After all the talk about reserves, The new generation league?

[Stavrogin]

There doesn't seem to be much information about but it's suggested we'll be one of the clubs involved.

As I can tell it's some kind of pan european competition for U18s and reserves with the intention of raising standards.

 

[Aaron140]

Interesting.

 

[mabolsa_ritchey]

To be fair we need something. Fair enough sending our kids out to get first team experience is good, but the likes of Krancjar and Bentley who arent getting to play week in week out are losing match fitness and sharpness.

 

[StartingPrice]

to be fair we need something. Fair enough sending our kids out to get first team experience is good, but the likes of krancjar and bentley who arent getting to play week in week out are losing match fitness and sharpness.

this

 

[RJ1882]

Bentley needs alot more than a few reserve outings.
Waste of space. The man seems like a complete arse. I am sure he is funny, but if a joker, but his career is verging on disaster.
Terrible on Tuesday night. Sell him rather than play him in reserves. God knows what that man has cost us in wages and transfer fees.

 

[Bill_Oddie]

It's an excellent idea. I'm not sure if I've understood the concept fully though. Do we beat the youngsters with saucepans or frying pans?

 

[StartingPrice]

Bentley needs alot more than a few reserve outings.
Waste of space. The man seems like a complete arse. I am sure he is funny, but if a joker, but his career is verging on disaster.
Terrible on Tuesday night. Sell him rather than play him in reserves. God knows what that man has cost us in wages and transfer fees.

I think David Bentley is an absolute buffoon, but totally disagree with your estimation of him as a footballer and of his contribution to the team. It hasn't been 'great',and I must admit to being disappointed, but he proved a very valuable squad player last season; it's not his fault if there was no-one to take proper advantage of his crossing abilities; and, sadly, as with many players who have lost form/confidence/are trying to impress he goes for way too many champagne moments, but surely the manager should be telling him that if he plays neat little passes that lead to goal scoring opportunities he will see and would rather 20 of them to one champagne moment.

But, like I said, I do think he isa bit of an imbecile:grin:

 

[Stavrogin]

Being cynical, perhaps it's a pilot scheme for a european super league, or, more likely, clubs reckon it could be quite profitable. There's probably a decent audience for (let's face it, generally star studded) reserve sides in vaguely competitive matches.

 

[chrissivad]

Our U18's do go to a fair amount of European tournaments already.

Would we just put the U18's forward for this, or are we putting our reserve team back together (Seems unlikely to me) as well?

 

[AngerManagement]

£16m is quite a bit to pay for a pretty decent squad player mind, Bentley was a terrible signing. Huge money spent on a player in a position we didn't actually need someone and he has never done anything much to justify us signing him.

Ok, last season he came in a played his part in our fourth place finish and fair play to him for that but signing him was a serious miscalculation in judgement.

I really think we should sell him soon, he would be better off being a big fish in a smaller pond and we would be better off getting him off our books and freeing up opportunities for some of our youngsters or reinvesting the money from selling him into someone we actually need for our first team.

The only problem is after paying through the nose for him and the subsequent nose dive his stock has since taken we would no doubt make a huge loss on him and look fairly foolish when he goes on to appear great in his small pond (much like Bent I suppose)

 

[Darbinho]

Our U18's do go to a fair amount of European tournaments already.

Would we just put the U18's forward for this, or are we putting our reserve team back together (Seems unlikely to me) as well?

I reckon something along the lines of the U21 set up would be good. Say all players must be 21 or under with up to 3 or 4 overage players.

e.g
Jansen

Smith Caulker Walker Naughton

Bentley Parrett Bostock Townsend

Mason Kane

Could add: Dos Santos, Krancjar, etc etc depending upon who is out on loan. Could be good for these guys to be playing the likes of Barca reserves regularly.

 

[deselina]

ajax reserves are playing manchester city tonight for this.

 

[StartingPrice]

£16m is quite a bit to pay for a pretty decent squad player mind, Bentley was a terrible signing. Huge money spent on a player in a position we didn't actually need someone and he has never done anything much to justify us signing him.

Ok, last season he came in a played his part in our fourth place finish and fair play to him for that but signing him was a serious miscalculation in judgement.

I really think we should sell him soon, he would be better off being a big fish in a smaller pond and we would be better off getting him off our books and freeing up opportunities for some of our youngsters or reinvesting the money from selling him into someone we actually need for our first team.

The only problem is after paying through the nose for him and the subsequent nose dive his stock has since taken we would no doubt make a huge loss on him and look fairly foolish when he goes on to appear great in his small pond (much like Bent I suppose)

It is, and, no matter what I say about it not being his fault if there is no-one in the squad capable of attacking his crosses like they deserve, I am still (as said above) very disappointed in him. But, and this is a very important caveat, I do feel that there is talent there to come good with. It is not so very long ago other players in our squad were being lambasted (even worse, while they were out injured), such as BAE. But, because there are some still not convinced by him, what about Gareth Bale...there some on here in favour of selling him last ChristmasEek

There again, some folk still think Modric is a waste of space:shrug::rofl:

 

[AngerManagement]

Bentley is a talented player no doubt, his last chance may well come in the form of a new striker capable of attacking the sort of crosses he can produce.

I have serious doubts we will ever see him justify his price tag, but if you think back to the Ramos days and think of his cross for Pav's goal against Bolton for our first win of the season you can see what he is capable of.

He also looked the business in the 5=1 friendly win over Roma, I can't see it happening but if we do sign a striker who can make the most of his crosses he might still have a spurs career ahead of him.

Either way, he'll always be remembered for his goal against Arsenal

 

[StartingPrice]

Bentley is a talented player no doubt, his last chance may well come in the form of a new striker capable of attacking the sort of crosses he can produce.

I have serious doubts we will ever see him justify his price tag, but if you think back to the Ramos days and think of his cross for Pav's goal against Bolton for our first win of the season you can see what he is capable of.

He also looked the business in the 5=1 friendly win over Roma, I can't see it happening but if we do sign a striker who can make the most of his crosses he might still have a spurs career ahead of him.

Either way, he'll always be remembered for his goal against Arsenal

Ain't that the truth, Brotha:grin:

It would be something if he 'suddenly' flourished, and topped it though.

I have to be honest, I find him so frustrating on Saturday I nearly plutzed, and he really must be approaching last chance gulch. Has 'Arry tried explaining to the boy that he will see all of the less spectacular stuff and give him credit for it, ans then, maybe, when he is playing well an his confidence is up he can try something special and it might come off:shrug:

I fear that the problem is that our Davide is not the shiniest penny in the pocket, alas