Joe Bennett

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He gave awqy a lot of silly fouls and was lucky to stay on, but then he was targetted areially and did well to compete. We defended pretty well on Saturday, largely because we had too given how we kept giving it away.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I think both full backs suffer from Lambert insisting we play very narrow in defence thus inviting the ball to the wingers who have time and space.

[Clampy]

He gave awqy a lot of silly fouls and was lucky to stay on, but then he was targetted areially and did well to compete. We defended pretty well on Saturday, largely because we had too given how we kept giving it away.

I don't think we gave it away a lot, Norwich were playing five across the middle and at times we were outnumbered.

I thought both Bennett and Benteke were singled out on Saturday. They'll be come wiser players for it though.

[SoccerHQ]

If we stay up, then the defence need a huge overhaul in the summer.  We don't have any central defenders who can be relied upon.  If we get a good, dominant player in, ie a Mellberg/Laursen/Southgate type, then any of Clark/Vlaar/Baker may come up to scratch, but all three of them have been hopeless this year.  Clark just doesn't look like a defender to me, whereas Baker does but lacks Clark's quality.

Another point is how injury prone Teflon Ron and Baker are. I do think Baker has come on well these last couple of months, I much prefer him in central defence to Clark.

[Ross]

I think he might be ok in time, but we could do much better. Danny Rose for one would be a young but significantly better option.

[PaulWinch again]

Danny Rose will not be better than Bennett. I think Bennett has a lot of potential, but like Baker needs to work on his positioning.

[paul_e]

I think he might be ok in time, but we could do much better. Danny Rose for one would be a young but significantly better option.

Which Danny Rose?  You can't mean the one who is woefully out of position for Sunderland so often.

[Ross]

I think he might be ok in time, but we could do much better. Danny Rose for one would be a young but significantly better option.

Which Danny Rose?  You can't mean the one who is woefully out of position for Sunderland so often.

Woefully out of position? Would be a step up in our back 4 then!

[paul_e]

I think he might be ok in time, but we could do much better. Danny Rose for one would be a young but significantly better option.

Which Danny Rose?  You can't mean the one who is woefully out of position for Sunderland so often.

Woefully out of position? Would be a step up in our back 4 then!

He's being quoted as £8m - is he honestly that much better than Bennett?  Given that he's played about twice as many games in the premier league?  He strikes me as another in a long line of player who seem to be rated by villa fans almost immediately after they score against us.

[Matt Collins]

Rose had been sunderland's player of the season.

I think he'll be back at WHL along with Andros Townsend. They need both players at the moment.

[paul_e]

Rose had been sunderland's player of the season.

I think he'll be back at WHL along with Andros Townsend. They need both players at the moment.

Yes but in a side that are worse than us.  I agree we need to look at an option at left back as Bennett is very hit and miss so far, I just don't think £8m on a player who is barely an upgrade is even worth discussing.  Very average player as far as I'm concerned, with pretty much the same strengths and weaknesses as Bennett.

[SoccerHQ]

Townsend is a good player, impressed me with QPR.

Wouldn't mind him coming in as a pacey wide option.

[paul_e]

Townsend is a good player, impressed me with QPR.

Wouldn't mind him coming in as a pacey wide option.

He's looked ok in the worst side in the league, for a handful of games.  Nothing more or less, I wouldn't go there personally, I think there are much better options around.

[tomd2103]

Townsend is a good player, impressed me with QPR.

Wouldn't mind him coming in as a pacey wide option.

He's looked ok in the worst side in the league, for a handful of games.  Nothing more or less, I wouldn't go there personally, I think there are much better options around.

Disagree Paul.  He looked a real threat every time I have seen him play this season, including against us.  I'm sure his form this season will bump his asking price up to a level where there are probably better options around.  I would love us to sign Dries Mertens from PSV, who is the latest off the seemingly endless quality Belgian players.  Plays on either wing and has a very good scoring record.  Probably out of our league though at the moment. 

[Steve67]

I think Bennett is slowly getting to grips with the Premier League but like all young players will let himself down with silly tackles every now and then.  I thought he was superb against the Black Cats last Monday, best game in a Villa shirt so far.  I'd be happy for Villa to stick with him.  He will have learned an awful lot from this season and will be stronger next season.  That said, if someone much better became available, liek most players, I'd drop him like a shot to improve the side.