Bolton linked with Benjani swoop

November 26, 2009

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BOLTON boss Gary Megson is reportedly lining up a £1.5m bid for City striker Benjani Mwaruwari.

The former Portsmouth and Auxerre striker has fallen down Mark Hughes' pecking order following the arrivals of big name strikers Emmanuel Adebayor, Carlos Tevez and Roque Santa Cruz.

Benjani, who recently recovered from a troublesome thigh injury, won't feature at the African Cup of Nations in January after Zimbabwe failed to qualify.

Wigan and West Ham are also thought to be following developments at Eastlands.

Portsmouth are also thought to be interested in making a move to bring back the ex-Fratton Park forward but any move would depend on the club's new manager following the departure of Paul Hart earlier this week.

Benjani, who was signed by former boss Sven-Goran Eriksson, gained cult status with the Blues following his derby day goal at Old Trafford but his career has been hampered by injuries.

His only appearance this season came as a second half sub in the Carling Cup victory over Scunthorpe.

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Dukinfield Blue, Manchester (26/11/2009 at 11:21)

I dont out much credence to this story, even a manager of the limited football knowledge of Gary Megson would be that stupid.

Uwe the Goat, Brighton (26/11/2009 at 11:26)

I reckon Benji will do really well at Bolton.

Good luck to him. He never really got a fair crack of the whip at the City, but he did have one great season at Portsmouth.

PJS, Oz (26/11/2009 at 11:34)

Still remember Harry Redknapp's interview when he had arranged to bring Jermaine Dafoe in from Spuds for 9mm and then accepted Sven's bid of around 8mm for Benjani. It was perhaps one of the shrewdest pieces of in-out transfers in many a year, almost like trading in a crappy old Vauxhall for a Ferrari and barely spending another cent.

Then the used car salesman talk from Redknapp, talking up how good Benjani was and how good he was and putting on that act as if he was selling him against his will. Talk about getting taken for a ride.

So what is Benjani's legacy? 1 goal in a Swamp derby that helped end a 30+ year unwanted record. Aside from that? Well here's a little excercise. Where do you put Benjani in if you had to order Bradbury, Creaney, Samaras and Corradi?

Answer: he never was, isnt and never will be as good as any of that list, and that says it all really.

It would have taken years for us to outdo that piece of idiocy in the transfer market.......that is until Hughes decided to buy Santa Crock for 17mm this summer. The latter is probably worse because when you pro-rata, we would have paid 34mm had he actually had 2 legs.

Sam Haggar-Lowestoft-MCFC4LIFE (26/11/2009 at 11:57)

Bolton will be the right club for Benjani as they need someone like Benjani.The only thing i will remember about Benjani is scoreing the 2nd goal at old trafford in the 2-1 win.

Jack Thorley Trafford, Timperley (26/11/2009 at 12:04)

Poor old Gary brought to City by Mel Machin when we so poor we were forced to play 8 ex Youth Team players in the team.He is almost in the same situation that Mel was as football continues to shoot it self, in the foot making it impossible for the less wealthy clubs to have any chance at all of doing anything other than make up the numbers.

Sean Lynch (26/11/2009 at 12:13)

Get rid he's useless,
Hull winning last night should be a warning to the happy clappers on here,
if City don't turn up, Hughes employes negative tactics, if we don't outplay them on Saturday,
they will get the points.
He's got to rest SWP and Barry, play 2 upfront Ade and Tevez with Robinho just behind them,
Bellamy Johnson De jong or Ireland to start in the middle and a flat back four.

The Colin - Leeds, Over the hills and far away (Mancunian Reject) (26/11/2009 at 12:18)

Benjani whilst not the greatest signing ever made will always be a City legend - he scored the decisive goal against the Rags at Old Trafford - the greatest ever goal scored by someone's shoulder!

mark jones (26/11/2009 at 12:25)

if its true then good luck benji. you will always be part of citys history scoring against the rags pure quality mate.

PJS, Oz (26/11/2009 at 12:26)

Sam Haggar-Lowestoft-MCFC4LIFE,
26/11/2009 at 11:57

Not sure what you mean by "Bolton need a player like Benjani", if its a player that has no motivation and consistently injured, then I can't fathom why they would even consider Benjani when they have better options like Davies, Klasnic and Elmander. That leaves him where he is with us.

The rumours about Nott County would have made sense for the player. I mean he was all set to join Hull last window but it would have meant a paycut from the 50k he is on now. That's attitude right there when a 31yr old footballer is more interested in getting a few thousand quid per week than actually getting first team football, getting his career on track and making an example to people of a country like Zimbabwe who look up to the guy.

Not surprising, his country didnt qualify for the African Nations Cup in January, not even sure he cares. And Im sure there is also a high likelihood we may be stuck with him when he once again refuses to take a paycut even if the likes of Bolton, West Ham and Stoke are interested in him.

Peter Beagrie`s beagle (26/11/2009 at 12:31)

All together now ..... Hip Hip..... CTID

bluemoon exiled to the toon, Whitley Bay (26/11/2009 at 12:41)

1.5 million is cip money. we should at least try to re-coup his wage bill!

mr bump, badlands (26/11/2009 at 12:48)

cult status ?? really? i think he had plenty of chances at city and wasted them all. strolled round the centre circle with a big grin on his face and thats about it....up there with nigel clough in terms of energy and commitment. good luck wherever he does go but you'd have to say his few golden goals at pompey mustve been a freak event.

