BAE: 'What sort of mercenary stays for seven years?'

[Eric_s]

I hope BAE stays with us until he retires. A very good LB so no reason not to keep him.

 

[Donki]

I always suspected that under his cool 'dont give a shit' attitude, that really, he does.

Sneaking into every game to watch us play doesnt sound very apathetic to me. He is a yiddo and he knows it.

If he is our left back for the next 3-4 years that would be fine with me, there are only a few better and none we can reasonably get.

I personally think the club has changed him and London, hes too kool to admit it hou.

 

[mark87]

Absolutely love the man, give him a full pre-season and if he gets to next christmas without injuries i stongly believe we'll see the old Benny. Have a feeling management may wanna get rid of him in the summer however.

 

[CowInAComa]

Well if Benny is staying that saves us a few quid and means Levy wont be distracted from the real priorities in the transfer window
He is much better than Rose. He is just hasnt scored against Arsenal yet.

 

[sloth]

Best LB we've had in years and people want to get rid of him for a one season wonder living off a wonder goal meal ticket. Do me a favour.

Not sure I'd want to replace him with Rose, though not sure I wouldn't either. Not sure I want to replace him at all. The thing is though, is that imo he doesn't really suit AVB's preferred way of playing.

 

[mpickard2087]

Best LB we've had in years and people want to get rid of him for a one season wonder living off a wonder goal meal ticket. Do me a favour.

Absolutely nothing to do with Rose for me. Purely Economics.

We brought him for a few million when he was young, develop and get some use out of him and then sell for a profit. The guy will turn 30 next season, and he has only two years on his contract, his value can only go down from now on and the way the club has to be run it is time to get what ever money we can for him.

Maybe harsh, but got to be done in my eyes.

 

[CowInAComa]

Not sure I'd want to replace him with Rose, though not sure I wouldn't either. Not sure I want to replace him at all. The thing is though, is that imo he doesn't really suit AVB's preferred way of playing.

In what way?

Serious question

 

[CowInAComa]

Absolutely nothing to do with Rose for me. Purely Economics.

We brought him for a few million when he was young, develop and get some use out of him and then sell for a profit. The guy will turn 30 next season, and he has only two years on his contract, his value can only go down from now on and the way the club has to be run it is time to get what ever money we can for him.

Maybe harsh, but got to be done in my eyes.

Its not good economics when we would still need to buy a back up for Rose. And then, also replace Rose a year down the line when we realise he isnt that good.

 

[Lufti]

"Maybe you had a little head movement that you used to do with a guy," Assou-Ekotto says. "You have to find these things again. It's new partnerships, maybe new languages and it takes some time."

And this is why he should get a run in the team. Rotation is necessary, but Naughton at left back is not.

 

[WestBelfast Spurs]

Wee Legend

 

[sloth]

For me BAE's strengths have been calmness on the ball, particularly in the defensive third of the pitch, which in turn means we can build better from the back; it's often his bit of skill which instigates a lightning counter-attack. I think he's generally tidy in possession as well. His other strength is in reading the game, and he makes a high number of interceptions a season. His weaknesses are both in chasing forwards, making the over-lap and playing decent balls into the box, and in chasing back, giving everything to get back on terms and preventing the opposition from getting the ball into the box. He is not a high-energy full-back in the mould of Walker (more of which in a sec), and I think he can lack a bit of heart at times.

I think that in a 433 with inverted forwards you need full-backs who will get forward and join in with the attacks, and that who can also sprint back 70 yards when the ball is lost. You need 800m runner style full-backs in as much as they're quick, but also have got the stamina of a horse. Once forward they need to be good at picking out the quick ball, be that a pull-back, a cross, a through-ball whatever. This does not play to BAE's strengths at all.

As for Walker on the other side, his decision making is not as good as BAE's, he doesn't read the game as well, he has less composure on the ball, his final ball in an attacking sense is also not very good. He is quick though, he has heart, he will never give up, and even if he's lost the ball at their end, he will kill himself to get back, and he'll keep doing that all match. If you had a FB with Walker's speed, strength and desire, and BAE's composure and reading of the game, he'd be some full-back (although he'd still have to work on his final ball!).

I think the reason people are talking about replacing BAE and not Walker is that BAE is that much older, and the things he lacks are harder to learn.

 

[mpickard2087]

Its not good economics when we would still need to buy a back up for Rose. And then, also replace Rose a year down the line when we realise he isnt that good.

Vertonghen is going to be cover at left back for the foreseeable future in my opinion, especially when he gets shifted out there a lot of the time when we face teams with aerial ability. I can't see AVB dropping that tactic next season all of a sudden.

We can't make any decision on Rose yet, he might make it and he might not. He should at least get a chance though. If we sold him though then we would get around £5m for him currently.

