Alan Bennett thread

[rebus]

I think we need to be realistic.

Bennett is an Irish internationla who has impressed playing in The Championshi this year. A permanent signing is pretty much out of the question.

Exactly. We should be grateful to Steve Coppell we have him in the first place and also give thanks to Alan for coming here. Other footballers would have turned their nose up at it given he played for his national side less than a year ago.

 

[taybren]

"Southampton wanted me to stay but the financial situation there would not allow it. I am happy here at Brentford and staying here for the rest of the season would definitely interest me."

a quote from him in the guardian that would be great if he stays till the end of the season

 

[VTG]

I know it doesn't mean that, but I'm happy to misinterpret that as us outbidding Southampton for him

 

[londondude]

Deffo keep until the end of the season

 

[ladbroke]

Is now here until the end of the season.

 

[TW3Bee]

Is now here until the end of the season.

Does this mean he maybe signing on a permanent basis next season, otherwise there doesn't seem much point in keeping him.

 

[ladbroke]

Can only hope.

Or even him joining on long term loan next season. Let Ozzy learn his trade in newly formed reserves with Matty and Alan in the first team. Ozzy will get experience in playing games, and will be a little sharper when dragged in.

 

[sgaz]

Does this mean he maybe signing on a permanent basis next season, otherwise there doesn't seem much point in keeping him.

fingers crossed

 

[GP200]

Does this mean he maybe signing on a permanent basis next season, otherwise there doesn't seem much point in keeping him.

..............................my thoughts too.........................

 

[nick logan]

Does this mean he maybe signing on a permanent basis next season, otherwise there doesn't seem much point in keeping him.

Spoke to his family at the Grimsby match, he would like to sign if poss as he knows he won't get regular spot at reading. Although i am sure we are not the only suitors , getting him til the end of season puts us in the driving seat.

 

[NorthamptonBee]

A defence of Heywood and Bennett would be too slow and Lee friggin Thorpe did them as a pair FFS, now if one was leaving I suppose keeping one would be good.

 

[sonofabee]

I'd be more than happy to see either of these two paired alongside Karleigh next season. The key is Karleigh, he has the natural ability, pace and strength but is sadly lacking any positional sense or reading of the game yet. He'll get them I'm sure especially if he has a season beside either of them.

Money will I've no doubt be important to both but if they have enjoyed their time working under AS, (assuming Bennett has from hearsay) I'd bet that one of them is with us this year.

 

[Nurse Betty]

I like him as a player but I don't understand for the life of me why we still have him. As cover for an injured Matty - fine. But our season is over and we are shelling out money on another centre back. I'd rather Andy Scott kept his financial powder dry for use elsewhere in the team.

Karleigh needs mentoring, no doubt about it, but Matty was doing a sterling job before so I can't see why we need Bennett as well.

 

[Simon C]

Good defender but I don't think he's tall enough

 

[GP200]

Good defender but I don't think he's tall enough

..........yeah,he looks tiny on the telly....................

 

[Gee Bee]

I like him as a player but I don't understand for the life of me why we still have him. As cover for an injured Matty - fine. But our season is over and we are shelling out money on another centre back. I'd rather Andy Scott kept his financial powder dry for use elsewhere in the team.

Karleigh needs mentoring, no doubt about it, but Matty was doing a sterling job before so I can't see why we need Bennett as well.

Is Karleigh fit?
Maybe Bennett costs very little and is being covered by Charles, Ide being out on loan.
We have a squad of about 18 at present and so bodies are needed, Scott has also indicated that maybe a couple will be having early close season operations bringing the numbers down again.

 

[maddogging]

reading between the lines I wouldn't be too happy about a Bennett for Heywood swap for next season, as someone has mentioned, you will get 40 balls a game lumped into the box, Heywood was dealing with most of them, can Bennett..?

 

[blunstone]

we don't know the ins and outs nursey, but if we are paying serious money i do agree.

i am sure scott will be giving some much needed league experience to a few fringe players between now and the end of the campaign, eg brown jr.

