sat Dec 05, 2020 4:32 pm

Was it Steve Stone who said we were looking to send him out on another loan? It was in an article I read a few days ago, suggesting the club don't think he's yet ready to play a major role and needs another spell somewhere else.

Then again, we almost sent McNeil out on loan prior to his impact.

Buxtonclaret · Post by **Buxtonclaret** » Sat Dec 05, 2020 4:32 pm

cricketfieldclarets wrote: ↑
Sat Dec 05, 2020 2:30 pm
Was very calm on edge of our box with a nice drop of the shoulder.

From what I've seen of him, his calmness is a big attribute.
Hope we've another good 'un here.

jedi_master · Post by **jedi_master** » Sat Dec 05, 2020 4:41 pm

I won’t claim to know better than Dyche and the coaching staff, but I wouldn’t be loaning Josh out.

He looks more than ready, to me. Hope we get to see some regular appearances from him.

FactualFrank · Post by **FactualFrank** » Sat Dec 05, 2020 4:43 pm

jedi_master wrote: ↑
Sat Dec 05, 2020 4:41 pm
I won’t claim to know better than Dyche and the coaching staff, but I wouldn’t be loaning Josh out.

He looks more than ready, to me. Hope we get to see some regular appearances from him.

Like I say, they almost loaned McNeil out prior to his huge impact. So it's very possible if they're thinking of loaning him out again, they shouldn't.

Rowls · Post by **Rowls** » Sat Dec 05, 2020 4:44 pm

Decent little cameo today.

Good to have another option but let's not get carried away yet.