Summer Transfer Window 2019

[Oldgregg86]

Elliott Bennett has one asset. He is an engine. He should be playing in the cm instead of Smallwood or Evans. He is basically both of them rolled into one with some fire in his belly. Anywhere else he is out of his depth at this level. 

I wouldn't get rid of him because as cover he is our most versatile player and his character is unquestionable.

He could be our Robbie Savage. That's how I see him instead of the incompetent Smallwood and that heartless waste of space Evans.

Let him tackle everything that moves, fist pump the fans and get some passion and fire in that weak mentality side. Let him win the ball and give it to people that can play. That can attack. Not another defender on the wing. A Chapman or rothwell who can drive down the line , put a cross in or beat man. 

Edited March 27, 2019 by Oldgregg86

[Stuart]

2 hours ago, chaddyrovers said:

Why would Bennett be shipped out? Played out of position for majority of the season and someone I rate highly. Williams hopefully will be. 

Actually agree with this.

Bennett is our utility man but not a right back. Nyambe has no real back up.

[Guest]

Fantastic video. Shows how far behind, tactically, we are from the top end of this division.

[Bigdoggsteel]

Just now, Mellor Rover said:

Fantastic video. Shows how far behind, tactically, we are from the top end of this division.

I ca't access that at work, but I will say after watching Enda Stevens for the first time last night , they have a great left back.

You could see how well drilled they were the first time we played them. They all knew their roles. Contrast that to us at times and it's like night and day

Mowbray often cites Sheffield united as the model we should follow, but when you consider they came 9th I think it was last season, you could see then they were moving in the right direction. We have a big summer ahead to get anywhere near that level. 

 

[roversfan99]

1 hour ago, Oldgregg86 said:

Elliott Bennett has one asset. He is an engine. He should be playing in the cm instead of Smallwood or Evans. He is basically both of them rolled into one with some fire in his belly. Anywhere else he is out of his depth at this level. 

I wouldn't get rid of him because as cover he is our most versatile player and his character is unquestionable.

He could be our Robbie Savage. That's how I see him instead of the incompetent Smallwood and that heartless waste of space Evans.

Let him tackle everything that moves, fist pump the fans and get some passion and fire in that weak mentality side. Let him win the ball and give it to people that can play. That can attack. Not another defender on the wing. A Chapman or rothwell who can drive down the line , put a cross in or beat man. 

Disagree with Bennett being a capable central midfielder. The game that sticks out in the mind was the Shrewsbury one when he and the "incompetent" (not arguing with that assessment!) Smallwood ran around full of energy and it seemed to knock Shrewsbury off their stride. They failed to replicate such performance levels after that and a couple of months after Bennett was playing at full back and Evans had come into central midfield and was arguably our best player for the last couple of months, something Mowbray himself said. Evans has been far better than Bennett this season and is very tidy on the ball.

Ultimately, he impressed the most under Mowbray initially which was at a time when he inherited a side that was perhaps lacking in passion and committment, something you cant doubt in Bennett. As time goes on and work rate becomes a given, then you need quality to accompany it to justify a place in the team. As a winger, he is nowhere near good enough going forward, even in League 1, his crossing is poor and he doesnt take players on nor does he get anywhere near enough goals. As a full back he is often caught out of position and dives in. As a wing back he looks totally uncomfortable and as a central midfielder he isnt technically good enough to control a game.

You compare him to players like Travis and Reed in central midfield, two players who share his enthusiasm and energy but ultimately are far more natural centrally and are far more competent on the ball.

His versatility is overestimated too because he is poor in many of the positions he supposedly can play in. The primary issue however is that he is now a (admittedly better) Jason Lowe in that he is the first name on the team sheet, and that I cannot see changing.

[K-Hod]

Said it before with Bennett, but I'd keep him around as a squad player as he's capable of filling in in a number of positions.

Though, our best XI quite clearly doesn't include him. Unfortunately though, Mowbray doesn't seem to trust superior footballers and instead puts them on the bench. 

[Oldgregg86]

Just now, roversfan99 said:

Disagree with Bennett being a capable central midfielder. The game that sticks out in the mind was the Shrewsbury one when he and the "incompetent" (not arguing with that assessment!) Smallwood ran around full of energy and it seemed to knock Shrewsbury off their stride. They failed to replicate such performance levels after that and a couple of months after Bennett was playing at full back and Evans had come into central midfield and was arguably our best player for the last couple of months, something Mowbray himself said. Evans has been far better than Bennett this season and is very tidy on the ball.

