[Archived] Ins and outs

[broadsword]

I thought that was after he had said he was going. He was behaving like some employees do on their notice period. Badly.

Like I said though, can't really remember.

Now that you say it, I have a dim recollection of him giving a drunken interview.

[67splitscreen]

Bentley was also sent home from the German/Austria boot camp was he not ?. (allegedly injured)

Stay off the wine Brian. You know it makes sense.

[LeChuck]

Drunken interview, anyone?

Public mockery? Come off it! I remember it well. He said he wanted to move on but he never said anything against the club.

In fact, he gave plenty of interviews afterwards where he was very complimentary about us.

I'd only be against his return because of the money he'll be on, but he certainly didn't burn bridges when he left.

[J*B]

David Bentley will never play for Blackburn Rovers again. That is a guarantee. End of debate.

[Mr. E]

So what if they wanted to leave? They both joined bigger clubs than us and we were handsomely rewarded for it (£35m for the pair of them). Did you take issue with Robbie Savage orchestrating his move from Brum to here? Double standards and all that.

I agree that Santa Cruz having a prolific, injury-free season would be a miracle, which is exactly why I DON'T want us to sign him. Bentley, on the otherhand, doesn't have that problem and he's in the peak-age of his career. I can't see him wanting to come back here, though. I expect he'll end up at Fulham, Everton, Villa, someone like that.

Robbie Savage's reasons for joining us certainly were not money-related. Birmingham are/were a richer club. And by the logic of many here, that should make them more "ambitious" too.

Both Santa and Bentley can go to Hughes at Fulham. That is where the superstar "ambitious" trio belongs. Or should I say quadruplet, with Duff there (though he at least had a couple of good seasons at Chelsea). If we have any money, we should spend it on players hungry for a chance, as we always have, not ego-driven failures who would have to "swallow their pride" to come back to "small-time non-ambitious" Rovers.

[bluebruce]

David Bentley will never play for Blackburn Rovers again. That is a guarantee. End of debate.

Oh right. If you say so, then I'm sure everybody will shut up now.

Public mockery? Come off it! I remember it well. He said he wanted to move on but he never said anything against the club.

In fact, he gave plenty of interviews afterwards where he was very complimentary about us.

I'd only be against his return because of the money he'll be on, but he certainly didn't burn bridges when he left.

Personally, I find one of our contracted players discussing his future without us whilst under the influence to be a tad embarassing.

[ben_the_beast]

Robbie Savage's reasons for joining us certainly were not money-related. Birmingham are/were a richer club. And by the logic of many here, that should make them more "ambitious" too.

Both Santa and Bentley can go to Hughes at Fulham. That is where the superstar "ambitious" trio belongs. Or should I say quadruplet, with Duff there (though he at least had a couple of good seasons at Chelsea). If we have any money, we should spend it on players hungry for a chance, as we always have, not ego-driven failures who would have to "swallow their pride" to come back to "small-time non-ambitious" Rovers.

Were we showing ambition when we failed to back Hughes in replacing Savage? Did we show ambition when we replaced Hughes with the cheapest and clearly the worst option at the time in Ince? Did Duff not have a right to try and achieve great things at Chelsea?

These are not Blackburn Rovers fans. They are footballers attempting to achieve the most they possibly can in their careers. At the time each individual saw the best way to pursue achieving their potential elsewhere. Some have come off, some haven't.

You should stop being so bitter.

Maybe the tides are turning and it is our time to be a club on the rise. I don't recall Bentley or Santa Cruz slating us having left. If anything there was honesty in stating their reasons for leaving and thanking the club for all we did. And lest not forget we were generously rewarded.

If moves for said players however likely or unlukely were made, back them instead of living in the past and being bitter because they did not see their immediate future here.

[Mr. E]

Were we showing ambition when we failed to back Hughes in replacing Savage? Did we show ambition when we replaced Hughes with the cheapest and clearly the worst option at the time in Ince? Did Duff not have a right to try and achieve great things at Chelsea?

These are not Blackburn Rovers fans. They are footballers attempting to achieve the most they possibly can in their careers. At the time each individual saw the best way to pursue achieving their potential elsewhere. Some have come off, some haven't.

