Countryfox Posted 27 May 2020 Share Posted 27 May 2020 Thought we might need a dedicated centre half thread .. seems to be a lot going on concerning this position at the moment .. who might leave (too old, not good enough and being poached are 3 separate reasons) ... and how it all fits together. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Countryfox Posted 27 May 2020 Author Share Posted 27 May 2020 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Countryfox Posted 27 May 2020 Author Share Posted 27 May 2020 Always thought Benko was not in Brendans plans ... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Countryfox Posted 27 May 2020 Author Share Posted 27 May 2020 Not sure if Clod would want to sell anyone to us ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sacreblueits442 Posted 27 May 2020 Share Posted 27 May 2020 1 hour ago, Countryfox said: Thought we might need a dedicated centre half thread .. seems to be a lot going on concerning this position at the moment .. who might leave (too old, not good enough and being poached are 3 separate reasons) ... and how it all fits together. ..I have just watched the YouTube highlights and I do not know why all the fuss!!! He looks bog standard, he looks so ordinary and unspectacular I kept waiting for some sign of composure and authority in his play. The lot of being a defender in his position is reading the game and positional sense. It is perhaps hard to pick up from edited highlights the niceties of his play and I am doing him a disservice. I would have opted for Benkovic over Soyuncu after watching YouTube a few years ago, as Caglars' inclination to barge through a player from the back was going to be hard to take out of his game. Benkovic however was tidy assured and his recovery play especially going to ground when making a tackle was for me a sign that he would go on to be a top class defender. So far it has not worked for Benkovic and with injuries he has not achieved what I believe he is capable of. If we need back up then if Benkovic is not the answer I don't see Demiral as the next option. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Countryfox Posted 27 May 2020 Author Share Posted 27 May 2020 25 minutes ago, sacreblueits442 said: ..I have just watched the YouTube highlights and I do not know why all the fuss!!! He looks bog standard, he looks so ordinary and unspectacular I kept waiting for some sign of composure and authority in his play. The lot of being a defender in his position is reading the game and positional sense. It is perhaps hard to pick up from edited highlights the niceties of his play and I am doing him a disservice. I would have opted for Benkovic over Soyuncu after watching YouTube a few years ago, as Caglars' inclination to barge through a player from the back was going to be hard to take out of his game. Benkovic however was tidy assured and his recovery play especially going to ground when making a tackle was for me a sign that he would go on to be a top class defender. So far it has not worked for Benkovic and with injuries he has not achieved what I believe he is capable of. If we need back up then if Benkovic is not the answer I don't see Demiral as the next option. I don't know a lot about the players mentioned so thats interesting ... the Celtic player and the one from St Etienne do sound like players that Brendan could work with ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GingerrrFox Posted 27 May 2020 Share Posted 27 May 2020 Benkovic and Ajer to swap clubs and Fofana from St Etienne would do me nicely this summer. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Tielemans63 Posted 27 May 2020 Popular Post Share Posted 27 May 2020 Bothers me a bit that @henrik_62, who seems to know his onions, rates Benko as one of the best CBs he's seen for a while up at Celtic, and thinks that Ajer is fairly average. Swapping a good young player & cash for a fairly average player bothers me a bit 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lcfcsnow Posted 27 May 2020 Share Posted 27 May 2020 8 minutes ago, Paddy. said: Bothers me a bit that @henrik_62, who seems to know his onions, rates Benko as one of the best CBs he's seen for a while up at Celtic, and thinks that Ajer is fairly average. Swapping a good young player & cash for a fairly average player bothers me a bit It bothers me that our two targets appear to be Rodgers old mates, one injury prone and way past his best and the other is hard to judge playing in a very poor league. I hoped our scouting team would continue to be trusted and not messed with upon Congertons arrival. 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Countryfox Posted 27 May 2020 Author Share Posted 27 May 2020 6 minutes ago, Paddy. said: Bothers me a bit that @henrik_62, who seems to know his onions, rates Benko as one of the best CBs he's seen for a while up at Celtic, and thinks that Ajer is fairly average. Swapping a good young player & cash for a fairly average player bothers me a bit No disrespect to Henry but I’ll put my trust in Brendan ... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post turtmcfly Posted 27 May 2020 Popular Post Share Posted 27 May 2020 2 minutes ago, Countryfox said: No disrespect to Henry but I’ll put my trust in Brendan ... I'm sure Henrik won't take offence Cuntryfox 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdb Posted 27 May 2020 Share Posted 27 May 2020 I do wonder if there's a bit of a divide between our scouts/recruitment staff who want and specialise in young talents (and with a very high success rate) and the Rodgers/Congerton camp who are seemingly after more experienced players. Just a hunch but it would be such a shame to change what's been an incredibly successful strategy. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AKCJ Posted 27 May 2020 Share Posted 27 May 2020 11 minutes ago, Paddy. said: Bothers me a bit that @henrik_62, who seems to know his onions, rates Benko as one of the best CBs he's seen for a while up at Celtic, and thinks that Ajer is fairly average. Swapping a good young player & cash for a fairly average player bothers me a bit He definitely rated Ajer when Rodgers was their manager. Seemed to be able to get the best out of him and was the main reason he became a centre half. Benkovic is clearly a great talent but he's made out of glass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UniFox21 Posted 27 May 2020 Share Posted 27 May 2020 17 minutes ago, sdb said: I do wonder if there's a bit of a divide between our scouts/recruitment staff who want and specialise in young talents (and with a very high success rate) and the Rodgers/Congerton camp who are seemingly after more experienced players. Just a hunch but it would be such a shame to change what's been an incredibly successful strategy. What makes you say that? Under Rodgers we signed Youri, James Justin and brought through the likes of Barnes. All young players and have only signed Perez at 26. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lcfcsnow Posted 27 May 2020 Share Posted 27 May 2020 2 minutes ago, UniFox21 said: What makes you say that? Under Rodgers we signed Youri, James Justin and brought through the likes of Barnes. All young players and have only signed Perez at 26. Tielemans was signed initially under Puel. I'd say Justin was one down to the scouts, he's barely featured though despite some promising performances. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UniFox21 Posted 27 May 2020 Share Posted 27 May 2020 6 minutes ago, lcfcsnow said: Tielemans was signed initially under Puel. I'd say Justin was one down to the scouts, he's barely featured though despite some promising performances. Initially signed on loan under Puel, but permanently signed under Rodgers, so depends how you want to look at it. May have been a scout spot for Justin, but assume Rodgers had input. JJ hasn't played a huge amount due to how well Ricardo and Chillwell have played, and Fuchs has deputised for Chillwell when injured. But Justin was always given cup games and a fair few opportunities since Christmas where he's always done well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sacreblueits442 Posted 27 May 2020 Share Posted 27 May 2020 47 minutes ago, Countryfox said: No disrespect to Henry but I’ll put my trust in Brendan ... ....in this instance, I back @henrik_62!!! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BKLFox Posted 27 May 2020 Share Posted 27 May 2020 1 hour ago, Paddy. said: Bothers me a bit that @henrik_62, who seems to know his onions, rates Benko as one of the best CBs he's seen for a while up at Celtic, and thinks that Ajer is fairly average. Swapping a good young player & cash for a fairly average player bothers me a bit I do hope Benkovic comes good for us he's young, new to UK & still learning but is there something our team have seen in training? If he is sold then i have faith in the scouting team in thinking, Ajer, a player being linked to AC Milan, Real Madrid, Man City, Spurs & Everton to name but 5 teams will be a good signing & probably better than Benko for now & future. Benkovic is only linked to Celtic via a swap deal with us, no other linked clubs, he also didn't really get rave reviews from Bristol City supporters on his loan either so on that evidence Ajer is the better prospect no 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicolo Barella Posted 27 May 2020 Share Posted 27 May 2020 1 hour ago, lcfcsnow said: It bothers me that our two targets appear to be Rodgers old mates, one injury prone and way past his best and the other is hard to judge playing in a very poor league. I hoped our scouting team would continue to be trusted and not messed with upon Congertons arrival. In fairness it could absolutely be lazy journalism linking randoms to us, and players are always linked back to former