do you want us to sign David Bentley?

[King Emlyn]

Originally Posted by WeAreTheBest

He's gash. Let him rot at Blackburn.

Indeed, no way is he what we need.

[StevieH]

Bentley: "My contract is getting negotiated at the minute, but you never know what is round the corner."

"We need to be in Europe but we are probably not going to make it - which is disappointing from a personal point of view."

[wiiksie]

Article just appeared on the Beeb:

Originally Posted by Beeb

Bentley hints at Blackburn exit

David Bentley says he has not ruled out leaving Blackburn to further his goal of becoming an England regular.

The 23-year-old is in talks with Rovers over a new contract but admits he wants to play regular European football in order to gain England recognition.

Rovers are still in the hunt for a Uefa Cup spot, but Bentley said: "Time will tell over the next few months what will happen. It's a big decision in my life.

"You never know in football. Sometimes you have to make strong decisions."

Bentley has shown he is willing to take difficult decisions, handing in a transfer request at Arsenal in 2005 in pursuit of first-team football.

He also caused controversy by making himself for England Under-21s last year, citing tiredness and his desire to extend his international career in the long term.

Blackburn are seven points behind fifth-placed Everton in the race for a guaranteed Uefa Cup spot.

Asked if Blackburn missing out on Europe would precipitate a move, Bentley - who has been linked with Liverpool - added: "I won't answer that. I'll leave it up to you to decide.

"I want to play European football, I want to play at the top of my game. I want to go to the World Cup in two years and I want to be starting."

Bentley must force his way ahead of David Beckham, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Aaron Lennon if he is to become a regular on England's right flank.

But he said: "I'm in the early stages of my England career. I'm going to have to work hard, it's up to me to take the position.

"There's a lot of good players in this country, but if I perform then I believe I can take it, so we'll have to see."

Bentley came off the bench to replace David Beckham for the last half-hour of a drab 1-0 defeat in Paris but said he did not particularly enjoy the experience.

"It was a strange game. It wasn't very enjoyable. It wasn't the best of games watching from the bench," he said.

"It's the stage of the season we're at. I don't think there should be a game like that anyway.

"I think it was a difficult situation. A lot of the lads are preparing themselves for the Premier League and the Champions League so it can be difficult to play a game like that for both sides.

"It was a half-hearted, 50% effort. Everyone wants to play well for England but sometimes it just happens like that.

"It wasn't enjoyable for me but you try to have an effect on the game, you go out there and try to have an effect but it is difficult to get into a game like that."

I'm completely unsure on Bentley, but I would have thought he wants to be making noises about the CL if he wants to attract a top 4 club, and not his England career. Didn't Darren Bent say similar things when we were interested while he was at Charlton, then Rafa backed away?

[spider-neil]

he'll be liverpool player in the new season, count on it.

[El Rojo]

I had a dream last night that he was talking about himself in the third person.

"This isn't about what David Bentley wants. It's up to Blackburn, Liverpool and Barcelona to come to an agreement that suits all parties. David Bentley only wants to play football."

[Brownie]

I really, really, really don't want him. He's a cock apparently - proper billy big bollocks despite never acheiving anything.

[Remington]

No.

[El Rojo]

Originally Posted by Brownie

I really, really, really don't want him. He's a cock apparently - proper billy big bollocks despite never acheiving anything.

Would you rather keep Pennant than get Bentley for, say, a net spend of £5m? (Assuming of course that Pennant is worth £3/4m).

Dead ball expert, goalscorer and not half as slow as some make out.

That's an absolute no-brainer for me. I'd love an Alves or a Mancini, but we just don't have that financial clout.

I'm not saying he's a dream signing by any means, but he's closer to where we need to be, and that's what matters.

[Brownie]

Originally Posted by El Rojo

Would you rather keep Pennant than get Bentley for, say, a net spend of £5m? (Assuming of course that Pennant is worth £3/4m).

Dead ball expert, goalscorer and not half as slow as some make out.

That's an absolute no-brainer for me. I'd love an Alves or a Mancini, but we just don't have that financial clout.

I'm not saying he's a dream signing by any means, but he's closer to where we need to be, and that's what matters.

In answer to your question, i'd rather keep Pennant.

[El Rojo]

Originally Posted by Brownie

In answer to your question, i'd rather keep Pennant.

Really? I think he adds absolutely nothing to our current formation, hence his limited opportunities. His lack of goals is unacceptable for a player in that position too.

[wiiksie]

Originally Posted by El Rojo

Would you rather keep Pennant than get Bentley for, say, a net spend of £5m? (Assuming of course that Pennant is worth £3/4m).

Dead ball expert, goalscorer and not half as slow as some make out.

That's an absolute no-brainer for me. I'd love an Alves or a Mancini, but we just don't have that financial clout.

I'm not saying he's a dream signing by any means, but he's closer to where we need to be, and that's what matters.

I think I agree with you there Rojo. Pennant just isn't in Rafa's main plan it would seem, so getting Bentley as another option for the right hand side could be a clever move, if a) it is for the kind of money you are talking and b) Bentley is still developing as a player. We'll never know b) until we sign him of course.

[Moschops II]

Originally Posted by Brownie

I really, really, really don't want him. He's a cock apparently - proper billy big bollocks despite never acheiving anything.

Not trying to be funny Ian, but bearing in mind you've said in the past that Joey Barton's seemed a decent lad when you've met him, I'd have thought you'd have taken what people say about players in real life with a pinch of salt.

[Remington]

This compilation (including the comments) must be the funniest football piece on youtube ever:
YouTube - David Bentley

[rebel23]

for me he would be disappointing signing like Crouch in 2005, I think Liverpool deserve better

I would take him as a squad player if we had 2 other creative options lined up and if the price was right, that would give us more options across the attack for substitutions and rotations, if he is a "main signing" i would be disappointed

[Moschops II]

Originally Posted by rebel23

for me he would be disappointing signing like Crouch in 2005, I think Liverpool deserve better

I would take him as a squad player if we had 2 other creative options lined up and if the price was right, that would give us more options across the attack for substitutions and rotations, if he is a "main signing" i would be disappointed

Yep, it would be terrible if we made another disappointing sigining like Crouch who then helped us to another disapppointing best ever points total in the Premiership. Disapppointment all round.

[Ted]

Fucking shit and looks like one of Robin Hood's Merry Men. Fucking no chance.

[Agt Provocateur]

Originally Posted by Brownie

In answer to your question, i'd rather keep Pennant.

I'm surprised at that Brownie. Given that Pennant looks like he's got no role to play in this new formation and just can't get back into the team, I would have thought that Bentley (who is a much better all round package) would be a much better option to have, like him or not.

[GRADY]

Im in he middle in regard to Bentley. I probably need to watch more of him to make a definite decision. He is defo better than anything we have on the right but whether he will solve the righ