 

[taybren]

how about a back three with wing backs that also would help dickson going up the wing with pead the other side a defensive midfield (KO'C) two in the middle (smith and ??) two up front (elder and connel for tomisabee sake younghusband) so like this:


----------gk-----------

-----cb----cb----cb---
-wb------DM--------wb-
------cm-------cm------
-------fw------fw-----

i like it

 

[HertfordBee]

Although I think Bennett has done well, I don't understand the logic in extending the loan at all, unless AS is going to change the system in the last few games.

Surely it makes sense for Karleigh Osborne to play in the remaining games to continue his development and so it's a choice of Heywood or Bennett alongside him?

I don't see the point in pairing Heywood and Bennett for the rest of the season if one/both of them aren't going to be here next season.

I would have thought there is little chance of Bennett signing on for next season although looking at the Reading Fans Forum, it seems that they would be more than happy to see the back of him!!

 

[jlove]

We have only 2 centre-backs, both have had recent injury/illness/lack-of-concentration, so it makes sense to have a third as cover for the last few games. I can't imagine we are risking the playing budget on it. I think that Bennett is too good to be captured by us, though... unless he has fallen in love with Griffin Park.

Scott has said that he wants to experiment with other formations and to swap players into other positions too take a look.

 

[Deleted member 2202]

Bennett would be a natural replacement for Heywood who surely won't take enough of a pay cut to be here next season. Bennett is a lot quicker (though not fast by any means) and seems more comfortable on the ball, so I'd be delighted if we signed him permanently.

 

[jlove]

I imagine that Bennett, in Premiership reserves, is on more that Heywood, on League 1 money.

 

[rebus]

Bennett is not going to be at Griffin Park next season. Sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings.

 

[homelessbee]

Bennett is not going to be at Griffin Park next season. Sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings.

So Mark, When is bennett signing for next season then?

Sorry it's just no one else is listening so I thought I may as well join in...

 

[ladbroke]

Mark, is this due to the money situation again, or is it that Andy Scott has other players in mind for defensive duties/cover.

 

[nick logan]

Bennett is not going to be at Griffin Park next season. Sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings.

You are one misery you

 

[North London Bee]

Daft waste of resourses to keep him on for the remainder of the season. I assume we are paying some or all of his salary and given that we are in no danger of going up or down and that it would appear that there is little chance of Bennett signing a permanent contract, why spend extra money on keeping him here for the last few games.

 

[Edmundo]

Maybe, since Bennett can't play for anyone else this season, we've got him for nothing? Unlikely I guess and it would be crazy to spend money on him at this point in time. I'd also hazard a guess that the kind of money he's on would pay for four or five players good enough for our level, so unless he's going to accept a fraction of his current earnings, he won't be around next season. If we are going to have any high earners, I'd hope they were proven goalscorers, rather than defenders.

 

[HertfordBee]

This is just another example of poor management at the club - both on and off the pitch, in my opinion.

 

[rebus]

Daft waste of resourses to keep him on for the remainder of the season. I assume we are paying some or all of his salary and given that we are in no danger of going up or down and that it would appear that there is little chance of Bennett signing a permanent contract, why spend extra money on keeping him here for the last few games.

IMHO I agree with this post entirely. This is money that should have been spent next season.

 

[Gee Bee]

Daft waste of resourses to keep him on for the remainder of the season. I assume we are paying some or all of his salary and given that we are in no danger of going up or down and that it would appear that there is little chance of Bennett signing a permanent contract, why spend extra money on keeping him here for the last few games.

We might not be. We also have players out on loan, so maybe the costs if there any are being covered.
We have a very small squad at present and only 2 centre backs (not including Bennett) one has just come back from injury and the other was ill last week and missed the game, is he better?
I'm sure he will be very much needed in the next few weeks, just because there is nothing to play for doesn't mean we should throw the towel in and try and get by with 14 players. Winning becomes a habit and so does losing. Lets try and pick up a few wins in the last 5 games and not just give up. Although some supporters appear to have.

 

[Les Beeavinu]

It doesn't make sense to have a centre back (Charles) out on loan and keep Bennett. I assume that he has to play which means that we may go the rest of the season with two centre backs who are highly unlikely to be here next season. I would have thought game time for two that are is more important.

 

[Aberdeen flyer]

All of this is idle speculation as,unless we are privvy to the terms of the loan, who knows how much we are paying him and how much Reading are paying him during his loan period.
I trust AS to know what he is doing and I,for one, cannot imagine him wasting bundles of money just to keep a player here until the end of the season.

