Bentley to Liverpool, the perfect move?

Rovers’ midfielder and now England international, David Bentley, has given a strong indication he will leave the club in the summer.

The 23 year-old told BBC Sport: “Time will tell over the next few months what will happen. It’s a big decision in my life. “You never know in football. Sometimes you have to make strong decisions”

It would be fair to say it was inevitable. Bentley has been outstanding for Rovers this season and is more than worthy of his England call-up. Even the biggest optimist would struggle to see Bentley being at Rovers come next season.

But crucially for Bentley, he must make the right choice, and that could even be staying at Rovers. You only have to look at the likes of Shaun Wright-Phillips and Peter Crouch to realise that a big move isn’t always the best move.

Bentley has to evaluate his options, and make sure he doesn’t damage his England chances that are clearly so important to him.

Out of the top four you can only realistically see Liverpool making a move. United have enough class on the wings, as do Chelsea, and it would be a push to see Wenger buy-back Bentley. Tottenham are rumoured to be interested but would that be a move up? Perhaps they have more potential but they are some way off top four material.

So we are left with Liverpool as a top-four option, and as much as it pains me to say it, it could be a great move. Liverpool are lacking on the wings, and for me Bentley would be a first-choice ahead of Pennant, Babel and Benayoun.

He would play Champions League football, the only risk would be Bentley’s ability to cope with Rafa’s love for rotation. But if could cope with this, there appears to no other complicating issues.

Oh, I guess there is the price?

Related Articles

BBC Sport - Bentley hints at Blackburn exit

Official Rovers Website - Bentley going nowhere

Rovers 1-1 Tottenham

Although I don’t think this is a bad result, at the same time I don’t think its enough.

Spurs are without doubt a much better side than their league position suggests. And for the early exchanges they were the dominant team, resulting in the Berbatov goal, in which they cut our defence apart.

But to be fair we responded well, and our goal was a good build-up with a wonderful touch and cross from Bentley and yet another goal for Pedersen.

And then the penalty, which it has to be said, should have been a penalty. Although it was difficult for Giberto to get out of the way, he raised his leg to make sure Bentley wasn’t getting past, in a way it was clever defending.

With Villa and Portsmouth with a game in hand on us, sixth spot and an intertoto place is slowly getting away from us. With Liverpool, Manchester United and Portsmouth our next three games, you feel that anything less than six points won’t be enough. And that is a tall order.

Related Articles

Sky Sports - Hughes rues ref’s decision

BBC Sport - Match Report

Reading 0-0 Rovers

It’s never easy to go to a side who are battling for survival but these are games you’ve to be winning if you want to push for the higher places.

In truth it was a dire game of football, although there was a moment of amusement which quickly turned to despair when the assistant referee failed to notice the four Rovers players in an offside position, but Zurab should of scored.

I was encouraged to see Nelsen return and put in a solid performance, and Jason Roberts caused problems as well. A point gained or two points lost, either way it isn’t enough.

Related Articles

BBC Sport - Match Report

Rovers 3-1 Wigan Athletic

A great result and an even more impressive performance which brings us back into touch with the top six.

Another nightmare for Samba though, regardless of whether it was a pen or not, he really shouldn’t have allowed Heskey to get goal side in the first place.  But it seemed that the sending off only improved our perfomance and the way we kept the ball and carved Wigan open deserves credit.

Bentley, was as he has been all season, outstanding and it seems more and more inevitable he will be hot property in the summer.  He continually showed his quality on the ball and creativity all over pitch.

And when he provides such good service, Santa Cruz can thrive, getting into the right positions and as he did, score two goals.  Zurab also did his chances no harm with an assured display at the back, and I thought our midfield as a whole bossed the game.

Now we need to use this performance as a platform and make a final push towards Europe, if we can perform like this, there is no reason we cannot be in contention.

Related Articles

BBC Sport - Match Report

Sky Sports - Rovers’ Roque smashes Latics