Ryan Bennett

[The Great Mass Debater]

How come most posters seem to be talking about the impending return to fitness of Ryan Bennett as if we have John Terry coming back into the fold?

Ryan Bennett is probably behind Cuellar, Turner, Martin (Bassong on ability) and probably fighting it out with Hooiveld.

I dont quite understand why everyone is talking as if we have a world beater coming back. When has Ryan Bennett ever been an established member of the first team? Is this the old absent average player is the answer to all our problems thing again?

I know a lot of people really rate him for some reason but he's probably 4th choice

 

[morty]

Can't say I have seen many people proclaiming him a returning John Terry?

I think most people have seen that Neil has tried quite a few options in defence this season, and apart from the last few games it really hasn't clicked.

So, personally I am just welcoming back an extra option, that also has the knock on effect of pushing Russ back to RB, a position I prefer to see him in. And its a long season, with the tough Christmas period coming up, having as many squad members as fit as possible, can only really be a good thing?

 

[The Great Mass Debater]

Cant see Russ being the regular rightback. Russ wants to play CB and Adams has so far accommodated him. Think we'll pretty much see a 50/50 split for Russ this season, unless we stumble on a non-Russ CB pairing that has some joy like Turner and Bassong in Hughton's first season, which Russ cant help but accept.

Russ is Adams' go-to guy, and he will be accomodated

 

[morty]

Cant see Russ being the regular rightback. Russ wants to play CB and Adams has so far accommodated him. Think we'll pretty much see a 50/50 split for Russ this season, unless we stumble on a non-Russ CB pairing that has some joy like Turner and Bassong in Hughton's first season, which Russ cant help but accept.

Russ is Adams' go-to guy, and he will be accomodated

Where has this fact that he wants to play CB, ever actually been established though?

Captain or not, I doubt very much that any player has the power to tell the manager where he is going to play.

 

[Salopian]

If Ryan has any advantages over the others, they are probably his height in dealing with high balls and also his speed to block shots. He also scored useful goals from set pieces in the Premiership - no mean achievement.

I would like to think that a fully match-fit Bennett would be a serious challenger for a CB slot, but obviously while the present incumbents help to produce clean sheets, he may have to bide his time.

 

[The Great Mass Debater]

Where has this fact that he wants to play CB, ever actually been established though?

Captain or not, I doubt very much that any player has the power to tell the manager where he is going to play.

Martin went on record with those comments a few years ago after he'd just broken into the Scotland team and towards the end of Lamberts reign. Im sure the comments could be tracked down with some googling - I cant be ars*d to find it myself, but I remember him very clearly saying this

 

[Canaryboy]

I can remember him saying that he wanted to move into the centre as he gets older, think he said it early last season too.

But I rate Ryan Bennett, think we've missed him. Can we send Hooiveld back now? 

 

[IP14canary]

I've always said that imo Ryan Bennett is potentially our best centre back,unfortunately for him he's either been injured or out of favour but I reckon if he was to be given 10 -20 games we would finally see how good he really is,also unlike our other centre halves he will get the odd goal too.

 

[morty]

Martin went on record with those comments a few years ago after he'd just broken into the Scotland team and towards the end of Lamberts reign. Im sure the comments could be tracked down with some googling - I cant be ars*d to find it myself, but I remember him very clearly saying this

Fair enough, a few years ago, in a different division, under a different manager...

I still think there is a difference in expressing a preference, and actually demanding something though.

 

[The Great Mass Debater]

Fair enough, a few years ago, in a different division, under a different manager...

I still think there is a difference in expressing a preference, and actually demanding something though.

His actual words were something like 'I get considered there or nowhere at all'. It was quite a bold statement because I remember thinking it was quite bold at the time.

Sure Russ will play wherever selected, but Adams seems keen to back those he feels are the right guys. In making Russ the captain, giving him Bassongs shirt and playing him at CB more often than not, think its clear Adams feels Russ is his guy

 

[Monty13]

Where has this fact that he wants to play CB, ever actually been established though?

Captain or not, I doubt very much that any player has the power to tell the manager where he is going to play.

 

 

[Lake District Canary]

I hope that Martin will be accepted as a CB by fans from now on.  He is the captain and better as captain at CB than Right Back imo.   Its where he wants to be. Its where he plays for Scotland and at Norwich most of this season - and the goals against have not really been down to him, more to do with midfield cover and other people's mistakes.  So if he is fit and confident it looks to be a question of who plays alongside him.  Cuellar has done well and it looks like he is in possession of the shirt for now, but if he falters or is injured, then that will be Bennett's chance to get back in. 

 

[Yellow Fever]

Agree with that LDC. Not sure that RB is match fit yet anyway, He's playing in the development game tomorrow night so I can't see him starting or dislodging Turner from the bench yet.