Yossi Benayoun

[Keita]

What are your thoughts on him so far, opinion on him is dived amongst us but in the part he has played in the two games so far he has done OK, yesterday he reminded me of Ray Houghton on the right hand side, very busy and always looking for the ball. He could be a bargain buy from Rafa.

[JonShar]

I don't think he'll ever be classed as a bargain buy, but I think he'll do a solid job for us.

[floyd]

he reminded me of Ray Houghton

Just hope he doesn't turn out to be, as big of a cvnt as him then

[Keita]

I don't think he'll ever be classed as a bargain buy, but I think he'll do a solid job for us.

 

maybe bargain was the wrong word to use, shrewd is probably better.

[Guest Finnan3]

He'll be the new Luis Garcia i.e. the new scapegoat.

[jfogarty]

He'll be the new Luis Garcia i.e. the new scapegoat.

 

Riise has that tied up

[Leo No.8]

He's a good little player, who I think will get even better here.

 

Although a different type of footballer in some ways I think that in the essential areas he's an excellent replacement for Garcia; clever, skillful, versatile and willing to play a squad role. I don't really understand why opinion is divided; what there is to disapprove of?

 

You can't have a squad full of superstars, even the likes of Barca and United don't because you can't keep them all happy. Madrid are the only club who try to maintain a squad completely full of 'big names' and it clearly doesn't work despite the fact that they scraped La Liga this year.

Edited July 21, 2007 by Leo No.8

[Frosty Jack]

Really underestimated. Watch the FA cup final again, he was carving us open every time he got the ball.

We've signed the captain, and best player of West Ham and Israel. He won't score Luis goals but he will create more chances for others.

[_00_deathscar]

Really underestimated. Watch the FA cup final again, he was carving us open every time he got the ball.

We've signed the captain, and best player of West Ham and Israel. He won't score Luis goals but he will create more chances for others.

 

Tis a myth that all Luis did was "score goals" - didn't Paul Tomkins say that Garcia was our most productive player in terms of assists and goals per game?

[galés rojo]

Imo he has been one of the sharper looking players so far this pre season.

[CaptainXabi]

Imo he has been one of the sharper looking players so far this pre season.

Really? I think he's been disappointing. I'm not a fan of the Hleb type player who looks neat on the ball but doesn't actually do anything, and so far Benayoun has looked like that (I know, I know - it's preseason). I prefer the Luis Garcia types who may lose the ball often, but can provide that moment of genius.

[smicer07]

Very sharp so far. How anyone can say he's been "disappointing" after about 70 minutes of football is beyond me.

[realtarragona]

He'll be the new Luis Garcia i.e. the new scapegoat.

 

I doubt it. He's quite a clever player and won't lose the ball much.

[CaptainXabi]

Very sharp so far. How anyone can say he's been "disappointing" after about 70 minutes of football is beyond me.

How anyone can say he's been "sharp" after about 70 minutes of football is beyond me...

[Kite]

How anyone can say he's been "sharp" after about 70 minutes of football is beyond me...

I think that's done by watching him play and noticing how sharp he is.

[Guest RedIsMyColour]

Wait until he plays a competitive match before picking him to pieces eh?

[CaptainXabi]

I think that's done by watching him play and noticing how sharp he is.

That's check and mate then.

 

Wait until he plays a competitive match before picking him to pieces eh?

Someone said he looked sharp. I said I didn't think he looked that sharp and has been a bit disappointing so far. I even acknowledged that it was still early days. If people can gush about him after 70 minutes, I can say that I haven't been that impressed after 70 minutes. That's hardly picking him to pieces.

[adiman]

That's check and mate then.

Someone said he looked sharp. I said I didn't think he looked that sharp and has been a bit disappointing so far. I even acknowledged that it was still early days. If people can gush about him after 70 minutes, I can say that I haven't been that impressed after 70 minutes. That's hardly picking him to pieces.

He was the best player for me against Auxerre. Always looked comfortable on the ball and likely to make something happen. I'd imagine gerrard will love playing with him

[David Hodgson]

Tis a myth that all Luis did was "score goals" - didn't Paul Tomkins say that Garcia was our most productive player in terms of assists and goals per game?

 

Of course it's a simplification to say that he just scored goals, but I have to say if you take out the half dozen or so legendary ones he scored, then his overrall contribution to our cause doesn't look that impressive.

 

I think Benayoun is a far better all round player than Luis. I'm really looking forward to watching him.

[Maldini]

Of course it's a simplification to say that he just scored goals, but I have to say if you take out the half dozen or so legendary ones he scored, then his overrall contribution to our cause doesn't look that impressive.

 

I think Benayoun is a far better all round player than Luis. I'm really looking forward to watching him.

If you take anyone's greatest contributions to the side out then they don't look that impressive. That's a bit "what have the Romans ever done for us". Garcia made a great contribution to the last three years, there's no point in trying to re-write it now, I still think we'd have won the Champions League if he'd been fit.

 

Having said that, I think Benayoun will be a great player for us.

Edited July 23, 2007 by Maldini

[abc]

... Garcia made a great contribution to the last three years...I still think we'd have won the Champions League if he'd been fit.

 

Having said that, I think Benayoun will be a great player for us.

 

We have lost our only two players with natural goalscorer's instincts (Fowler + Garcia), but signing Benayoun has made up for some of that disappointment in my opinion.

 

If Garcia was fit we would have won against Everton and then Man Utd at Anfield which would have kept the pressure on the top two. It would certainly have been "on".

 

And I think Garcia would have played on the left instead of Zenden in the final, no doubt. Also, I still think Rafa would have been better off playing Crouchy from the start and using Gerrard on the left.

[fred milne]

If Garcia was fit we would have won against Everton and then Man Utd at Anfield which would have kept the pressure on the top two. It would certainly have been "on".

Its worth remembering Garcia played in the home game against Utd the season before and that match ended goalless.

 

(He did end Roy Keane's Utd career though......... )

Edited July 23, 2007 by fred milne

[_00_deathscar]

True, but he was bound to score against those b******s eventually!