Have there been many more disappointing players than David Bentley in the English game in recent times? Highly regarded at Arsenal, he was impatient for football and was sold to Blackburn Rovers, where he excelled as a right sided midfielder. Comparisons with David Beckham were being made and all looked rosy for Bentley. In 2008, he got the big money move many had predicted for him. Spurs splashed out £17 million for Bentley, although £7 million of this fee was reported as being payable to Arsenal. No matter, Wenger had dropped a clanger in letting Bentley go and he and Spurs would make him pay. A 43 yard wonder strike in his first North London derby only served to show what Bentley was capable of and the Beckham comparisons rang out louder and truer than ever before. And then, it all began to fall apart. Injuries and a loss of form saw Bentley fall down the Spurs pecking order and completely out of the England reckoning. Unsuccessful loan spells to Birmingham City, West Ham, FC Rostov and, in an attempt to try and rekindle the old flame, Blackburn, followed all without any degree of success. In 2013 Bentley announced his retirement, saying he had fallen out of love with the game. The feeling was undoubtedly mutual.
