Joe Bennett

[danno]

He didn't have a great game,  if he is struggling in the Prem next season I don't think he should play every week.
Tough times might make him grow up faster, or too many shockers might destroy his confidence long term.

Some competition in the squad for places (including Lb) would be very welcome.

Lowton and Westwood have stepped up the leagues and adapted, but different players mature at different times.
Phil Neville took longer to make the grade than his brother for example.

[peter w]

Yes he didn't have a good game but he was targeted by physical norwich. A more experienced centre-half may have helped him more, or a deeper lying left-sided midfielder. Apart fromthe fouls - which I accept are part of the problem -hedealt with theaerial challenge of Holt, and whoever else was on him quite well. Our tactics isolate him, and Lowton, and his attacking side ofthe game is coming on.

i do think there is a player there. and a decent defender. He's new to this level and has found the tactics haven't helped. A new player needs to built into a team but he hasn't had that luxury. If we survive, the experience of this season will stand him in very good stead. I think he will come on in leaps and bounds next year.

[Risso]

He's good going forward and can play a decent ball into the area, but the defensive side of his game is woeful.  He's either always out of position or giving away silly fouls because he tries to make up for getting beaten.

[PaulMcGrathsNo5Shirt]

I think that Joe Bennett is a bloody good footballer. I don't think however, he is a left back. His defensive decision making is too poor. I could see him being a good winger/wide midfielder.

[LeeB]

He'll be fine.

[ozzjim]

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.

He was just bloody stupid though. I said straight after the booking they are going to get tight and try and roll him, because he can't help himself, Bennett has to grab every shirt near him. Should bind his hands before a game, would make him better!

[tomd2103]

He didn't have a great game,  if he is struggling in the Prem next season I don't think he should play every week.
Tough times might make him grow up faster, or too many shockers might destroy his confidence long term.

Some competition in the squad for places (including Lb) would be very welcome.

Lowton and Westwood have stepped up the leagues and adapted, but different players mature at different times.
Phil Neville took longer to make the grade than his brother for example.

We could really do with adding someone who can play in both full-back positions to the squad in the summer.  I know we have been in for him before, but someone like Kyle Naughton from Spurs would be ideal.

[ROBBO]

There is one constant in our games and that is that the opposition play everything down Bennets wing, he has been identified as the weak link, that is not scapegoating him or sniping him it is a fact just have a look at the Norwich replay. The lad has skill no doubt but he is not over quick and is easily knocked off the ball, yes against a certain type of apponent he may do well and if we were mid table and safe we should persist with him but these last two games are so important we can't take the risk.

[Dave]

There is one constant in our games and that is that the opposition play everything down Bennets wing, he has been identified as the weak link, that is not scapegoating him or sniping him it is a fact just have a look at the Norwich replay.

Hasn't pretty much everything that Norwich have done all season gone through Snodgrass? Who happened to be up against Bennett.

I didn't notice Sunderland focusing on him anymore than Lowton, even though he was up against their (supposed) best winger.

[KevinGage]

He didn't have a great game,  if he is struggling in the Prem next season I don't think he should play every week.
Tough times might make him grow up faster, or too many shockers might destroy his confidence long term.

Some competition in the squad for places (including Lb) would be very welcome.

Lowton and Westwood have stepped up the leagues and adapted, but different players mature at different times.
Phil Neville took longer to make the grade than his brother for example.

We could really do with adding someone who can play in both full-back positions to the squad in the summer.  I know we have been in for him before, but someone like Kyle Naughton from Spurs would be ideal.

Another advantage of bringing Lescott in (if at all possible)  is he's very comfortable at left back too. 

I've seen enough of Baker to think there is something there to work with. Maybe not a guaranteed starter, but could be a big player for us in years to come. A further 15/20 games next year should bring him on further.  Enough games to keep him involved, but not to the point that we're relying on him. Yet.

Clark -as a CB- I am less convinced about. Far too error prone, and doesn't seem to learn. He's been in and around the first team since 2009 now, so he should be looking more assured.   If he wants to stay and fight for his place, kudos.  But I'd be at the stage where I'd listen to offers -unless Lambert has a rethink and tries him at defensive mid.

 Bennett (like Baker) isn't good enough to be a first team regular either, but could be in time. So an experienced CB who can offer genuine cover at LB would be a good option for us.

[tomd2103]

There is one constant in our games and that is that the opposition play everything down Bennets wing, he has been identified as the weak link, that is not scapegoating him or sniping him it is a fact just have a look at the Norwich replay.

Hasn't pretty much everything that Norwich have done all season gone through Snodgrass? Who happened to be up against Bennett.

I didn't notice Sunderland focusing on him anymore than Lowton, even though he was up against their (supposed) best winger.

Before they got swamped, Sunderland tried to get the ball out to Johnson as often as possible and he saw a lot more of the ball than Larsson in the first half.  Manchester United did the same the week before with Valencia, just as they did at our place in November when Stevens was playing there.  It's a pretty simple tactic really - get the ball out to the right wing as quickly as possible and the lack of cover out there means the winger will more often than not be isolated one on one with JB.  Even Bradford got some joy out of playing that way. 

That said, I think the lad has ability and has had some decent games this season.  He seems to have the natural ability to beat players and can whip a good ball in which, as others have mentioned, suggests he might be better employed further up the field.       

[Ron Manager]

Some of Bennetts defending is absolutely ridiculous. This habit of shirt pulling when the opposition player is facing away from goal is amatuerish. Perhaps Lambert will solve this problem over the summer break. Bennet has got talent thats for sure and could be a huge success in a left midfield attacking role

[NeilH]

His crossing has been outstanding all season, but his decision-making in defence is appalling, as demonstrated clearly on Saturday. There is a great player in there, but either he needs move into midfield or he needs some serious defensive coaching to improve the obvious weak parts of his game.

[ozzjim]

There is one constant in our games and that is that the opposition play everything down Bennets wing, he has been identified as the weak link, that is not scapegoating him or sniping him it is a fact just have a look at the Norwich replay.

Hasn't pretty much everything that Norwich have done all season gone through Snodgrass? Who happened to be up against Bennett.

I didn't notice Sunderland focusing on him anymore than Lowton, even though he was up against their (supposed) best winger.

Before they got swamped, Sunderland tried to get the ball out to Johnson as often as possible and he saw a lot more of the ball than Larsson in the first half.  Manchester United did the same the week before with Valencia, just as they did at our place in November when Stevens was playing there.  It's a pretty simple tactic really - get the ball out to the right wing as quickly as possible and the lack of cover out there means the winger will more often than not be isolated one on one with JB.  Even Bradford got some joy out of playing that way. 

That said, I think the lad has ability and has had some decent games this season.  He seems to have the natural ability to beat players and can whip a good ball in which, as others have mentioned, suggests he might be better employed further up the field.       

Sunderland clearly targeted him, as did United, but I thought against Sunderland he dealt with Johnson really well. The difference being 1. he knew his game pretty well from Boro days, and 2. Johnson is not a physical mismatch, so Bennett did not have to climb all over him like a rash. Against United he would have been ok had the linesman been awake!

I do think he could genuinely play the wide left role of the attacking 3 even in the long term. He has good feet and a stunning left foot. I would love to see him shooting more. Bet he scores some crackers in training.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

His crossing has been outstanding all season, but his decision-making in defence is appalling, as demonstrated clearly on Saturday. There is a great player in there, but either he needs move into midfield or he needs some serious defensive coaching to improve the obvious weak parts of his game.

I think the whole defence could do with some coaching.
Whatever our views on Bennett, we need to support him over the next two games. Getting on his back is the last thing we need.