Ultimately, he impressed the most under Mowbray initially which was at a time when he inherited a side that was perhaps lacking in passion and committment, something you cant doubt in Bennett. As time goes on and work rate becomes a given, then you need quality to accompany it to justify a place in the team. As a winger, he is nowhere near good enough going forward, even in League 1, his crossing is poor and he doesnt take players on nor does he get anywhere near enough goals. As a full back he is often caught out of position and dives in. As a wing back he looks totally uncomfortable and as a central midfielder he isnt technically good enough to control a game.

You compare him to players like Travis and Reed in central midfield, two players who share his enthusiasm and energy but ultimately are far more natural centrally and are far more competent on the ball.

His versatility is overestimated too because he is poor in many of the positions he supposedly can play in. The primary issue however is that he is now a (admittedly better) Jason Lowe in that he is the first name on the team sheet, and that I cannot see changing.

I agree with some of that. As far as Bennett is concerned all the reason you outlined is Kind of my point. The fact he doesn't score enough goals, crossing etc as you stated is the reason why he should play in cm, the one place is attributes can be utilised. I agree he will never dictate the play just like Savage didn't. He had tugay at the side of him to do that once the ball had been won back. Play him along side Smallwood, Evans etc and then you haven't fixed the problem ( although it would be a slight upgrade imo). Play him along side Rodwell, Reed and hopefully Travis, who can dictate the play and you have a partnership that just might offer something different to the absolute non existence of a midfield two we have now. 

In an ideal world Bennett goes and we get in someone of quality, a specialist in that position. In the real world of venkys and with so many other positions of priority needing filling it could be a small step in the right direction and if nothing else frees up the right side to play a proper, preferably attacking, right sided player

 

[bluebruce]

5 hours ago, deryck guyler's spoon said:

We're being linked with a couple of tall central defenders which I'm under the impression that we really need (certainly the goals against column suggests so).

Funny thing about this is, according to Wiki anyway, we have centre halves at 6 ft 3 (Mulgrew), 6 ft 2 (Rodwell) and 6 ft 2 (Lenihan). Yet somehow we've managed to be crap in the air at the back!

Bauer is down at 6 ft 3...and a half! Maybe the half inch will give us the aerial dominance we need!

Height doesn't always give you aerial prowess. We do need someone who is good in the air for sure, but I'm equally as concerned that their positional sense and instincts are good as I feel that's how most of our goals get shipped. I also hope Bauer has at least a bit of pace, as we can be a bit susceptible on counter attacks. 

I'm curious, who was the other tall central defender we got linked with? I've only seen a tall youth prospect mentioned I think.

[JHRover]

1 hour ago, Bigdoggsteel said:

I ca't access that at work, but I will say after watching Enda Stevens for the first time last night , they have a great left back.

You could see how well drilled they were the first time we played them. They all knew their roles. Contrast that to us at times and it's like night and day

Mowbray often cites Sheffield united as the model we should follow, but when you consider they came 9th I think it was last season, you could see then they were moving in the right direction. We have a big summer ahead to get anywhere near that level. 

 

Absolutely right. Those who try to compare us to Sheff Utd I don't think have spent much time looking at Sheff Utd. The only similarity with us is that they have recently got out of League One.

Their recruitment, energy, system, style of play, organisation - absolutely miles ahead of us. They've signed players to actually play in particular positions within a system. We just seem to sign players to play in numerous positions and not really excel in one.

[chaddyrovers]

3 hours ago, RoversClitheroe said:

Completely disagree. He's looked out of his depth throughout the season. Great guy just not what we need! 

We need to sell:

Smallwood and Williams. Bennett maybe.

He was good against Wigan and Sheff Wednesday..

I agree with Williams and Smallwood being sold. 

3 hours ago, Stuart said:

Actually agree with this.

Bennett is our utility man but not a right back. Nyambe has no real back up.

We need a right back in this summer. 

1 hour ago, roversfan99 said:

Disagree with Bennett being a capable central midfielder. The game that sticks out in the mind was the Shrewsbury one when he and the "incompetent" (not arguing with that assessment!) Smallwood ran around full of energy and it seemed to knock Shrewsbury off their stride. They failed to replicate such performance levels after that and a couple of months after Bennett was playing at full back and Evans had come into central midfield and was arguably our best player for the last couple of months, something Mowbray himself said. Evans has been far better than Bennett this season and is very tidy on the ball.

