Where are all the Benny bashers?

[NMWBloods]

It was her opinion, nothing more, nothing less. I agree with her. I'm also moving on.

Thanks for adding so much to the discussion...

[Zlatorog]

Re Benny, I'm still sitting on the fence twiddling with my fingers... I'm still not convinced he deserves to be in our best team, but Roos trusts him, so that counts for something.

[AnnieH]

Annie loves Benny, Annie loves Benny,
Annie loves Benny,

bwa ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
seeing that made my arvo RP. you're on fire today.
darl ... annie loves them all (with the exception of Davo).

[reigning premier]

probably the fact that he's playing better now than he was in the past??

benny has ALWAYS been our workhorse. when he's on fire, no-one notices. poor bastard always cops it.

Annie loves Benny, Annie loves Benny,
Annie loves Benny, Annie loves Benny,
Annie loves Benny, Annie loves Benny,
Annie loves Benny, Annie loves Benny,
Annie loves Benny, Annie loves Benny,

[AnnieH]

And what's to suggest that we'd miss him more now than in the past?

probably the fact that he's playing better now than he was in the past??

benny has ALWAYS been our workhorse. when he's on fire, no-one notices. poor bastard always cops it.

[Triple B]

And what's to suggest that we'd miss him more now than in the past?

It was her opinion, nothing more, nothing less. I agree with her. I'm also moving on.

[NMWBloods]

No, you missed the point.

Annie said "We'd really miss him" as in now, as he's playing now.

If she had said "We've really missed him" as in the past, perhaps the 2006 analogy would be useful. But Annie never said anything about the past, did she?

And what's to suggest that we'd miss him more now than in the past?

[Ludwig]

Not that I have ever been much of a Benny Basher but...

He is going OK. It is just a poor reflection of the club that a bloke with I guess 200 games or so experience is being praised for tagging, hitting targets most of the time (rarely under pressure) and lo and behold, in another thread, praised for making a decision. Yes, Ben has played OK recently. I do not think that, even at Benny's best, he gives us anything that Schmidt or Moore could not give us with 5-10 games (maybe a season) under their belt. I think that in terms of creative play (which I understand is not his role) he gives us less than Thornton or Brazabon would with 5-10 games under their belts. Benny is doing fine as Benny at the moment. Big deal. Just another plodder doing the drudge work. Perhaps the reason that no one talks about him when he plays well is that a great performance from Benny is a break even for us. The better he plays, the less there is to notice. Perhaps that's the highest praise he will ever get - that he was not noticed.

Perhaps a bit harsh on Benny, who I think has done a solid job over many years, but the analysis is probably correct.

In a couple of years, the real future of the Swans midfield, DOK and Craig Bird should be pushing for selection, with any luck, and we are still left to wonder about the futures of Schmidt, Moore, Jack, Simpkin, Laidlaw, Philips, Thornton and Brabazon. I think that is ROK Lobster's point, and it is a good one.

The lot of current midfielders waiting to be tested is growing every day, with no end in sight. It may be good for the future, but not if some authentic talent leaves because they can't even get a chance to show their worth.

It's a tough job for Roos, who certainly wants to win another title, but must also want to see some fresh blood coming into an all too often drab midfield.

Once Bevo is dropped and McVeigh hopefully finds his way, Benny is just the next suspect, even if he is playing good footy.

[ROK Lobster]

Another useless piece of irrelevance.

Another needlessly repetitive tautology.

[Triple B]

No, you missed the point.

Annie said "We'd really miss him" as in now, as he's playing now.

If she had said "We've really missed him" as in the past, perhaps the 2006 analogy would be useful. But Annie never said anything about the past, did she?

[NMWBloods]

No - completely missed the point. Just observing that we haven't "really missed" Mathews in the past and there is nothing to really suggest we would now. However, comparing Goodes' form of last year against whether he should be dropped this year is just a stupid analogy and is truly a useless piece of irrelevance.

[Triple B]

In 2006:

8-3 when he didn't play.

8-6 when he did play.

Another useless piece of irrelevance.

Let's use Goodes' '06 stats in the 'Was Goodes close to being dropped' thread.

[NMWBloods]

we'd really miss him if he wasn't there.

In 2006:

8-3 when he didn't play.

8-6 when he did play.

[AnnieH]

benny is a workhorse ... week in, week out.
he is probably our fittest player ... he doesn't come off the gound much.
he quietly and effectively does his job in stopping the ball in the back, and every now and again, will shock the crowd and do something magical (like run forward and kick a goal once a year).
he's one of our "bread & butter" players. we'd really miss him if he wasn't there.

[bandwagon]

I think the bottom 3-4 of any team will look, at best, ordinary. Typically these would be youngsters still finding their way. Good luck to Benny, he has done exceptionally well, but that he has near 200 games and probably isn't in the top 18 for our team even when in good form is a worry.
Is our list really this weak?