I think the real fallacy in thought here is assuming because you play (or may play) for the English National Team you’re automatically worth anything.

Has anyone objective actually watched the English side play as of late? To put it mildly, it’s not particularly awe-inspiring soccer… I’ll be only slightly surprised if they don’t qualify for the 2010 World Cup.

John
http://www.spotlightsoccer.com

Oh, when David Beckham was 23, he played a big part in our glorious 1998-1999 season: the season we won the TREBLE. Compare and contrast to what David Bentley is doing now… with a bit of luck he might help Blackburn get the much coveted Intertoto place.

Do you remember the 1998-1999 season, Blackburn fans?

The best way for Bentley to maximise his potential is to join a big club and play against the best teams in the most prestigious competitions. Only then can comparisons with David Beckham be made. Bentley must be considered inferior to Beckham simply because Beckham has proved that he can hack it at the top level. Bentley may be good enough to succeed at the highest level, but we won’t know until he actually plays against the big boys in Europe. Bentley knows this too, which is why he will leave Blackburn. Blackburn supporters may be disappointed, but at least the club will get a good price for him.

still think beckham always slows any team down that he plays for by having to stop the ball most of the time before crossing it. you have a look back at old footage of him, then try to tell me i`m wrong.

One more thing…

“David bentley is david bentley he does what he does but certainly he will not reach the level david this time beckam has reached.that is a fact and,facts are facts and can’t be changeg.”

No, it is an opinion. Unless you have some mystical crystal ball you’ve peered into.

“Now, after just under three seasons at Blackburn in which he has played 126 games, scoring 21 goals, he is being touted as Beckham’s immediate and long term replacement in the England team.”

Which is a goal every 6 games. Beckham’s entire career average is 1 goal every 5.15 games (or a goal every 5.46 games if you believe a different set of stats). It’s not a world of difference, eh? Especially considering that was almost entirely in spells at Man United and Real Madrid- teams that, by being rather a lot better than Blackburn, create rather a lot more chances. I also remember a young Beckham repeatedly squandering chances to create openings because he was obsessed with hitting shots from distance. Goals aren’t even the best criteria to judge right wingers by. As for ‘just’ three seasons, Beckham made his own England debut approximately three seasons into his playing time at United (as in, after he started playing), which would appear to be after less games too.

“A quick look at Bentley’s career to date does not point to him being a ‘special player’. He made only two first team appearances at Arsenal before Arsene Wenger allowed him to go to Norwich on loan.”

What does this prove? Arsenal is a young player factory, with many of the best and brightest young stars. Beckham was also loaned out as a youngster- but three tiers down to Preston in what is now League Two. Bentley can’t be held responsible for the fact the poor team he was in went down whilst he was injury-plagued. And when we loaned him ourselves, we got a few comments on our board from jealous Norwich fans, who had clearly seen enough of him to know they wanted him on loan again. If you’re saying Wenger’s judgement in letting him go must prove something, it doesn’t. Wenger is an excellent manager, with a great eye for talent. But he sold him for 500k, which is clearly one of the biggest misjudgements in recent years in football. It’s also worth noting he once hailed Bentley as the new Bergkamp.

“There are clearly issues with his personality and his continual whining about Arsenal and the way he was treated by them is beginning to grate with many people, not just Arsene Wenger”

Aside from the fact that this is immaterial (his attitude on the pitch is all that matters, and this, everyone at Blackburn can assure you, is exemplary), you let off Stephen Hunt for his petty, jealous little jibe on the grounds that the press had asked him the question to get a response. Why do you think Bentley said what he said? Also, his comments were reprinted repeatedly. I can only recall two seperate interviews where the matter was raised, but many more articles. Bentley’s problem, as relates to the way he talks to the media, is that he is an extremely candid person. When asked a question he seems to just answer it honestly. This is a quality I pesonally admire, but it keeps getting him in trouble and on people’s nerves. His comments about Arsenal weren’t all disparaging, either. But those ones weren’t included, of course, as they don’t sell papers. On the same note…

He certainly doesn’t under value his own ability:

“I’m here to take Beckham’s place and that’s what I’ll be trying to do,”

So? what’s wrong with this statement? The answer is nothing whatsoever. Should he have said ‘I’m here to sit in the shadows, wait till Beckham isn’t interested anymore, and then hope to get into the team, or maybe just sit in Lennon and Wright-Phillips’ shadows’??? His intention was to get into the England team, and rightly so- his debut was long overdue, and his first start even moreso.

“He is twenty-three years old now and unlikely to get that much better.”

This has no basis in fact. You’ve no idea how much better he will get. He has continued getting better ever since he moved to Blackburn. Many (actually, most) players hit their primes at around 27 or 28. I feel rather confident that Bentley WILL get quite a bit better. And as soon as he is at a top four club, you’ll all rate him higher instantly.

“I am just worried that the expectations beginning to be placed on his shoulders are far too great for the ability he possesses.”

Compared to the hype around Beckham, this is absolutely nothing. I feel sure Bentley will at least match the hype with his ability- though when he does, the hype will increase more, and that he might not meet. Just like Beckham never did, or could have hoped to. Bentley’s coverage and praise in the media, until recently, was actually far lower than he deserved.

“Bentley is good, but he is not world class.”

I remember a lot of people saying the same thing about Damien Duff prior to his move to Chelsea. Big fat wrong on that count. As then, and as ever, you should trust the people that actually WATCH the player on a regular basis. And having seen the likes of Duff, Shearer, and many others over the years, we DO know a very good player when we see one.

As with then, I eagerly await the day you all eat humble pie. It’s just a shame that you won’t give him that recognition until he has left ‘little’ Blackburn.