Benjamin Totori?? (Now Solomon Is Players)

 Yeah i thought he only went down about 2-3 times, and pretty much free kicks given everytime.

And besides it was slippery as fawk like out there, a lot of players were going down

Pretty sure I saw Benjamin at Christchurch airport today, I think flying back to Wellington though he wasn't on my flight (airnz) guessing he went on the Jetstar one.

Didn't really look injured but looked a little glum. Can't imagine he would have been dropped on the back of the Jet's game, anyone know any more?

That sounds like speculation to me. You don't even know him personally. You're a disgrace. 

I'd start Totori in the next game. Need something different and he's great at running at defenders.

I agree, even if he just stays on for the first 50/60 mins. has the pace to cause some issue against CCM, might stop there fullbacks from bombing forward so much. Play him up front so he won't have to track back so much and play the ball to his feet.

Also agree, ever since the Newcastle game I've been very surprised that we haven't been seeing more from him, especially given that under-par performances (by his standards) from Ifill lately. Totori absolutely ripped up in that game but it didn't seem to improve his chances of getting on the field. Long term imo he's still a bench player, but I think that's still valuable. He needs to be regularly coming on at 60 minutes because at that point defenders are starting to tire and he can run circles around them.

I wouldnt start him. But bring him on a bit earlier. He has pace which is double effective against tired legs. 

I hadn't heard that.

Benji is a triffic lad. 

Totori's aggressive style gives the Phoenix a different dimension late in the game and he said the advice from Herbert as he entered the fray was the same each week.

"Nearly every time I go on he just says 'go do your thing, just play to your strength, use your speed and just go forward'."

Blimey! That Ricki-ism is one "triffic" away from being an 'Arry-ism.

Benji is our Shaun Wright Phillips

Benji gooooone... paid out, frees up import slot. Brutally efficient work by Ernie.

http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/wellingtonphoenix/news-display/Phoenix%20And%20Totori%20Part%20Company/68953

Benji gooooone... paid out, frees up import slot. Brutally efficient work by Ernie.[/quote]

Each day Ernie makes another move that makes me smile, his decisions make me really look forward to what he does.

Ernie is saying and doing some good things so far. You would have to think that he has two imports lined up by freeing up this extra spot.

Hard on Benji but really shows the club are willing to make bid decisions that Ricki wouldnt have backed in the past.

Dropping Lochhead and Totori is a clear signal Ernie means business.

Actually think Totori could still be a danger in this league. His missed goal when he should of passed pretty much sums up his A-League career for me. Shows a shit load of promise and raw talent but just lacking the football brain to utlise them. Could have been a great player. Great guy as well - always smiling and upbeat. Thanks Buddy!

Sadly the 1 thing Totori will be remembered for is being a hungus and not passing to Brockie to complete his, and the club’s first, hattrick

All the best to him. Never made sense signing him, for me. Krishna is a better player than him, and Krishna isn't good enough for this league, so not sure how they thought Benji would fit in. But glad to see Ernie being proactive!

There will be some kind of payment. He had a contract for next year so could have easily taken a paycheck and not played. Hence need for a payout.

We should have signed him season 1, he would have been a better value than some of the ones we signed back then. The league progressed too fast for him. He always tried his hardest but sadly it isn't good enough now.

Best of luck for your future Benji.

The telling thing for me is this.

Ernie didn't even need a week to do the business but we all know decisions like this are not made in the space of 10 mins.  This would have been on-going over the last... lets say week to 10 days at a guess?

If one were to speculate, could it be conceivable that one of the clauses that Ernie put to the board in taking the job is that the Phoenix had to suck up his contract and move him on somehow? i.e. he never wanted him to begin with.

How embarrassing does this look when the extra year clause in his contract is activated and a month later, he is moved on. It just shows what an un-fucking-believable contract he was signed to in the first place.

Benji and Henry tearing it up for TeeDubs this year?

i see why hes let go, but i always hope he was gonna be gun for us. good luck to him and i hope some one else picks him up.... thou... not totally likely

Phoenix: Benji you are owed $50k. We are going to give you $30k and you fuck off right now

Phoenix: Oakleigh? Yeah We have import here that you can have on the cheap. Normally would cost you $40k but you can have him for $30k and we'll chuck in $5k to sweeten that costing you $25k.

Phoenix save $15k, Cannons get a deal and Benji gets more cash and can play at a level (hopefully) where he can look like he fits in.

Yep.....good bit of business by ernie, benji was never going to get any game time......and it frees up an import slot

Unfortunately the chant of his name to the theme music of 'The never ending story' never caught on.

"You are shit totoriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii"  ?

I will never forget when he ran the ball over the touchline with no opposition within a 5m radius ! 

That's our Benji !

Missed the oppourtunity for a That's Totori gag.

I hope this doesn't put us or A League clubs off island players. 

what island players would be worth looking at? If Totori was the best of them, then he was hardly the shining example.