Bentley
- Thread starter Luka Lennon
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BringBack_leGin
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- Jul 28, 2004
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I'm delighted with how Bentley played, I'm glad he's getting support, and long may it continue. Especially glad to see him link well with JD, who has looked a bit out of sorts without Lennon getting him the ball. However, I know which right winger I feel more confident about up against Evra, Cole or Clichy, and it's the one who has murdered all of them at various points in recent history.
Long may Bentley's form continue, it reduces our reliance on the little wizard, but you play your best players when they are fit. Modric got fit, came in ahead or Kranjcar who was on great form. Gomes got fit, came in ahead of Cudicini who was actually in goal for most of our rise into the top four. When your best players are fit, and I mean sharp as well, they play.
Long may Bentley's form continue, it reduces our reliance on the little wizard, but you play your best players when they are fit. Modric got fit, came in ahead or Kranjcar who was on great form. Gomes got fit, came in ahead of Cudicini who was actually in goal for most of our rise into the top four. When your best players are fit, and I mean sharp as well, they play.
$hoguN
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- Jul 25, 2005
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I'm not suggesting Bentley is better than Lennon in any sense, but you can't drop someone playing well, its extremely bad for team spirit as it makes squad players question if its worth putting in the effort if they are just going to be dropped no matter how well they are playing
Also BBLG if Bentley is not given the oppourtunity to continue improving in the side surely the 'he has only played well in the last three games' argument becomes a moot point
Also BBLG if Bentley is not given the oppourtunity to continue improving in the side surely the 'he has only played well in the last three games' argument becomes a moot point
BringBack_leGin
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- Jul 28, 2004
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I want Bentley to continue to play, while Lennon is unable to play it his usual levels.
Ok, you're Wenger. Fabregas gets injuerd for 2 months, Denilson comes in and does brilliantly. Fabregas comes back from injury, who plays?
You're Ferguson, Rooney gets injured for 2 months, Berbatov comes in and does brilliantly. Rooney comes back from injury, who plays?
You're Guardiola, Messi gets injured for 2 months, Bojan comes in and does brilliantly. Messi comes back from injury, who plays?
You're Pellegrini, C.Ronaldo gets injured for 2 months, Granero comes in and does brilliantly. C.Ronaldo comes back from injury, who plays?
Ok, you're Wenger. Fabregas gets injuerd for 2 months, Denilson comes in and does brilliantly. Fabregas comes back from injury, who plays?
You're Ferguson, Rooney gets injured for 2 months, Berbatov comes in and does brilliantly. Rooney comes back from injury, who plays?
You're Guardiola, Messi gets injured for 2 months, Bojan comes in and does brilliantly. Messi comes back from injury, who plays?
You're Pellegrini, C.Ronaldo gets injured for 2 months, Granero comes in and does brilliantly. C.Ronaldo comes back from injury, who plays?
$hoguN
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- Jul 25, 2005
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Each time my personal opinion is you should have to win your place in the team back; i've already said that should use Lennon as an impact sub until he shows that he should merit a starting place (that could be in his first game back, where he may come on terrorise a defender and set up two in the last 20 mins, or it could be 7 games) or alternatively the team is doing poorly so Harry decides to change things
BringBack_leGin
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We differ in our basic opinion here too much to really discuss the point then. I think that players who prove themselves as the best at the club have earnt the right to walk back into the team, regardless of how harsh it is on the man they replace. I love Kranjcar but there's no doubt that, despite how good he was, Modric coming back in (now that he is hitting fitness and form again) has improved us, and Modric had only played 3.5 games before getting injured. I apply the same logic to Lennon and Bentley.
I understand where you're coming from, and I know I probably seem like I'm showing favouritism, but I'm not, I'm honestly going on what I think is best for the club, not individuals.
I understand where you're coming from, and I know I probably seem like I'm showing favouritism, but I'm not, I'm honestly going on what I think is best for the club, not individuals.
- Jun 5, 2004
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Surely current form has to be taken into account BBLG?
If Bentley is having a flyer, and we're winning then surely it doesn't matter whose doing the business?
I'm not sure it sends out the right message any other way but to let Lennon earn his place back in the team?
If Bentley is having a flyer, and we're winning then surely it doesn't matter whose doing the business?
I'm not sure it sends out the right message any other way but to let Lennon earn his place back in the team?
$hoguN
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- Jul 25, 2005
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Thats appreciated, despite some of the ridiculous opinions of some people on this forum (thats not aimed at you BBLG), I tend to try and believe we all want the best for Spurs at the end of the day.
So yes, you are correct that Lennon coming back in obviously would allow us to play our best football, but in terms of the squad and season, I do think taking a player such as Bentley out when playing well could have a negative impact on the attitudes of other fringe players such as Bassong, Bale etc.
As stoof has said above, if we are winning and Bentley is playing well why should we change a winning formula?
So yes, you are correct that Lennon coming back in obviously would allow us to play our best football, but in terms of the squad and season, I do think taking a player such as Bentley out when playing well could have a negative impact on the attitudes of other fringe players such as Bassong, Bale etc.
As stoof has said above, if we are winning and Bentley is playing well why should we change a winning formula?
