I now know why Benson didn’t figure last season. He was away teaching Saka how to score ‘that goal’. Carbon copy in every respect. Hopefully he might do it another seven times next season.

Benson's are much more spectacular, and closer to the angle of post and bar.

Benny scores when the keeper has a clear view as it flies past him into the net.VKs blanking of Benny and not playing him was another reason while we are well rid of VK.Management is about utilising all your work force not alienating them

Must admit the main difference was Bensons were indeed higher.

His Bristol goal way was his best IMO
City knew what he could do and three of their players tried to close him down to stop what was coming and he still managed it to make it three in three games

I'm surprised Saka doesn't do that more often.

How could we not play him barring injuries ?

FCBurnley wrote: ↑

Sun Jul 07, 2024 12:40 pm

How could we not play him barring injuries ?

I think previously it’s because his defensive duties came into question.

FCBurnley wrote: ↑

Sun Jul 07, 2024 12:40 pm

How could we not play him barring injuries ?

Probably get a bit of grief for saying this but...

1 - He wasn't physical enough to do everything needed in the PL.
2 - He couldn't do the tracking back required
3 - He wasn't quick enough
4 - The standard of defending and keepers is another level above in the PL so to think he could score a boatload like that is just wishful thinking.


Love him to bits and he's a player I wish we had utilised more but it was clear that whilst we know what a wand of a foot he has - we left it too late in the season to play him in the last 10-15mins plus many of those games we were already out of the game by that point and needed something different.

He never got a run of games to prove himself in the top league. You don’t just score goals like against **** teams. He could have done it in the prem given the chance. I’m sure of it.

He is another player that deserved a chance in the premier league .. hope he plays next season and we see more of his brilliance

clarethomer wrote: ↑

Sun Jul 07, 2024 1:00 pm

Probably get a bit of grief for saying this but...

1 - He wasn't physical enough to do everything needed in the PL.
2 - He couldn't do the tracking back required
3 - He wasn't quick enough
4 - The standard of defending and keepers is another level above in the PL so to think he could score a boatload like that is just wishful thinking.


Love him to bits and he's a player I wish we had utilised more but it was clear that whilst we know what a wand of a foot he has - we left it too late in the season to play him in the last 10-15mins plus many of those games we were already out of the game by that point and needed something different.

That didn't stop him from playing Amdouni, Trafford for the overwhelming vast majority of the season.

The real problem last year was Vincent's ego and it will be his downfall at Munich.

Great when things are going well... Not so great when they aren't.

clarethomer wrote: ↑

Sun Jul 07, 2024 1:00 pm

Probably get a bit of grief for saying this but...

1 - He wasn't physical enough to do everything needed in the PL.
2 - He couldn't do the tracking back required
3 - He wasn't quick enough
4 - The standard of defending and keepers is another level above in the PL so to think he could score a boatload like that

Some good points there , though he’s absolutely quick enough and the keepers are a fag paper difference . Defenders though , yes ,may well have smashed him out of games physically and he’d not have so long on the ball .

Most people’s issue was that VK just never even bothered ( or gave a decent chance ) to our best champ players even when we were clearly miles off. Decent cameos could have been his forte ,but simply abandoning proven goal scorers was (imo) scandalous.

clarethomer wrote: ↑

Sun Jul 07, 2024 1:00 pm

Probably get a bit of grief for saying this but...

1 - He wasn't physical enough to do everything needed in the PL.
2 - He couldn't do the tracking back required
3 - He wasn't quick enough
4 - The standard of defending and keepers is another level above in the PL so to think he could score a boatload like that is just wishful thinking.


Love him to bits and he's a player I wish we had utilised more but it was clear that whilst we know what a wand of a foot he has - we left it too late in the season to play him in the last 10-15mins plus many of those games we were already out of the game by that point and needed something different.

None of them were.

Did I imagine it or did Benson come on in a PL game and try his trade mark shot?

Benny is a match winner and like last time in the Championship, he will rip teams apart.

An incredible player at this level and apart from Berge, first name on the team sheet for me next season.

We simply have to play him to get the best from him.

Awesome player that fans will pay to see.

mdd2 wrote: ↑

Sun Jul 07, 2024 11:49 am

His Bristol goal way was his best IMO
City knew what he could do and three of their players tried to close him down to stop what was coming and he still managed it to make it three in three games

that was incredible https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3_wzHITS2s

Roberts reaction is superb

What gets me a bit is I bet there are some saying Ramsey is useless and a write off while benny could be a saviour. In reality both had little time in the prem and made similar impacts on their team in the championship. Except Ramsey is a lot younger. The prem is a massive step up, and for whatever reason Benson didn't feature. He might have made a difference, but I suspect he would've found it as hard as everyone else did.

clarethomer wrote: ↑

Sun Jul 07, 2024 1:00 pm

Probably get a bit of grief for saying this but...

1 - He wasn't physical enough to do everything needed in the PL.
2 - He couldn't do the tracking back required
3 - He wasn't quick enough
4 - The standard of defending and keepers is another level above in the PL so to think he could score a boatload like that is just wishful thinking.


Love him to bits and he's a player I wish we had utilised more but it was clear that whilst we know what a wand of a foot he has - we left it too late in the season to play him in the last 10-15mins plus many of those games we were already out of the game by that point and needed something different.

He scored 2 against a full strength Bournemouth team in the cup and him and Zaroury gave their first choice 11 nightmares all game

Those kind of goals are similar to many from Mahrez (who also wasn't particularly physical, good at tracking back or quick) and other players of that ilk over the years, if you get in the position very difficult any keeper or defence can do to stop them - the key would have been if the team and he got in to those positions regularly enough

Whether or not he'd have had an impact consistently we'll never know but he deserved more of a chance

Hipper wrote: ↑

Sun Jul 07, 2024 3:04 pm

Did I imagine it or did Benson come on in a PL game and try his trade mark shot?

Yeah he was given 5 minutes or so at home against Wolves and caused them issues - I think it either went wide or drew Jose Sa into a decent save.

claretskeith wrote: ↑

Sun Jul 07, 2024 12:06 pm

I'm surprised Saka doesn't do that more often.

I suspect it's to do with how he is set and the attacking plays he's asked to make. At Arsenal it might be that either that option is blocked off by the opposition and how they defend against him, or he's not asked to cut in as much.

Lots of the sideways passing you see is to try and draw the opposition defence out. It might be that the opportunity for that space to open up only occurs once or twice a game. In any case it proves how good he is.