'Arry Revs Up Bentley

[donny1013]

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has told David Bentley to step into the shoes of Luka Modric when he faces his former club Blackburn at White Hart Lane.

Bentley left Ewood Park in the summer but struggled under Juande Ramos and has only started playing himself into good form since Redknapp's arrival.

With playmaker Modric out with a groin injury, Bentley is expected to provide the attacking edge when Paul Ince's side arrive.

"He can deliver a great ball and we have to get him on the ball as much as possible because we've lost Modric," Redknapp said.

"David Bentley will be even more important now. He can open the door by hitting the pass or doing something special.

"Hopefully he will do the business here. You saw the goal at Arsenal, it was special."

Bentley lost his place in the England team during Spurs' dismal start to the season but Redknapp's appointment has seen him played back in his right-wing position and back in the frame for Fabio Capello.

"It's up to him, he has to work hard and get in the squad," Redknapp said.

"I'm sure we're going to qualify for the World Cup and they all want to go. It's an opportunity to give it a real go."

Bentley has been accused of being a difficult character to work with, but Redknapp said: "I think Capello would pick anyone if they were good enough.

"You don't have to like players to pick them. Some lads you wouldn't want to spend time with but you pick them every week.

"Other lads you love them but they don't get in the team."

I personally feel he is yet to show the form he displayed for Blackburn, but he has definately looked better since 'Arry has taken over. So it looks as if 'Arry might go for Bentley behind Bent tomorrow and maybe Lennon on the right. For me Lennon has been very unlucky not to be starting more regularly recently.

 

[AngerManagement]

I still look at Bentley and think that while he is an excellent player (and I have no doubt he will be a huge hit for us) he was not what we needed most out of the last transfer window and with the amount of money we spent on him we could have done more for the team with that money.

We already had Lennon and the likes of Jenas, Malbranque who could fill that role comfortably before the window opened. I'm sure if we were looking through our squad a right midfilder/winger would not have been a massive priority for anyone.

It makes me look to the likes of Aston Villa and think they have spent more wisely then us. While we have probably bought a higher standard of playe, they have bought the type of players they need at the right times.

We could have done worse then Steve Sidwell this summer, atleast he would had offered us something differnt in midfield. I look at Ashely Young and my mind boggles as to why we buckled at his transfer tag (especially inlight of our recent signings).

The same could be said of Curtis Davies and even Nicky Shorey.

It worries me a great deal that we have spent vast somes of money yet still look no where near a balanced outfit.

 

[kaz Hirai]

keep bentley on the right and i'd play lennon in that free role

 

[Sir Henry]

I'd play Hudd in the free role.

 

[arail11]

By the looks of the training clip they showed on Spurs TV bentley will start the blackburn game on the Left. With Assou Ekotto behind him. With JJ and Tommy H in the middle, with Lennon occupying the right wing. Pav and D Bizzle up front.

 

[Davids_5]

good observation arail, i'd like to see Bentatron 3000 and Pav up front. COYS

 

[tippspur59]

Yeah, would love to see pav and bent up front...

 

[Blockbuster]

i'd just love 3 points and a cheeky pot noodle.

 

[mil1lion]

We need to play 4-4-2 for me. Without the cutting edge of Modric, we'll need more up front to create chances for themselves a little more. Get Bentley and Bale to whip balls into Pavyluchenko when we can too.

Harry is very clever. He knows how to gear up certain players at certain times (talking up Dawson ahead of making him captain against Liverpool for example.) He knows Bentley will be in the right mood against his former club, so he's giving him a lift. Such an important game this.

 

[mil1lion]

By the looks of the training clip they showed on Spurs TV bentley will start the blackburn game on the Left. With Assou Ekotto behind him. With JJ and Tommy H in the middle, with Lennon occupying the right wing. Pav and D Bizzle up front.

Maybe just experimenting with him out there. I'd prefer Lennon on the left. Pederson wont help his full back much, so Lennon could cause plenty of problems on that side.

 

[Sir Henry]

As much as I love Harry, please don't play Bentley on the left, he's not Ramos so why is he trying to be ?

 

[SpurSince57]

I still look at Bentley and think that while he is an excellent player (and I have no doubt he will be a huge hit for us) he was not what we needed most out of the last transfer window and with the amount of money we spent on him we could have done more for the team with that money.

We already had Lennon and the likes of Jenas, Malbranque who could fill that role comfortably before the window opened. I'm sure if we were looking through our squad a right midfilder/winger would not have been a massive priority for anyone.

It makes me look to the likes of Aston Villa and think they have spent more wisely then us. While we have probably bought a higher standard of playe, they have bought the type of players they need at the right times.

We could have done worse then Steve Sidwell this summer, atleast he would had offered us something differnt in midfield. I look at Ashely Young and my mind boggles as to why we buckled at his transfer tag (especially inlight of our recent signings).

The same could be said of Curtis Davies and even Nicky Shorey.

It worries me a great deal that we have spent vast somes of money yet still look no where near a balanced outfit.

To be fair, a lot of SC members thought Levy was right at the time. And you'd still have some people moaning that we didn't buy a left-footed LM.

From what I'd seen of Curtis Davies I wasn't that struck—he was pretty hopeless by his own admission at the start of last season; MON preferred Zat Knight, which says a good deal. A sort of English Kaboul, for around the same money.

I don't think Shorey's that great—capable, no more. That said, for the moment I'd prefer him to any of our LBs. I'd prefer Lee to all of them, though.

Aren't some of us Spurs supporters equally guilty? How many capable players have been dismissed as 'not good enough' on these forums?

 

[KeaneIsKeane]

Bentley is poor. Said it before. Seeing it so far today. Hopefully I have to eat my words.

 

[Michey]

Bentley is poor. Said it before. Seeing it so far today. Hopefully I have to eat my words.

Extremely poor as the rest of our midfield....apart from Lennon

Take off Jenas and Bentley and bring on O'Hara and Zokora

 

[yusrisafri]

Ive said it before, and Im gonna say it again. Bentley is not worth the 17mil we paid for him. He is so, so average that it's kind of embarassing that the club paid that much money for him. He cant even hold the ball properly FFS. So his passes or crosses or freekicks are good, but Jenas can do that as well, and so can the Hudd. They didnt cost that much did they? I hope he makes me eat my words, but so far, he has been our poorest player today. 17 mil...bahhh.

 

[coldasice199]

I think Bentley has played alright. Looks right in the team, has good technique and has delivered one outstanding delivery into the box today.

 

[miles_64]

Apart from deliveries, I thought he played very poorly today. Gave the ball away time and time again. Disappointing.

 

[cnyy12]

Very disappointing. He's not worth a first team place if he is only going to be stuck out on the left because he is so clueless there.

 

[sim0n]

Sorry 'arry, no effect yet. Better luck with Bentley against NEC...

 

[Wsussexspur]

I thought Bentley was dreadful today. The amount of times I found myself screaming at the tv when he had lost the ball or was doing pointless showboating or trying to beat every man on the pitch!. He gave the ball away constantly he then tries to showboat doing pointless keepie upies with the ball at one point in the second half. But what gets me the most is the fact that he tries todo everything his self instead of passing the ball to player in better position and 95% of the time he loses the ball! I think he will be good player in time for us but at the moment I think he needs to add some discipline to his game and also needs to be taken down a peg or two as he is a good player but he isn't as good as he seems to think he is!