Thetownend.com

Benson eyes new start under MacDonald
           
           


  PAUL Benson had resigned himself to leaving Swindon Town this summer prior to the departure of Paolo Di Canio, but the striker is now looking forward to working his way back into the Robins’ set-up under Kevin MacDonald.

           

http://www.thisisswindontownfc.co.uk/news/headlines/10361953.Benson_eyes_new_start_under_MacDonald/?ref=rss
           
           
           

Good news

Really?

Will be past it, we will be fucked if we have to rely on him as a first choice player next season.

I'd imagine next season, we'll be looking at using a lot more kids. When that's the case a couple of old heads around to show them how to conduct themselves is no bad thing. Benson is a model pro.

Also KMac likes to play 1 up front...then bring someone on when chasing the game, Benson fits in fine with this strategy.

Clearly A Rooney wont be sticking about...Collins, looks disaffected and we could probably recoup the cash splashed on him. Williams will be here, and Storey...who knows.

My son will be pleased.

If the board have the money they say they have, one hopes we'll be forking out for somebody that will put the bastard ball in the net on regular occasion.

Is this based on his reaction at the end of the game on Tuesday or has there been something more? Not having a dig, but perhaps unfair on Collins to draw conclusions based on the way he left the pitch after one match.

Perhaps he has been angry with his own performances? He's not exactly torn up trees since January has he?

How did Collins leave the pitch? Never exactly looks the most enthusiastic but didn't notice anything particularly on tuesday. Since presumably he played under Kmac in Villa youth team you would have thought he would be happier under him than he appeared to be under Di Canio towards the end

Yes...perhaps it is unfair on Collins, but we spent 140K on him and could probably sell him for something similar. So might be a good solution all round for him to move on.

Why?

Didn’t notice him go straight down the tunnel but he did seem to be trying to send some sort of message in his goal celebration.

The Kmac villa link could be something combined with the fact he might think he deserves more starts based on his decent goal scoring record this season.

Definately a case of blowing this all out of proportion though.

Surely its all good if he is now 'fired up'? Hopefully he'll put a good shift in on Saturday and get back to scoring goals goals goals.

As I said he appears to disaffected....KMac is 1 up front man, and Collins is very much an old style 2 up front striker. Whereas Benson will probably be happy coming off the bench for the odd 20 mins, Colins won't.

We spent £140K on him, and there'll be someone in Div3/4 who'd pay that, maybe even a bit more.

That means next season we could have Williams, Benson, Storey, Francis as 4 front men, and save a bit of money.

It would be good news to have Benson back. Always thought he was useful, and I bet he would have put one or two away during those spells of missing sitter after sitter at home recently.

Benson has already said he doesn't like playing up front on his own. Williams has already demonstrated his inability to perform the role of lone striker. Storey and Francis are far too lightweight. So if Kmac persists with his 4 5 1 then unless Collins can adapt to the role then he might as well be flogged on to finance buying someone who can play up there on his own

Not convinced there's enough goals in that front-line Reg, particularly if only one of them is going to play up front.

Think we've got to accept that it's back to reduced circumstances....although doubtless, there'll be a couple of loans as well.

It was as recently as 09/10, that we started the season with Billy Paynter as the only recognised striker on the books, he was then supplemented by Odebayi...Hutchinson...and Revell on loan. We didn't score many but were hard to beat...then we took a punt on an unheard of striker from about the 8th tier, the rest as they say is history.

He's a good arse to have sat on the bench for when you're chasing a game, as well as a model pro and friendly bloke. Hope he stays.

If nothing else it'll keep him out of the commentary box...

I like Benno.

I like him but he is getting on a bit. A good option to have from the bench but I can't see him starting often.

Personally like Benson and his work rate, so would be a good option to have off the bench next season!

Still reckon giving a chance to a few prolific strikers in the non-league is a good way to go. Thought we'd see more of it after the success of Austin as it's a good business model when you get it right with low financial risk.

All of which is why KMac has got to be judged on what he can do with resources available to him. It is possible, though not easy to develop a useful side on not very much.

2 examples...Grigg at Walsall, patience necessary after 2 seasons of not scoring many, now paying off.

Madden at Yeovil 2 goals in 32 for Carlisle....sack loads at Huish Park.

He'll have a bit to work with...possibly the Thompsons, Ward, JMac, Williams, Roberts, Benson, Navarro, then he'll have to add his own players.

Bensons game has always been about being in the 6 yard box not really a trait that diminished with age and I thought he did a decent job for us at the start of the season when he was here.

If we go up then he will certainly be surplus to requirements but a decent back up option for League 1.

Based upon the fact that there were reports that Swindon were playing their players a lot in order to attract them to play in L2, I assume that he is on a nice wedge. If so, I'm not sure whether we can afford the luxury of having him on the bench.

Developing youngsters or non-league players for profit seems to be the way that we are headed. And, to be honest, if you have to pay the sort of wages that Bristol City apparently are in order to be in the Championship, then I fear that we will never get there.

We'll get there. The problem will be staying there.