You should stop being so bitter.

Maybe the tides are turning and it is our time to be a club on the rise. I don't recall Bentley or Santa Cruz slating us having left. If anything there was honesty in stating their reasons for leaving and thanking the club for all we did. And lest not forget we were generously rewarded.

If moves for said players however likely or unlukely were made, back them instead of living in the past and being bitter because they did not see their immediate future here.

Jesus Christ, why would I back them when they represent precisely those virtues that I hate most about modern football? I want to back players who, at least to some degree, care about the fortunes of the club. David Dunn, Phil Jones, arguably Nelsen and Samba, until proven otherwise. They don't have to be childhood fans, but they need to show they have developed a bond with the fans, that they want to help the club succeed, and won't jump ship at the very first opportunity. Commitment is what is at stake here, commitment is what makes a team good - Cruz and Bentley are the very opposite of that.

[PAFELL]

Public mockery? Come off it! I remember it well. He said he wanted to move on but he never said anything against the club.

In fact, he gave plenty of interviews afterwards where he was very complimentary about us.

I'd only be against his return because of the money he'll be on, but he certainly didn't burn bridges when he left.

I think at times it is very easy for anybody to judge another person.Without doubt Bentley was a good player for Rovers and is still a good player. Sadly he had a problem with ego. But because of his performances in a Rovers shirt, his standing in other peoples eys jumped a bit. He therefore started to believe that he was now a better if not a complete player. He therefore like any other footballer has ambitions. He was desperate to get into the England squad on a regular basis, to replace Beckham. Problem with Bentley was he forgot he still had to put the work in. He could not just walk into the England team. His head got turned because of the hype created by others - which he then believed.

Ince being at Rovers at that time would not of helped the situation - bentley wanted to see if he could do better or as good in another club. If we all took off our blue and white tinted glasses and put ourselves in his position, we might have had simular attitudes as Bentley had.

As we grow older, we should learn by our bad attitudes and mistakes. I hope Bentley has done that. He must know by now that the grass was not greener at spurs than Rovers. His ego got battered at both spurs and in the england camp. I would like to see the Bentley we had at Rovers back. But I would also like to see Bellemy back at Rovers. The latter on sunday had a lot of good things to say about Rovers before the villa game. But I like his pace, which would also suit Sam's style, but there would still be need for another striker to play along side him - but not RSC. I'd rather have either Keane, crouch, bent.

[chaddyrovers]

I thought it was Archie Knox telling him to do extra press-up's cos he had his hands on his hips? There was some sort of row?

Yeah I heard the same thing, Bentley storm off thinking what a joke Ince and his coaching staff was and I agree with Bentley. Also think wasn't Matt Derbyshire down in Great Harwood one time moaning about how much running around the pitch they were doing and fitness work, and not doing enough coaching and working on tactics, set plays and defensive work.

I would like to see Roque Santa Cruz back at Ewood. would just be the type of striker we need. maybe a loan for 6 months then sign him permanetly if he did well. Also think David Ngog would be good signing for us with his pace. I can't see Bentley coming back to rovers even tho I would like us to sign him, personally think he will go to Fulham to work with Hughes.

[gumboots]

Jesus Christ, why would I back them when they represent precisely those virtues that I hate most about modern football? I want to back players who, at least to some degree, care about the fortunes of the club. David Dunn, Phil Jones, arguably Nelsen and Samba, until proven otherwise. They don't have to be childhood fans, but they need to show they have developed a bond with the fans, that they want to help the club succeed, and won't jump ship at the very first opportunity. Commitment is what is at stake here, commitment is what makes a team good - Cruz and Bentley are the very opposite of that.

Jones? How do you know he won't jump ship at the first opportunity. Chelsea are reputed to fancy him and I've heard rumours, and i stress they are only rumours, that he very much fancies them too. He might care about us, but it's no guarantee he's going to stay with us, and especially not if he gets into that England squad.

[Exiled_Rover]

A couple of years ago Bentley was the 7th (I think) fastest player in th league- surprising i know.

No chance.

[Mr. E]

Jones? How do you know he won't jump ship at the first opportunity. Chelsea are reputed to fancy him and I've heard rumours, and i stress they are only rumours, that he very much fancies them too. He might care about us, but it's no guarantee he's going to stay with us, and especially not if he gets into that England squad.

