RUMOURs - Shiny and new - Spring/Summer 2014

Dizzle said:

Fair point. Interview here....

newstalk.ie/shows/47.305.363/25842/0/

The Ex-England cap talks candidly to Off The Ball's Joe Molloy about calling time on his career and why the fun has gone out of modern football

At the start of the noughties, midfielder David Bentley was seen as one of the next big things to come out of the Arsenal academy.

However, 12 years on, the ex-England international has called time on his career at the tender age of 29.

The player who also represented Blackburn and Tottenham, as well as loan spells at other English clubs and one Russian side, has decided to concentrate on his restaurant business, having drifted out of the game.

Tonight, he chatted to Joe about the decision to call time on his career.

"My contract ended with Tottenham last July. Then me and the missus had little baby twins. She fell pregnant around September or October and then I just fell into looking after her and when the twins were coming I didn't want to be away from them. And then I decided that I quite enjoyed not playing anymore. So I've fallen into not playing, really," he admitted, who added that other aspects of the modern football career had taken the "excitement and fun" out of things.

Bentley revealed that a sort of falling out of love with aspects of football had progressed over time with the "pure, artistic" side disappearing out of the game and being replaced by cold analytics, making it more like a job.

"I didn't like that side of things. I always battled with it. I always wanted to enjoy every minute of it. It's a shame it's gone that way," said the man who joined Arsenal at 13.

Bentley also spoke to Joe about the way expressive players are being stifled within the English game because of the pressures on managers.

He also touched on what the future holds for him after drifting away from football and why "chasing the pound note" will not lead to happiness and he confirmed that he had turned down offers to return.

Bentley also discussed the moment he threw a bucket of water over Harry Redknapp in 2010 and how that affected on their relationship.

Hm, don't seem to remember much pure artistry from Bentley in the past few years, just him spaffing the ball out of play every time he tried to cross it. Reads to me more like a jump before you're pushed story; 'no, I wasn't released because I spent more time on my hair than my training, the game just got too corporate man'. If he thinks tactical football is too much like a job he's going to have a very surprising time of it when he has to get employment. Retiring at 29 isn't going to set you up for life.

000__Jaaaaay__000 said:

Apparetly a club has bid 5 mill for Ross McCormack.. Have a feeling it might be us you know

wrong thread.............should be on the jokes one.

you also must have been out in the sun too long. Do you seriously think we have £5 million to spend - let alone on just one player.............

as in the final words of the film "Bridge on the River Kwai"..................Madness,,,,,,,,,,,,,Madness

000__Jaaaaay__000 said:

Apparetly a club has bid 5 mill for Ross McCormack.. Have a feeling it might be us you know

Can I have a puff?

I can't wait for the reaction when we actually sign someone next week this site will really take off no one will be pleased as it won't be the player they wanted the club to sign ..... STOP the negativity and get behind our club

West Ham, Leicester or QPR I reckon.

jamiebcool said:

Defo derby. They went bookies favourite as soon as the bid went public.

It's been confirmed it was Fulham..

£5 million us ???? whhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa lets say it again £5million us ?? yes still sounds fecking funny.

we could have bid tho---i mean everyone else goes in at £5mill or £3 mil and CAFC say go in at £5 quid a Standard Leige penant and a second class Euro Star ticket -------------------------its still a bid.

I still think we will start season with a very very young team and squad!

A number of deals are very close to completion I believe .. I think they will start flooding in very soon

CharltonByBlood said:

A number of deals are very close to completion I believe .. I think they will start flooding in very soon

Source?

I'm sure Bob Peeters has his managerial qualities but the thought of being finished off by him is a bit stomach churning!

CharltonByBlood said:

_MrDick said:

CharltonByBlood said:

A number of deals are very close to completion I believe .. I think they will start flooding in very soon

Have we heard of these players though?

How do I know if you would have heard of them or not ..?

Have you heard of them ? :-)