Its all well and good always pointing the finger at Benni for his fitness. But what about Dunn? His fitness is a bloody joke and I bet if somone who lived their life as a model professional had the same injury as Dunn now, they would of only missed a couple of games and would of been here to help the club move up the table.

Maybe its a matter of terminology, as I'm from the U.S. and may be applying words differently. If so, I apologize.

When I referred to training hard, I meant hitting the gym, controlling one's diet, getting the necessary fieldwork. In other words, not acting as if one had a divine right to start a game. Benni, from what I've gleaned from reading some comments from Sam and others, does not train hard, does not take care of himself. Benni believes he can get by on natural talent. Maybe he can. What is certain is that attitude does not sit well with Sam. So Sam and Benni find themselves in a tussle, with Sam demanding more in training and sitting Benni out until he gets it (which is always the ultimate source of a manager's power of his players). My hope is that Bennni will swallow his pride and make more of an effort training and diet-wise, and that Sam will likewise swallow his pride and accept any improvement that Benni makes as in keeping with his intructions. I fear that we are observing a good player and a good manager at loggerheads because both are pigheaded stubborn.

Benni leaving is not guaranteed. If he trains hard, Sam said he'll keep him and he'll play. I hope Benni is putting in some effort and I hope that Sam accepts this as enough to warrant keeping Benni.

Seems easy to me. Dunn and Di Santo should start. They're the only 2 happy to be Rovers, so best to back that investment. Let Roberts and McCarthy stew. They'll be gone in January anyway.

Two new strikers is the pragmatic wish for January.

If Di Santo stayed that would mean only one more needed.

Is Sam looking at addressing the midfield? Or are we going to be treated to more Keith Andrews in the starting XI?

Is there a reasonable chance that Di Santo might stay?

As always, thanks for the posts.

Suppose it all depends on where Sam see's Benni in our plans. Its a shame because he is a natural goalscorer that on his day is fantastic to watch. Unleash Benni against Pompey!!

I don't think Sam sees Benni as part of our plans. He's not the type of player Sam prefers up front.

Benni might not be the easiest of individuals to coach, but this smells a lot of Sam Allardyce to me. . . .

I guess it's the price we pay for having him as a manager.

Yes, it is. Sam has his tactics, his method. Benni doesn't fit them. So Sam is doing the best thing for both Benni and the club and moving him on. Hopefully for a very good price.

I might be reading too much into it, but the handshake Sam and Benni exchanged as Benni was being brought on was pure class. It looked like two professionals, both of whom knew what they were about. Benni might be unhappy and Sam may prefer another style striker, but both appear to be conducting themselves very well in regard to one another.

Arsenal currently 0-0 with Olympiakos.

Arsenal wins 2-0 http://www.arsenal.com/match-menu/3190172/first-team/arsenal-v-olympiacos?tab=comm