I see Spurs have released David Bentley and now he's a free agent but it seems no UK clubs want to take him on, does anyone know why?
He's a really good player, but he went the way of Matt Derbyshire and never really fulfilled his promise. If he can get back to his best, pronto, then I'd take him on a free transfer.
When Spurs signed him for £17m, I remember telling everyone that Arsenal were beyond idiotic for yet again letting a player go for a nominal fee/free, only for them to move again for big money. As it turns out, Spurs are the absolute mugs and Arsenal allegedly pocketed around £7m in sell-on clauses and the like.
Their entire team was, to be fair. Apart from the keeper, who made a couple of cracking saves if I recall.
I f**king love Puerto Banus!! Had a mad night there and flew back into the country and straight into Linnet to see us bumrape arsenal. Great days!! Ruined by
Good write upon him here. Sad to see a young(as he was) English player waste his talent. http://www.tottenhamjournal.co.uk/t...go_wrong_for_david_bentley_at_spurs_1_2233441 When David Bentley arrived at Tottenham in 2008 he had the world at his feet, and the future looked bright for ‘the new David Beckham’. The midfielder deserved his move to Spurs after a strong couple of seasons with Blackburn Rovers, having contributed seven goals and 13 assists in 2006/07 and then seven goals and 11 assists in 2007/08. He was a classic Tottenham signing: young at 23, full of flair and with plenty of time to develop into a star for club and country and thereby increase his value. Five years on, fans are debating whether Bentley might be the club’s worst ever signing. Worse players have surely worn the shirt – and Bongani Khumalo is yet to achieve that feat – but in financial terms Bentley was certainly a very costly mistake. Spurs chairman Daniel Levy likes to get a return on his investment – and even a profit where possible – so it will pain him to see the £17million man leaving for nothing when his contract expires at the end of this month. So where did it all go wrong? “The relationship never worked at Tottenham,” said Bentley in an interview back in September. “Whether it was with the club, the manager or the fans, it just didn’t happen for me. “I didn’t set the price. That wasn’t down to me. Most of my friends are Spurs fans and there’s nothing I would have wanted more than to succeed - but the manager [Harry Redknapp] didn’t pick me. It was the unknown which was difficult, there was a total lack of communication. “I thought the new manager [Andre Villas-Boas] might give me a chance but there’s probably been too much water under the bridge already.” Perhaps Bentley was unfairly frozen out, and perhaps Spurs were wrong to sign him, given that they already had Aaron Lennon to play on the right. Lennon quickly found favour under Harry Redknapp and has held down the position ever since. Maybe the competition was too stiff, and the former Arsenal man never had a chance. Or perhaps he should look closer to home for the reasons why Lennon has had such an easy ride. Bentley is known to be lively, fun, a joker behind the scenes. Indeed, Rafael van der Vaart said he was the biggest character at the club. I witnessed that first-hand in my one and only interview with him in 2009, although his japery – bouncing a tennis ball on a racquet and exchanging banter with Jonathan Woodgate down the phone – made for a pretty frustrating, and brief, interview. That need to show off was often evident on the field as well, as he insisted on beating his marker twice or putting in a couple of unnecessary step-overs before delivering his cross. Meanwhile, he had little interest in the defensive side of the game, which was highlighted during the 2009 League Cup final against Manchester United. Bentley replaced Lennon in the 102nd minute and was easily beaten by the overlapping Patrice Evra, who had played from the start. That lack of effort was far more damning than his subsequent penalty miss, which can happen to anyone – and Redknapp must have spotted it too, because Bentley only made two further appearances that season. The chance for redemption came at the turn of the year when Lennon was injured, and it is often forgotten that Bentley came in and played his part, starting 13 games in the second half of the season as Spurs reached the FA Cup semi-final and then finished in the top four. Unfortunately, the showman could not contain himself and, as Redknapp reflected on Spurs’ historic Champions League qualification in front of the Sky cameras, Bentley appeared to be one of the ring-leaders as the players tipped a bucket of water over the manager. He made just three appearances for Tottenham after that, and it wasn’t a coincidence. “It was all good natured but he [Redknapp] definitely didn’t see it like that,” said Bentley. “That season, I’d played 20 games up until that point and we got into the Champions League. Even though I didn’t start that game, we were just celebrating a brilliant achievement. “He never said anything to my face about it – he didn’t really ever say much to me at all – but I knew I was always up against it after that.I hardly got another look-in.” Bentley paid a heavy price for dancing in front of the cameras next to his soaking boss. It is hard to imagine the modest Gareth Bale courting the limelight in such a way, and it is interesting to compare the pair’s differing approaches when it comes to their fame and their football. Bale said recently: “I get my head down and work and do the best I can for myself and the team, which is the most important thing. I think as soon as you lose sight of that then you’re in a downward spiral.” Bale may not be as lively, entertaining and vivacious behind the scenes as Bentley, but there is no doubt which of them has worked harder at Tottenham, and who has consequently seized their chance at stardom. And, while every dressing room needs characters and personalities, £17m is a steep price to pay.
Well Chaz I enjoyed that insightinto his problem. Character can be accepted not doing the job asked of you wouldn't be especially not doing the defensive bit. I was against him when he was picked for England, he seemed to be a show off before he'd done anything. I didn't know he went for £17m
