I will happily stand corrected if Benson bangs in the goals. I would, in fact, be over the moon about it. But I just don't rate Benson and to suggest that there are few better out there at this level is an astonishing thing to say. If you give anyone enough service you would expect goals. But better strikers would score even more!
Ok Ponders... Name one. The bottom line is that the fella scores goals. Last season the service he received was non existent, yet he still pitched in with his fair share. With that in mind... Imagine how many goals he'll bag in a promotion chasing side (hopefully) with quality players around him. Players who possess genuine creativity and guile who are capable of providing him with consistent service and opportunities, to allow him to do what he does best... Putting the ball in the back of the net.
Okay, Franco, I will take - Will Hoskins Adam Le Fondre Gary Madine Dean Bowditch Jamie Cureton Jordan Rhodes Craig Davies - before his move. I would rather the above strikers than Paul Benson. If you are decent player in a rubbish team, you can still show that you are a good player. Just like a poor player will look poor in a good team. In my opinon, Paul Benson is not very good.
Will Hoskins - just signed for Brighton for a million so he's obviously above League One level. Adam Le Fondre - it's well reported that he'd never move down south and unproven at League One level. Gary Madine - Never heard of him and his goalscoring record doesn't inspire me. Dean Bowditch - Will give you this one. Jamie Cureton - too old. Jordan Rhodes - good player but his record is no better than Benson's. Craig Davies (before his move) - not for me. I think we'll have to agree to disagree Ponders. I would rather Drogba, Torres and Tevez than Paul Benson... However, what are the chances of any of them coming to us? I agree 100% with every word of this. For sure he has his limitations, but in a bad team last season he scored goals... So using your logic... In a good team this season (hopefully) he'll score even more right? I suppose it depends on what you want from your centre forwards. I simply want them to score goals, Benson does that so Imo he's a good forward. The bottom line is... We are not Man City and there are other areas of the squad that need attention. For me in Benson, BWP and Hayes, along with what appears to be a midfield full of goals, we have more than enough to get out of this league.
Benson deserves the benefit if the doubt, and a chance to play in a team which is now filled with creativity.
To be honest I'm kinda with Ponders here. I like Benson, but he relies too much on service from wingers, with all of his goals being headers or tap ins. Nothing wrong with that, but if he doesn't get decent service then he will be ineffectual for us. I know many will disagree but I really worry that we are fairly weak up front, even if Benson does alright this season, he's too old to have much of a future here. Bradley Wright-Phillips was a dangerous poacher last year but its the only year in which he has done well and scored goals, I'm worried in case it was a one off (similar with Jackson). I'll give Hayes the benefit of the doubt, but I'm worried with him also - he hasn't banged in regular goals for a few years, and he plays more as a deep-lying striker.
Benson's at his appropriate level in Div 1. He is capable of hitting 15+ goals next season if given the chances. He's also a tidy footballer who can link the play well. Last season, when he dropped a bit deeper he showed nice touches and awareness. Wagstaff does not put enough quality balls into the box. ReiD provided Benson with chances, especially when he put the ball in early. This year there will more fluidity to our play and interchanging of positions. I expect Hayes and BWP to start but Benson will be given plenty of opportunities and I think he's good enough to make a telling contribution.
I'm excited about our strikers- BWP is the best striker in this division IMO. Hayes is a player I've rated for years, we could only have dreamed about him last summer when he moved to Preston. Finally, benson as a 3rd choice, battling for a first team place is more than good enough. 10 goals in 30 games last year, think he could easily double that with green and Stephens pulling the strings.
I stick with my earlier prediction that we're going to score twenty more goals than last season and concede twenty less. Seriously, I believe we're going to be sticking them in from all angles and from a variety of different players this season. The vital difference is going to be the service from an attack-minded midfield/quick winger(s). I'm not Benson's greatest fan by any means, but he was living off scraps last season and playing deeper and deeper just to get a sniff of the ball. I don't think he's going to have that problem this time round.