Ultimately, he impressed the most under Mowbray initially which was at a time when he inherited a side that was perhaps lacking in passion and committment, something you cant doubt in Bennett. As time goes on and work rate becomes a given, then you need quality to accompany it to justify a place in the team. As a winger, he is nowhere near good enough going forward, even in League 1, his crossing is poor and he doesnt take players on nor does he get anywhere near enough goals. As a full back he is often caught out of position and dives in. As a wing back he looks totally uncomfortable and as a central midfielder he isnt technically good enough to control a game.

You compare him to players like Travis and Reed in central midfield, two players who share his enthusiasm and energy but ultimately are far more natural centrally and are far more competent on the ball.

His versatility is overestimated too because he is poor in many of the positions he supposedly can play in. The primary issue however is that he is now a (admittedly better) Jason Lowe in that he is the first name on the team sheet, and that I cannot see changing.

Bennett has 5 assist this season despited playing at right back majority of the season. Same number of assists as Graham and Armstrong. Only Dack with 8 and Reed with 7 have better record. 

[rigger]

4 hours ago, RoversClitheroe said:

Completely disagree. He's looked out of his depth throughout the season. Great guy just not what we need! 

We need to sell:

Smallwood and Williams. Bennett maybe.

If Bennet is a maybe, then I would disagree that we NEED to sell him.

[JHRover]

37 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

He was good against Wigan and Sheff Wednesday..

I agree with Williams and Smallwood being sold. 

We need a right back in this summer. 

Bennett has 5 assist this season despited playing at right back majority of the season. Same number of assists as Graham and Armstrong. Only Dack with 8 and Reed with 7 have better record. 

Has he played at RB the MAJORITY of the season? He seems to have played every game, no injuries. I genuinely don't know the stats but my impression was he'd been in midfield the majority of games, and at RB in the minority.

Either way, 1 goal and 5 assists in nearly 40 games isn't impressive.

As I've said before, I reckon you could drag a 6 foot bloke off the street and put him in the team 46 times a season and by law of averages he'd notch more than a goal just by being in the right place or getting lucky.

[chaddyrovers]

Just now, JHRover said:

Has he played at RB the MAJORITY of the season? He seems to have played every game, no injuries. I genuinely don't know the stats but my impression was he'd been in midfield the majority of games, and at RB in the minority.

Either way, 1 goal and 5 assists in nearly 40 games isn't impressive.

As I've said before, I reckon you could drag a 6 foot bloke off the street and put him in the team 46 times a season and by law of averages he'd notch more than a goal just by being in the right place or getting lucky.

16 times at right back out of his 31 games in league games

 https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/elliott-bennett/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/43193/saison/2018/wettbewerb/GB2/verein/164

And some of those games on right mid or left mid are as wing back. 

[tomphil]

3 hours ago, Bigdoggsteel said:

I ca't access that at work, but I will say after watching Enda Stevens for the first time last night , they have a great left back.

You could see how well drilled they were the first time we played them. They all knew their roles. Contrast that to us at times and it's like night and day

Mowbray often cites Sheffield united as the model we should follow, but when you consider they came 9th I think it was last season, you could see then they were moving in the right direction. We have a big summer ahead to get anywhere near that level. 

 

He cited Millwall and the likes when we came up saying it is possible to do ok on a small budget, he probably got a bigger one but lathered it on his squads new contracts and down payment on Brereton and Armstrong.

He then cited the Preston model after they spanked us but he's already invested a fortune in a kid who isn't ready and the lower league punts like nobbers do where injury prone and he doesn't like playing them anyway.

Now he's on about the Sheff U model but as pointed out we are worlds away we more resemble a lesser version of PNE but again as pointed out both those clubs have a strategy that matches what they do on the pitch and the signings they make whether punts or first teamers are coming in for a specific job.  That isn't happening here and never really has under Venkys no matter who's in the gaffers seat although Mowbray is taking it to new levels.

He's a mixed up kid is our Tone !

Edited March 27, 2019 by tomphil

[G Somerset Rover]

Bennett is a good squad man - jack of all trades master of none - but he should absolutely not be a regular starter next season if we’re looking to progress. 

Edited March 27, 2019 by Gavlar Somerset Rover!

[Guest]

What’s Dunny doing here? When did he rejoin the club?

[DE.]

