David Bentley
Sunday, October 4, 2009 at 11:36PM Since the 31st January, David Bentley has made the following Premier League appearances:
29 mins as a sub vs Sunderland
51 mins as a sub vs Liverpool (last game of the season)
6 mins as a sub vs Hull
+
18 as an unused substitute.
Before this period of time he started 20 games in the Premier League in the Lilywhite of Spurs.
Now stuck between the 20th game and a 21st appearance. Same might say Blackburn are due a hefty wad of money if he starts more than twenty games for us.
With thanks to Unknown (GG.net) for the stats. Not sure if she pinched them from somewhere herself, but regardless, looks like David is stuck on the bench until some minor miracle allows him a way back into the starting line-up. Wonder if Blackburn have a buy-back clause they can take advantage of? Guessing we'd struggle to reclaim anything over £8M for him.
Catch 22 for us. Who wants to buy a player who doesn't actually play?
Another perfect illustration of the DoF system and Levy's lack of football understanding. Why sign a player for £15M who can only play right-wing when we've already got a right-winger who we all know is capable of so much? Hopefully David will be the very last big-money superfluous signing we make. Wanted him to succeed with us even though the vast majority would agree that he was an unnecessary addition. Sadly it's been nothing short of a disaster.
Lack of confidence due to personal issues (so they all say). Various off the field distractions (skip, bar, crash) and very few on the pitch joyful moments (just that goal). Played out of position and practically self-ruined himself by not showing heart or determination to fight his way back to something resembling form, preferring instead to show-boat and flick rather than play a simple ball. Was given plenty of opportunities to no avail. And is now super-glued to the bench for EPL games.
Gone in Jan?
Unless lickle Aaron disappears through a surprising and tragic worm-hole, then I'd wager Bentley will be off. Those star-jumps seem like they happened a million years ago now...
Reader Comments (23)
I am puzzled why he is on the bench is Harry wont use him. I thought he should have been given a run against Burnley and Gio as well.I don't particularly like him as a person from what I have seen but I really want him to be successful at Spurs, but unlikely as I thinkhe will be shipped out in january to make way for another midfielder.
And good riddance.
He opitomises whats wrong with football today.
He hardly ever beat the first man when taking set plays, too many needless flicks, arrogant and is only interested in collecting his wages.
The only good thing to come from his arrival was Aaron's determination to be better than him.
Spot on, Bentley has a skill set that basically requires him to keep things simple, play good balls, and use his ability to cross from deep in place of a traditional wingers byline threat. As soon as he stepped away from that, he looked average and became superfluous.
On a slightly different note, I can't help but think that Bentley is one of those players who became overrated because of a skill (taking free kicks) that is quite specific.
Absolutley spot on Jake.
Here is what will happen Spook.
Sunderland & Pompey will get into a bidding war for Bentley in January due to Steve Bruce understandingly wanting to dump that chump Kieron Richardson and Pompey will have the cash to blow.
Bentley moves on (to whichever team) with Spurs earning close to the figure that they blew on him in the first place. Fair enough.
On his debut with his new team in the FA Cup 3rd Round next January, David hits a stunning Free Kick to win (insert new team here) the match and he is a hero. Meanwhile......
....in Tottenham's FA Cup 3rd Round match Aaron Lennon is carried off with possible metatarsal damage.
....in Tottenham's FA Cup 3rd Round match Aaron Lennon is carried off with possible metatarsal damage.............After which Niko Kranjaar is adopted to pkay on the right with modders on the left making it a croat trio
I feel bad for the guy, but I agree with most of the people on here... his skill set is way too specific and most of the times when i was hoping he would come on was simply because i wanted someone to cross in some quality balls.
i think we all should look at this from a different point of view
sir Alex rates Lennon what does that mean to us well put it this way they didn't really replace
that jumped up prick did they!
why didn't they bid for Lennon before? ill tell you why cause i think that sir Alex didn't think that Lennon was a finished article
but the way Lennon has started the season it must of raised an eyebrow or two
so be ready for a bid from the mancs come January
so man-u with a shed load of cash to spend i cant see us being able to stop it hence man-u always get the player they want
so Bentley welcome to the first team mate good luck hopefully a run of games will bring hes form back
i really do hope i'm wrong but be ready for it guys
Sell him in Jan. There's no point in retaining him. No point at all.
