Ryan Bennett

We could take him on a non-contract basis, which would leave him free to move to a high club up the pyramid. Apart from benefiting us it would also give him game time and improve his match fitness.

A win-win situation.

Once he’s improved his fitness, I’d expect to see Bennett sign initially until the end of the season.

Quoted from Surrey97

Once he’s improved his fitness, I’d expect to see Bennett sign initially until the end of the season.

Christ what a selection of CB’s

If that were to materialise, it could be possibly our best signing, pound for pound relative to our level, for many a year. Defensively probably going back as far as Andy Todd, and just how good was he!?

A fit Bennett would be scary good in League Two. Would be great to see.

2 years ago we had Kyle Bennett, and the difference in class of Bennetts would be a real indicator of how far the club's moved forward.

Could say the same about Greens

Quoted from The_Laughing_Mariner

Could say the same about Greens

And Waterfalls. The one we had under Holloway was awful.

Quoted from Poojah

If that were to materialise, it could be possibly our best signing, pound for pound relative to our level, for many a year. Defensively probably going back as far as Andy Todd, and just how good was he!?

A fit Bennett would be scary good in League Two. Would be great to see.

On paper I'd say this would exceed that.

Todd, as excellent as he was, arrived at a side struggling of what is now the Championship.  But at that point in his career he had not quite established himself as a Premier League regular, in and out of the Bolton and Charlton sides that yo-yoed between the top two divisions (arguably more to do with Phil Brown's jaw than his ability mind).   Even after joining Blackburn after us he couldn't hold down a starting place for long.

Bennett has played far more games in the top flight (prior to any transer) and his drop (if it happens) is far greater than to the relegation scrap of the second tier.  Of course there's also the fact that Todd was a loan signing, Bennett would be permanent.   Todd was a good five years younger though.

The only I can think of that would come close is Dave Beasant.  He was the Chelsea No 1 just over a month before he arrived on loan with us and was only 3 years since he won his 2 England caps.

Maybe Garry Birtles, but he had already spent a few seasons in the third tier with Notts County before arriving at BP.

The one player who always stands out for me looking at in terms of the level they're playing at is Conor Townsend, but he was a young lad in both his spells.  One who was always, always going to end up at a much higher level.

Quoted from diehardmariner

On paper I'd say this would exceed that.

Todd, as excellent as he was, arrived at a side struggling of what is now the Championship.  But at that point in his career he had not quite established himself as a Premier League regular, in and out of the Bolton and Charlton sides that yo-yoed between the top two divisions (arguably more to do with Phil Brown's jaw than his ability mind).   Even after joining Blackburn after us he couldn't hold down a starting place for long.

Bennett has played far more games in the top flight (prior to any transer) and his drop (if it happens) is far greater than to the relegation scrap of the second tier.  Of course there's also the fact that Todd was a loan signing, Bennett would be permanent.   Todd was a good five years younger though.

The only I can think of that would come close is Dave Beasant.  He was the Chelsea No 1 just over a month before he arrived on loan with us and was only 3 years since he won his 2 England caps.

Maybe Garry Birtles, but he had already spent a few seasons in the third tier with Notts County before arriving at BP.

The one player who always stands out for me looking at in terms of the level they're playing at is Conor Townsend, but he was a young lad in both his spells.  One who was always, always going to end up at a much higher level.

Townsend mkII is the obvious one I’ve forgotten. Only young as you say but at least two divisions below his level when he was with us, as he proved by leaving us to go straight into a League One Scunny side.

I started watching Town as a kid, months after Birtles retired so I never had the pleasure of seeing him in a black and white shirt, but Beasant just oozed class didn’t he? If Bennett could look anywhere near that good it would be something truly to behold.

Andy Todd is the best player i've seen in a town shirt. He had so much class