Can Bentley be our new cheeky chappie?

[basskadet]

Spurs have always seemed to have players of huge skill who like to play the game their own way & with a smile on their face. Chrissy Waddle was famous for his loping stride & mazy runs but he used to play with a distinct sense of humour. It was that style that later brought him such stardom on the continent with Marseille but it was something we'd been enjoying as Spurs fans for some years already.

Then there was Gazza. In the papers for his cheeky antics, such as sticking out his tongue , as frequently as for his undeniable footballing talents. He managed to be consistently controversial but without truly offending anyone beyond all hope. Everyone had a soft spot for Gazza & there's no doubt his divine skill served to eradicate any criticisms people were gathering off the pitch.

There have always been characters like this in Lilywhite. You could say that Keano was our most recent player who always seemed to really enjoy playing football.

David Bentley, on the other hand, seems to get endless judgements made on him that I feel are unnecessary. He is confident & just has something about him. He stands out. Its what makes him so noticeable that equally makes him such a target. However, I think you need people like him in the game. Players that are capable of a smile. Their charisma is infectious & I feel it unfair to appraise them in a negative light.

It seems everyone has an opinion on Bentley. He has already won most of us Spurs fans over (helped hugely by his stunning Arsenal strike) but many of us were questioning how much we wanted him at our club, seeing his ego as a possible negative influence.

I think we need people like him at Tottenham. It is people like Bentley that give our club an identity and make us a little bit different. He does do & say some daft things from time to time but they are usually pretty harmless & often meant in jest. If said by anyone else they would be endearing but, because its Bentley, its arrogance. He certainly does nothing worse than Gazza's shenanigans.

People need to just let it lie & let a young man get on with enjoying himself. He still managed to get stick for his 'Superman' comment despite having scored perhaps the goal of the season & pulled off an incredible draw in a derby, against the club that has sold him saying he wasn't good enough, and for his childhood team. He's allowed to have it go to his head I say, it sure went to mine! Why anyone ought want to bring him down for it I don't really understand.

Not that it really seems to bother him too much!

[Hamenaglar]

In my opinion, he is egotistic. He seems to me like the basketballer that primary looks to his stats rather than team's performance. He has some skills, I won't deny him that, however his delivery (main forte) is inconsistant and his decision making doubtfoul. I think he has a better opinion of himself than he actually is. Against arsenal, despite goal of the season his performance was mediocre at best. Too often he wanted to go for cross, or shot, rather than keeping posession and build up play.

In all honesty, my opinion is that he is not top stuff. Beckham may have been all kinds of things of the pitch, but on the pitch he was a team player, something I feel Bentley isn't.

[SAspursfan]

He may have an attitude problem.........so what! As long as he delivers the goods. He's improving, but in my opinion still unpredictable, with a large percentage of poor crosses, which is supposed to be his forte. Many of his corner kicks leave a lot to be desired. But, I think he'll get there, eventually.

[basskadet]

He was Ok against Bolton, Better against Arsenal but against Dinamo & City he was superb. When he is in form he is very good. I don't think its fair for us to judge him on his opinion of himself because none of us know him & actually, people I know who have met him, say the opposite & he is quite humble in person.

"I can't believe I'm playing at Spurs, I'm so excited!" aren't words of an egocentric & more of a kid in a sweetie shop.

However, the point I'm making is he is somebody everyone does have an opinion on, good or bad. He seems to have a positive effect on those immediately around him & that's all that matters. We've always had big characters at Spurs & its partly what makes us stand out. I like that.

[taylor]

Why does he have an attitude problem? He was one of very few players who openly criticised himself during our bad patch.

[P UNIT 1980]

I think when he grows up and sees the bigger picture he will screw his pretty head on and become a great player instead of a good one.

Gazza was barking mad but that only made him even more difficult to read on the pitch as you never knew what he was going to do next.

To compare Bently to him or Wadle right now is a little premature.

[basskadet]

Well I agree with you there, Unit. I didn't mean to compare the 3 of them in terms of skill, etc just more the way they like to play with a smile & enjoy themselves, as did Keane. Not enough players seem able to do this. Jimmy Bullard is a classic example.

[P UNIT 1980]

Speaking of playing with a smile did anyone see Robbo enjoying his footie again?

He is playing very well again and one can only think he would have flourished under Arry.

Nice to see him on top form again, shame its not with us.

[thfcshady27]

yeah the only way they were gettin past him yesterday was with a deflection! he was unbeatable for a while yesterday great to see!!

[Toddenham]

Bentley needs to sort his boots out!! I can't remember how many times he has fallen over in the last few games! Other than that, i like him .

[basskadet]

Speaking of playing with a smile did anyone see Robbo enjoying his footie again?.

He was grinning like a cheshire cat when he went mud-sliding to save a shot from (I think) Lampard!

JJ couldn't resist a smirk when he hitched a ride on Didi Hamann at City on the w/end also! It got wiped off pretty quick tho when Robinho nearly scored!

What is it about Robinho? When he scores, he looks like he's slightly (for want of a better word) simple. He's got a baby-like, gormless expression. He really bugs me.

[Essex Spurs]

Spurs have always seemed to have players of huge skill who like to play the game their own way & with a smile on their face. Chrissy Waddle was famous for his loping stride & mazy runs but he used to play with a distinct sense of humour. It was that style that later brought him such stardom on the continent with Marseille but it was something we'd been enjoying as Spurs fans for some years already.

Then there was Gazza. In the papers for his cheeky antics, such as sticking out his tongue , as frequently as for his undeniable footballing talents. He managed to be consistently controversial but without truly offending anyone beyond all hope. Everyone had a soft spot for Gazza & there's no doubt his divine skill served to eradicate any criticisms people were gathering off the pitch.

There have always been characters like this in Lilywhite. You could say that Keano was our most recent player who always seemed to really enjoy playing football.

David Bentley, on the other hand, seems to get endless judgements made on him that I feel are unnecessary. He is confident & just has something about him. He stands out. Its what makes him so noticeable that equally makes him such a target. However, I think you need people like him in the game. Players that are capable of a smile. Their charisma is infectious & I feel it unfair to appraise them in a negative light.

It seems everyone has an opinion on Bentley. He has already won most of us Spurs fans over (helped hugely by his stunning Arsenal strike) but many of us were questioning how much we wanted him at our club, seeing his ego as a possible negative influence.

I think we need people like him at Tottenham. It is people like Bentley that give our club an identity and make us a little bit different. He does do & say some daft things from time to time but they are usually pretty harmless & often meant in jest. If said by anyone else they would be endearing but, because its Bentley, its arrogance. He certainly does nothing worse than Gazza's shenanigans.

People need to just let it lie & let a young man get on with enjoying himself. He still managed to get stick for his 'Superman' comment despite having scored perhaps the goal of the season & pulled off an incredible draw in a derby, against the club that has sold him saying he wasn't good enough, and for his childhood team. He's allowed to have it go to his head I say, it sure went to mine! Why anyone ought want to bring him down for it I don't really understand.

Not that it really seems to bother him too much!

Bass buddy, you don't half write some long threads. You should write a book.
Only joking. Actually, I totally agree with what you wrote. Well put buddy.

[basskadet]

Bass buddy, you don't half write some long threads. You should write a book.

Sorry, I can never say what I mean in one sentence!

Oh, I just did!

[LukaModric2010]

technically that was two bass lol

[zePav]

His game seems to go up a notch against the big teams, which is a great quality to have. the only criticism I have is that sometimes he goes for the miracle goal rather than a pass/cross inside to a player in better position. However I love his self belief and enthusiasm which i believe is infectious on his team mates, especially against the big clubs