$hoguN
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- Jul 25, 2005
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Thats a fair point Kendall, but it doesn't step away from the fact that it would send out a message to the squad players that no matter how well you play you cannot force your way into the team because Harry has favourites, we would also be changing a winning formula just because Lennon has come back
Like I have tried to point out Lennon should earn his place back in the side by being used as an impact sub, until his performances leaves Harry with no choice but to pick him above Bentley
Like I have tried to point out Lennon should earn his place back in the side by being used as an impact sub, until his performances leaves Harry with no choice but to pick him above Bentley
mil1lion
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- May 7, 2004
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Well Modric came straight back into the team. So i see no reason why Lennon wont do likewise. Lennon has been in form all season. Bentley for a couple of weeks. And even so, he still has to prove himself consistently. If he does that before Lennon returns then i see him keeping his place. But only because Lennon needs to get match fit again. As soon as Lennon is back to 100%, he'll go straight back in the team. He is a better player than Bentley.
mil1lion
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I think he has already earnt his place over the past few seasons really. He hasn't been suspended or dropped, but injured. He was in top form before his injury. If Rooney got injured, he would go straight back in the Utd team when he returned. Same with Gerrard or Torres, Terry or Lampard, Fabregas or Van Persie. No matter how well the others may be doing, those players are their best players and they go straight back in the team. I see Lennon in the same bracket for us.
BringBack_leGin
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I think that there is always room for that one player who stays in the team unless his form lost. I used to froth at the fact that, even if he did well, Jol dropped Defoe for Keane as soon as Keane regained fitness, but with hindsight it was the right thing to do because back then Keane was probably our most important attacking player, much like I think Lennon is now.
Good point, Lennon was crocked at the end of the Spammers game because the ever incompetent ref constantly failed to book them for dangerous challenges. He never actually lost form.
I think that there's a negative message to send out either way personally. If Lennon doesn't get back in, having been playing his best ever football for us pre injury, surely that sends out the message that you can work your socks off to make yourself one of the most important players at the club for an extended period of the time but lose your place the moment somebody performs well in your position, even if not as well, because we're just that fickle as a club.
Agreed with this.
Ultimately, I want Bentley to continue in this vein of form and prove that he is good enough to be relied on when we have no Lennon, but unless he is actually able to surpass Lennons level of performance he shouldn't keep Lennon out of the side. While I don't want to take away from Bentley, because you can only beat what's in front of you, last night his marker was an out of position league one right winger. He still impressed me, but I'm actually more impressed by his performance against Birmingham because he was up against a premiership left back, and I'll be even more impressed if he plays well against Steven Warnock this weekend.
The onus isn't on Lennon to get back into the side, the onus is on Bentley to stay in the side, and if Kranjcars performances weren't enough to keep him ahead of Modric, then, good though he is at the moment, Bentley needs to do even more than he is to keep out Lennon.
Adam
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- Feb 23, 2004
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What i will say, is that Bentley's attitude for the past 2 games has been magnificent. I hate bring up the J word again, but these games have been bonuses for both Bentley and Jenas, and whilst the latter has barely broken into a sweat and been totally anonymous, Bentley has really knuckled down and given his all for the team.
I have hated him for his entire career, largely due to his utter arrogance at Arsenal and Blackburn, but he is really beginning to win me round; anyone who is willing to give it all for my team is an asset in my opinion.
I have hated him for his entire career, largely due to his utter arrogance at Arsenal and Blackburn, but he is really beginning to win me round; anyone who is willing to give it all for my team is an asset in my opinion.
Adam
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- Feb 23, 2004
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Do you think? Everyone who i was standing around was really critical of him, and if you compare his use of the ball to Huddlestone's, who kept the ball moving with three touches from side to side, which is the way to beat these teams, then i thought he was poor.
This thread is about Bentley, so i dont want to sidetrack it to much, but 2 years ago i got Jenas on the back of my shirt and absolutely loved him. Sadly, i just dont see any progress. For someone that has double figures of England caps, i just expect him to drive the team on from midfield far more than he does, especially against that calibre of opposition. He's 26 now, and for me, thats old enough for us to expect more than what we are getting, especially as he has all the raw materials to be a great player.
Why does Lennon have to make way? Modric isnt exactly firing on all cylinders yet.
The beauty of a large squad is you can now go on form.
AngerManagement
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- May 15, 2004
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I personally prefer Lennon to Bentley (by some distance actually)
I want what is best for the team not the indivduals of course, but I think for the interest of the team (well more squad) we should have a policy where by players who take their chance when given it (via injury or dip in form of the players ahead of them) deserve to be given the right to make themselves undroppable.
To me Bentley has done enough to be holding the RW shirt for now, when Lennon is back he will take a little time to get to full fitness anyway so should start on the bench and the competition will begin.
Bentley will have to play well enough to continue being the starter and Lennon will have to show from his sub appearance that he is still number one. This is competition for places and the two of them pushing each other to higher levels of performance can only be good for us as a team.
Lennon should have to play himself back into the team because Bentley has earned the right to continue starting and once Lennon dislodges him again it will be on Bentley to wait for his sub performace to show he should be the number one.
I want what is best for the team not the indivduals of course, but I think for the interest of the team (well more squad) we should have a policy where by players who take their chance when given it (via injury or dip in form of the players ahead of them) deserve to be given the right to make themselves undroppable.
To me Bentley has done enough to be holding the RW shirt for now, when Lennon is back he will take a little time to get to full fitness anyway so should start on the bench and the competition will begin.
Bentley will have to play well enough to continue being the starter and Lennon will have to show from his sub appearance that he is still number one. This is competition for places and the two of them pushing each other to higher levels of performance can only be good for us as a team.
Lennon should have to play himself back into the team because Bentley has earned the right to continue starting and once Lennon dislodges him again it will be on Bentley to wait for his sub performace to show he should be the number one.
