All that discussion about whether he was in Adams' plans, I think we now know the answer! I have to say I think this is fantastic news. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/28663500 Re. his role in pre-season, was there any talk of a minor injury? Or perhaps Adams was unwilling to play him while negotiations were ongoing. EDIT: (RYAN Bennett, and the contract is for 3 years until 2017)
Two bits of very good news. With Bennett being the age is he, you've got to think he'll have been given some assurances about playing time.
Very happy, just hoping to see him alongside Turner this season with Martin at RB but will be suprised if that happens now with Martin getting number 5.
Martin getting the 5 Jersey, and the captaincy, coupled with this news, is indeed very confusing. Like most on here, or what appears to be most, I would hope for a Bennett/Turner central defence this season.
The Bassong saga is becoming tiresome, he is one of our best players when fully fit and on high wages. Play him or sell him, all this stripping of squad numbers and making him play with the reserves is not good, personally if the situation can be rectified i would love to see him and Bennett at the back.
I won't be surprised if privately he's been told he can find a new club, if however there is no interest you expect him to be professional and play especially with the money he's on. He probably needs to put himself in the shop to get the sort of move he wants anyway. When fit and putting the effort in he is our best defender and along with Turner formed a very good balanced CB pairing. I'd want to see him play if he's still our player, if not I'd want to see him replaced.
Bassong? He's fairly regular for the U21s so I'd imagine he's around fit but no he hasn't played for the first team yet along with Becchio. I imagine the expectation is he will not be here, I'm just saying if he is still our player at 11pm September 1st I would expect him to be professional and play, which would be best for everyone.
Must admit, never been overly impressed with Bennett whenever I´ve seen him play, but then again that has for the most part been in the Premier League, when he´s never been given a long enough spell to stake a real claim for a place. Looking forward to seeing if he can do so now in the Championship, but with Martin seemingly taking that spot at the moment, will be interesting viewing.
The contract extension for Bennett is excellent news. The Bassong situation needs to be clarified but it is obvious that there is not a queue forming at the door for his signature and he has the potential to become an expensive overhead and an unnecessary burden.
I wouldn't be surprised if in the next couple of years this proves to be the most important bit of business done in this window. NA seems to be doing a good job so far. For me we need to dispense with Bassong & Becchio.
If R Bennett could only stop backing off and commit to more ball winning challenges, he'd be much more of a complete CB. Maybe he will now we've dropped down a division, but he's been guilty in the past of backing off ...and off... until the oppo get a clear sight of goal! Maybe Adams and Holt will have spotted this, too and coached it out of him? We'll find out soon enough
That was a major problem in the Premiership as he was dealing with strikers who could consistently hit the top corner of the net from 25 yards if you gave them space. The strange thing is that he will go through anything and everyone to win a ball in the air.
Any contact is a free kick in the PL and simulation is accepted, the Championship is a bit more honest in terms of diving cheating forwards.