If Jones went to Chelsea or Manchester United, won trophies and became a big international star, that would be slightly more understandable. I'm not suggesting a player can never leave a club. But the difference is precisely in whether you can back up your "ambition" or not. Christiano Ronaldo, for example, has done it, one can say he has been justified in moving from United to Madrid. Duff, while he certainly could have become an even bigger star, at least had a couple of good seasons and was an important part of Chelsea's first ever Premiership crown. Then he moved to Newcastle, but that's another story. And what have Santa Cruz and Bentley done? Found out that the grass isn't always greener on the other side, and even if it occasional is, they won't be allowed to play on it. So now they tuck their tails between their legs and take a step down by coming back to Rovers? The poor things. Let's spare them the misery.

[BuckyRover]

Now that you say it, I have a dim recollection of him giving a drunken interview.

Chaddy thinks you were originally correct but that made me even more sure that I was right!

I did a quick search and he announced his intention to leave on 30 Jul. The only reference I can find on the bust up with Archie Knox was on 6th August, over a week later.

It's all by the by, nearly 3 years ago now. You can grow up a lot in that time.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

A couple of years ago Bentley was the 7th (I think) fastest player in th league- surprising i know.

You mean the 7th fastest at Rovers don't you.

[BuckyRover]

If Jones went to Chelsea or Manchester United, won trophies and became a big international star, that would be slightly more understandable. I'm not suggesting a player can never leave a club. But the difference is precisely in whether you can back up your "ambition" or not. Christiano Ronaldo, for example, has done it, one can say he has been justified in moving from United to Madrid. Duff, while he certainly could have become an even bigger star, at least had a couple of good seasons and was an important part of Chelsea's first ever Premiership crown. Then he moved to Newcastle, but that's another story. And what have Santa Cruz and Bentley done? Found out that the grass isn't always greener on the other side, and even if it occasional is, they won't be allowed to play on it. So now they tuck their tails between their legs and take a step down by coming back to Rovers? The poor things. Let's spare them the misery.

Your a bloody idiot. So if Man City had done better (won a trophy) and played Roque you would be cool with his return but because he hasn't done well he can get stuffed? I'm sure he wanted to do well, same with Bentley. They were just unfortunate that the managers that bought them both got replaced.

Strange logic.

[Mr. E]

Your a bloody idiot. So if Man City had done better (won a trophy) and played Roque you would be cool with his return but because he hasn't done well he can get stuffed? I'm sure he wanted to do well, same with Bentley. They were just unfortunate that the managers that bought them both got replaced.

Strange logic.

I said "slightly more understandable", unless you can't read. Because then it would mean a successful player who clearly would have better options chooses to come back to Rovers, meaning they still want to be here. The only reason for Cruz and Bentley wanting to come back is that they failed at their clubs and are looking for yet another second chance. Clearly you can understand which would be the better situation?

[Amo]

Robbie Savage's reasons for joining us certainly were not money-related. Birmingham are/were a richer club. And by the logic of many here, that should make them more "ambitious" too.

So it's okay for Savage to blag a move to, in your own words, a less-ambitious club, but it's outrageous for Bentley & Santa Cruz to do the same for a bigger club? Ummmm....

[BuckyRover]

I said "slightly more understandable", unless you can't read. Because then it would mean a successful player who clearly would have better options chooses to come back to Rovers, meaning they still want to be here. The only reason for Cruz and Bentley wanting to come back is that they failed at their clubs and are looking for yet another second chance. Clearly you can understand which would be the better situation?

Its not like they won't get a second chance elsewhere though is it? If they left for Fulham for example, they would be strengthened at our expense.

[Mr. E]

So it's okay for Savage to blag a move to, in your own words, a less-ambitious club, but it's outrageous for Bentley & Santa Cruz to do the same for a bigger club? Ummmm....

I don't know why exactly Savage moved, he stated family reasons, or he simply fell out with the manager - whatever the case, moving for personal reasons is different than moving because you think you're a megastar, and then failing.

