I thought this was what Ryan Bennett was meant to represent? Or do his constant injuries mean people are tending to write off his chances of developing into that sort of player?
Just looked out of curiosity, and he made 14 starts in our last season in the Prem. I can't remember him playing that much!
He was injured in the early fixture against the binners, back in August, so that scuppered his chances of a long season and the chance to really impress, sadly.
I have to agree with you, the only game I remember him starting was against Ipswich, for all of five minutes!
It was quite broken up - I think he essentially played whenever Bassong was injured (which was much more often in our last season in the Prem). He picked up a few appearances at the end of last season too, but has spent so much of the last two seasons short of full fitness, it's difficult to say whether he still has chance. I'd rather not have another Ayala though!
Are you sure RB is left-footed Rob? I seem to recall that he has played at RB at times and always assumed he was right-footed. I also can't recall him making clearances with his left foot, but that may just be my memory.
I thought exactly the same - he was playing on the right hand side of the 2 CBs when he was crocked vs 1p5wich? And anyway, that's surely being pedantic - how many times do you hear it said (Naughton, Whittaker) that they were brought to the club for their 'versatility', and can play 'anywhere along the back four'?
TransferMarkt has him down as right-footed: http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ryan-bennett/profil/spieler/67252
My bad I have always assumed he was left-footed but clearly never bothered to check! And actually that does make sense as he has predominantly featured on the right, so I have no idea where I got that from at all In which case I think we probably need a different back-up to Bassong then - possibly doubling as a left-back. As canario says, I wonder how much longer Ryan Bennett has with us as he has never quite matched potential and if we sign a new CB like VvD who is right-footed (I made sure I checked this time...) that would push him well down the pecking order
I would have him at the drop of a hat purely on his first season for the Swans unless Rob assessment that his knees are on the way out is correct.
Just to confuse the issue further, although right-footed, van Dijk plays as a left CB for Celtic, but that may just be because his CB partner, Ambrose is right-footed also. It would seem that he would offer competition/cover on either side as CB. In any case, I think we'll only sign one CB and that RB will be one of the options available.
Absolutely no interest in Michu at all, I fear he's had his one great season and won't be able to re-capture anything like that form again, especially if his lack of action last year is anything to go by. The fact Swansea we so prepared to loan him out despite the blistering start he made to his career in England suggests he's on the decline already.
The problem with signing a new CB is that our captain plays there. I love RM, but have to admit that he is very replaceable. Possibly AN made a mistake in not appointing a new captain when he took over.
It's fair enough to be cautious about RM, it seems most people on here are concerned that he's our weak link defensively, along with the right back position (which obviously includes him too). However, everything I've seen of him under Alex Neil makes me think people will be pleasantly surprised with our defence next year and RM at the heart of it.
I agree with that, Rob. Lambert, Hughton, Adams and Neil have all thought that RM is a good CB and that's good enough for me. On Mulumbu, Neil consulted Dean Kiely, our goal-keeping coach, about his temperament and then said: “Dean worked with him at West Brom and said he’s a great lad, good in the changing room and that there certainly won’t be any issues. That’s one of the most important things for me because you’re only as good as your team spirit. We have to make sure we get the right type of player who isn’t going to take away from what we have built up here. He’s a complete team player and you can see that in the way he plays, so he’ll be a good fit for us. We’re really pleased to sign him and I think he’ll add to the squad.” Read more at http://www.canaries.co.uk/news/arti...u-dean-kiely-2504098.aspx#7e5ZvSrRAEiMiLIP.99
Neither Lambert nor Hughton played Russ regularly at CB only really to cover injuries. It seems the switch to CB has been driven by Russ himself, either in an effort to prolong his career or to cement his place as CB for Scotland.
Your recollections are different to mine, Bath, as I clearly remember Lambert recommending RM to Scotland as a CB. I don't have the stats for the Hughton era, but last season he played 38 times at CB and 10 times at RB. IMO, AN isn't 'driven' by player's wishes, so for me he clearly believes that RM can do the job at CB.
