Joe Bennett

[peter w]

Not a new thread but I can't find his existing one.

Fair play, he was excellent yesterday, and really doesn't deserve to be dropped. Or, will Lambert keep that one in the bank? You know, when he gets his chance again he has to show that level of performance consistently to keep the shirt.

[eastie]

Bennett is not a bad player and he settled down towards the end of last season into a decent spell of form - certainly would prefer him as back up to Bertrand rather than luna.

[PaulWinch again]

I think he has a very good left and I can imagine him as a more attacking player.

[Brend'Watkins]

Easily his best game for us.  There's a player there and fair play to him for not letting his head drop and pushing on.

[Lastfootstamper]

I like him. One to persevere with, for me. Quick feet, we need more players like that. Seems to have taken in lessons from coaching, judging from yesterday. Whether or not his future is at full back, only time will tell. Would be disappointed to not see him get a start against Stoke, he certainly earned it.

[damon loves JT]

His hair is also much better now.

[Richard E]

His hair is also much better now.

I think he should use his new found position of strength to have a word with Baker about his beard.

[mrastonvilla]

Let's hope he can keep it going. He looked like he had found his feet early on last season then had that injury away at spurs and never really recovered his form.

[peter w]

I like Baker's beard as it makes him look more Viking like. Looked a bit stringy and bird's nesty yesterday, though.

[not3bad]

Think Bennett has done enough to earn a start against Stoke.

[eastie]

Let's hope he can keep it going. He looked like he had found his feet early on last season then had that injury away at spurs and never really recovered his form.

Really? I thought he struggled early season for fitness and consistency but had  a very strong finish to the season .

[supertom]

I think like a lot of players they realise they've got to take their chances with Lambert. He's generally got two players for every position. Bennett's injury was unfortunate in as much as he'd finished last season positively, and suddenly he had Luna in the side for the first half of this, and unable to really push Tony to regain his place. Of course Bertrand has also come in.
Have to say Bennetts done okay when he's come into the side since returning from injury and he stepped in very ably yesterday. Well done to him. He has to keep it up. You only need look at the bomb squad, or probably more so Lowton. Lowton made a big impression last season, but he didn't keep it up and he's seemingly fallen out of favour.

Bennett, Baker, KEA are all players which have had their quality questioned by the fans, but of late they seemed to be knuckling down, doing well and improving. They have to keep it up.

Even if we were to sign Bertrand too (which I hope we do), there's no reason why Bennett and Bertrand can't both play as and when called upon. One playing left wing ahead of the other. Both players have played full back and wide midfield too.

[Drummond]

Bennett has shown previously that he has ability, he just got a bit out of his depth and the booing certainly won't have helped his confidence. I like him and it will be nice to see him develop with the squad.

[damon loves JT]

The advantage of playing well and winning is that it strengthens the manager's hand with players on the fringes of the squad. They have to be that much keener to get involved and get back in the team.

[Chris Smith]

I think yesterday showed why Lambert has been bringing him on for 20 minutes or so in recent weeks, he clearly had in mind that he would need him for yesterday. Fair play to him for his display, he's always been decent on the ball but he looked very sound defensively too.