[Archived] Realistic Summer Moves

[Head Rover Heels]

If the tabloids are correct, Spurs think Bentley is around £8m better than Lennon.

Slight correction if you don't mind Den.

If the tabloids are correct, Spurs think Bentley is at least £8m better than Lennon, so much so, that they are willing to start the bidding with an absolute low-ball offer of 8M difference.

[joey_big_nose]

If the tabloids are correct, Spurs think Bentley is around £8m better than Lennon.

Well I wouldn't go against that. Bentley is clearly currently the better player. However we need to do a balancing act when judging. You are weighing Lennon PLUS £10m against Bentley. Personally I feel we can improve Lennon as a player, settle him down, start him regularly in the team, work on his weaknesses. Every young player who has come to Rovers, with the very notbale exception of Rigters, has been improved here. On top of that 10m spent wisely can buy genuinely outstanding talent.

And finally the thing that swings it for me is that Bentley does not want to play for us. Imprisoning a player at a club is not only not good for the dressing room and morale it is also futile. Who has ever successfully held on to a wantaway player with ultimately positive results? I can't think of any.

I think people are being unrealistic in thinking Bentley can possibly in any sense be a Rovers player in two months time. He came out and said he wanted to leave before the new manager came in. If he was even slightly attached to teh club he would wait to see who would be appointed.

It's over guys, it is a case of when not if. Now the question is "how much".

[Lathund]

Bentley clearly is the better player. But if we were to get Lennon and £8-10m then we'd have £15-20m to spend in other areas. Now that could have course result in a Duff situation where we didn't improve at all, but if spent wisely it could improve the team as a whole quite a lot. I'd take that kind of deal; he wants out anyway, and I think his transfer value has peaked.

[rover6]

AND SELL MOKOENAAAAAAA FOR ANYTHING, PLEASE NO NEW CONTRACT!

Seconded. He is an atrocious player and will not get a look in with Ince who likes his midfielders to be able to pass. Stoke City are very keen on him, I've heard.*

*This is a lie but I'm hoping gullible persons will pick up on it and eventually, through the miracle of repetition, it will happen.

[gumboots]

If Bentley were that good then surely he should've been one of the leading players at Arsenal / Norwich -

It doesn't always work out like that. Same can be said for Santa Cruz / Samba / Friedal / Warnock at their previous clubs. Players sometimes just need a move to refind form and get a good run in the side.

I think we should take Lennon on because he is young enough and has the potential to be very good for us.

Lennon has had chances for several years to show what he can do. Bentley couldn't get past well-established international players. Bentley may well go, and I fully accept that but don't pin your hopes on Lennon being anywhere near the player that Bentley is perceived as being and showed he was for us until recently.

[Poita]

We lack a few things in our team - pace and goals from midfield being 2 key ones.

Lennon offers both of them. He also is the type of player that excites a crowd, not afraid to take a man on, and very handy when we break away.

We still have MGP who on top form, can cross as good, if not better than Bentley. He is also better at dead balls and if we can get it back to his old, is much better at corners.

Lennon at the momment offers Pace. Nothing else.

Have you actually watched him play over the past two seasons?

This whole talk of Lennon joining rovers is rubbish.

And MGP been able to cross the ball as well as Bentley, if not BETTER? you must be kidding.

[DavidMailsTightPerm]

Lennon at the momment offers Pace. Nothing else.

Have you actually watched him play over the past two seasons?

This whole talk of Lennon joining rovers is rubbish.

And MGP been able to cross the ball as well as Bentley, if not BETTER? you must be kidding.

I agree with Hughesy, MGP on form can cross as good as Bentley - and his free kicks are as good. The big downside - is that MGP hasn't shown that form for over a season - maybe a change in management may help him find his best form ?

As for Lennon - anyone watch Windy Miller ? a one trick pony if ever I say one - but used in the correct way this type of winger can be effective in the right team. Ah - Miller on one wing, Brotherston on the other - those were the days

[Poita]

I agree with Hughesy, MGP on form can cross as good as Bentley - and his free kicks are as good. The big downside - is that MGP hasn't shown that form for over a season - maybe a change in management may help him find his best form ?

As for Lennon - anyone watch Windy Miller ? a one trick pony if ever I say one - but used in the correct way this type of winger can be effective in the right team. Ah - Miller on one wing, Brotherston on the other - those were the days

Ok ok. I guess that was a tad harsh on MGP. He can cross the ball quite well. But hasn't given himself the opportunities to be able to the past season.

Still think Bentley is a far superior crosser of the ball.

[LeChuck]

Apparently Spurs management think Bentley is a far better player than Lennon.