coaches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuchsntf Posted 27 May 2020 Share Posted 27 May 2020 49 minutes ago, Nicolo Barella said: In fairness it could absolutely be lazy journalism linking randoms to us, and players are always linked back to former coaches. Thats Sports journalism...create a thought,Base a story,Let it flow, the readers and Social Media will do the rest...simples Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lambert09 Posted 27 May 2020 Share Posted 27 May 2020 2 hours ago, Paddy. said: Bothers me a bit that @henrik_62, who seems to know his onions, rates Benko as one of the best CBs he's seen for a while up at Celtic, and thinks that Ajer is fairly average. Swapping a good young player & cash for a fairly average player bothers me a bit 2 hours ago, AKCJ said: He definitely rated Ajer when Rodgers was their manager. Seemed to be able to get the best out of him and was the main reason he became a centre half. Benkovic is clearly a great talent but he's made out of glass. We have ourselves a bit of a paradox. Brendan rates Ajer, but he remembers him from last year. Not how he has developed now. @henrik_62 rates Benkovic, but he remembers him from last year. Not how he has developed now. I think the issue is that both have gone backwards and not forwards. If Brendon doesnt see a future for Benkovic, than a swap will be the best move. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuchsntf Posted 27 May 2020 Share Posted 27 May 2020 (edited) I reckon Holding onto Benkovic, getting him more involved, would be shrewd and prudent... He's shown he's got talent, he's just 22 , touching 23,thats a babe in Woods for a CB.. Alot of players have suffered injuries in their young careers,then found a course and path to Recover ,then Step up their potential... Evans,Milner,Gerrard. If the Club now support him,they will I am sure find a top und loyal player.. The Lockdown has given a many a injuries-Player breathing space, the Club should trust in their initial grounds for that First idea of investment... Why in this unknown period ,Waste the moment or the money... If we do get this season restarted and completed then he and Kaputska,should get some Motivation and some gametime from the bench.. .Especially while it seems more subs can be used. Keep him....!! Edited 27 May 2020 by fuchsntf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Countryfox Posted 27 May 2020 Author Share Posted 27 May 2020 47 minutes ago, fuchsntf said: I reckon Holding onto Benkovic, getting him more involved, would be shrewd and prudent... He's shown he's got talent, he's just 22 , touching 23,thats a babe in Woods for a CB.. Alot of players have suffered injuries in their young careers,then found a course and path to Recover ,then Step up their potential... Evans,Milner,Gerrard. If the Club now support him,they will I am sure find a top und loyal player.. The Lockdown has given a many a injuries-Player breathing space, the Club should trust in their initial grounds for that First idea of investment... Why in this unknown period ,Waste the moment or the money... If we do get this season restarted and completed then he and Kaputska,should get some Motivation and some gametime from the bench.. .Especially while it seems more subs can be used. Keep him....!! Maybe .. but I don’t think we have that luxury ... Evans age/injuries and Cags being lured away .. and even the option to play 3 at the back ... I’d use him to upgrade now and let Brendan polish another diamond... ASAP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brizzle Fox Posted 27 May 2020 Share Posted 27 May 2020 2 hours ago, BKLFox said: I do hope Benkovic comes good for us he's young, new to UK & still learning but is there something our team have seen in training? If he is sold then i have faith in the scouting team in thinking, Ajer, a player being linked to AC Milan, Real Madrid, Man City, Spurs & Everton to name but 5 teams will be a good signing & probably better than Benko for now & future. Benkovic is only linked to Celtic via a swap deal with us, no other linked clubs, he also didn't really get rave reviews from Bristol City supporters on his loan either so on that evidence Ajer is the better prospect no He did look pretty awful during his spell in Bristol. Slow, lacking in confidence, unfit and I hate to say it looked out of his depth. Probably just rustiness and I imagine my expectations were a tad inflated from the rave reviews he got in Scotland but he was very disappointing. However If the stories are true re Rodgers being willing to offload maybe Benko actually just isn't very good. Who knows. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Ric Flair Posted 27 May 2020 Popular Post Share Posted 27 May 2020 Not read a single glowing report about Ajer from anyone who has watched him regularly. Ominous. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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