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Writer: pompeyrug 
Date:Tuesday July 7 2009
Time: 1:37PM
UK time is: 11:47:38
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Benji - it is not a surprise is it?
Benjani is 'said' to have told The News today that he would 'love to play for Pompey again.' Is it really a surprise? I think I would be more surprised if I heard him saying anything other than this!
Lets be honest here the guy never wanted to leave in the first place did he but he did not have a choice - come on, seriously who misses more than one plane 'accidentally'.
Benjani said, and these feelings that can be said in reverse: 'I have good memories and I have a special relationship with the Portsmouth supporters. I left on a good note and I have nothing but good feelings about them, that's for sure.
'I'd love to play for them again, but at the moment I'm contracted to Manchester City. I have a job to do here until I'm told anything else.'
Of course Benjani is still contracted to Citeh but he is not going to get a look-in this season is he, what with Robinho and Roque Santa Cruz already in place, not to mention Craig Bellamy among others and the impending arrival of Carlos Tevez!
I loved the Zimbabwean to bits when we had him, I was devastated when he left but in all honesty, although I am not saying that I do not want him back I must admit that I do have reservations...
The injuries have mounted up for Benjani since he left and I suspect that some of the crowd would really get on his back if things did not work out, you only have to look at some of the abuse the harder working players get now, mainly because enough goals are not scored! So my main concern is tarnishing the memories that we had of him - at 30, despite having life in him yet, are his best days behind him?
As he also said: 'In football you never know what is around the corner.'
Who is to say whoever our next manager is, who is just around this corner, that they would want to sign him anyway?
Think with your head, and not your heart, would you really want Benjani to return? Share these thoughts below...
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Your Comments
Yes i would have him back, he didnt score for nearly a year, but was such a work horse we could do with that whether we play top of the league or bottom of the league, a real handfull for most defences, sign him up. and let him score a hat trick against Jamies Pop, as a 3 finger salute to why he should never have sold him in order to buy "short stuff the yid"...
Midge
Pompey should defo buy him, top of the shopping list.
PompeyFcMad
Bring him back, he obviously wants to come home
Lemmi
Yes, bring him back! Just what we need. A player who will actually want to play for Portsmouth, and give his 'all'. Agree with PompeyFcMad, he should be top of the shopping list! Also Along with Gary O'Neil.
.Andrew.
I would like to remember my time of Benji leaving us after finally scoring goals. Please don't ruin this by bringing him back, he may not be able to repeat that.
sneakay
Must say the injuries worry me a bit, but you can't fault the guy on work rate. Mind you saying that we have got a younger and fit bloke in Nugget so do we need him back?? I would like to think that we would have enough money to go out and get a real top class striker and midfielder to strenghten the team. We won't know what SAF's plans are until the damn deal is done, who knows we may just get a couy;le of players who in fairness we would have been grateful of 3 months ago to just keep us going or he may come in and be like Citeh. Just hope that we get movement on the training ground as thats where the business is done by the players during the week and then a commitment on the ground. To stay in the prem is paramount next year, that goes without saying , but money does need to be chanelled in the right direction.
blarmy
He simply has not looked the same player since he joined man city, and the cliche "never go back" always comes to mind. but...
pompeycarpet
I'm split, sitting on the fence, half and half or any other expression that you could use to describe my feeling s on Benji coming back. I loved everything about the guy, right down to his massive smile. But could he deliver goals? and that after all is what his job would be. I'll never forget his hat-trick against Reading, but that was a bizarre game and a one off. Overall and despite his work-rate he wasn't a prolific scorer, just like Nugget. I really do think that we need someone who can be a real menace in the box, and I'm afraid Benji ain't. If it's heart over head, yeah it would be brilliant to see him in the shirt again, but head over heart it's got to be leave it in the memory box.
cornypomp
Not a chance, sentiment doesn't win games!
pentonpompey
i think he would work very well just behind crouch. he is a tryer. proud to pull on the shirt something that defoe, pennant and many others have been missing since he has been gone.
longdistanceandy
Would love to see him grace FP again, but you're right. Better to remember the good times than perhaps be disappointed now?
UKTony
penton is right doesn't win games BUT his efforts spread to others who do. Sign here Benji .............................
eastneydave
I'd have him back in a heartbeat, give him a chance to become the Pompey legend he had started to become. He wants to play for Pompey and he was our top scorer when he went (got pushed away). He could be the ideal for Crouch to play off of. Come home Benji! And I'd love to see that big smile again.
tracyc
Love the fella to pieces and consider him to be a modern day folk hero and (almost) a Legend..... That's why he MUST NEVER come back.. he's older, more injury prone and although he'd play his heart out .. It just wouldn't be the same... Guy Whittingham... Paul Walsh.. Bobby Kellard.. anybody ? - The only ever player to have managed what we would expect of Benjani... is Johnny Gordon... Look him up .. or better still read his story in the 'Knowing me knowing you' section of the site .. Just go to the 'Vital Pompey Menu (next to the Forums menu) and follow ya nose...
Chix
i can see why people want him back, and i can see the benefits of this - players that want to play for us, the shirt and the fans is what i ask, but benji has had his time...
pompeyrug
hey guys, just to let you know I have heard DD has completed - this is from a source in the gaydamak camp... so not its the premier league fit and proper test!!! here we go =) ... ive gotta calm down, i sound too optimistic! lol
pompey--pessimist
is this 100% spot on, fool proof, info pessimist?
pompeyrug
Benjani should be given the chance to come back home. If we were to sign Kanu why don't we sign him up? If he is going to stay in Citeh's reserve team, why not be on our bench at least? Nugent is nowhere near Benjani. Benjani has everything a striker has, and he want to come back and love us. Beside all these positives, he will be a perfect match to Crouch as he has the pace that Crouch lacks. He is also very strong in the air and can open up play. Anyone remember his last performance against Charlton when he also scored 3??
Pompey Malta
I must admit whilst I believe the club should go forward we have seriously missed that work rate and he does score goals which were in short supply last season; but would a new manager even know his name? I'm not convinced
russellm
I would love to see him back, anyone who puts a shift in for us is a welcome addition to the squad.
On the way Benjy pick up Gary O'Neill and Tuncay.
Owenspompey
Who else are we likely to get if not a proven Pompey goalscorer. I would like him in the squad and you never know that bit of magic always resurfaces when someone returns 'home' to roost.
pompeygray
rug mate ... im not gonna say 100%, as im a 2nd generation hearing it ... so a bit like chinese whispers things arent said the same way. the thing is DD was supposed to be completed yesterday anyway, but the friend from the gaydamak camp seemed confident on it. if it were me, (i am of course the pessimist =p) id say 70% confident =) time will tell
pompey--pessimist
70% is a good amount, i could be confident with that :-) keep us updated and 'if' you hear anything more concrete do drop us a line - maybe even in the forum? but only when near certain...
pompeyrug
yes sign him up. he would create so many chances for the rest of the team and hassle the opposing teams defenders. bring back benjani.
what else have we got kanu (if he signs) and nugent (championship quality)
robertpog
I know the injuries dogged him last season but I ask you this........ Benji or Utaka? I think I know most people answers:)
Pompey Rego
I'd take him back. Never stops running, can score, was loved here & would repay the faith shown in him. Whether it does is another question. No doubt MC havn't paid anywhere near the £9m we agreed.
storagematt
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