Joe Bennett

[Lee]

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.

Agreed, he was really good against Sunderland, then followed it with a shocker against Norwich. He still needs to do a lot of work, but there is a player in there somewhere

[MoetVillan]

A shocker?  I think he learnt a lot in that game, up against the Gorillagram that is Holt.  I thought Norwich did a good job in trying to isolate him and get at him.  Lucky to stay on pitch, but i think the experience will do him well, especially after playing so well against Sunderland.  As for the pen?  he fouled outside the area, and was no longer fouling when they got in the box.  For me, a poor decision

[Concrete John]

I heard that one on MOTD - that he was 'lucky to stay on the pitch'.  He was just giving as good as he got against a dirty forward, who was also sly enough to get the fouls.

[Monty]

I heard that one on MOTD - that he was 'lucky to stay on the pitch'.  He was just giving as good as he got against a dirty forward, who was also sly enough to get the fouls.

This is true, but Grant Holt is officially liked by the media so they were always going to round on Bennett. That said, he probably was lucky to stay on the pitch, but we've had our fair share of bad luck so I suppose there is a certain degree of evening-out here.

We should reserve judgement until next season at least, certainly. Of our young players, he's among the youngest, and clearly has enough talent to deserve some time to settle in.

[Dave]

As for the pen?  he fouled outside the area, and was no longer fouling when they got in the box.  For me, a poor decision

His arm was still wrapped around Snodgrass while Snodgrass was on the area. It was a perfectly legitimate penalty.

[Concrete John]

As for the pen?  he fouled outside the area, and was no longer fouling when they got in the box.  For me, a poor decision

His arm was still wrapped around Snodgrass while Snodgrass was on the area. It was a perfectly legitimate penalty.

If the offence starts outside the box and carries on inside the box, then it's not a penalty.

[Witton Warrior]

As for the pen?  he fouled outside the area, and was no longer fouling when they got in the box.  For me, a poor decision

His arm was still wrapped around Snodgrass while Snodgrass was on the area. It was a perfectly legitimate penalty.

If the offence starts outside the box and carries on inside the box, then it's not a penalty.

I used to tell girls that...

[Dave]

As for the pen?  he fouled outside the area, and was no longer fouling when they got in the box.  For me, a poor decision

His arm was still wrapped around Snodgrass while Snodgrass was on the area. It was a perfectly legitimate penalty.

If the offence starts outside the box and carries on inside the box, then it's not a penalty.

If a defender starts holding an attacker outside the penalty area and continues holding him inside the penalty area, the referee must award a penalty kick

FIFA's Laws on Fouls

[eastie]

As for the pen?  he fouled outside the area, and was no longer fouling when they got in the box.  For me, a poor decision

His arm was still wrapped around Snodgrass while Snodgrass was on the area. It was a perfectly legitimate penalty.

If the offence starts outside the box and carries on inside the box, then it's not a penalty.

If a defender starts holding an attacker outside the penalty area and continues holding him inside the penalty area, the referee must award a penalty kick

FIFA's Laws on Fouls

Interesting that dave, I wasn't aware of that law .

[Dave]

I wouldn't worry - it would appear that Joe Bennett wasn't either!

[villa kicks]

Personally I dont see him good enough as a left back. At 23 his positional play lacks discipline and is shocking. Witness him run away from the man and on to goal line rather than close a player down. Watch as he lets players cut inside or run round him.  Numerous occasions of shirt pulling. I think he will never play for anything than a lower half prem club and can be a squad player or stop gap at best. Granted he has some movement on the rare occasions he moves forward to the other half ..and has a left foot which can produce some nice balls. Needs to show lowtons application getting forward and back. The guy lacks confidence. I support him but think he is not really the standard. I worry how he ll be against chelsea Saturday.     

[MoetVillan]

23?  No way, i thought he was about 14, 15 tops.  Dave, you may well be right, i thought his arm was away from him once they crossed the line, and he wasnt "fouling" him then, and the momentum took them both down.  At worst it equals up that fucking Saints penalty

[ozzjim]

I wouldn't worry - it would appear that Joe Bennett wasn't either!

What a silly law. Great spot, but if a guy slides on someone outside the box but their movement takes them in, it is a free kick outside. The foul, in my view, should be where it starts, not where the attacker fancies falling over. 

[ciggiesnbeer]

Teams keep targeting him which makes his job even harder. Still I am not sure what the alternative right now.

[Dave]

I wouldn't worry - it would appear that Joe Bennett wasn't either!

What a silly law. Great spot, but if a guy slides on someone outside the box but their movement takes them in, it is a free kick outside. The foul, in my view, should be where it starts, not where the attacker fancies falling over. 

In your example then it is free-kick. If it's a foul outside and the attacker falls inside then it's not a penalty.

However the FIFA law (and what happened on Saturday) is just a sensible application of the advantage rule. Carry on playing to see if the attacker can get an advantage - and if the defender is thick enough to still be trying to foul him once he is in the box then the advantage worked and it's a penalty. If there's no advantage then bring it back for a free-kick.