do you want us to sign David Bentley?

[StevieH]

Originally Posted by Captain

I miss an "I don't know as I've hardly seen him play" option to keep it real. If it was so, it might be; and if it were so, it would be; but as it isn't, it ain't.

That's logic.

there should also be a "no, he isn't a foreigner with a cosmopolitan name who plucks his eyebrows" option too.

[BENIRL]

One of the few players from teams below us that I would like us to sign. Agbonlahor being another but Bently seems to be more the finished article. His game would improve playing with better players.

[PaddyBerger15]

Originally Posted by Moschops II

I think Bentley's one of the most intelligent players in the Premiership (in football terms...) and he'd do very well for us. Most of the criticism of him on here seems to be made a) by people who have barely seen him play and b) by people who think any British player not already playing for Arsenal, Chelsea, Man Utd is automatically not good enough for us. Or both.

All this stamping of feet about "pace and power" reminds me of the kind of thinking which had Emile Heskey in our team ahead of Jari Litmanen.

Yep, I think that is right on the money. I still think that 12m is too much, 8m might be nearer the mark, but I agree with what Danny says. I like Bentley and he would do a grand job for us on the right of 3 behind Torres.

[Brownie]

Originally Posted by Moschops II

I think Bentley's one of the most intelligent players in the Premiership (in football terms...) and he'd do very well for us. Most of the criticism of him on here seems to be made a) by people who have barely seen him play and b) by people who think any British player not already playing for Arsenal, Chelsea, Man Utd is automatically not good enough for us. Or both.

All this stamping of feet about "pace and power" reminds me of the kind of thinking which had Emile Heskey in our team ahead of Jari Litmanen.

I've seen him plenty of times Danny and I just don't think he'd make a difference for us. He'd do alright but that's not any use to us really.

You're right about his intelligence though, that's one thing he does have. Playing for us though, he'd have to unlock tighter defences and he'd also be more closely marked, and I haven't seen anything to suggest that he'd be able to cope with it.

[StevieH]

We should be able to strike a good deal if Pennant is part of the deal.

[Liam]

If we sign Bentley and he turned out to be a success I would be shocked. If we were going to go after any young English player to play in one of the 3 positions behind Torres I would prefer Ashley Young.

[Moschops II]

Originally Posted by Brownie

You're right about his intelligence though, that's one thing he does have. Playing for us though, he'd have to unlock tighter defences and he'd also be more closely marked, and I haven't seen anything to suggest that he'd be able to cope with it.

It's one of those things that's all but impossible to know for sure though, Ian - we don't know how he'd cope with being more closely marked, because as yet he hasn't been. We could easily have made a similar argument about Torres before he joined (in fact, I may well have done myself *cough*).

Also, you have to bear in mind that (in an ideal world at least), he'd just be one point of our attack, with the opposition's defence also having to pick up, say, Babel, Gerrard and Torres. At Blackburn, he's pretty much become the man through which all their attacking play goes - so although the opposition might not be set up as defensively overall as they would be against us, he's probably been getting closer individual attention.

[Brownie]

Originally Posted by Moschops II

It's one of those things that's all but impossible to know for sure though, Ian - we don't know how he'd cope with being more closely marked, because as yet he hasn't been. We could easily have made a similar argument about Torres before he joined (in fact, I may well have done myself *cough*).

Also, you have to bear in mind that (in an ideal world at least), he'd just be one point of our attack, with the opposition's defence also having to pick up, say, Babel, Gerrard and Torres. At Blackburn, he's pretty much become the man through which all their attacking play goes - so although the opposition might not be set up as defensively overall as they would be against us, he's probably been getting closer individual attention.

I can only disagree on several levels there mate. Torres was a former U16 world player of the year or something daft, and he was always touted as a potential world class player. I thought he was massively over-rated but it's totally different to Bentley.

He's a player who wasn't getting a look-in at a top club so he moved. He's done well for himself obviously, but nothing suggests to me that he could make that step back up.

You're right in the fact that it's impossible to know if he'd be able to adjust, but I can only go on previous examples (Pennant being one) and that suggests that it would be a mistake.

If we want to compete at a higher level then we need to look at a higher class player. It doesn't mean the lad isn't a good player, just that he's not suitable for us.

[Rashid]

Torres was an international and had the raw materials to attract 2 x £20m bids from Chelsea and one from Manchester United... he was always going to be top class.. comparing him to Bentely is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard.

[Liam]

Valencia and Sevilla look likely to both miss out on Champions League football next season. Players such as David Silva, Alves, Villa, Joaquin and Capel are surely going to consider moving on. These are the level of player we need to be looking at.

[Rashid]

I'd love us to sign Joaquin, he still has it IMO.

[Rafa Shankly]

no thanks,big fish small pond syndrome.

[rebel23]

I still like Matias Fernandez, as an option :

YouTube - Matias Fernandez [www.pasionporlaroja.com]

YouTube - Matías Fernández vs Valencia

he's 21 as well and likely to improve. his team is also challenging for La Liga amazingly enough.

[Liam]

Originally Posted by rebel23

I still like Matias Fernandez, as an option :

YouTube - Matias Fernandez [www.pasionporlaroja.com]

YouTube - MatÃ*as Fernández vs Valencia

Now he's a player!

Another playing in Spain who I like is Jonas Gutierrez, worryingly only Portsmouth have shown an interest in him...

And how shit are Zaragoza doing, they are a few points above the drop and have some real talent in their ranks.

[rebel23]

Originally Posted by Liam

Now he's a player!

Another playing in Spain who I like is Jonas Gutierrez, worryingly only Portsmouth have shown an interest in him...

And how shit are Zaragoza doing, they are a few points above the drop and have some real talent in their ranks.

haven't seen too much of Zaragoza but I do think Fernandez is one of the better creative players that will possibly be on the open market this summer, though with his team likely to qualify for Champions League we have to prise him away this summer or he may shine in the tournament and double in price

him and Nasri would be my top targets in the summer. offload whoever to pay for it

[Cardie]

Originally Posted by rebel23

haven't seen too much of Zaragoza but I do think Fernandez is one of the better creative players that will possibly be on the open market this summer, though with his team likely to qualify for Champions League we have to prise him away this summer or he may shine in the tournament and double in price

him and Nasri would be my top targets in the summer. offload whoever to pay for it

Babel and Gerard I assume?

[rebel23]

Originally Posted by Cardie

Babel and Gerard I assume?

no, was thinking Kuyt, Yossi, Pennant Carson, Guthrie, Riise actually

[Cardie]

Originally Posted by rebel23

no, was thinking Kuyt, Yossi, Pennant Carson, Guthrie, Riise actually

So all the players that don't play in their positions then.