Joe Bennett

[PeterWithesShin]

I don't mind Gordon, but he could easily have been sent off yesterday.

[saunders_heroes]

If he was to get a second yellow it would have been for persistent fouling, not for the pen. Pulling a someone's shirt as they're falling over isn't a booking. He wasn't the last man either.
He could have cost us the game though yesterday. That isn't us picking on him, it's a valid point. He gave away too many free kicks (in dangerous areas). It could have cost us big time.

[N'Zimidy]

Bennett is a good player. His performance against Adam Johnson in the Sunderland game highlights his ability. We all know he is pretty good going forward; he's smart in keeping possession, can beat a player and can deliver a wonderful cross at times. Defensively, he hasn't been great but it takes a long time for defenders to get used to defending at the top level. I can point to players such as Gibbs, Bertrand and Rose from recent times that look shaky when first thrust into the team but after 2-3 years of exposure they look competent at this level. This is what we need to give Bennett, 2-3 years of belief and first team experience and I think he will be as good or better than the three names I listed above. He certainly has the potential.

[eastie]

Bennett is a good player. His performance against Adam Johnson in the Sunderland game highlights his ability. We all know he is pretty good going forward; he's smart in keeping possession, can beat a player and can deliver a wonderful cross at times. Defensively, he hasn't been great but it takes a long time for defenders to get used to defending at the top level. I can point to players such as Gibbs, Bertrand and Rose from recent times that look shaky when first thrust into the team but after 2-3 years of exposure they look competent at this level. This is what we need to give Bennett, 2-3 years of belief and first team experience and I think he will be as good or better than the three names I listed above. He certainly has the potential.

Well said sir.

[KRS]

Joe Bennett seems to be our Marmite at the moment...you either love him or loathe him. He's a young inexperienced player learning his trade at PL level...he may get caught short a few times but he has the potential to improve his short comings whether that be his physique, defending or decision making. Teams have clearly been targetting him as our weakness but the flipside to that coin is that the more teams that do it then the quicker JB will learn and improve.

edit: it was a blatant intentionally clumsy challenge yesterday but it should have been a free kick rather than a penalty and the Norwich players who dropped like a tonne bricks because of a minor shirt pull should have been booked for being play acting pussies...Holt and Snodgrass I think were the main culprits?

[rooboy316]

It's possible to discuss a player's strengths and weaknesses without wanting to 'scapegoat' him.  And discussing weaknesses doesn't mean we don't want the best for him, or think that he won't improve.

[paulcomben]

Good one to debate and everyone in agreement, basically. Alongside Sylla, probably the relatively weakest player in the team, but still doing good jobs and learning by the game. Well brought up, Legion.

[Toronto Villa]

What's evident is that the step up in division defensively has been tough for Bennett. He needs a dominating leader back there to coach him and bring him along. Put Lescott at the back with Bennett and he'll get better quickly. In fact, someone like Lescott will make everyone better.

[SoccerHQ]

Can't see him becoming a top class left back tbh as he struggles against anyone with pace and good movement. In time he might become a decent left winger.

[old man villa fan]

Can't see him becoming a top class left back tbh as he struggles against anyone with pace and good movement.

Like most that come out of the Championship and lower leagues do to start with.  Give him time before writing him off.

[nigel]

Can't see him becoming a top class left back tbh as he struggles against anyone with pace and good movement.

Like most that come out of the Championship and lower leagues do to start with.  Give him time before writing him off.

Agree.
I find it amazing that a few players had 'off' days yet not a whisper. Joe Bennett had an off day and nearly everyone's having a pop at him.

[SoccerHQ]

Can't see him becoming a top class left back tbh as he struggles against anyone with pace and good movement.

Like most that come out of the Championship and lower leagues do to start with.  Give him time before writing him off.

You reckon I think they're all "lower league garbage" then? From the first couple of games I thought Lowton and Westwood would be good players for us and despite poor form over xmas, both have been brilliant for us since March.

I think Sylla is looking like a solid midfield option for us aswell.

John e made a point on the Guzan thread sometimes you have gut feelings on players when you first see them, Bennett has improved recently but still too often when teams target him he struggles.

Not every young player will turn into a world beater hence Ridgwell, Steven Davis, Moore, Gardner, Whittingham all leaving us in the last 5 years.

[Irish villain]

Can't see him becoming a top class left back tbh as he struggles against anyone with pace and good movement.

Like most that come out of the Championship and lower leagues do to start with.  Give him time before writing him off.

Agree.
I find it amazing that a few players had 'off' days yet not a whisper. Joe Bennett had an off day and nearly everyone's having a pop at him.

We have such a great base to work with next year. We are building a really good team, something that we should aim to hold together for as long as possible. As others start going into transition (Everton, Spurs surely will soon?) we could sneak back into the top six within a couple of years.

[frank]

I think he's played well in the last few games and certainly has skill going forward, but yesterday was a bad day. As the gentleman standing next to me, a well-known fanzine editor, said: "A red card waiting to happen". It's not so much Bennett's ability as his recklessness that worries me.

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

I am not having a go at Bennet but when opposition point him out as a weak link surely PL will have to consider bringing in competition for his position ? He needs a summer in the gym and he will be more confident when he has more strength to challenge players without tugging shirts and giving away dangerous free kicks. I actually think he was tired yesterday and did not have the energy to track players and get in the right positions. He had a good game against Sunderland but i think it took its toll on him in this match .........