sorry , but my comments were supposed to be tongue in cheek - wit never comes over well in a text !!
My point is - it appears that we only sold Benson (if he indeed does go) because he only had 1 yr left on his contract & he is 31. I was meerly (tongue in cheek) saying that if that is the case then We (and many other clubs) would be getting rid of dozens of players (over the age of 30) a season when they are within a year of their contracts being up. Usually, if the player is any good you either A) keep him for another season & offer him another contract next season or extend his contract so that he stays........
as I said, that is what you do IF YOU WANT HIM TO STAY.
It needs to be rembered that Benno was playing at the highest level of his career last season and there was bound to be a certain ammount of acclimatisation going on. For what it's worth, I think he grew into as the season went on. Still plenty of room for improvement, especially his aggression and strength but he does have a little bit of quality about him and seems to be an intelligent player. I think he was starting to look more comfortable with being the link man in a passing team too. He was terrific away at Swindon and Peterborough (and therefore pivotal in possibly our two best performances) so he definitely has it in him and it's a shame they were both away as only a handful got to see it. I genuinely think he will play a key role for us next season if we keep him so I hope we do. I just don't see where we're going to find a better player for 150k or less, so it'll be cheaper in the long run to keep him and let him go for free in the summer.
i doubt benson is on big dough and unless hes offered a 3 year contract he might as well stay here and battle for a place and then rather than the club receiving dough for the player he'll get it as a free agent if we dont decide to renew him
I think Exiled's assessment is spot on. Worst case scenario for me would be: he leaves and we scratch around eventually getting some L1/2 journeyman on a free.
At the end of the day, Benson is 31 nearly 32 and there is really no point keeping him when he has one year left on his contract and getting 150.000 for him. We would lose him for nothing next season anyway, his contract wont be renewed, whether that's us going up or staying in the division.
Powell will need to get in 2 more strikers now though.
Im thinking get Le Fondre or maybe Jay Simpson, and get Jason Euell as the fourth cover.
Le Fondre was quoted at 2m last summer. No chance of getting him. Jay Simpson is a pipe dream as he can play at a much higher level. Don't think we should be looking at Euell. He was awful for Southamption, and that was in the Championship. Have to keep Benson.
They will not get 2m for Le Fondre, there are other teams in our league looking at him so its not impossible. As for Simpson he was with Hull last season didnt do that much and will excel in this league, maybe on loan. Euell has the experience for younger players and will be good to have around the club.
I can't see Rotherham letting Le Fondre go for 150k...If that was true why wouldn't we bid for le Fondre rather than Benson? Le Fondre is only 24 and scored more goals in league 2 than Benson (I think)
I heard..although it is rumours..that they want 500k..and Scunthorpe put a bid of 325k in which they rejected. They won't get 500k, but i can see him going for 400k.
The problem will be his wages, if multiple teams eventually match the offer, whatever it is, it will spark up a competition as to who will offer him the longest contract on the best salary, as it always comes down to!
If, as it looks like, he is going, we will need to get some replacements in sharpish....preferably before Tuesdays home game.
I for one would like him to stay as I've said previously, but good luck to him if he goes, however it will leave us very short on strikers and we need at least 2.
Sad to see Benson go as I too thought he could add more to us this season! But CP is no mug and I'm sure he has someone better lined up to replace him!
Comments
sorry , but my comments were supposed to be tongue in cheek - wit never comes over well in a text !!
My point is - it appears that we only sold Benson (if he indeed does go) because he only had 1 yr left on his contract & he is 31. I was meerly (tongue in cheek) saying that if that is the case then We (and many other clubs) would be getting rid of dozens of players (over the age of 30) a season when they are within a year of their contracts being up. Usually, if the player is any good you either A) keep him for another season & offer him another contract next season or
extend his contract so that he stays........
as I said, that is what you do IF YOU WANT HIM TO STAY.
I was told by D & R sources that his wages went from £1500 pw with them to £2k pw with us.
£100k pa is not to be sniffed at but not huge in football terms or, I would guess, Charlton's.
I'm happy for any player to leave if we can replace him with better but I wouldn't be unhappy if he stayed.
The move makes sense for us if we can use that £100 pa plus the fee to get someone else in.
The move only makes sense for Benson if it suits his young family and offer either more money or a longer contract.
I heard..although it is rumours..that they want 500k..and Scunthorpe put a bid of 325k in which they rejected. They won't get 500k, but i can see him going for 400k.
The problem will be his wages, if multiple teams eventually match the offer, whatever it is, it will spark up a competition as to who will offer him the longest contract on the best salary, as it always comes down to!
there that's what's on their forum..
I for one would like him to stay as I've said previously, but good luck to him if he goes, however it will leave us very short on strikers and we need at least 2.
It's said we have offered to meet him half way.
Yup, they have a few decent strikers in the New Zealand Cricket team