Portsmouth Blue (26/11/2009 at 12:57)

He is going some where if not Bolton,lets hope he stays awake long enough to catch the plane this time!

dave stretton (26/11/2009 at 13:07)

Can i drive him there..NOW! Thanks for the memory.

timmy, manchester (26/11/2009 at 13:18)

Why are people asking for SWP to be rested? He may not have been at his best against the Dippers but he made the second goal, but apart from that he was by far the best player in a City shirt against Burnley. This shows just how knee-jerk some fans are on these boards. Barry I can understand. He's been below par for weeks. Whatever hapens on Saturday, I think calling for Hughes head is pointless. I agree with many that he's proving that he is not up to managing a team at this level, mainly because of his caution and dreadul tactical ineptitude, but it would do nobody any good to sack him now, causing only dusruption and chaos. No, that must wait till the end of the season when a new manager has time to decide what players he needs to supplement our excellent squad and who should be first choice, and who else can be brought in as an expert coach and tactical advisor, to replace the low level taffia that now do the job.

Shaun, At My Desk (26/11/2009 at 13:32)

Had it not been for the ADUG takeover,Sven's panic buying of this player
would've helped pushed this Club over the precipice,and into administration.That goal off his shoulder aside,you really have no idea how poor a player Benjani is until you see him play in the flesh.
Constantly offside,the first touch of a blindfold wrestler,and the icing on the cake
-all done with a smile on his face.As PJS,Oz says the only reason he's still here is because no one with a double digit IQ would be willing to pay him 50 grand a week.In the words of Louis Armstrong "and I say to myself,what a wonderful world".

Sam Haggar-Lowestoft-MCFC4LIFE (26/11/2009 at 13:34)

PJS, Oz
26/11/2009 at 12:26

what i meant was Bolton a team who are strugling need a striker who is used to the premiership. Benjani not been great for us but had a great season for portsmouth before joining us in the 2nd half of the season.Benjani would of been playing for Hull now if he took there offer but rejected them I wont be surprise if he goes back to Portsmouth or joins back up with Sven and hans at Notts County.

Cabeeno (26/11/2009 at 13:38)

BENJANI OOOOHH AHH OH, BENJANI OOOOHHH AHH OH, HE COMES FROM ZIMBABWAI, HE SCORED ON DERBY DAY!

Bill, Carlisle, Cumbria (26/11/2009 at 14:26)

A few weeks before he joined us he scored a hat trick for Pompey and watching it on MOTD I said to me son that I wished we had someone who could take goals like that.

I reckon there were a few thousand other Blues who, like me, were excited when we were after Benjani on deadline day, disappointed when the deadline passed without him signing and then excited again when he eventually joined us. There will also be a few thousand others who, like me, almost worshipped the swampy ground he walked on during that sunny afternoon in February 2008.

Unfortunately there wil be very few, if any, Fellow Blues who have not been hugely disappointed with Benjani's lack of contribution to the cause since then. IMO he turned out to be pound for pound possibly one of the worst signings I can recall City making (and I've seen a few duffers in my time).

At least we have that golden memory of Feb 08, so I suppose it wasn't all bad. Maybe old Avram will come in for him now, but I think he's possibly got more sense.

Dukinfield Bluey, Manchester (26/11/2009 at 14:31)

I dont out much credence to this story, even a manager of the limited football knowledge of Gary Megson would be that stupid.
Dukinfield Blue, Manchester
26/11/2009 at 11:21

And in English your point is?

PJS, Oz (26/11/2009 at 14:47)

Sam Haggar-Lowestoft-MCFC4LIFE,
26/11/2009 at 13:34

I can understand not joining Hull with a paycut. County could probably match the money if they wanted to make a statement, he would be a good coup for a Div 2 side.

As for Pompey, well this should be interesting as i cant see them matching what we are paying him to go back. But here is a player who scored against his former side and refused to celebrate. In the post match interview he claimed he would never celebrate a goal against Pompey because he loved the fans and the way the club treated them.

So if Grant wants to sign him and he could help them in a relegation fight but it would take a paycut, lets see if he puts his money where his mouth is. Don't be surprised of "money talks" for him and he is happy to sit on the bench until his contract expires.

Neil Allen (26/11/2009 at 14:47)

You mean we have been cheeky and asked for money????.....way to go City, I just hope that it doesn't scupper any would be deal, sneaky feeling though that this fella will prove as awkward as a more worldly known Zimbabwean to shift.

Bristol Blue, Bristol (26/11/2009 at 16:03)

I'm amazed that Benjani is in the Pecking Order nevermind low on that list.

I'm an 'impeccable' one ! 10 Feb '08, Florida (26/11/2009 at 16:06)

Just a question, has it ever been known for a club to sell a player and still contribute to their wages as the new club can't match the players current wages ? With the players old club still saving money due to the transfer fee and reduced wages for a player that will never be selected for the first team ?

Minden blue, Minden, Germany (26/11/2009 at 16:24)

Living in Weslfalia, Germany where many Schalke fans live, he will not be forgotten for his goal auf Schalke last year. If my memory serves me right, it was exactly 1 year to the day since we were cheering that goal. The City fans were also on song & never stopped singing, to the appreciation of the Schalke fans. Cheers Benji

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