bunglemark2 wrote:I'm not happy he's being offered a new contract. I've posted many's a time on here that I don't think he's up to a whole lot. Granted he has had a few decent performances in recent weeks, but overall I think he's too slight, doesn't work hard enough to track back, and he can be anonymous for large stretches of a game. A useful squad player perhaps, and perhaps I am being too greedy and comparing our first-team AND bench with our peers, but I really don't see how or who Benny would displace at Chavski, Arsenal or the Scum.....and for that reason alone, I would see Benny as being at least ONE of the squad who just isn't good enough...
Again, I've repeated this time and again, but I deeply and passionately believe that we need players of the character and commitment of old. The likes of Souness, Dalglish, McMahon. Players who are in your face, all over you like a rash, and who will suffocate you if you play the fancy stuff...Benny is not one of them (nor is Lucas for that matter, but that's for another thread..)
I think you're being a bit short-sighted, mate. Every team needs their reliable squad players: the lads who you can call upon to do a job when the big guns are out or misfiring. For me, Yossi epitomizes that type of player. Skillful enough to play right across the "3" in our 4-2-3-1, committed to the cause** and one who can chip in with a few goals when on form. Importantly, he's also professional enough to spend time on the bench without kicking up a ruck. You ask how he compares to other players in our rivals' squads and I think he stacks up fairly well. He's on par with the likes of Fletcher, Park and O'Shea at Man U, for instance. None are world beaters but all offer a lot to the cause when selected and keep their heads down when not selected. IMO, Arsenal and Chelsea suffer a little bit because they lack this kind of player. Arsenal's squad is full of raw talent and less of the crafty veterans like Yossi while Chelsea have a lot more egos waiting in the wings. No, for me, re-signing Yossi is good business because he's the consummate squad player.
**You suggest Yossi's not an in-your-face type and, while I agree he's not as physically imposing as some, he has shown an appetite for closing down the ball and pressurizing opponents in recent months. Like Dirk, he's embraced our philosophy of defending from the front and has helped produce chances--our second against Arsenal being a prime example, where his pressing play forced a poor back pass, which led to a clearance shanked right to Kuyt, who then crossed for Yossi to bravely attack at the back stick for what many of us hoped would be the winning goal.
It really is very odd, and I like the cut of your jib.
" It's time we just accept it: Newkit's seriously bi-polar. 
