I suspect we dodged a bullet there.
I think the pairing of Davo and Bene for several years was as much to blame as JMcG’s “system”. Neither was “fast”, and Davo was about as maneuverable as the Kelpies, so Bene looked a bit more mobile by comparison, but he generally faired better with a more mobile and faster companion CB.
I’m not sure, Bene seems happy and playing well within himself at EEP. Let’s be honest, the main difference between League One and the Championship isn’t that huge, and if Berra could do it at 36-37, Bene will be OK next year. The Pars will have a difficult decision after the 23-24 season with Bene’s contract expiring, as he’s certainly endeared himself to the fans, but there will be serious concerns about how much longer…