It is time to cash in on Ekotto though. Get £6-8m for him, and we should be able to get a younger, preferably more threatening going forward (I'd be fully prepared to sacrifice some defensive nous actually, although its not as if the rest of them are Maldini-esque), left back that can develop and be brought for less than the fee we get for Ekotto. That's even before doing anything with Rose, cash in and we have even more money to play with.

Then its time for AVB and the scouting department to earn their corn and get the right player...

 

[liam17oi]

The last few seasons he has been brilliant. He has come back from injury this season playing for a new manager, new players including CB and player in front of him. It makes sense that he has to 'readjust' to a certain extent as he explains.

Great article. Hope he stays.

 

[theShiznit]

I hope BAE stays, and I hope Rose contests the LB spot with him.

Rose has come on leaps and bounds this season, but can still learn a lot from Benny, not hurrying everything being the main thing, (although Danny has addressed this in recent months)

Danny's a better crosser and more direct but Benny is a more incisive passer, often making passes between the lines, which takes midfielders out of the game, and opens the pitch up.

All in all, they're not a bad duo to have vying for the LB role.

 

[CowInAComa]

For me BAE's strengths have been calmness on the ball, particularly in the defensive third of the pitch, which in turn means we can build better from the back; it's often his bit of skill which instigates a lightning counter-attack. I think he's generally tidy in possession as well. His other strength is in reading the game, and he makes a high number of interceptions a season. His weaknesses are both in chasing forwards, making the over-lap and playing decent balls into the box, and in chasing back, giving everything to get back on terms and preventing the opposition from getting the ball into the box. He is not a high-energy full-back in the mould of Walker (more of which in a sec), and I think he can lack a bit of heart at times.

I think that in a 433 with inverted forwards you need full-backs who will get forward and join in with the attacks, and that who can also sprint back 70 yards when the ball is lost. You need 800m runner style full-backs in as much as they're quick, but also have got the stamina of a horse. Once forward they need to be good at picking out the quick ball, be that a pull-back, a cross, a through-ball whatever. This does not play to BAE's strengths at all.

As for Walker on the other side, his decision making is not as good as BAE's, he doesn't read the game as well, he has less composure on the ball, his final ball in an attacking sense is also not very good. He is quick though, he has heart, he will never give up, and even if he's lost the ball at their end, he will kill himself to get back, and he'll keep doing that all match. If you had a FB with Walker's speed, strength and desire, and BAE's composure and reading of the game, he'd be some full-back (although he'd still have to work on his final ball!).

I think the reason people are talking about replacing BAE and not Walker is that BAE is that much older, and the things he lacks are harder to learn.

Interesting thoughts. I do tend to agree that his ball into the box is not as good as it should be (or can be delayed one twist and turn too long) but not to a undue degree. I dont personally have issue with his physical attributes, i think it doesnt take a huge amount of coaching to improve this side of his game if tracking back and overlapping are concerns.

Out of interest who out there would fit the bill in your mind?

The problem we would have with any of our FBs in a 4-3-3 is that none of them have a final ball.

 

[BringBack_leGin]

I'd be quite upset if we lost him. He needs competition, he hasn't had a good season. but he had a big injury and I reckon, with a smooth run going into the new season, the old magnificent Benny will be back. He's in his prime and is a superb footballer and, whether first choice or not, would be a huge loss to the squad we have here.

 

[theShiznit]

I'd be quite upset if we lost him. He needs competition, he hasn't had a good season. but he had a big injury and I reckon, with a smooth run going into the new season, the old magnificent Benny will be back. He's in his prime and is a superb footballer and, whether first choice or not, would be a huge loss to the squad we have here.

I think he has suffered from injury and loss of key players around him, it's a lot harder to find players when no one is showing...

Modric and Bale were pretty much always showing for him, whereas midfielders and strikers seem to be hiding from the ball lately. which results in lots of channel balls or turns back inside and playing across the back four.

 

[Wellspurs]

I wonder if Darren Bent reads this? He actually went shopping when injured when Villa were stuggling, no wonder he cant get iin that team.

 

[Spurger King]

Surprised people aren't discussing his covert attendance more on here. Isn't he good mates with Ade? Can you imagine the conversations between them??

”So Benny, what did the fans have to say?'

”Erm...you might want to sit down for this mate LOL'

 

[E17yid]

Surprised people aren't discussing his covert attendance more on here. Isn't he good mates with Ade? Can you imagine the conversations between them??

”So Benny, what did the fans have to say?'

”Erm...you might want to sit down for this mate LOL'

I wonder where he sat/stood? Surely not Park lane? although I would love it if he did.

A bit like that photo of Gerrard standing in the Kop amongst all the bin dippers