Lets put this into perspective for once. Benni has fallen out with his manager at Porto, Hughes at various points, Allardyce for trying to instill some discipline (which is laudable), his international coaches at least 3 times if not more and various ones of those. Is there a pattern? Of course there is. Tris saying it's because of Sam's tactics is like saying I refuse to go to work because my socks aren't black. It's not relevant. If he was a pro he would knuckle down, meet his targets and get fit. It's the only way he has of staying in the team and therefore playing in the world cup. He's that good that he can get away with it, or he was. Time is not on his side. Benni has displayed a disgusting attitude towards his employers and the fans let alone the manager who really only wants to get the best out of him.

You gain a little credibility back with admitting the first statement. You've lost so much over this particular incident because you've used this to bash Allardyce when he isn't at fault. He might have upset Benni but Benni's reaction (if it a reaction) is indefensible. He gave us an option in his first season. He hasn't done since.

24 in his first year. 24 in the NEXT TWO YEARS. Then just 4 in half a season this season. Is that achieving his potential? Hughes couldn't get Benni to perfom like he did in his first season, Ince couldn't and Allardyce is now getting the blame. You really do like to use anything to Allardyce bash don't you? Benni has lived off that first season for two and a half years. He is an under-achiever and that is not Allardyce's fault, or Hughes, or Ince but it is Benni's. Tris, straight question. Has Benni behaved professionally with Rovers over this?

Utterly, unprofessional from Benni. It can't be seen any other way and Tris, even you must admit that.

Let him rot in the reserves for all I care. If he truly wants to play in the world-cup, he'll soon pull his finger out. Most likely thing is he'll get sold. Let him go to Turkey.

This really has brought out the people with the Anti-Sam agenda. Anyone with a modicum of sense would understand that Benni has not been the model professional since the Chelsea head turning. We can all see that. I'm sure Sam can with the information he has at his finger tips. One player, like Benni, is not going to be representative of the entire playing staff and his opinon of himself will be completely different from theirs. I'm sure the rest of the playing staff can also see what Benni is like on the pitch and in training which is something we all can not see. They'll have their own opinions and I'll bet they won't be far removed from your average fan.

And everything at the DingleDome is peachy is it? :wstu:

Ah, the genius speaks! You are, at least, mildy amusing at times.

I'm sure he can get a cream for that...

I like Benni as a player and think he is one of the most skillful players in our squad. However, he hasn't created as much as you would expect from a player of his calibre and certainly hasn't scored as many goals as he should in the last couple of years. His best appears to be behind him now. Whether that is a state of mind or reality makes little difference because, one way or another, he hasn't produced and won't while he is here. I would rather he went abroad than stayed in the Premier League because I think a change of scenery may well buck him up a bit and I would rather not see him play against us with a point to prove because that Benni is very dangerous. Benni for Beattie? Both players need a change but how long will the new club/proving a point last with either of them? I'd much rather trade Benni for someone else younger and hungrier. I'd much, much rather see a Bennie with a point to prove for us.

Why do you insist on spelling Dunn with an 'e'?

9 Rovers fans charged following the derby match Most are named too...

I have to say that often I find your posts interesting and at least debate worthy but this is, to be frank, puerile and not worthy of you.

Yep, we certainly do. I think the reason N01 think they are the only ones singing is because they're standing up...

That report was from 1967...

RIP to one of footballs true gentlemen.

As my post says the situation as I've described it is how it is perceived by many people. It doesn't make it right or wrong but a matter of perception and personal intepretation.

The problem with Lucas (as perceived by many) is that he said it was NOTHING to do with money and all to do with ambition, bettering himself and wanting to play in the Champions League. He then basically spurned Liverpool who were in the Champions League to go to West Ham who narrowly avoided relegation by cheating the system with Tevez. Some ambition, some betterment.

Good luck to him. He's been an honest and commited professional and in that he is a top player.

Is Benni's International career over?

I think so if it weren't for the amount of bad press that follows him around. I've said before that this place might well be the best place for him. Still undecided to be honest...

This is the thing that gets me, I haven't seen anything from Barton about what he has done other than an apology and we are talking AFTER his jail sentence. He hasn't been involved in any fights at his club or in public. A dressing down from Shearer where he had a few words back? While that might not be ideal behaviour at all it isn't a crime and we've all seen a lot worse happen on the sides of pitches. This moralising on how Barton behaves is frankly ludicrous because nobody has seen him do anything wrong SINCE his conviction (I'm talking outside football here) and, as far as I know, nobody actually knows the man personally. His tackle was poor; we've seen many, many tackles like that. They happen every weekend at least once in the top flight and much more in the lower leagues. To castigate a player this much for that tackle is silly. Best of all, I'm not in favour of us signing Barton. I just don't see the reason for the moralising going on here. As for his actual crimes (not 'crimes on the pitch', which are actually called fouls...), he has paid his debt to society so why should society continue to punish him for them?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/au...eline-newcastle

If Arsenal gain consistent success as judged by winning the League/Champions League etc. a number of times, i.e. domination in the next few years, the way Arsene Wenger has gone about building this team will be praised to the heavens and deservedly so. It will be interesting to see if his long term planning pays off.

Watching last night I said penalty straight away for two reasons, first off was the fact Fletcher reaches out and pulls Fabregas back before he makes the tackle, not much of a tug but the ref would have seen the arm go out. The second is that he makes contact with the player BEFORE the ball. It was a great tackle though and one I'd love to have seen let go. Unfortunately, the ref didn't and he followed the letter of the law. Watch it here.