I absolutely love the transfer window; not just because of the optimism we create and develop for next season, but because we actually get to talk about players, football and have some glimmer of hope that we'll get what we really want.

The nice big rumour of the day is David Bentley from Blackburn and you know what, I think he's within reach and would be an absolutely perfect addition to the team.

I'm sure I mentioned Bentley the other day somewhere but I can't find it now but I believe he is well within the grasp of Martin O'Neill and Aston Villa, but my suggestion that he was, was knocked. I still disagree.

Not just because he's English and young, or because he knows he'll play at Villa and that he'll get better, but because he knows that we're going in he right direction and he'll be joining something to help mould and create.

Sure, if Manchester United come in for him, which is possible next week, he'll not think twice about Aston Villa and you couldn't blame him for taking over from Ryan Giggs.

However, if it was Chelsea, I don't think he'd want to go, Arsenal is out of the question and the only other team is Liverpool and I think we can go head to head with Liverpool for the likes of Bentley now.

I know that is a very cocky statement, but behaviour breeds behaviour and Martin O'Neill is doing a bloody great job of that at the moment and I think we should follow suit, rather than look for excuses for why a player might not come.

Would I Like Bentley, yes Sir; do I think he would come; I think yes, but you'd have to pay him which is where we've lost out in the past.

Comments (31)

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alextaylor24 said:

i would bloody love him! you mentioned him as your dream realistic signing in the article about the villa fan who summed up our season in one of the papers. would have to agree. would be nice if it was true as if it cam true soon. could be a good sign to barry that we mean business.

May 15, 2008

Damian said:

alextaylor24 cheers for that - i've got to make it possible to search the comments also .. on the list

May 15, 2008

Zidave said:

My god would i love Bently. We have to break bank for this one however, but is it worth it? Oh yes...

May 15, 2008

Magic Merse said:

Er sign Bently and I'll buy a ten year season ticket, sod the 600 mile round trip and ever increasing petrol costs. As already mentioned, he is within our reach, MO'N is a big draw to any player - he would fit into our system - our English core is another draw - there are so many boxes ticked here. I just wounder if Martin feels confident enough to try

May 15, 2008

martygra808 said:

eto'o anyone? but i would love david bently

May 15, 2008

Rogale said:

I seem to detect MON's 'No, no, and no' response to the Barry transfer has now morphed into 'No, no, well maybe'. I think Barry leaving wouldn't be the total disaster many fear, I believe we are too reliant on him, so long as he is replaced sensibly. Bringing in Sidwell and Bentley (and Nolan, for example) would certainly sooth the blow.

May 15, 2008

Aravind said:

However, if it was Chelsea, I don't think he'd want to go How do you explain that?

May 15, 2008 | url

Damian said:

Aravind it's my opinion that if they offer enough money every player will go to chelsea but in this particular instance, i'd say that bentley has more desire to play for england and develop his game rather than just earn a few thousand more each week and that his chances are greater if he joins villa over chelsea, because he'll probably only start 20 league games a season at chelsea chelsea, in my humble opinion, will always get big players, but there are only 11 players you can put on the pitch and some players actually want to play rather than just turn up for the league cup but to be quite specific - i think bently wants to play football

May 15, 2008

Peter said:

Good shout damian. Bentley is obtainable I think he would fill the problem right mid spot. Also MON would love his set peices. Personally I doubt United would want him - he is a right midfielder and hence would not be a replacement for Giggs at United Damian. They have a certain Ronaldo playing there!!!!

May 15, 2008

mini_beest said:

Well could we get sidwell, Bentley and Eto? Answer yes. I think Villa now need to push on and I feel they will give people the likes of eto the £100k wage package they want. All 3 of these players are a yes off me and as for Bazza..... I ay too sure he has already made his mind up. I feel if he goes the Liverpool he'll never be a week in week out player like he is at the Villa. I think after Rafa made some b**ls**t up I think he is thinking twice on go. But if he does, we have good backup in the likes of Petrov and NRC

May 15, 2008

Chrisodon said:

Brilliant if true but we must remember it's paper just at the moment like us signing carr and sidwell.

May 15, 2008

CheshireVillan said:

We are linked with some real quality today... Diego and Bentley!

May 15, 2008

Swissvillan said:

Don't forget, the reason Bentley went to Blackburn in the first place was because he was fed up of getting nowhere at Arsenal, so a move to the big 4 without guaranteed football would be a step back for him. Bentley down the right and Ash down the left, sounds good to me!

May 15, 2008

Vijayd said:

Bentley is the type of player we should be after, he would be great and it would show everyone that we mean business, but hey, lets wake up, its not going to happen!

May 15, 2008

2eq said:

Would love it, can't help it would be a kinda sideways move for him though. Much as I believe we are a far better long term prospect than Blackburn, him/his agent would probably see it otherwise. Saying that, like you said, Arsenal won't go for him, I can't see him at Chelsea or Man Utd and I think you'd be mad to go to Liverpool in the current state of that club. Something to add into the mix, is that if Blatter's plan for the quota of homegrown players ever comes in, players like this are going to become even more expensive. So speed is of the essence. Boy I'd love it if we went for him though, how much though? £10m ?

