Elliot Benyon?

[PlainmoorRoar]

6th choice striker at Southend! Surely worth a loan punt?

[Jeff]

If only the loan window didn't close yesterday.......

[CP Gull]

6th choice striker at Southend! Surely worth a loan punt?

Too late now as the loan "window" closed yesterday, so nothing can happen on the loan signing front until January now.

As for Elliot, as covered in the Herald, he has had a pretty poor time of things since leaving us having been deemed a "failure" at Swindon, Wycombe and now it seems Southend too. However, I would imagine his wages are pretty decent for this level and that alone would probably rule us out of a move for him, whether temporary or a permanent one, at least until such time s he is out of contract, when he may well be forced to take a significant pay cut unless he can reestablish himself at Southend or somewhere else.

The biggest concern in January will, in my opinion, be in trying to hold on to some of our better performers this season - particularly Rene Howe, Aaron Downes and Brian Saah, all of whom are out of contract next summer and all of whom could potentially walk away for nothing. Of those three, the one who is probably likely to attract the most interest is Rene, understandable given his recent form and goals, and surely if a decent offer came in for him (perfectly possible) then the Board might find it difficult to resist. Replacing him wouldn't be easy and wouldn't come cheap either but I suppose someone like Benyon might be an option in those circumstances but I don't realistically see it happening in any other to be honest.

[Dutchgull]

Can we afford a couple of grand a week for Benners ? Somehow I doubt it.

[Dave]

Offer Benners £1k a week, if he wants to get back playing football and rediscover his form of old, he will not say no..will he ? Unless he is quite happy warming his butt sat in the stands.

[cambgull]

Offer Benners £1k a week, if he wants to get back playing football and rediscover his form of old, he will not say no..will he ? Unless he is quite happy warming his butt sat in the stands.

The problem is not what we offer Benyon, but what we offer Southend. Unless they're really stumped for offers, I doubt they'd accept half of his wages.

[Dave]

I was thinking more along the lines of a permanent offer at the end of the season, as for loaning him as said that can't be done untill January and do we know fact he is on £2k a week there, if he is, and that far down the pecking order Southend may be happy even to remove 50% of his wages of their books.

[ferrarilover]

If they are paying Benyon two thousand pounds a week (one hundred thousand pounds a year), I will eat my dog.

I suggested to Mark Ellis recently that this is what he earns and he laughed it off as entirely unrealistic. If Benyon gets half that, I'd still be surprised.

On the actual subject, I'd have him back. I was never his greatest fan (although I was a fan in general), but I think he'd be well served by feeding off the excellent work that Rene does. This is what Bodin was signed to do, but it hasn't worked out, so time to give someone else a go.

Matt.

[stevegull]

If they are paying Benyon two thousand pounds a week (one hundred thousand pounds a year), I will eat my dog.

I suggested to Mark Ellis recently that this is what he earns and he laughed it off as entirely unrealistic. If Benyon gets half that, I'd still be surprised.

On the actual subject, I'd have him back. I was never his greatest fan (although I was a fan in general), but I think he'd be well served by feeding off the excellent work that Rene does. This is what Bodin was signed to do, but it hasn't worked out, so time to give someone else a go.

Matt The n00b.

I agree and approve of the entire post, except two parts.

1. I don't think Bodin was signed to feed of Rene's scraps at all. Originally I think he was signed to be the new 'Eunan' but he doesn't appear to have the aptitude of ability to play in there just yet, and we both know Nathan Craig now looks the most popular choice in there. Benyon is an entirely different prospect to Bodin. Bodin is now expected to be a wide player who can whip in a ball to Rene. Benyon wouldn't play either of these roles especially well in my opinion. So I'm not sure why Bodin was brought into this discusson.

Benyon is a player who needs to be the one highest up the pitch and sniffing for chances in the penalty area. He's not that strong, or quick, but he has that uncanny ability of popping up inside the box and slamming the ball home. IF we were to get Benyon I think we would have to go to 4-4-2 to get the best out of him. He is a striker, and could not play that position just behind Rene.

2. I dislike your 'name dropping' of Mark Ellis.

[ferrarilover]

Not scraps, I deliberately avoided using the phrase scraps, because that suggests exactly what it suggests, scraps. I genuinely meant that Bodin's movement, brain and finishing were there to be exploited by Rene's size, hold up and general ability, as well as to make up for Rene's relative lack of pace and movement. I think Ling envisaged a partnership developing between the two (think Dodds and Pope at Port Vale, if that means anything to you). This is why I mentioned Billy, because I believe that he was purchased to do an entirely different job from the one which presently occupies him. I remain unconvinced that Bodin is a wide man, he simply isn't fast or nimble enough, he is far more effective when coming in from off centre and taking on a man that way.

I did consider making a reference to the grotesque name drop, but then rather hoped that no one would notice

Matt.

[stevegull]

Not scraps, I deliberately avoided using the phrase scraps, because that suggests exactly what it suggests, scraps. I genuinely meant that Bodin's movement, brain and finishing were there to be exploited by Rene's size, hold up and general ability, as well as to make up for Rene's relative lack of pace and movement. I think Ling envisaged a partnership developing between the two (think Dodds and Pope at Port Vale, if that means anything to you). This is why I mentioned Billy, because I believe that he was purchased to do an entirely different job from the one which presently occupies him. I remain unconvinced that Bodin is a wide man, he simply isn't fast or nimble enough, he is far more effective when coming in from off centre and taking on a man that way.

I did consider making a reference to the grotesque name drop, but then rather hoped that no one would notice

Matt The n00b.

Very fair points. If only the partnership was half as fruitful as Dodds and Pope!!

And regarding the name dropping, Isyden Christie once told me that name dropping was 'the fruit for the soul that sustains many lower-league football followers'. Wise man. Great footballer.

quotes may not be genuine

[ferrarilover]

Very fair points. If only the partnership was half as fruitful as Dodds and Pope!!

And regarding the name dropping, Isyden Christie once told me that name dropping was 'the fruit for the soul that sustains many lower-league football followers'. Wise man. Great footballer.

quotes may not be genuine

[uberwozza]

The average League 2 player earns £747 per week or c £38k - fact. Does not include bonus payments.

Good strikers seem to earn about double what good defenders are on in most leagues.

So:

I reckon Benners is on about the going rate.

Mr Ellis was probably on £40k or so - so I can see why he would think £100k was a stretch

We should offer Southend to pay half his wages - good deal all round.

Separately - Given Rooney is on £250k a WEEK (and probably netto) then you can see why players want to move on and make the most of every opportunity they have, in what is a short career.

Also separately - PFA used to be a socialist organisation (in a good way of raising standards for all) but now seems to be centered on self-interested capitalism. Gordon Taylor actual wage is £940k.

[ferrarilover]

Yaaay, another post with a random assertion followed by the word 'fact', as if that, somehow, makes it more true.

Matt.

[Sexy_Gulls]

Opinions and stats must never be confused with facts.

Anyway, cant go wrong with a big man little man combo - fact.