Bentley is a better player then Lennon.

But then again, if Bentley leaves, we won't get anyone anywhere near as proven as Bentley is right now as a replacement. Who could we get that's better than Lennon? Or should I rephrase; who could we get that has the potential that Lennon possesses?

Mass hysteria seems to grip the board at the moment when we latch on to someone's negatives points (see: Allardyce). Lennon is not awful technically, he can cross and pass, he's just not as good as Bentley...but then very few players in the world can cross a ball like Bentley. The thing with Lennon is his pace and dribbling can get him in to positions Bentley never gets in to, where a simple cross or pass (usually a cut-back) is all that's required.

He didn't start challenging Beckham for the right side in the England team just by being quick. He can be excellent at times, but then he is terribly inconsistent. To me he seems the perfect Rovers-type player; all the raw tools but needs some work. Don't forget for the last couple of seems he's been shoved out on the left sometimes which has effected his form badly as well.

£8 million or so + Lennon would be terrific business for Rovers. Then we could replace Pedersen on the left and bring in someone who will provide assists from that side (Pedersen never does) and, between the two wings, I think we could compensate for Bentley's loss. We should also have change left over to strengthen elsewhere.

[FourLaneBlue]

Apparently Spurs management think Bentley is a far better player than Lennon.

You´re kidding den...is that why the talk is of money plus Lennon for Bentley? Now I understand...yet we are talking about substantial money on top of hat as well...however if Bentley is so good then why does it only seem to be the second-tier teams in the Premiership that are interested? Villa and Spurs? Bentley is a good player but overrated by some on here.

If Bentley wants to leave enough then it is very likely to happen. If Rovers can get the right price for him and replace him with a cheaper alternative then that is a good bit of business...allowing money to spent on other players as well. Someone has mentioned United keeping Ronaldo after the World Cup when he did not want to stay. Yet that happened after Ferguson talked him into staying. If Ince cannot persuade Bentley to stay then what are the alternatives? Keep an unhappy player? Will Bentley really knuckle down to it and play to his best ability? So far his outbursts suggest not.

This should not really be looked at as a choice between Lennon and Bentley but more whether Lennon could do a job for us if Bentley left. If Bentley can be talked into staying then we don´t have to consider any other right winger. This is the same Lennon who finished third in the Premiership Young Player of the Year award only a year ago and was nominated for it the year before that. Lennon has a lot more to his game than just pace although that is obviously his main asset. Channelled in the right way it can destroy teams...we have seen him do it to Rovers before.

I think he could grow in to be a useful player for us if Bentley really demands to leave. Certainly we have not had any better alternative put forward.

[FourLaneBlue]

Mass hysteria seems to grip the board at the moment when we latch on to someone's negatives points (see: Allardyce). Lennon is not awful technically, he can cross and pass, he's just not as good as Bentley...but then very few players in the world can cross a ball like Bentley. The thing with Lennon is his pace and dribbling can get him in to positions Bentley never gets in to, where a simple cross or pass (usually a cut-back) is all that's required.

What he said.

Is anyone we are realistically going to get ever going to be good enough for Rovers fans? I cannot remember the last player we signed when there were not critical voices of him not being good enough for us.

End of the day...the players we sign are either likely to be inexperienced, going through a rough patch/have fallen out of favour with their current club/manager or getting on a bit.

[DavidMailsTightPerm]

What he said.

Is anyone we are realistically going to get ever going to be good enough for Rovers fans? I cannot remember the last player we signed when there were not critical voices of him not being good enough for us.

End of the day...the players we sign are either likely to be inexperienced, going through a rough patch/have fallen out of favour with their current club/manager or getting on a bit.

FLB - for me you have got it spot on. The days of us being able to afford a Shearer or Sutton are long gone. I remember looking at Santa's record at Bayern prior to him signing and being more than a little concerned at the amount of money we were spending. But we can only get up and coming players (before they get on the radar of big clubs) or more likely players whose career has faltered (for whatever reason - Santa & Samba immediately spring to mind). Lennon actually fits this profile - a player whose early promise has been blighted by injuries and poor form. A couple of seasons ago we couldn't have even thought about buying him, as teams like Man Utd etc were linked with him. Only recent poor form has brought even a sniff of us being able to get him. Given Ince's previous liking for speedy wingers - I think this is a distinct possibility - providing they match our inflated price for Bentley

[FourLaneBlue]

£8 million or so + Lennon would be terrific business for Rovers. Then we could replace Pedersen on the left and bring in someone who will provide assists from that side (Pedersen never does) and, between the two wings, I think we could compensate for Bentley's loss.

