Can't really comment on his time at blackburn but watching him for Spurs he has been pretty dire. To give him the benefit of alot of doubt the best you can say is that he's playing without confidence.

Right now we've got a midfield full of players whose best postion is not clear and who look like strangers.

Bent is woeful up front.

I think the season is going to be a real struggle.

I have only been able to keep half an eye on the Wisla Krakow v Spurs game but almost every time I look up the home team appear to have a chance. Anyone watching it all?

You must be joking. I'm not that stupid. I have a man in a pub in Devon watching it so therefore ruining his holiday and keeping me up to date at the same time.

Harri, how times did you look up? twice?
Dreadful first half but Spurs seem to improving

1-0 to Spurs, own goal

1-1, Wisla need one more to level the tie. 7 mins to go.

Wisla's fans deserve it, fantastic support all game

If only John Barnes still presented footy on 5, then there'd be a hattrick of watford punditry.

chasbão wrote:

QUOTE:
Harri, how times did you look up? twice?
Dreadful first half but Spurs seem to improving

I saw about 4 or 5 five-minute segments of the game and Spurs were playing (particularly defending) like halfwits at almost every point, right up to 90th minute.

Spurs were distinctly average I thought. Though Wisla were less impressive than at WHL the other week, too.

However, once they scored they looked like scoring every attack. If they'd gone for it earlier they could have done some serious damage.

Spurs looked very disjointed, ponderous and unable to keep the ball or look composed for any length of time.

Regardless of the outcome, Spurs still have big problems. Midway through the second half, Spurs had a two goal cushion, were bossing the game, bursting through the Wisla midfield with ease time and time again, and all the while their opponents couldn't pass simple balls to team-mates. Twenty minutes later, Spurs were desperately hanging on, camped on the edge of their penalty area, struggling to clear long balls & crosses, and relying on the keeper and poor finishing to save themselves from extra-time. It was a shocking collapse, but no surprise given what we've seen over the last six weeks.

I'd like to think that the result will kick-start the season, but the evidence on the pitch overwhelmingly suggests otherwise.

OK Impact Substitute, since me and phoebe are so wrong about the mighty David Bently, you could you name 5 great David bentey performances (performances, not goals) for blackburn.
I'll give you 24 hours.

''I'd like to think that the result will kick-start the season,''

wasnt the result at SJP last week supposed to do that?

Tactical Genius wrote:

QUOTE:
OK Impact Substitute, since me and phoebe are so wrong about the mighty David Bently, you could you name 5 great David bentey performances (performances, not goals) for blackburn.
I'll give you 24 hours.

My opinion of Bentley's time at Blackburn was formed on what I saw as consistent performances rather than outstanding games, and his stats regarding assists show his impact over a season. But since you asked for examples, I'll offer these:

1. Spurs away in 2005/06.
I remember this game well. Spurs were chasing fourth spot and won this 3-2, but were second best all day. Bentley's passing tore Spurs open, picking out the runs of Bellamy and Sinama-Pongolle.

2. Liverpool away in 2006/07.
Of all the times I've seen Bentley play, this was his best performance. He destroyed Riise, forcing Benitez to bring Aurelio on to deal with him. He provided a beautiful cross for Benni McCarthy's goal, and delivered brilliant crosses throughout the game. He did miss a great chance to win the game late on however.

3. Man City in the FA Cup Quarter Final 2007.
Blackburn won this game with a comfortable 2-0 scoreline, but it would have been alot more had their strikers converted the numerous chances that Bentley created for them. Matt Derbyshire was teed up time and time again by Bentley's passes.

4. Chelsea in the FA Cup Semi Final 2007.
Bentley was central to Blackburn's turnaround in the second half. He moved infield alot to battle for possession, and with some success. His crossing was excellent, none more so than the perfect cross onto Pedersen's head that should have won the game for Blackburn.

5. Newcastle home in 2007/08. Bentley stood out in this game as one of those occasions when one player turns a game. Blackburn came from 1-0 down at half time to win 3-1. Bentley scored twice (almost a hat-trick but he hit the post), and ran the game in the second half, looking to get on the ball and picking out clever passes.

There was also the hat-trick against Man Utd in 2005/06, but I only saw the goals so can't comment on his performance, but suffice to say he must have done alot right that night.

I saw three of those games and at that time Bentley was not having the games you seem to recollect.

This is reminiscent of the mysterious great Steven gerrard England performances.

Perhaps your criteria for a good or great performance is different from mine. For a player like Bentley, I judge him by his passing and crossing to team-mates. And in all those games, his contribution was excellent. The notable scoring returns from Bellamy, McCarthy and Santa Cruz were greatly helped by Bentley. As a wide midfielder he's been damn good at what wide midfielders need to do. Either you haven't seen this or you choose not to see this.

I can tell you from the Spurs game he was largly anonymous.
I can remeber that game as it was two Keane goals scored in Spectacular and controversial fashion and it included some poor defending from Ledley King for both blackburn goals i think.

Please do not force me to resort to the internet to prove that as usual, i am right in these matters.