Big_John_10 Posted September 15, 2013 Share Posted September 15, 2013 So you don't know what games baker replaced bennet in but you do know it was for tactical reasons to combat bigger forwards and midfield players. How does that work? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StefanAVFC Posted September 15, 2013 Share Posted September 15, 2013 (edited) I'm going on from what I remember from last season, but I couldn't state with 100% certainty, ergo I need the stats. I don't remember Bennett being dropped for Baker for anything other than tactical reasons/injury because I can remember that people were asking for it yet Bennett kept starting. I can't find the stats either so we'll have to agree to disagree. You made the first claim, I was merely making a counter claim. Edited September 15, 2013 by StefanAVFC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kwan Posted September 15, 2013 Share Posted September 15, 2013 Bennett shouldn't be in ahead of Luna. End of story 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villaguy Posted September 15, 2013 Share Posted September 15, 2013 If Luna has a few games that compare to yesterdays in quick succession then I think you can make a case for Bennett to be given a chance, that's just my opinion which is as valid as anyone else's. Some agree, some don't, lets see what Lambert does Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StefanAVFC Posted September 15, 2013 Share Posted September 15, 2013 Okay found some stuff. Bennett plays for a bit then gets injured before United game. Games Bennett DOESN'T play United (h) Stevens in City (a) Stevens in (Baker on bench) Arsenal (h) Stevens Reading (h) Stevens, but injured after 24'. Lichaj QPR (a) Went 532 with Baker at CB and Lichaj at LB Stoke (h) Ditto Liverpool (a) Bennett back from injury on bench Chelsea (a) came on for Lichaj Spurs (h) Straight back into the team - plays 90 Wigan (h) starts - plays 90 Swansea (a) - 90 Southampton (h) - injured/suspended, Stevens in West Brom (a) - 90 Newcastle (h) - Comes off at HT, system change, Baker at LB Everton (a) - 90, with Baker dropping to the bench West Ham (h) - Baker starts at LB to combat West Ham's style of play Arsenal (a) - Bennett comes back in and plays 90 Man City (h) - 90 Reading (a) - Baker starts at LB. Only ????? whether tactical or dropped. Can't remember how Bennett played against City or whether they played direct. QPR (h) - Baker keeps his place but goes off after 20 for Bennett Liverpool (h) - 90 Stoke (a) - 90 Fulham (h) - 90 Man United (a) - 80, Baker goes to LB Sunderland (h) - 90 Norwich (a) - 90 (luckily) Chelsea (h) - 90 Wigan (a) - 90 Make of all that what you will. He was 'dropped' for Baker for West Ham and Reading and for 45 and 10 minutes in 2 other games. I believe 2 were tactical and 2 because of a system change/he wasn't playing well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P3te Posted September 15, 2013 Share Posted September 15, 2013 So Bennett's out of the team now and, unsurprisingly, he's suddenly a far better player as if by magic Luna was shocking yesterday, but he's a 22 year old in a new country, with new teammates, who doesn't speak the language... There will be more days like that for him. Also, he's far from the only one who was poor yesterday. It happens Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StefanAVFC Posted September 15, 2013 Share Posted September 15, 2013 So Bennett's out of the team now and, unsurprisingly, he's suddenly a far better player as if by magic Luna was shocking yesterday, but he's a 22 year old in a new country, with new teammates, who doesn't speak the language... There will be more days like that for him. Also, he's far from the only one who was poor yesterday. It happens I don't think anybody has said that AFAIK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villaguy Posted September 15, 2013 Share Posted September 15, 2013 I think he played well when man city beat us 1-0 due to a clark error/refereeing decision whatever way you view that incident. Might have been injured for the next game I presume Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big_John_10 Posted September 15, 2013 Share Posted September 15, 2013 Lowton was given a new deal Vlaar is captain KEA is starting games Westwood is given a new contract Benteke is given a new contract Bennet is replaced by someone better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StefanAVFC Posted September 15, 2013 Share Posted September 15, 2013 So when I prove your dig wrong, you move on to a completely unrelated point? The players that were given new contracts got them because they deserved them. Bennett didn't get one because he didn't do enough last year. He hasn't been replaced. He was injured in all of pre-season which allowed Luna to take the spot and make it his own. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villaguy Posted September 15, 2013 Share Posted September 15, 2013 Lowton was given a new deal Vlaar is captain KEA is starting games Westwood is given a new contract Benteke is given a new contract Bennet is replaced by someone better. That doesn't mean that Bennett should be made an unfair scapegoat, that he hasn't got the ability to improve, that he wasn't playing well consistently over the last quarter of last season, that he isn't in Lamberts plans and that Lunas performance yesterday was as bad as the worst performance I've seen at left back for a while. I'm not saying Luna isn't an improvement, but to me he isn't miles better at all and if Bennett develops a bit in different areas then Bennett could become better. But the abuse Bennett has been given is a bit ott 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VillanousOne Posted September 15, 2013 Share Posted September 15, 2013 It is impossible to say if Luna is better than Bennett or vice versa yet and I like Luna, but in terms of someone with a little of technical ability and composure on the ball Bennett was one of few players we had who can 'sometimes' do that. Most will argue he doesn't have the physical frame to be a midfielder, but considering our lack of other options I just don't buy that. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big_John_10 Posted September 15, 2013 Share Posted September 15, 2013 So when I prove your dig wrong, you move on to a completely unrelated point? The players that were given new contracts got them because they deserved them. Bennett didn't get one because he didn't do enough last year. He hasn't been replaced. He was injured in all of pre-season which allowed Luna to take the spot and make it his own. My dig? What was my dig? Bennet didn't do enough because he wasn't good enough and it seems the manager agreed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VillanousOne Posted September 15, 2013 Share Posted September 15, 2013 So when I prove your dig wrong, you move on to a completely unrelated point? The players that were given new contracts got them because they deserved them. Bennett didn't get one because he didn't do enough last year. He hasn't been replaced. He was injured in all of pre-season which allowed Luna to take the spot and make it his own. My dig? What was my dig? Bennet didn't do enough because he wasn't good enough and it seems the manager agreed. i'm with StefanAVFC, Bennett had some shockers last season - but he did improve. And a lack of preseason has caused him to be dropped not just Tony Moon coming to town. well...... possibly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
briny_ear Posted September 15, 2013 Share Posted September 15, 2013 So is Bennett injured now, and is that why he didn't make the bench on Saturday? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Risso Posted September 15, 2013 Share Posted September 15, 2013 Absolute cack. **** hell, I detest our fans at times. A guy coming in in his first season in the Premiership and found it hard. He improved towards the back end of the season, yet some people will still keep the blinkered view that he's terrible. It's your opinion, at the end of the day, but he's clearly not 'absolute shite' or 'bloody awful'. Bennett in particularly copped a lot of flak last year. Some warranted definitely, but some was ridiculously OTT. He closed his Twitter because of abuse and he got it from the fans at home games. Imagine how that would affect you as a person, if all you got was absolute abuse from your so-called 'fans', just for doing your job. But obviously, it's part of the job because he earns good money. It winds me up how people can take a moral high ground over footballers because they earn good money as well. Absolute cobblers. He doesn't deserve abuse because at least he tries hard. But unfortunately he IS shite. Never a Premier League standard player in a million years. In a poor defence, he was the weakest link. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StefanAVFC Posted September 15, 2013 Share Posted September 15, 2013 (edited) He wasn't needed on the bench. We had Bacuna and Clark who could cover full back positions. Then all midfield and attacking options. Remember, he's only had 90 mins in pretty all all pre-season and regular season, and that was against a L1 team. I have no doubt he's 2nd choice NOW, but I don't think Luna was brought in to be a nailed on first choice. It just so happened that Bennett was injured. While Luna stays fit and plays okay, I doubt he'll come in but knowing that there is another LB over your shoulder will push you to work harder. A Man United fan (friend of mine, ST holder, very knowledgeable about United) said to me last season that them signing Buttner was one of the moves of the season. Not because he played much, but because he pushed Evra to perform. Which Evra didn't have to do before. If Bennett gets his chance, he'll know that if he cocks up, Luna will be straight back in. It's a squad game. Absolute cack. **** hell, I detest our fans at times. A guy coming in in his first season in the Premiership and found it hard. He improved towards the back end of the season, yet some people will still keep the blinkered view that he's terrible. It's your opinion, at the end of the day, but he's clearly not 'absolute shite' or 'bloody awful'. Bennett in particularly copped a lot of flak last year. Some warranted definitely, but some was ridiculously OTT. He closed his Twitter because of abuse and he got it from the fans at home games. Imagine how that would affect you as a person, if all you got was absolute abuse from your so-called 'fans', just for doing your job. But obviously, it's part of the job because he earns good money. It winds me up how people can take a moral high ground over footballers because they earn good money as well. Absolute cobblers. He doesn't deserve abuse because at least he tries hard. But unfortunately he IS shite. Never a Premier League standard player in a million years. In a poor defence, he was the weakest link. That's your opinion. I just find it a bit pathetic that you continually write-off players after their first season in a new league. Edited September 15, 2013 by StefanAVFC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Risso Posted September 15, 2013 Share Posted September 15, 2013 I honestly couldn't give a monkey's chuff what you find pathetic, I imagine I've been watching the Villa a bit longer than you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KjParton Posted September 15, 2013 Share Posted September 15, 2013 (edited) ^ and does that make your opinion more valid than Stefans? Edited September 15, 2013 by KjParton 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
briny_ear Posted September 15, 2013 Share Posted September 15, 2013 Why all this emphasis on the first season on a new league? Being in your first season doesn't give you licence to play poor football. It was the same for Lowton and Westwood and they did OK where Bennett did not. That's just how it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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