If Bentley does go I think we should be looking at bringing in players for both wings. We cannot have another season of MGP in the form he was in. Bring in some competition at least.

[Eddie]

MGP is also a player I wouldn't mind seeing in the middle.

[philipl]

MGP is also a player I wouldn't mind seeing in the middle.

Tell me you posted that as a joke eddie, please.

[joey_big_nose]

If Bentley does go I think we should be looking at bringing in players for both wings. We cannot have another season of MGP in the form he was in. Bring in some competition at least.

If Bentley goes and we get Lennon and ten million which we use to buy Farfan I will pretty delighted. The pace of Farfan and Lennon on either wing would be frightening for anyone we play.

[joey_big_nose]

If Bentley does go I think we should be looking at bringing in players for both wings. We cannot have another season of MGP in the form he was in. Bring in some competition at least.

If Bentley goes and we get Lennon and ten million which we use to buy Farfan I will pretty delighted. The pace of Farfan and Lennon on either wing would be frightening for anyone we play.

D'oh, I just realised he signed for Schalke! How did we miss out on that. idiots idiots idiots!!!

[gumboots]

If Bentley goes and we get Lennon and ten million which we use to buy Farfan I will pretty delighted. The pace of Farfan and Lennon on either wing would be frightening for anyone we play.

D'oh, I just realised he signed for Schalke! How did we miss out on that. idiots idiots idiots!!!

We were in the more important hunt for a manager at the time he was signing for someone else and had apparently shown no interest anyway as otherwise he would have taken a bit longer to sign for Schalke. Can I just say again what i keep on saying. We may well end up with Bentley leaving but why are so many on here so desperate to get rid of him before we see what actually happens?

[Head Rover Heels]

We may well end up with Bentley leaving but why are so many on here so desperate to get rid of him before we see what actually happens?

It's because we need someone with pace. Pace is important, and we don't have any pace, so we need to buy someone with pace. Ahem

[dr_awol]

£8 million or so + Lennon would be a good piece of business for rovers, hopefully like defo he will show his full talents once he is away from spurs!

but am i missing something, has THFC made an approach yet?

[FourLaneBlue]

Can I just say again what i keep on saying. We may well end up with Bentley leaving but why are so many on here so desperate to get rid of him before we see what actually happens?

People are just discussing possibilities. After Bentley went on TV to say he wanted to move regardless of who the new manager actually was I do not see the harm in us discussing what could happen should he get his wish. I fail to see how that translates as being "so desperate to get rid of him."

If we can get Bentley to agree to stay and give us all without constantly bleating away to the media that would of course change things.

[Jan]

MGP is also a player I wouldn't mind seeing in the middle.

Dear God- I know you like to play devil's advocate, but that's one of the stupidest things that has ever been posted on any messageboard ever.

MGP, the season before last, was absolute toss for the first half. He wasn't much better in the second half, but at least managed to score goals, which hid the problem in an "Emperor's new clothes " sort of way.

Last season, he was toss till about a couple of months before the end of the season. This season, he probably won't manage out of the "toss" level at all.

The only positive I'm taking from Mr Hughes leaving is that any hold (in the form of negatives) that MGP had over him has now gone, and we'll hopefully see a lot less of him. Nothing at all would be really nice. And you want the slow, bad tackling, ball-watching boy band member in CENTRAL MIDFIELD????? Weren't you watching for the whole season when none of his team-mates would pass to him as they knew he's lose it?? Oh- you were watching on TV where you couldn't see the many times he was left on his own while other players desperately tried to find a competent footballer to pass to.

Un-bloody-believable.

[den]

MGP is also a player I wouldn't mind seeing in the middle.

Just a comment on that Eddie. MGP used to play far more central originally, hence he scored far more goals than of late. He was quite often coming through behind the centre forward, Hughes had moved him much wider and made him far more defensive over the last two seasons, thus no goals and a far worse player.

Never make an out and out striker though.

[PrideOfLancs]

So when the pundits on tv rave about Bentley and say he should be at a bigger club, as they have, are they rovers fans too? don't notice anyone raving about Lennon on a consistent basis. Agree that one of the reasons Bentley looks good is that he is one of the main players in our team, but if Lennon were that good , he'd surely be one of the leading players in Spurs team.

They hardly rave about him, quite a few actually slag him off.

Hard for Lennon to get raved about when he isn't playing.

I couldn't give a toss what the spurs management think about Bentley, he'd just end up as another has-been if he went there.

[gumboots]

And there is no reason why Lennon is not playing? And yes there are plenty on here already desperate to get rid of Bentley. I'm not saying don't; just be careful what you wish for - you might get it.