 

[MetalBee]

It doesn't make sense to have a centre back (Charles) out on loan and keep Bennett.

It does further highlight the obvious flaws in the "emergency loan" system eh?

The fact he's unable to play for anyone else other than Reading this season and he isn't gonna get in their team I would assume there has been some sort of compromise.

Who would it benefit having him trot around in a reserve game if he's lucky?

 

[Les Beeavinu]

All of this is idle speculation as,unless we are privvy to the terms of the loan, who knows how much we are paying him and how much Reading are paying him during his loan period.
I trust AS to know what he is doing and I,for one, cannot imagine him wasting bundles of money just to keep a player here until the end of the season.

It's not about the money as far as I'm concerned.

 

[jay1310]

The fact he's unable to play for anyone else other than Reading this season and he isn't gonna get in their team I would assume there has been some sort of compromise.

Who would it benefit having him trot around in a reserve game if he's lucky?

Reading only have two reserve games left this season - three if they top the group. They are a point behind Villa and have played 2 games more, so that is unlikely.

 

[rebus]

It's not about the money as far as I'm concerned.

It is for me.

 

[Gee Bee]

I think some are getting the idea that Bennett, because he is signed for Reading is on mega bucks.
They took a punt on him from Cork City, where he would have been on peanuts. He may well not be on any more than Heywood gets, as it is more likely geared to appearances at Reading, whilst they see how he gets on in English football. The facts are he probably wouldn't even get into their reserve side with the amount of centre backs they have and we need him right now due to our lack of cover. As for Charles, well I would be more surprised to see him play for us next season than Bennett.

 

[Les Beeavinu]

It is for me.

If Bennett left, I assume Charles would have to return as cover so there's a likelihood that it's cost neutral whether he goes or stays.

 

[MetalBee]

Reading only have two reserve games left this season - three if they top the group. They are a point behind Villa and have played 2 games more, so that is unlikely.

Which further highlights my point then that he'd be lucky to even play in their reserves if his loan wasn't extended

 

[jay1310]

Which further highlights my point then that he'd be lucky to even play in their reserves if his loan wasn't extended

Thats why I posted what I did Metal.......

 

[Gee Bee]

If Bennett left, I assume Charles would have to return as cover so there's a likelihood that it's cost neutral whether he goes or stays.

Charles is crap though and also unlikely to be with us next season.

 

[rebus]

If Bennett left, I assume Charles would have to return as cover so there's a likelihood that it's cost neutral whether he goes or stays.

Do not pass go, do not collect £200.

 

[Les Beeavinu]

Charles is crap though and also unlikely to be with us next season.

He's under contract - another paid off?

 

[sonofabee]

Bennett is not going to be at Griffin Park next season. Sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings.

If that's a definite I see no reason to keep Bennett any longer, points aren't important and we can't plan for next season playing a bloke in a key position who deffo won't be here.

 

[Gee Bee]

Do not pass go, do not collect £200.

Suppose you would prefer we were down to about 14 fit players and fill in with youth team players. We would more likely get 3K type size crowds in the last 2 home games if supporters felt that the club couldn't be bothered to try and win a game. A shortsighted view imho as we would lose more income.

 

[Gee Bee]

If that's a definite I see no reason to keep Bennett any longer, points aren't important and we can't plan for next season playing a bloke in a key position who deffo won't be here.

Chances are Charles or Heywood won't be either, so why worry.

 

[jlove]

Personally, I have a preference to see Brentford win games that I attend, even if there is nothing left to play for... it seems others are not so bothered .

 

[rebus]

Suppose you would prefer we were down to about 14 fit players and fill in with youth team players. We woul dmore likely get 3K type size crowds in the last 2 home games if supporters felt thst the club couldn't be bothered to try and win a game. A shortsighted view imho as we woudl lose more income.

The last home game always attracts a bigger crowd than normal and with Hereford in the running, they will bring a few down.

People aren't coming through the turnstiles to see Bennett, are they? If Heywood was still injured you would have an argument but I see no point throwing good money after bad but if you want to chip in then no problem.

I'm not alone in this viewpoint either.