And why has no one brought up David Dunn yet? He also left Rovers, went to another club, then came back. But I did not have a problem with, and I doubt many did. Obviously I was disappointed that he was no longer with us, but it was clear he had a falling out with Souness, and the move was best for both parties. Everyone was happy when he came back because no one had any doubts he would give it his all for Rovers, injuries or not. Does anyone seriously expect Cruz and Bentley to have an ounce of that commitment if they came back?

[Amo]

I don't know why exactly Savage moved, he stated family reasons, or he simply fell out with the manager - whatever the case, moving for personal reasons is different than moving because you think you're a megastar, and then failing.

Read it for yourself - I lied to Steve Bruce to get Blackburn move

But yeah.... we only welcome true, upstanding footballers to Ewood Park. God forbid one of our professionals actually aspires to better themselves at a bigger club. The low down dirty ingrates!

I can see people getting miffed with Lucas Neil for leaving us for West Ham to boost his bank-balance, and even then he told us in due course he was leaving, but to spite players who want to join a bigger club is ridiculous, especially when we've pinched players in the same way.

[Mr. E]

Read it for yourself - I lied to Steve Bruce to get Blackburn move

But yeah.... we only welcome true, upstanding footballers to Ewood Park. God forbid one of our professionals actually aspires to better themselves at a bigger club. The low down dirty ingrates!

I can see people getting miffed with Lucas Neil for leaving us for West Ham to boost his bank-balance, and even then he told us in due course he was leaving, but to spite players who want to join a bigger club is ridiculous, especially when we've pinched players in the same way.

this is all entirely besides the point, but ok - so Savage says he lied to Steve Bruce, he never says he's moving to Rovers for the money or because he thinks he's going to win the Champions League. His reasoning is because he wanted to play under Hughes, his manager at Wales.

And the only reason we're having this discussion is because for some reason people want to reward Cruz and Bentley by bringing them back. That's what I don't understand. What have they done to deserve a second chance? It just doesn't make sense. Somehow it strikes me that "moving forward" would entail is buying exciting new players, not bring back old ones that haven't been doing good in a long time.

[Amo]

Football's a funny old game.

Let's say Bentley stayed at the club, never wanted to leave, but over the next couple of years his form nosedived drastically. Everyone would be lamenting how we didn't sell him when Spurs were handing us £17m. So, loyalty's all well and good for us fans, provided the player's decent. But if that star player should set his sights on playing at a bigger club, well.... that's just not cricket!

The fact you call it a "second chance" speaks volumes about your attitude towards this. I wouldn't consider it that for either Santa Cruz or Bentley, because they were both fantastic players for Rovers and the money we received for their efforts helped the club manage its debts. They hardly cost us a fortune, flopped dramatically and left us in the lurch without recompense.

[47er]

I thought he was an extra striker, or attacking midfielder for that game... i remember him playing centre mid proper away at luton in the cup, but he's far too lightweight and can't tackle for sheeet!

He played straight out striker that day alongside Kuqi who scored one. Bentley scored the first three.

The perfect buy for us would have been Bellamy. He has everything----pace, great crosser of a ball and deadly finisher. Pity the takeover didn't occur a year ago!

Can't think of anyone else in our bracket remotely that talented apart from..............Bentley!

[magicalmortensleftpeg]

He played straight out striker that day alongside Kuqi who scored one. Bentley scored the first three.

The perfect buy for us would have been Bellamy. He has everything----pace, great crosser of a ball and deadly finisher. Pity the takeover didn't occur a year ago!

Can't think of anyone else in our bracket remotely that talented apart from..............Bentley!

I know this is hardly that interesting but i cant believe so many people have forgotten that game. Kuqi scoring??? I thought Bentley scored the first 2, Lucas Neill scored a penalty and then Bentley got the fourth...

Bentley wasnt the star that night, Rio Ferdinand took that accolade.

Anyway, transfers..

Roque isnt fit. That is where that should end. Bentley wouldnt want to play for us again, understandably, so I hope we have a few more ideas. Krancjar would be a great move but i reckon we'll be out gunned for him. Seb Larsson would be a decent signing if for some reason he'd come here. A striker and creative mid are essential if we want to stand any realistic chance of beating the drop by a comfortable margin.