What Happened to Him?

Last summer it was announced that David Bentley would be joining FC Rostov on a 3 month loan. During his 5 years at Tottenham, Bentley has fallen down the pecking order faster than Luis Suarez hits the deck. It seems like only yesterday pundits everywhere were talking about Bentley being the heir to David Beckham on England’s right wing. A player with undoubted ability on the cusp of announcing himself as one of England’s best. But half a decade later he’s being shipped out to Russian minnows because he can’t get a game in the Premier League. How did it go so wrong for David Bentley?

Bentley may well hold his hands on his head given the current state of his career

After failing to make the grade at Arsenal as a 21 year old Bentley left Highbury in search of first team football, and secured a deal with Blackburn Rovers. This is where he began to make a name for himself. In his first full season he became an integral part of Mark Hughes’ side and his performances – notably scoring a hat trick in his first game against Man United – saw him inspire Blackburn to European football by contributing a respectable 7 goals and 13 assists. These performances also saw him named Blackburn fans Player of the Year. The next season saw him consolidate his status as one of England’s brightest talents. More consistent performances boosted his profile and he soon attracted interest from England’s top clubs. An England start in February 08 sparked more David Beckham comparisons, and many started to see him as the man to inherit Beckham’s place on England’s right side of midfield.

Bentley's stunning volley in the North London Derby

 Although he was regularly churning out impressive performances, Bentley couldn’t fire Blackburn into a consecutive season of European football. This, coupled with the exit of Mark Hughes culminated in Bentley’s imminent departure, stating his desire to play for a bigger club as the main reason. Bentley signed for Tottenham in the summer of 2008 for a hefty £15m and made an impact. I’m sure you don’t need reminding of Bentley’s spectacular 43 yard volley against rivals Arsenal in that remarkable 4-4 draw. 

Bentley played regularly for Spurs that season.  Come next campaign that wasn’t to be the case. The emergence of Aaron Lennon saw Bentley limited to substitute appearances. Lennon and a young Theo Walcott appeared to be squeezing Bentley out of the England fold as well.

2010-11 saw Bentley frozen out even more at Spurs. So much so that in the second half of the season he was farmed out on loan to Birmingham City for the remainder of the campaign in an attempt to get Bentley more first team football. Bentley failed to help his adopted club remain in the Premier League as Birmingham were relegated to the championship. At this point in his career Bentley was failing to live up to the earlier heights he set for himself and was struggling to rediscover his best form. 2011-12 saw him loaned out yet again to West Ham. A knee injury would limit him to making just 5 appearances.

Bentley playing for Rostov

The latest chapter in David Bentley’s fall from grace comes as the England international has completed a 3 month loan move to Russian outfit FC Rostov. My question is where does he go from here? It remains clear that his future doesn’t lie at White Hart Lane with AVB the latest Spurs manager to shun the midfielder. It’s pretty evident that Bentley should find a future away from North London. But I hardly think a mid-table Russian team will be the catalyst to kick start a faltering career. Time isn’t on Bentley’s side. At 28, time is creeping up on him. But all isn’t lost. All he needs is one person to take a chance on him. Just one lucky break. One game to boost the confidence and then who knows? It could all happen for him again. I hope David Bentley can start afresh. It would be so disappointing to see what was once such a promising career fizzle out with not so much as a whimper.