1 hour ago, JHRover said:

As I've said before, I reckon you could drag a 6 foot bloke off the street and put him in the team 46 times a season and by law of averages he'd notch more than a goal just by being in the right place or getting lucky.

Unless your name is Chris Brown. 37 apps and no goals... could have played 370 and never scored.

Bennett is way down on the list of players we need to ship out. He's contributed more in terms of assists/goals than the vast majority of the team, including 0 goals 0 assists Corry Evans - who hasn't actually scored a single goal for us since the 15/16 season. 3 assists in the last four seasons too. Now granted he's largely a defensive midfielder, but even Smallwood has a couple of goals and 4 assists in the last two seasons.

[RoversClitheroe]

2 hours ago, chaddyrovers said:

He was good against Wigan and Sheff Wednesday..

I agree with Williams and Smallwood being sold. 

Cmon chaddy that was 2 games. 

Brentford away tipping point for me.

[chaddyrovers]

Just now, RoversClitheroe said:

Cmon chaddy that was 2 games. 

Brentford away tipping point for me.

Not for me. 

Went to that away game. 

[neophox]

Two french lads joined this season Jalil Saadi and Flavien Boyomo anyone seen them play?

[bluebruce]

1 hour ago, Gavlar Somerset Rover! said:

Bennett is a good squad man - jack of all trades master of none - but he should absolutely not be a regular starter next season if we’re looking to progress. 

Agreed. He should be the first name picked...on the substitutes bench. He's a fine utility player to have to fill in for a number of positions and give a burst of energy. Occasionally he'll merit a start too, largely down to his inspirational work ethic. But starting regularly? Nope. We have better first XI players in every position, and we need to strengthen those as it is.

If Bennett is a regular starter over the course of next season, it means one of two things, or possibly both:

1) We haven't strengthened appropriately.

2) Tony simply can't pick a player.

People might as well stop wishing him away altogether though. He's one of several players who we are probably paying too much money to for anyone to want to take them off our hands unless they accept a wage drop. Not that I mind in his case, solid squad man. Although as said, I bet we are paying him a little more than we should. Not that I'd know, just a feeling.

Edited March 27, 2019 by bluebruce

[bluebruce]

Just now, neophox said:

Two french lads joined this season Jalil Saadi and Flavien Boyomo anyone seen them play?

They're in the under-18s so you'll probably have better luck asking in the Academy thread. Someone in there posted highlights of a U-18 game I think it was a few weeks back, where I'm pretty sure that Boyomo was playing. Great big lump at the back.

Edit - @neophox I just realised, I think that somebody was me! Here's the link, I haven't re-watched it thoroughly but I'm sure I saw him pop up a little on the clips when I first watched it: https://www.manutd.com/en/videos/detail/under-18s-highlights-blackburn-rovers-2-man-united-2-23-february-2019

The Lithuanian 'wonderkid' we signed is on there too, creating our first goal.

Edited March 27, 2019 by bluebruce

[JHRover]

2 hours ago, chaddyrovers said:

16 times at right back out of his 31 games in league games

 https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/elliott-bennett/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/43193/saison/2018/wettbewerb/GB2/verein/164

And some of those games on right mid or left mid are as wing back. 

Also need to bear in mind the number of occasions he has switched between positions during games. Other than demonstrating his 'versatility' and Mowbray's 'tactical' adaptability I don't think it has done him or us any favours to constantly be shunted around between 3-4 different positions. 

Is it too much to ask for everyone to play in their favoured position and moving forward to sign people with a view to them playing somewhere they are used to playing well?

[JHRover]

49 minutes ago, bluebruce said:

They're in the under-18s so you'll probably have better luck asking in the Academy thread. Someone in there posted highlights of a U-18 game I think it was a few weeks back, where I'm pretty sure that Boyomo was playing. Great big lump at the back.

Edit - @neophox I just realised, I think that somebody was me! Here's the link, I haven't re-watched it thoroughly but I'm sure I saw him pop up a little on the clips when I first watched it: https://www.manutd.com/en/videos/detail/under-18s-highlights-blackburn-rovers-2-man-united-2-23-february-2019

The Lithuanian 'wonderkid' we signed is on there too, creating our first goal.

Jalil Saadi has been on the fringes of the U23s recently. Come off the bench for short spells a few times.

[tomphil]

2 hours ago, Mellor Rover said:

What’s Dunny doing here? When did he rejoin the club?

Agent Dunn