Absolutely no way will Aaron or Modric leave an up and coming team like Tottenham for a team going backwards like Man Utd,
No disrespect intended as they have for many a season flown the flag for English football in Europe and beyond,but for a long while now we have had a squad to match Man Utd with the exception of Ronaldo,and Rooney and now that the former has gone to pastures anew we are closer still,so the only thing setting them apart from ourselves is their desire to win,or at least not to lose,and this is a vey valuable piece of the champions formula that we are now starting to show in our own game.
Yes themselves and Chelsea have beaten us this season but albeit by a scoreline which flattered to deceive,as for the majority of the games we matched if not out played them with four of our top quality players missing.
And so in conclusion if Harry can work the squad so that once in awhile he rotates the front four,i,e Modric,Defoe,Keane,Lennon.for say Gio,Pav,Crouch,Bentley,whilst maintaining a solid central midfield and back five,then I am absolutely sure we can push all the way for not only a top four place but a first place finish.
And as for David Bentley as soon as he's involved more in the first team and their wining ways as he would be in above example I am confident his natural ability would come to the forefront of his game.
I realise that this may seem a little hopeful to some,yet after eight games played we find ourselves third in the league for the rest of today at least,and so my friends as the old saying goes you've got to be in it to win it,so lets stay positive and remember to stay humble in victory whilst remaining magnanimous in defeat.
Craigrobert - i am a yid and you are bonkers - manu as much as i despise them are in front if not by as much as last season and still havem ore allure than us - comments are great but be realistic
The primary reason he was bought in was that Lennon was obviously talented and had pace to burn, but his end product left something to be desired. All Spurs fans knew this. Bentley was tried and tested in the Prem. and if he played remotely well for a couple of seasons and then we sold him (possibly at a profit if he had been exceptional) we would still have a pretty young Aaron Lennon. Besides which, it is all about squad and competition - so why worry that we had top notch back-up - you wouldn''t hear United or Chelsea whinging 'cos the back-up was an England international. T'ain't Rocket Science!
Redspur thanks for going easy on my article,but I really do believe we can suceed this season and if i'm wrong i'll gladly invite you round for tea and biscuits at my residance in Buckingham palace.
Get rid of him. Have seen numerous reports of him boozing, smoking and spending time in clubs and bars as he reckons himself as a telent scout - Ari Gold you are NOT mate!! Ill take 8m and then look for a high quality left winger. Someone who is technically sound and also has a bit of height..as Luka would move inside, and with him and Azza and Willy P we need a tallish midfielder. .
When did Aaron do his metatarsal? Do you think Bentley will get his chance now?
oh yeah - and craigrobert is on crack.
Dan wait and see matey,oh,and if you can find some white chocolate hobnobs bring them with you please,
Dan,how about Sully Muntari as a central midfielder to bolster us for the really tough games,Wilson and Sully would be quite formidable don't you think?
Loving your optimism and i wish I could share it, but we have seen too many false dawns and ill gladly talk about winning the league when we actually do! You keep your hob nobs and ill keep my feet on the ground!
ps - if you do have any crack left...?
To be honest I havent seen enough of Muntari to make a decent judgement - Jose M is obviously a fan so he must have some attributes.. I like Diego Capel but he isnt tall..
Just noticed on Newsnow allsorces that Stephen Appiah might be joining Schalke,oh if only we had taken a chance on him,and Dan take a look at Sully on youtube I know it's not the same as seeing him for a couple of ninety minuets but you'll get the gist of what he's about.
To be honest, Appiah wouldn't have benefited us. Harry had a whole month to assess his ability and fitness and quite frankly , if you can't impress a manager in a month and you play in a position that we're looking to recruit, something must be up. Muntari would be nice but lets talk about signing players that are available, Muntari is wanted by Inter and we don't have the financial clout @ present to change their minds.
Bentley - time to move. I completely agree with all of the comments regarding his little flicks and his 'billy big time' attitude. Lost all respect for him. Happy to sell him, with no intention of bringing in a replacement, unless a world-class player becomes available. no point buying another 'nearly' man.
As others have rightly said, he may play in the same position as Lennon but has a very different game.
I reckon he was bought because people at the top at the time did not rate Lennon. They thought he would never make any further progress. More evidence of how well harry can develop some players.