Bennett

[A4Jack]

Considering he played with Martin at Norwich and has the much vaunted experience when we have such a "young" team it all stinks a bit. There is a way to do things.

The Twitter response from some was poor too. But not surprised from some of them

I reckon, given the way he was frozen out, he might well have called out Martin as an imposter and delivered a few home truths about things. Possibly not, but it all went 'forgotten man' very quickly, when we had no defenders on the bench even at one point and were still paying him a wedge. He might have had a performance condition triggering something I suppose.

You're probably right and the 50th appearance would have triggered an extension perhaps. But with Bennett's experience and knowledge of the Championship you'd imagine he's probably come close to putting the nut on Russ.

Imagine being publically outed as a football dinosaur that doesn't fit with your plans when someone has all that experience. Poor

 

[K23]

All a bit shabby by the club IMO. Bennett was never one for the future or one to build a team around but it's a case of horses for courses. There were games when he was found wanting with his lack of pace for example, but there were also games when we were absolutely crying out for someone with his attributes and a little bit of homework on our opponents' style would usually tell you which games to pick him and which to not. As some have said, when you're 2 or 3 goals up with 20 minutes left, you need someone like that. I remember the home game against Blackburn in March when we were 1-0 up and they threw the kitchen sink at us for most of the 2nd half and Bennett and (I think) Cabango just cleared their lines and never looked in any trouble.

 

[JackFish]

Asking him to play as an outside centre half in a back three, in a team where the wingbacks sometimes play further forward than Piroe, was never going to work. He was really solid under Cooper though so it's a shame it's come to this.

 

[MrSwerve]

Solid player at this level but didn’t fit in with ‘the process’ at all. Not his fault he was overpaid either.

I’m a bit ambivalent as to his departure, he clearly wasn’t going to make any impact with Martin’s style of play and we’ve hopefully saved a decent amount of money in paying him off…but that experience is crucial at times. Saying that, I think it’s clear that Martin would never use him.

I wonder how much of his remaining contract we paid up. You’d have to assume it would be 75%+, otherwise surely he’d be happy to pick up a wedge and leave at the end of the seasons.

 

[J_B]

Outside in a back three wasn't his position as he was exposed by pace particularly if our wing back failed to track back.
In a four though he was a big presence and a no-nonsense defender. Unfortunately our manager doesn't like no no-nonsense defenders who put it in row Z when appropriate. Tony Adams wouldn't play under Russy.

 

[Baron Goblet]

A case of a manager selling a system.

Bennett and Cabango are good enough for many games but clearly in a back 4 which kind of moves Kyle to right back.

Where I lose it is that Russ should be saying this to the press. His rhetoric just repeats some bland nonsense about they know where they stand. Where is that though? It is not poles apart, it is a patch of grass and a sytem that plays 3 at the back. The fan boys and girls want to know why Russ.

At times Ryan found a killer pass down the wing or over the top which is what central defenders typically practice. It is a low risk approach that quicky clears lines.

Russ should explain that his system is a delicate arrangement and most central defenders will get caught out as they typically have a physique unlike Lionel Messi. .