May 15, 2008

eoin1981 said:

Bentley would be an excellent signing and fill a real problem position for us. it would also be a low risk signing due to obvious factors - league experience, english and age. However, I agree with 2eq - would he and his agent see it as a bit of a sideways move? Damien - I disagree with opinion on the pull of the big four - you seem to think that players would sign for other teams to play all the time instead of being bit part top four players. Can you think of many recent examples of who has turned down a top four team in order to play full time at a normal club?? And on a seperate note - I read speculation yesterday that Zarate has had talks with two top premier league clubs - I would love to sign him - love it!

May 15, 2008

Woz said:

Where does all this talk of Eto come from?? Cant see that even when Eto turns 40! I'll flash my ar*e in the middle of the office the day we sign him!!!

May 15, 2008

leawaylittleman said:

If we landed Bentley, does that spell the end for Stan?

May 15, 2008

Robbie said:

eoin1981, i think Bentley is one of the few players who would choose football over money and a bit part role, as is already mentioned for his departure at Arsenal. However, i do see your point a slight bit, because i do think Bentley is of the character to believe if given the chance he will hold down the role of right midfielder at any club, and his ego would see him take up the challenge of the top four easily. We could reasonably get him, i personally think he's the very top of our range, someone who is such quality that he would get into top 4 teams, but isn't playing Euro football and it wanted by his team so much, but can't be held down with his reluctance to sign a contract. I think we have a good chance if we offer 15mil. Blackburn would be as reluctant to let him go as we are with Barry though. And we're hardly street ahead of Blackburn, maybe financially. Imagine if there was rumours of Barry going to Everton...i'd never let him go there.

May 15, 2008

eoin1981 said:

Robbie, There are lots of examples of players who get fed up of sitting on the bench for top four clubs - then decide to leave for first team football. Youth team players like bentley leave top four clubs because it is really difficult to break into a top four fist team when they sign 10m players for every position. The top players from non-top four teams almost never turn down the opportunity to sigh for the top four clubs - because the quality that drew their attention in the first place is always backed up by confident players who believe in their own ability and think they can make it at the top four club. We believe we are an ambitious club and will outgrow teams like blackburn over the next few years - but what do non-villa fans think - I have my doubts. Performances over the last few years have been similar I would say. Also I am sure that Blackburn supporters would probably be saying the same thing about their club as we say about villa!

May 15, 2008

PaulE said:

I don't think Bentley is quite as good as most people seem to think - he's certainly no Ashley Young. But, at the right price I think he'd be a good addition. I wouldn't pay any more than £10 million for him though and I suspect Blackburn would want more.

May 15, 2008

Villain of the North said:

I'm a little in agreeance with PaulE. I'm not saying he's a crap player or anything but i wonder if people are carried up in his hype. Granted i've not seen him play a whole lot at club level, but whenever i've seen him play for England and receive rave reviews, i struggled to see what all the fuss was about. It was almost like they were grappling at straws to find the best of a crap bunch and he was the best of our crap. I'm open to be proven wrong, and would like to see him given a chance at VP.

May 15, 2008

smylhr said:

id have bentley any day of the week. utv

May 15, 2008

pazzler said:

good player, and can only get better. bottom line is he is an international player and being english, this means he is not gonna come cheap. i doubt blackburn wud sell for less then 15mil. i wud like to see him here, but doubt we will get drawn into big money dealings. who know's tho, we can hope!

May 15, 2008

cookie_monster said:

We need a natural right sided midfielder and Bentley is absolute quality. This is the sort of calibre of player we need to bring in if we are to move forward. Come on Martin! I'd love it if we got Bentley! Love it!

May 15, 2008

EL Caputan said:

would LOVE bentley at villa, imagine how scared teams are going to be with young and bentley coming at them, surely hes the kind of signing that is going to keep barry here. just ashton to bring after that!!!

May 15, 2008

AK28 said:

Bentley is quality. I'l go as far as saying that he has more talent then Young. If we can sign him up quick then that might just show Barry tht we are serious about breaking into the top 4 and keep him at the club. Also did anone see the UEFA cup final last night. The left winger was top clas and so was the CM Denisov. Might be a gabmle.

May 15, 2008

Peter said:

I find a little strange that you are so keen to sign a player - yet you do not know what poistion he plays damo! "Sure, if Manchester United come in for him, which is possible next week, he'll not think twice about Aston Villa and you couldn't blame him for taking over from Ryan Giggs."

May 15, 2008

oldman villain said:

have we not signed anyone yet ..ho i forgot we will have to wait untill the last week of the transfer window and prob end up with the scraps if mon put so much effort in trying to sign players as he does on match days we would be world beaters

May 15, 2008

mike s said:

according to the offical club website villa at one time wanted crespo and as usual we didnt sign him so dont go mad and run around with ur pants down singing "spanish flea"

May 15, 2008

i my ak said:

bently is the second best player in blackburn! Hes quality but nobody could argue against that santa cruz is the best player in blackburn. bently=15mn cruz=30mn

May 16, 2008

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