Bennett is certainly not un-droppable. I was merely saying he is one of the first on the team-sheet atm... given his recent form. Mbokani has far more class than Jerome (as much as i love Jerome). The ball sticks to him more and, given some decent service, i am convinced he would put more goals away than Jerome, with the same number of chances. AN might well swap them over... but I personally would always play Mbokani ahead of Jerome, providing he is fit.
For me, if Jerome starts vs Liverpool it will be to Dave as AN does not think we will get owt. If he is fit, the only reason AN would play Jerome ahead of Mbokani is to save injury in a game he doesn't see us winning/ drawing. If we win/ draw with Jerome up top... AN looks like a genius. If we lose, it is expected and Dave has had a nice rest.
I agree Bedford - Dave should be the starter but I just think AN will rotate and start with Jerome. Just a feeling that's all.
I hope Bennett isn't one of the first names on the team sheet now that we have a new centre-half, and have to say, like my comment about Jarvis yesterday, I'm somehwat confused as to why he is seemingly immune from any criticism as to me he has been at fault for as many goals as anyone this season, and I never read anything criticising him. He switched off for Costa's goal and cost us a point in the Chelsea game, and whilst it was a little unfortunate, I wonder if Rusty would have gotten away scot free with no criticism had it been he who scored the own goal against Stoke last week? I really hate to say it as I was over the moon when we signed him and there have been very few Canaries I have wanted to succeed and be brilliant as much as he, but I honestly don't think Bennett is quite good enough at this level. I know we have (until recently at least) been tighter at the back with him in, but he has still been at fault for several goals and I'm really hoping Klose is an upgrade because if Bennett is a fixture at CB for the rest of the season I can genuinely see us shipping a lot of goals and going down. I'm not arguing that Rusty should be playing CB or that he is the answer by the way because he isn't, I just don't think Bennett is as much of an improvement as everybody else appears to think he is.
Everybody else doesn't, trust me. But I get hammered for even implying that Martin might be allowed near the middle of the penalty box so I have avoided criticising Bennett on the basis that it doesn't really solve anything, because clearly Martin at CB is even worse. Until now we have signed a new CB. Bennett has to be the one dropped for Klose.
I think Bennett is perceievd as better because firstly the most direct comparison is to Martin and I think most would agree he has been better than him. Then look at Bassong, plenty of mistakes in him too so he again doesn't really suffer by comparison. Bennett has made errors of course as you highlight, but for me so far less of them, he has played during our best defensive spell of the season with the 2 clean sheets recently, but he like the other defenders will suffer or excel with the efforts of the whole team. It's for that reason that I would have amodicum of simpathy for Whittaker who had Redmond and his non-existent defence infront of him for the main, very hard to impress with no support and being exposed. The reality for me is that both Bass and Bennett are decent players for our level, Martin is not far behind them and I hope that Klose, will be an improvement. But they will all struggle if we play as open as we did at the start of the season just like they will all look better if we go extra defensive as we did vs Citeh, Arse and Chelski. The trouble is probably that at the moment we seem in some tacticle limbo of how the manager wants us to play but the players don't seem capable or a more defensive set up and at the moment it seems difficult for any of the lads to impress. Bah!
Retweet from Chris Goreham Chris Goreham Retweeted please log in to view this image Phil Daley @Phil_Daley David McNally confirms Naismith deal is done! Door not closed to any other deals but "bulk" is done. #ncfc
Excellent news all round. A good week. I was a bit upset earlier when Naismith appeared to be dragging his feet, but am glad he's here.
No official club conf. yet, nothing on Newsnow, still just the tweet I posted from a radio Norfolk presenter / associate? I hope he's not joshing me?
Right, OK, chill pill time. NOW I feel better @cromercanary @michaeljbailey @paddyjdavitt Any sign of white smoke from #Colney training ground or the #CarrowRoad boardroom yet, guys? #ncfc #signings Paddy Davitt @paddyjdavitt Paddy Davitt > Jon Dunn Rest easy my friend. Number 5 has landed. #ncfc chief exec this afternoon confirming #naismith is over the line.
